• 30
  • September
    2011

According to Susan Saulny, in her piece for the New York Times, first lady Anita Perry is a contract employee with the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, doing fundraising and development.

The piece examines how much influence Anita has had on her husband, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, especially regarding his executive order that required immunizations of girls to guard against the human papillomavirus, which is contracted through sexual activity - and could also be contracted because of sex assault.

The human papillomavirus (or HPV) has been indicated by medical specialists to cause cervical cancer.

As Saulny writes, Anita has been a "career-long advocate for victims of sexual assault" and a "vocal proponent" for girls getting immunized against HPV.

(As it happens, the Texas legislature later reversed the governor's executive order.)

The first lady's work appears to have had an impact on victims of rape. As Saulny reports, one woman said, "She empowered me to speak out about my sexual assault and to help raise money for other victims."

Source: New York Times, "A Political Wife's Influence on an Issue," by Susan Saulny, 09/27/11