While it's not considering whether to remove its citizens' human reproductive organs entirely, the Virginia legislature is seeking out new ways to honor the products of the state's sexual congress. A state Senate bill introduced by Bill Stanley would guarantee "unborn children," from conception to birth, "all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of the Commonwealth" (with exceptions for all the aspects of the state law and the U.S. Constitution that depend upon not considering fetuses full people).

A similar bill in the house, introduced by Bob Marshall, would establish that the "life of each human being begins at conception," that "unborn children have protectable interests in life, health, and well-being," and that all Virginia laws "shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every stage of development, all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this Commonwealth."

Both versions of the bill contain a final caveat: "Nothing in this act shall be interpreted as creating a cause of action against a woman for indirectly harming her unborn child by failing to properly care for herself or by failing to follow any particular program of prenatal care." A similar bill without that final thought died in the legislature last year.