Trans v. Intra

A tiny lexical commentary about the proposed trans-vaginal ultrasound procedure proposed and now withdrawn in Virginia, without opinions offered otherwise:

1. The legislator who sponsored the bill could not bring himself to say the V word, instead referring to it as “trans-V.”

2. “Trans” is itself misdescriptive. It should correctly have been called “intra-vaginal,” but for reasons too politically obvious, that was softened.

3. Notice in the context of this controversy the similarity between “Virginia” and “vagina.” Will “trans-Virginia” or “intra-Virginia” soon enter our vocabulary too? Will some begin to refer to the state as “V”?

4. Virginia is for lovers.