Southington Tattoo Artists Pack Pro-choice Punch

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Rachel Molnar is a small business owner in Southington and she said she's well aware political activism and commerce often don't go well together.

But last week's U.S. Supreme Court decision, which overturned Roe vs. Wade that legalized abortion nationally, was too much to take.

"This is something that you can't keep quiet about," said Molnar, 31, who co-owns Propaganda Ink Tattoo on 550 N. Main St. in Southington with her husband, Steve Molnar, 52.

Outraged over the decision, Molnar, literally, is willing to put her money where her pro-choice mouth is.

She said Wednesday the business will donate 100 percent of the proceeds of 26 "pro-choice" tattoos the parlor offers to pro-choice causes.

In addition, Propaganda Ink will offer discounts on pro-choice tattoos starting July 1 through the November mid-term elections.

Last week, the conservative-dominated High Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, a divisive decision pitting the so-called "red" anti-abortion states with "blue" pro-choice states, one of which is Connecticut.

“We are talking about being denied basic rights to our own bodies and it’s no one’s place to decide for us," Molnar said.

"We’ve teamed up with these organizations in hopes to assist them in continuing to provide safe reproductive care to women in need after the disappointing decision from the Supreme Court.”

Locally, half the proceeds for pro-choice tattoos will be donated to The Reach Fund of Connecticut , which funds grants awarded to clinics in Connecticut, assists with out-of-pocket costs for those needing abortions and, according to Molnar, "helps provide access to safe reproductive care."

In addition, Propaganda Ink will aid the National Abortion Federation Hotline Fund, which funds a toll-free, multi-lingual abortion hotline in the U.S. and it offers fiscal help to gain access to safe abortion procedures.

Molnar is still emotional when describing her feelings when the decision was handed down last week.

"It was shock and a lot of disappointment, honestly," she said Wednesday. "We've come so far and we've taken so many steps backward."

As the mother of a 6-year-old son and a soon-to-be, 1-year-old daughter, Molnar said she's worried about the world her children will grow up in.

She also points out the government has no mandates for men when it comes to what they can do with their bodies.

"There's no regulations for men," said Molnar. "But we're regulating women without any regard for their choice."

For more information on Propaganda Ink, visit this link.

For more information on The Reach Fund of Connecticut, visit this link.

For more information on the NAF Hotline Fund, visit this link.