ROEDER CONVICTED!

Dr. Tiller's killer was convicted of first degree murder today after less than 40 minutes of deliberation. For more details on the verdict click here and for NARAL Pro-Choice America’s statement click here.

While we applaud this decision we cannot forget what women's reproductive health lost on May 30th 2009, a kind, caring advocate who continued his work under the threat of death, a compassionate person who trusted women.

Call on CBS to Drop Focus on the Family Super Bowl Ad

Call on CBS to Drop Focus on the Family Super Bowl Ad
CBS cleared the way to subject nearly 100 million people to Focus on the Family’s extreme agenda by agreeing to air its new pro-life ad during the Super Bowl.
Focus on the Family has an unmistakable anti-choice, anti-birth-control, anti-sex-education, anti-gay agenda. If that wasn’t bad enough, its views on women are just plain insulting and dangerous. For example, its web site urges women facing an unintended pregnancy to seek “wise advice” because “the hormones and extreme emotions of pregnancy make reasonable decisions more difficult.”
We can’t just sit by while CBS lets Focus on the Family place a political ad during the Super Bowl, when millions of people are watching ads.
CBS still has time to change course if enough of us apply pressure. Urge CBS to drop Focus on the Family’s ad.
Sign the petition here: https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4143

I had an abortion.

Join an Intergenerational discussion Parents, teens, young adults, mentors and friends of First Universalist

Cutting across age, race, class and religion, the film unfolds personal narratives with intimate interviews, archival footage, family photos and home movies.
I Had an Abortion features 10 women — including famed feminist Gloria Steinem — who candidly describe experiences spanning seven decades, from the years before Roe v. Wade to the present day.

Fresh, moving, important…Muriel Rukeyser wrote, ‘If one woman told the truth about her life, the world would split open.’ [This film] gives us 10 truth-telling women, and splits the world open in as many ways.‛ Katha Pollitt, The Nation magazine

Sponsors: RSVP appreciated to: Sara mckru@comcast.net

7:00 pm
Friday
February 19, 2010
Free admission. Food will be served.
First Universalist Church
3400 Dupont Ave S
Minneapolis

Latest from the Choice Lobby Network

Feature: Happy 37th Anniversary, Roe!

In honor of the 37th anniversary of the passage of Roe v. Wade, RH Reality Check put together a video of pro-choice supporters answering the question, “What does choice mean to you?”

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia Investigates CPCs

In Virginia, not unlike other states, drivers have the option of purchasing “Choose Life” anti –abortion license plates. A portion of the fees go to “Heartbeat International”, a Christian group that distributes money to Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) across the state. Questions were raised about whether or not these clinics were qualified to receive these funds. These questions were raised by NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia volunteers who went undercover and found out some startling facts (read a summary of the report here):

· 38 out of the 52 anti-abortion pregnancy centers in Virginia do not have medically trained or supervised personnel on staff
· Two-thirds of the centers provided "some degree of medically erroneous information."
· Fliers distributed were misleading and outdated
· Other false statements are highlighted by the investigators here.

Sadly, CPC funding is alive and well in Minnesota. In a recent article in the Minnesota Independent, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota, Linnea House, helped explain how your tax dollars are helping to pay for misinformation about reproductive health given by these CPCs. The large anti-choice organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, is currently putting its weight behind legislation that would bring anti-choice plates to Minnesota.

Status Check: The Healthcare Debate

We all heard about the unexpected election of Republican Scott Brown to the Massachusetts Senate. Anti-choice leaders are praising this win and everyone is talking about Senator-Elect Brown’s impact on the passage of healthcare reform.

As it stands right now, both bills change the abortion status quo and many legislators are holding their votes hostage, waiting to see what the abortion language looks like in the final version.

Since it’s increasingly difficult to follow the differences between the two versions of the reform legislation, the Associated Press put together an interactive article to help you see how your healthcare would be impacted by each version of the bill. Also, to see how reform will affect women’s health specifically, check out this article.

Wait... WHAT?! Your Jaw Dropping Moment of the Week:

CBS, the network bringing us the SuperBowl this year, has a standard “No Advocacy in Advertising” policy which they are apparently more than willing to bend. During this year’s game, keep your eyes open for an anti-choice ad featuring 2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam. RH Reality Check explains that CBS has previously rejected ads by MoveOn.org and NBC has rejected a PSA on marriage equality—apparently anti-choice ads don’t fall under the same “no advocacy” policy.

Video of the Week: Keith Olbermann Explains Implications of Scott Roeder’s Trial

The Wichita, Kansas trial of the man who has admitted he killed abortion doctor George Tiller last May began Friday, and confessed killer Scott Roeder could end up with just four to six years in prison. Southern Poverty Law Centers Mark Potok discusses the ramifications in this Keith Olbermann segment.

What does “Trust Women” Mean To You?

This is a post from one of our wonderful volunteers and friends:

In Sweet Agony on January 22, 2010 at 6:27 am

Today is NARAL’s Blog for Choice Day, and I will explain what “Trust Women,” the phrase for pro-choicers everywhere, means to me.
Last year, on Saturday mornings as I walked into work, a building which was in between an anti-choice, deceptive “Crisis Pregnancy Center” and a Planned Parenthood, I would witness the crowd of (mostly men) protesters hound the patients as they tried to get into the PP. I saw how the protesters tried to yell loud enough to penetrate the PP escort’s shielding umbrellas. I saw young men walking in circles with their rosaries, trying to make some sort of righteous statement of their all-holy, open showcase of prayer (which, last time I checked, Jesus seriously looked down upon?) See Matthew 6:5-6:
Matthew 6:5-6: “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men….when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret….”
These people aren’t trying to help. They aren’t doing the will of God, either. They waste their time by yelling swear words, awful derogatory names, flashing their explicit fetus posters, bringing their own children to such a situation, twisting the words of God, when will they learn?
When I picked up my escorting vest, I joined the team of others who really, Trust Women. The fact that such phrase is needed is insane to me- is it suppose to be sarcastic? ‘trust half of the worlds’ population’? Unfortunately, it is not sarcastic. There are people out there who really believe their opinion is the law of the land, the moral standard everyone must follow, the most superior.
Trusting women means that whether one would or wouldn’t undergo this common medical procedure, one believes that there are a million reasons that women do get abortions and one ought not control another’s body as a slave to say what she can or cannot do with it.

Roe Celebration highlights!

Last night the Minnesota Choice Coalition along with 50 members of the Pro-Choice Community gathered last night to commemorate the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade at Azia Restaurant in Minneapolis. The event provided great opportunity for individuals to connect with other choice supporters in the community and reaffirm their commitment to reproductive justice.

During the event, members of the coalition presented calls to action for the attendees ranging from participating in Choice Lobby at the Capitol to broadcasting pro-choice issues via social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

“These events are great because we are able to gather as a strong collective and after we leave we need to have ways to keep our voices strong and these actions are an excellent way to do that.” said Linnea House, Executive Director of Pro-Choice Minnesota Foundation.

The Minnesota Choice Coalition consists of eight non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving reproductive freedom in Minnesota. While each member organization serves a vital and unique purpose in the pro-choice community, we collaborate to organize rallies, events, and education projects.

Member organizations include: Midwest Health Center for Women, Minnesota National Organization for Women, Minnesota Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota, National Council of Jewish Women, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Pro-Choice Resources.

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia is in todays Washigton Post

NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia made the front page of the Metro Section in today's Washington Post. The story wouldn't have happened without the affiliate's work exposing how anti-choice crisis pregnancy centers mislead women about their health-care options.
Questions raised about anti-abortion groups getting Va. license plate fee - washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com

Support the Sex Education Resolution for 2010 Caucuses!

It’s time for the 2010 Precinct Caucuses! Another election cycles is beginning and the caucuses offer us two important opportunities, the first is to start narrowing the field of candidates for office and the second is to offer amendments to Party platforms! Regardless of your party affiliation you have the right to offer up amendments to your party’s platform.
NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota in concert with the Minnesota Choice Coalition has prepared a resolution to support sexuality education programs that include information about abstinence, contraception and disease prevention.
So please remember to attend your precinct caucus on Feb 2nd 2010 and vote for the candidates you feel strongly about and take this opportunity to stand up for Minnesota’s youth and demand your party support age appropriate comprehensive sexuality education!
For a copy of the resolution click here.
Unsure of how a caucus works? Come to a Caucus Training! For a list of trainings click here.
Unsure of your caucus location? Click here.

2009 Highs and Lows for Pro-Choice Americans

January 19, 2010

As Congress Debates Abortion Coverage in Health-Care Reform,
New Report Shows 2009 a Mix of Highs and Lows for
Pro-Choice Americans in the States

Washington, D.C.—NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation today released the 19th edition of Who Decides? The Status of Women’s Reproductive Rights in the United States, the nation’s most comprehensive report on choice-related legislation and court decisions. This report, which comes as Congress continues to debate abortion coverage in health-care reform, shows a mix of progress and setbacks for choice across the country.

On the federal level, President Obama reversed anti-choice policies enacted by the previous administration and nominated individuals with pro-choice records to key federal positions. NARAL Pro-Choice America also successfully worked with allies in Congress to lift a ban on Washington, D.C.’s ability to use locally raised funds to provide abortion services for low-income women, eliminate two discredited “abstinence-only” programs, and increase funding for domestic and international family-planning programs.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, said that House and Senate passage of health-reform bills that include provisions making it more difficult or virtually impossible for women to buy insurance with abortion coverage in the new system overshadowed the progress.

“For pro-choice Americans, 2009 was a roller-coaster ride,” Keenan said. “On one hand, we saw positive changes in policies that will make a difference in the lives of women and their families. On the other hand, anti-choice politicians used health reform to advance destructive and divisive attacks on women’s access to abortion coverage. The challenges we face on health reform are a reminder that, despite our success in changing the choice-related composition of Congress and a pro-choice White House, anti-choice lawmakers still outnumber our pro-choice allies. Every time we take a step forward we will face unrelenting resistance from anti-choice politicians who will sink to new lows to undermine women’s freedom and privacy.”

Keenan said the report outlined a similar combination of progress and setbacks at the state level, including the following highlights: Pro-Choice Progress:
In 2009, 14 states and Washington, D.C. enacted 21 pro-choice measures.
§ Wisconsin enacted a law that requires health-insurance plans that provide prescription-medication benefits to cover contraceptives and required pharmacists to fill valid birth-control prescriptions.
§ Hawaii, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Washington enacted laws that improve sex education in schools.
§ Utah and D.C. enacted laws to ensure that sexual-assault survivors receive information about and access to emergency contraception in emergency rooms.
Anti-Choice Attacks:
§ In 2009, 14 states enacted 29 anti-choice measures, increasing the number of anti-choice measures enacted in states since 1995 to 610.
§ Virginia enacted a law that establishes “Choose Life” license plates. A portion of the proceeds from these plates funds anti-choice organizations known as “crisis pregnancy centers” that target women considering abortion and often mislead, coerce, and intimidate them.
§ Arizona enacted a far-reaching law that includes a litany of anti-choice provisions that, among other things, subject women to state-mandated lectures and waiting periods that delay access to abortion care. The law also allows certain individuals or entities to refuse to provide abortion services and to refuse to provide or dispense contraceptives.

Keenan cited Arizona as a prime example of how a change in a state’s political landscape can have real consequences for a woman’s right to choose. Even though a court intervened and stopped some of that state’s new anti-choice provisions from taking effect, the 2009 law caused Arizona’s grade on reproductive rights to drop from a B- to a D+.

“The departure of pro-choice champion Janet Napolitano from the governor’s mansion in Arizona illustrates the importance of having elected leaders who stand up for a woman’s right to choose,” Keenan said. “Arizona’s new anti-choice governor is a willing participant in attacks on women’s privacy – a complete reversal of former Gov. Napolitano’s legacy as a defender of pro-choice values. That means women are worse off today in Arizona than they were at this time last year.”

Keenan also said that NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation dedicated this edition of the Who Decides? report to the late Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider who was murdered inside his church in May, and his family, to all abortion-care providers, and to the late Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts.

The report, which includes a summary of federal and state laws as well as a ranking and grades of states, may be found at: http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/whodecides.Contact: Ted Miller, 202-973-3032

State pays for misinformation

Check out the Minnesota Indepdent's latest article on Minnesota paying for ‘misinformation’ about reproductive health through crisis pregnancy centers. Some of these “taxpayer-funded programs are intentionally misleading women in crisis by providing inaccurate information about reproductive health options” such as abortion and birth control.
To read the entire article, click here.

Happy New Year, Choice Lobbyists!

This is the latest from NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota's CHoice Lobby Network:

TAKE ACTION NOW!
Ben Nelson’s Stupak-esque amendment was originally tabled by the Senate. However, when Nelson threatened to vote against the healthcare reform bill, his anti-choice amendment was added back into the bill.

In a recent call to action by NARAL Pro-Choice America’s CEO Nancy Keenan, she says, “Right now, both the House and Senate versions of the bill include dangerous and unacceptable restrictions on abortion coverage. If we don't act immediately, women could face significant barriers to accessing abortion care in the new health system.”
Add your name to our national petition to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama calling on them to fix the bill before bringing it to a final vote.
Video Feature
CNN’s Anderson Cooper takes a trip to a Planned Parenthood clinic in New York City and explores the facts of abortion access and cost (setting aside politics, for a brief moment).

Wait…WHAT?! (your jaw dropping moment of the week)
Across the country volunteers donate their time to ensure the safety of those visiting clinics which provide abortions. These clinic escorts typically wear bright colored vests so patients can easily identify them as allies amongst the protesters. In Louisville, KY, anti-choice protesters have hit a new level of deceit—they are wearing the same kind of vests as the clinic escorts further confusing and harassing patients.

Cultural Variations in the Abortion Debate
In South Korea, under the country’s Mother and Child Health Law, abortions are only permitted “when the mother’s health is in serious danger, or in cases of rape, incest, or severe hereditary disorders.” Abortions after the first 24 weeks of pregnancy aren’t allowed under any circumstances. However, until lately, abortions performed illegally were rarely prosecuted or publically debated because society considers it a private, family issue. This New York Times article examines the reasoning behind the new emerging public debate on abortion.

Top 10 Wins for Women’s Health in 2009
Yes, we’re all extremely concerned with how healthcare reform is going to turn out and what it will mean for women’s reproductive rights and abortion access. Amongst all of the stress of this debate, we should take time to remember the positive, pro-women’s health events of 2009. RH Reality Check helps us do just that.

Upcoming NARAL Events
ü 37th Roe Anniversary Event! Join NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota and the Pro-Choice Coalition from 6-8pm on Thursday, January 21st at Azia Restaurant in Minneapolis (Map). For more information, check out NARAL’s blog here.

ü Save the date! Pro-Choice Lobby Day is March 4th at the Capitol including a rally in the rotunda and meeting your legislators. Put it on your calendars now!

This Is Our Last Chance for Action

It's time for our leaders in Washington to sit down and work out the details of the final health-care-reform bill.
Both the House and Senate versions of the bill include dangerous and unacceptable restrictions on women's access to abortion coverage.
Sign the petition to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama. Tell them to fix the bill before bringing it to a final vote.
Our goal is to collect 30,000 signatures by January 20, 2010 – please add your name today!
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=4121

Roe is turning 37! Come and celebrate with us at Azia!

Please join NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota and the Minnesota Choice Coalition as we gather to celebrate the 37th anniversary of Roe verses Wade. The fight for safe legal abortion lead to the land mark decision on January 22nd 1973 and maintaining that right has been an uphill struggle. From the Hyde Amendment to the Stupak/Pitts Amendment the anti-choice forces have been attempting to restrict a woman’s right to choose. Let’s take this time to celebrate 37 years of a woman’s right to choose and celebrate of victories and strengthen our resolve to stand together against any and all attacks on choice!

Thank you and we hope to see you at Azia!


Date: Thursday, January 21, 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Azia Restaurant
Street: 2550 Nicollet Ave S
City/Town: Minneapolis, MN
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