LANSING, Mich. — During a recent rally against President Trump’s initial actions, a Michigan state representative shared her personal experience with elective surgery that involved the removal of her reproductive organs.
Democratic State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky received applause from the predominantly left-leaning group of demonstrators, while her remarks drew criticism from various right-wing social media users.
The 36-year-old lawmaker revealed that this decision was something she had contemplated for several years, and the outcome of the presidential election played a significant role in finalizing her choice. She expressed a desire to acknowledge and validate the apprehensions many women have regarding their access to contraceptives.
In an interview following her speech, Pohutsky disclosed that she had been subjected to threats in response to her statements, with at least one incident reported to the authorities in Michigan. The state’s police have been contacted for further information.
“I don’t completely understand the extent of the hostility that this issue generates,” Pohutsky commented.
Addressing a large audience at the state Capitol in Lansing, she explained that last month she underwent a bilateral salpingectomy, a procedure that involves the removal of fallopian tubes. Though abortion rights are constitutionally protected in Michigan and legislation has supported broader contraceptive access, Pohutsky mentioned her concerns that the current administration might make efforts to reduce that access.
“Most of these executive orders derive directly from Project 2025, which explicitly outlines a strategy to limit contraception access,” she stated.
Following Trump’s election, healthcare providers noted a significant increase in women seeking long-term contraceptive options and permanent sterilizations. Trump had previously expressed openness to introducing regulations on contraception during a May interview but later stated that he had no intention of restricting access to birth control or contraceptives.
Pohutsky indicated that her choice for surgery had been a topic of discussion between her and her husband for around two years, and she made the surgical appointment after the November election. Although she considered postponing the procedure due to its timing during a session, she decided to proceed after observing Trump’s executive actions.
Her decision sparked criticism from well-known conservative figures on social media platforms, including the prominent account Libs of TikTok and commentator Ben Shapiro. Shapiro responded to the situation by sharing a post stating, “So many broken people,” while the Libs of TikTok account eventually removed its commentary on the issue.
