THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 7, 1997              TAG: 9702070013
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   20 lines

A WOMAN'S ISSUE

On Feb. 3, the Virginia Senate passed a parental abortion notification bill. I find it interesting that of the seven women who participated in the vote, six chose to vote against it. This means that the men who participated voted overwhelmingly for the legislation.

This is disconcerting. Why should men have the final say in what can only be seen, substantially, as a women's issue?

I recall our governor, in a campaign, saying it was ``up to Virginians to decide what was best for Virginia.'' It now seems the Senate has decided: It should be up to Virginia's men to decide what is best for Virginia's women.

J. S. LUSTER

Suffolk, Feb. 4, 1997