The statute, which can lead to reproductive coercion in a state that has banned abortion, has recently gained nationwide attention

At six months pregnant, H decided enough was enough. She had endured years of abuse from her husband and had recently discovered he was also physically violent towards her child. She contacted an attorney to help her get a divorce.

But she was stopped short. Her lawyer told her that she could not finalize a divorce in Missouri because she was pregnant. “I just absolutely felt defeated,” she said. H returned to the house she shared with her abuser, sleeping in her child’s room on the floor and continuing to face violence. On the night before she gave birth, she slept in the most secure room in the house: on the tile floor in the basement, with the family’s dogs.

Under a Missouri statute that has recently gained nationwide attention, every petitioner for divorce is required to disclose their pregnancy status. In practice, experts say, those who are pregnant are barred from legally dissolving their marriage. “The application [of the law] is an outright ban,” said Danielle Drake, attorney at Parks & Drake. When Drake learned her then husband was having an affair, her own divorce stalled because she was pregnant. Two other states have similar laws: Texas and Arkansas.

  • @teamevil
    link
    2278 months ago

    Missouri is a garbage state.

    • @fustigation769curtain
      link
      1688 months ago

      Two other states have similar laws: Texas and Arkansas.

      Why am I not surprised? The sad part is, Texans are delusional enough to think they’re better than Florida, lol.

      I genuinely believe texans are the most delusional people in the entire US.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        798 months ago

        Recently met a Texas resident who swore it was the best place “to raise children”

        If the news are to be believed, I think it was probably a veiled anti LGBTQ victory lap

        • Aniki 🌱🌿
          link
          fedilink
          English
          228 months ago

          It wasn’t a great place for Kyu Cho to raise his family.

          FUCK Texas

        • prole
          link
          fedilink
          English
          20
          edit-2
          8 months ago

          I bet their reasoning somehow boiled down to “taxes.” The anti-LGBTQ stuff is just icing on the cake for most of these people.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            48 months ago

            And the dumb part is that the taxes in Texas are on par with California, just done through different categories. So, you pay the same for significantly worse government services and significantly fewer rights.

            Texas: the one star state

      • Kalkaline
        link
        fedilink
        258 months ago

        I have the delusion that I’m going to escape this state one day.

        • @agent_flounder
          link
          English
          108 months ago

          I sure hope you can. What would that require?

          If you can find somewhere affordable in Colorado (unfortunately that would be in the sticks teeming wirh right wing nuts) I can highly recommend it.

        • @fustigation769curtain
          link
          48 months ago

          You can do it! Just about any state is better than Texas.

          Yes, even Missouri!

      • @HaveYouPaidYourDues
        link
        English
        128 months ago

        I still know people who spout texas being the “freesest state in the union”

        • @teamevil
          link
          18 months ago

          Nah Florida knows what it is…

          -Typed while unfortunately in Florida.

      • @mx_smith
        link
        -19
        edit-2
        8 months ago

        I am kinda calling BS on this, as I got divorced in Arkansas and there was never a question about my ex wife being pregnant nor was it ever mentioned by any attorney or judge. Maybe it’s only used when there is a clear sign of pregnancy or when the husband wants to control the wife who may have filed for divorce. This could be a new law as I got divorced over 10 years ago.

        • Promethiel
          link
          16
          edit-2
          8 months ago

          Oh!? A law that wasn’t in effect when you went through the same life situation wasn’t in effect when you went through it, so it’s BS?

          Was Henry Ford’s Model T car, the printing press, and the fact that it used to be legal to own people also BS because those things weren’t at the store last time you went?

          It is not a case of whatever the fuck it is you want to think it maybe it. It is exactly the evil those who kinda call BS have sown, and the thresher is reaping its way to you eventually too.

        • @YarHarSuperstar
          link
          128 months ago

          “I’m calling bs on this” WTF??? Are you misogynistic, ignorant, just stupid, or all the above? Your reasoning is that you didn’t hear about it personally 10 years ago when it might have been relevant to you?

          • @mx_smith
            link
            -138 months ago

            When my personal experiences go against what a news article claims, I start to think critically about the source. I’m not disclaiming or debating anything about Missouri law, but by throwing in that comment about Arkansas seems like they are being a bit sensational to get a wider audience reaction. I would not doubt for a second if this law exists in either of those states, but it’s most likely enforced by choice.

            • @STOMPYI
              link
              28 months ago

              Calling bs is disclaiming… think man think… your tone is strong but tpur words are weak. Why do you think this is?

        • Zengen
          link
          48 months ago

          This law was JUST put in place

          • @FlowVoid
            link
            English
            08 months ago

            No, the law was passed in 1973. At the time, the Missouri legislature was still controlled by Democrats.

            It was trying to stop men who would finalize a divorce before the birth of their child in order to avoid establishing their paternity.

        • Null User Object
          link
          fedilink
          18 months ago

          Do they not teach geography in Arkansas? I guess not, so, FYI, Missouri is not Arkansas. They’re different states with different state laws.

    • candyman337
      link
      fedilink
      328 months ago

      I think we should stop pitting states against each other in a race to the bottom and see this for what it is: working class people having their rights taken away by the wealthy elite. The more we are divided the easier it is to do this type of thing. The politicians are doing this, not the people. And they have set up and continued to prop up a system that under educated voters, while also underpaying them and blaming it on anyone else they can do everyone is mad at everyone. We need to stop blaming each other and band together and force them to fix it.

      • swab148
        link
        fedilink
        188 months ago

        Thank you. Being a Texas resident, I’m not especially happy when I hear stuff like “all Texans are delusional”, a lot of us simply don’t have a choice in the matter of where we live. Some of us are trying to make this a better place to be, but it takes time and we’re constantly blocked by rich assholes clinging to power like their lives depend on it (and they probably do at this point). Class consciousness is lifting up the less fortunate, don’t put us down for laws and policies we had no say in creating.

      • @teamevil
        link
        18 months ago

        Missouri was a shit state before this Trainwreck bullshit… nothing about it is redeeming… literally the entrance to the worst parts of this country.

        That all being said your argument is correct 💯.