Read this: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/07/21/an-outrageous-attempt-bush-adminstration-undermine-womens-rights

Sign this: http://www.hillpac.com/action/hhspetition/

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/07/15/hhs-moves-define-contraception-abortion

In a spectacular act of complicity with the religious right, the Department of Health and Human Services Monday released a proposal that allows any federal grant recipient to obstruct a woman's access to contraception. In order to do this, the Department is attempting to redefine many forms of contraception, the birth control 40% of Americans use, as abortion. Doing so protects extremists under the Weldon and Church amendments. Those laws prohibit federal grant recipients from requiring employees to help provide or refer for abortion services.

Up until now, the federal government followed the definition of pregnancy accepted by the American Medical Association and our nation's pregnancy experts, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which is: pregnancy begins at implantation. With this proposal, however, HHS is dismissing medical experts and opting instead to accept a definition of pregnancy based on polling data. It now claims that pregnancy begins at some biologically unknowable moment (there's no test to determine if a woman's egg has been fertilized). Under these new standards there would be no way for a woman to prove she's not pregnant. Thus, any woman could be denied contraception under HHS' new science.

Read this: http://twistedchick.livejournal.com/1629116.html

DO SOMETHING. Do something right the fuck now. Removing a woman's ability to even take BIRTH CONTROL is straight up making us less than human. It's removing our ability to have the life we choose, destroying any shot at a career, and combine it with the laws allowing even the most violent sack of shit access to his children, it makes us property again. AGAIN. Get on the phone, and get to work. This is the money shot the religious right has been working toward all along. We must shut them down.

On July 12 - 19, the radical anti-choice group Operation Rescue/Operation Save America (OR/OSA) will descend on Atlanta, Georgia. Anti-choice organizers from across the nation will stage protests, demonstrations, and other events to harass and intimidate clinic staff, with the goal of shutting down abortion clinics across the city. Each summer, OR/OSA chooses a different city; their most recent visit to Texas was in 2002, when they descended on Dallas. Click here to read their Dallas call to action.

The great reproductive justice organization SPARK Reproductive Justice Now! (formerly Georgians for Choice) is working to organize a positive and coordinated response to OR/OSA.

Because events like this affect all of us, no matter where we live, we encourage you to support SPARK and the important work they are doing.

Here are some ways you can help:

Are you going to be in Atlanta any time during the week of July 12-19? Do you know someone who will be there or who lives there? Contact Paris at SPARK to learn more about the schedule of events and how to help out in Atlanta.

If you can’t make it to Atlanta, send a quick email to the folks at SPARK, letting them know how much we in Texas support the great work that they’re doing and telling them that we’ll be thinking of them that week!

Thanks for lending a hand and helping us remember that we’re all in this fight together!


Sincerely,
Katie Mahoney
NARAL Pro-Choice Texas

x-posted to my own lj

I'm not sure this made any national headlines in the past few months or not, but Montana was facing a "personhood amendment" initiative going on the November ballot.  The extremists getting signatures need to get 45, 000 by June 20th.  Luckily, they failed!

Full Story Here

I am so proud of all the organization that sprouted up in response to this initiative.  Go Pro-Choice Montana!
Let's hope and pray that similar initiatives coming up across the nation will also fail.

We fight on!

 

In lieu of summer and, for many of us, school being out, it is time for summer reading lists.  
Our friends at Blog for Choice put a video out on some books to read:


Aside from the three already mentioned, I'll also be reading:

Kiss My Tiara by Susan Gilman
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
The Unauthorized Guide to Sex and the Church by Carmen Berry (admittedly not pro-choice per say, but helps understand ambiguity in areas such as abortion and homosexuality in regards to the Bible.)

I can't wait!
What other suggestions do you have for Pro-Choice and Feminist books?

Warning: this essay is a bit graphic...although the message is powerful. It's from the perspective of a doctor who treated women suffering from complications from illegal abortions pre-Roe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/views/03essa.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

( Text of article here )

1) This Saturday, June 7
Planning is Power!

8am till noon-ish
Silent testimony in support of birth control and family planning facilities. We will be a positive, life-affirming presence, demonstrating our support of reproductive choice. We will share accurate information about sex ed, birth control, and the work of reproductive health clinics.
For more information, or to organize in your own city please go to our Facebook group: Planning is Power!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21854355978
OR
Email politicalactiongroup [at] gmail [dot] com

Why are we there this Saturday? See http://www.thepillkills.com

In NYC, we will be meeting at 8:00AM at the following clinics:
Brooklyn - 44 Court Street (Borough Hall)
Manhattan - 26 Bleecker St. (at Mott St.)
Bronx - 349 E 149th Street (2 or 5 train to 149th St/3rd Ave)

Post-demonstration meetup - Bleecker Street Bar, 12:30/1pm til... on Bleecker just west of Lafayette


2) Next Wednesday June 11
Body Politic: Laughing Liberally

We've teamed up with the fabulous comics at Laughing Liberally to bring you a night of comedy at The Tank.
$20/$15 students with ID. Includes one year membership in the Action Fund.

6:30-7:30 - Happy Hour
7:30-8:30 - Comedy sets with Katie Halper, Harry Terjanian, Nagin Farsad, and more!

The Tank - 279 Church Street
For tickets, click here.
Charge it online, or cash only at the door!

Did you have an abortion in Iowa?

Did you experience financial barriers at any point in the process?

Are you interested in telling your story?

We want to hear from you!

We're working on a project to increase financial access to abortion in Iowa, and we're hoping for help from the pro-choice community on LJ. Please click on the link above to find out a little more about our project, and don't hesitate to comment or e-mail with questions. If the project looks interesting and you'd like to help get the word out, even if you're not in Iowa or this doesn't apply to you, please feel free to re-post the link to our message anywhere and everywhere. We're hoping to get the link on as many pro-choice websites and communities as possible so that Iowa women will see it and contact us. If legislators and other lawmakers can see a face on this important issue, we're hoping it will convince them to pass crucial reforms. Thank you for your time!

Judith
emmagoldmanclinic@gmail.com

(Crossposted to pro-choice and abortion communities.)

Planning is Power!

Counter-protest on June 7 against "The Pill Kills" groups.

You might have heard about it in the news, but there are many people coming together on June 7 outside of health clinics that provide the birth control pill (particularly Planned Parenthood), to protest and raise "awareness" about the "dangers" of the pill. To do your opposition research, see www.thepillkills.com

We want to be out there in support of comprehensive sex education, access to health care and birth control, women's rights and freedoms, and the courageous work that Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and so many other organizations do every day to make women, children, and families safe and healthy every day.

Please join us on Saturday June 7 - nationwide.

In NYC, we're taking a "superhero" tactic - planning is power - so come with a cape and your super powers and your positive messages. Some suggestions:

"I believe in a world where all babies are loved and wanted"

"I believe in a world where teenagers are safe and know how to keep themselves safe"

"I believe in a world where women are free to choose their future"

If you want to lead something for your city, let me know and I can add you as an admin on our Facebook group. Spread the word!

Find us on Facebook: Planning is Power! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21854355978

Contact: politicalactiongroup [at] gmail [dotcom]

http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/05/horrifying-new-law-forced-ultrasounds.html

I've been a lurker here for a while. So, real quick, a bit about me. I'm twenty, childfree, living in Alaska. Been pro-choice since I can remember. Hi all!


I can't believe they won't even excuse the rape and incest victims. You'd think they'd been traumatized enough already.

So the Genocide Awareness Project is coming to my campus on Thursday. We found out today. It's, coincidentally, during our Pro-Choice day - I'm VP of the Students for Choice group.

We're mobilizing, getting stuff together, making sure counselors are available, etc. Has anyone dealt with this before? Other than the signs, what can we expect? Any advice?

(cross posted) This looks neat. Is anyone going?



( Read more... )

*From Abortion Rights to Social Justice:
Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom April 4-6, 2008*
*Hampshire** College***
*Amherst**, MA***

*/A project of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program/*

* Register online at http://clpp.hampshire.edu*

* Come to the FREE conference on April 4-6 2008 and be part of building
a unified movement for social justice!*

On April 4-6, 2008, campus and community activists will be gathering at
Hampshire College to unite for reproductive justice. We are expecting a
large turnout---last year there were over 1100 participants from the US
and abroad. We offer more than 40 workshops and trainings. Conference
speakers address reproductive freedom as it relates to a broad range of
social justice initiatives including economic justice, health care
reform, racial equality, freedom from violence, immigrant rights,
climate justice, and LGBTQ rights, just to name a few.

Over the weekend, you will deepen your understanding of issues you
already know about, make new connections, and unite with others who are
passionate about working for social justice.

For more information, check out our website at clpp.hampshire.edu or
contact us at (413) 559-6976 or clpp@hampshire.edu.

Cross-posted around pro-choice communities

So I just became aware of the Horton Hears a Who film debacle. The obsessive need of the Cult of Zygote to fabricate non-existent anti-choice references everywhere reaches some interesting lows.

My gripe at the moment though is how often RH Reality Check, a wonderful and informative source by the way, has to be trolled by anti-choicers. I especially get sick of them trying to claim that they aren't trying to deny anyone control over their bodies. Women just have to refrain from having sex and then we won't be having this debate, dontcha know, and if they do have sex that's such a grave sin that an unwanted pregnancy is the only way to hold them accountable for daring to experience physical pleasure.

Makes me sick. When will these people step out of the dark ages and put their energies toward something useful rather than harmful?

the merchandise i've been working on is finally up. well, some of it, at least. some of the shirts got changed but please go view the designs, and PURCHASE! it's always good to show your roe pride.

http://www.cafepress.com/prochoicecafe

note: this is merchandise that will go to support the IL Choice Action Team, a network of committed volunteers (i'm their intern).

thanks!

The Eastern Massachusetts Abortion Funds provides grants and financial counseling to women unable to pay for their abortions. Did you know that a first tri- abortion at PP costs $530? Not many people do--and it's a price that many women are unable to afford. Join the EMA Fund at its first ever knitting event to find out more about us, enjoy some free food and wine, and bitch about abortion access. ( Event poster behind the jump )

I work for a gynecologist that performs 1st trimester abortions. I've worked for her for four years, and have been administrating her malpractice insurance for the last two years.

Up until now, she has been classified as "Uncomplicated OBGYN w/minor surgery coverage," to the tune of about $30K per year.

I just received a letter from our malpractice insurance company stating that 1st trimester abortions are now considered "Uncomplicated OBGYN w/minor limited major surgery coverage." To the tune of $40K per year.

If she stays in the original class/rate, she would still be able to do spontaneous abortion completions and hysteroscopy with dilation and curettage. Which is crazy, because those procedures carry about the same level of risk as an induced abortion.

This is clearly a politically motivated event with no basis in medical reality. In addition to which, we are a small practice that cannot possibly afford $10K in additional fees, especially for a procedure that we perform perhaps once a quarter.

I plan on making this as widely known as possible. I'm going to complain to the high heavens. I've drafted a letter regarding the matter, and plan to send it to everyone under the sun that I think might be interested.

Do the rest of you have any other ideas?

* Insurance commissioner (New York State)
* ACOG district 2
* NARAL
* NOW
* NYS dept of health
* Hillary Clinton
* New York State Medical Society
* New York County Medical Society
* Center for the Advancement of Women
* Center for Reproductive Rights
* Feminist Majority Foundation
* Catholics for Free Choice

Cross posted like the dickens.

Hi everyone - this is information about attending the NY State annual Family Planning Advocates Conference in Albany on March 10th.

Hundreds to thousands of NY reproductive rights supporters will be filling the Capitol that day, speaking face to face with our representatives in support of the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act. (See here for information about this Act from NOW, the ACLU, and the other side - which is becoming ever more vocal and organized).

In addition to our lobby activities, there will be a policy brunch with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, a performance by the Capitol Steps, and Governor Spitzer, along with other elected officials, will speak to the group.

Please pass this information along - the flyer below is from Planned Parenthood of NYC (who will be covering ALL costs of the trip for people who go from NYC), but like I said people will be coming from all over NY State.

So take a day off work, do something more than an online petition - I've heard this conference is an amazing, fun experience.  If you have any questions, please feel free to conact me directly.


 

I was directed here from another group who said you could help me better. sorry this is a coppy paste but i don't think I could deal with typing it again. sorry if any of the frustration i felt when typing this the first time is overly obvious.


I am just about ready to literally knock some since into my little sister. One of her friends just go pregnant and is keeping it (married and it was planned) while another one of her friends has gotten pregnant and has decided to get an abortion.(very very unplanned) My sister is filling me in on the detales when i remind her that it is her friends choice whether or not to have an abortion. she goes crazy. apparently her hardcore Calvinist boyfriend has brainwashed her. I get this lecture on how she was destined to have a baby and that not only is she now evil and going to hell for going against god she is being disrespectful to the fetus. How on earth do you deal with someone like this. If it were anyone else I could just fume a bit and say it was because of the way they were raised but this is my sister, i have slightly higher expectations. I was ready to just take her by the shoulders and shake her. She's been brainwashed, what on earth do I do? And by the way, since I am pro abortion and am about to be a volunteer who goes and gets women to take them to the clinic so they can have greater privacy (its for the clinic in Alabama that was bommed)I am going to a deep dark special hell.