On Thursday the anti-choice forces introduced an egregious anti-choice amendment to the bill that funds our state’s health program for low-income people.
That’s right; it was a Stupak/Pitts-type amendment to a program that doesn’t even cover abortion. Fortunately, the amendment was defeated by a tied vote and the bill went on to approval 125 to 9.
This type of amendment is why we need so many pro-choice legislators at the Capitol, and why your elected representatives need to know where you stand on the right to choose.
We have the perfect opportunity for you to then thank your representative or voice your outrage!
Join us on March 4 for our Pro-Choice Lobby Day! Spend the morning with us, and you can personally thank the representatives who stood strong against this type of political nonsense or let those who voted the wrong way know how disappointed you are.
Visit ProChoiceLobbyDay.org to learn more and RSVP!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sex Ed Bills Introduced!
The 2010 legislative session is underway and sex ed is in the mix! Our 2010 strategy is to expand the audience of legislators in the know about sex ed - and who better to hear about the positive impacts of responsible sex ed than the Health and Human Service Policy committees. This year Minnesota has seen serious increases in HIV and STI rates - following two years of increasing adolescent pregnancy rates. Young people need access to developmentally appropriate, medically accurate information now.
Responsible sex ed bills were introduced (HF2986/SF2645) earlier this week and referred to health policy committee! The best way for you to support these bills is to attend Pro-Choice Lobby Day on March 4th and tell your Legislators to stand up for Minnesota's kids. Simply go to www.prochoicelobbyday.org and sign up today!
Responsible sex ed bills were introduced (HF2986/SF2645) earlier this week and referred to health policy committee! The best way for you to support these bills is to attend Pro-Choice Lobby Day on March 4th and tell your Legislators to stand up for Minnesota's kids. Simply go to www.prochoicelobbyday.org and sign up today!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The reality of 'reproductive coercion'
A recent study has been published that shows the horrifying reality of women who have been forced into pregnancy by their partners. The article also claims that a huge majority of unintended pregnancies are due to this phenomenon.
Elizabeth Miller MD PhD and Jay Silverman PhD recently released a study highlighting what they call “reproductive coercion”, which includes forced sex, fear of violence if a woman refuses sex, or inability to negotiate condom or contraceptive use while in an abusive relationship. The actions of these abusive partners include taking off or intentionally breaking condoms, interfering with the woman’s birth control schedule, or threatening the woman into sex by saying they may beat the woman or leave her if she didn’t get pregnant.
The researchers talked to many women in five reproductive health care clinics in California seeking some form of treatment, and had them fill out an anonymous electronic questionnaire.
Shockingly, 53% of the participants reported that they had experienced physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives, and 25% had experienced ‘reproductive coercion.”
19% reported pregnancy coercion, and 15% experienced birth control sabotage.
The study mentions several applications of the study’s findings, such as the need to educate women who may consider physical violence and reproductive coercion as separate experiences, when instead they should be considered one in the same. It could also improve family planning services and counselors, which could point women toward contraception that would be harder for a woman’s partner to detect.
The fact that so many women are affected by this abusive behavior is severely disheartening, and points out the need to educate young girls in how to avoid getting into this kind of situation both in Minnesota and nationwide.
Help NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota lobby for change in reproductive education March 4th at the Capitol!
Elizabeth Miller MD PhD and Jay Silverman PhD recently released a study highlighting what they call “reproductive coercion”, which includes forced sex, fear of violence if a woman refuses sex, or inability to negotiate condom or contraceptive use while in an abusive relationship. The actions of these abusive partners include taking off or intentionally breaking condoms, interfering with the woman’s birth control schedule, or threatening the woman into sex by saying they may beat the woman or leave her if she didn’t get pregnant.
The researchers talked to many women in five reproductive health care clinics in California seeking some form of treatment, and had them fill out an anonymous electronic questionnaire.
Shockingly, 53% of the participants reported that they had experienced physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives, and 25% had experienced ‘reproductive coercion.”
19% reported pregnancy coercion, and 15% experienced birth control sabotage.
The study mentions several applications of the study’s findings, such as the need to educate women who may consider physical violence and reproductive coercion as separate experiences, when instead they should be considered one in the same. It could also improve family planning services and counselors, which could point women toward contraception that would be harder for a woman’s partner to detect.
The fact that so many women are affected by this abusive behavior is severely disheartening, and points out the need to educate young girls in how to avoid getting into this kind of situation both in Minnesota and nationwide.
Help NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota lobby for change in reproductive education March 4th at the Capitol!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Possible pro-choice license plate for Virginia
The Washington Post pointed out just one instance of pro-life supporters getting unfair representation last week.
Reproductive-rights advocates in Richmond, VA are pushing a license plate that says “Trust Women, Respect Choice” to balance out the “Choose Life” license plates already in the area.
This would make Virginia the fourth state in the U.S. to offer drivers the option. It’s also the only state that would require legislative approval for it. There are already 23 states that have approved the “choose life” plate, and the 520,000 that have been sold will be on roads in March.
Opponents of the licenses include the state’s attorney and the governor, who claim they have no problem with the plates, but instead that Planned Parenthood offices may make a profit. To provide the plates to drivers, the full legislature’s approval would be needed, along with the governor’s signature.
Supporters are threatening to sue if drivers aren’t given the option of the Pro-Choice plates, claiming it’s unconstitutional not to offer both options to drivers.
Reproductive-rights advocates in Richmond, VA are pushing a license plate that says “Trust Women, Respect Choice” to balance out the “Choose Life” license plates already in the area.
This would make Virginia the fourth state in the U.S. to offer drivers the option. It’s also the only state that would require legislative approval for it. There are already 23 states that have approved the “choose life” plate, and the 520,000 that have been sold will be on roads in March.
Opponents of the licenses include the state’s attorney and the governor, who claim they have no problem with the plates, but instead that Planned Parenthood offices may make a profit. To provide the plates to drivers, the full legislature’s approval would be needed, along with the governor’s signature.
Supporters are threatening to sue if drivers aren’t given the option of the Pro-Choice plates, claiming it’s unconstitutional not to offer both options to drivers.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Focus On... Something Else
CBS will air Focus on the Family's new anti-choice ad during the Super Bowl - subjecting nearly 100 million people to an ad that doesn't tell the true story of Focus on the Family's extreme agenda.
The ad will tell the story of Tim Tebow's mother, who in 1987 decided to continue a pregnancy which her doctors warned her could threaten her life. Does NARAL Pro-Choice America disagree with her decision?
No, we're not criticizing her decision. In fact, Tim Tebow's mother made the choice that was best for her and her family... and that's exactly what it means to be pro-choice. Unfortunately, Focus on the Family wants to take that choice away from other women.
Tell me more about Focus on the Family.
Focus on the Family has an unmistakable anti-choice, anti-birth-control, anti-sex-education, and anti-gay agenda. Its views on women are insulting and dangerous. Here are just a few of the outrageous claims the group has made:
Its web site urges women facing unintended pregnancy to seek "wise advice" because "the hormones and extreme emotions of pregnancy make reasonable decisions more difficult."
Its web site calls sex outside of marriage "destructive."
In 2008, Focus on the Family endorsed a divisive anti-choice "personhood" ballot measure in Colorado that would have banned abortion and threatened birth control. Fortunately, pro-choice Coloradoans, led by NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, resoundingly rejected this measure.
Focus on the Family spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to support California's discriminatory Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. The organization's founder, James Dobson, claimed that gay marriage will "destroy the Earth."
What you can do to show you're against this ad:
Instead of watching Focus on the Family's ad, for 30 seconds, just focus on… something else. Use Facebook and Twitter to tell everyone why you object to the ad and tell them what you'll focus on instead of watching it.
On Facebook, use this as your status update, and just add your answer in place of [YOUR ANSWER HERE]. Make sure to link to this page to help educate your friends.
Focus On The Family is anti-choice, anti-birth-control, & anti-gay. When its Super Bowl ad runs, I'll join @NARAL Pro-Choice America and #FocusOn [YOUR ANSWER HERE] http://bit.ly/b9RoSE. If you agree, post what you'll #FocusOn as your status.
Here's what to post on Twitter:
FocusOnTheFamily is anti-choice & anti-gay. When its SuperBowl ad runs, I'll join @naral & #FocusOn [YOUR ANSWER HERE] http://bit.ly/b9RoSE Pls RT
Here are some ideas for what to write:
I'll focus on catching up with my friends.
I'll focus on my family.
I'll focus on letting the dog out.
I'll focus on getting another beer.
I'll focus on refilling the salsa bowl.
I'll focus on watching the Puppy Bowl.
We're sure you can come up with other great ideas.
About NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America fights to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
The ad will tell the story of Tim Tebow's mother, who in 1987 decided to continue a pregnancy which her doctors warned her could threaten her life. Does NARAL Pro-Choice America disagree with her decision?
No, we're not criticizing her decision. In fact, Tim Tebow's mother made the choice that was best for her and her family... and that's exactly what it means to be pro-choice. Unfortunately, Focus on the Family wants to take that choice away from other women.
Tell me more about Focus on the Family.
Focus on the Family has an unmistakable anti-choice, anti-birth-control, anti-sex-education, and anti-gay agenda. Its views on women are insulting and dangerous. Here are just a few of the outrageous claims the group has made:
Its web site urges women facing unintended pregnancy to seek "wise advice" because "the hormones and extreme emotions of pregnancy make reasonable decisions more difficult."
Its web site calls sex outside of marriage "destructive."
In 2008, Focus on the Family endorsed a divisive anti-choice "personhood" ballot measure in Colorado that would have banned abortion and threatened birth control. Fortunately, pro-choice Coloradoans, led by NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, resoundingly rejected this measure.
Focus on the Family spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to support California's discriminatory Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in the state. The organization's founder, James Dobson, claimed that gay marriage will "destroy the Earth."
What you can do to show you're against this ad:
Instead of watching Focus on the Family's ad, for 30 seconds, just focus on… something else. Use Facebook and Twitter to tell everyone why you object to the ad and tell them what you'll focus on instead of watching it.
On Facebook, use this as your status update, and just add your answer in place of [YOUR ANSWER HERE]. Make sure to link to this page to help educate your friends.
Focus On The Family is anti-choice, anti-birth-control, & anti-gay. When its Super Bowl ad runs, I'll join @NARAL Pro-Choice America and #FocusOn [YOUR ANSWER HERE] http://bit.ly/b9RoSE. If you agree, post what you'll #FocusOn as your status.
Here's what to post on Twitter:
FocusOnTheFamily is anti-choice & anti-gay. When its SuperBowl ad runs, I'll join @naral & #FocusOn [YOUR ANSWER HERE] http://bit.ly/b9RoSE Pls RT
Here are some ideas for what to write:
I'll focus on catching up with my friends.
I'll focus on my family.
I'll focus on letting the dog out.
I'll focus on getting another beer.
I'll focus on refilling the salsa bowl.
I'll focus on watching the Puppy Bowl.
We're sure you can come up with other great ideas.
About NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice America fights to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wisconsin passing legislation for contraceptive education in schools
Wisconsin passed legislation Thursday, Jan 28th that will require all sex education classes to include instruction on contraceptives in an effort to reduce teen pregnancies. Information taught in classes would include health benefits, side effects, proper use, and other methods to prevent pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The measure was widely supported by nurses and health departments, the WI teacher's union, and the WI branch of Planned Parenthood. It passed in the Senate 18-15, with all Democrats backing the bill and all Republicans against it. Gov. Jim Doyle said he supported the bill as well. The measure would take effect in the 2010 school year.
Opponents of the bill said that it sent a pro-premarital sex message, and that schools should instead focus on teaching abstinence as a way to prevent pregnancies or STIs.
Sadly, this would make WI only one of 16 states required to include contraceptive education in their sex education classes. Also, WI is one of 22 remaining states that require abstinence and celibacy to be stressed as the best choice for protection against pregnancy.
It is tremendously important that Minnesota follow in Wisconsin's footsteps and add contraceptive education into all sex education class agendas. MN teens are faced with horrifying statistics, like the fact that 1 in 4 MN teens contract an STI by the time they reach 24,rates of HIV infections were up by 13 percent in 2009, and 1 in 3 women will become pregnant by the age of 21. A vast majority of this can be avoided with comprehensive sex education.
Help us to shed light on the necessity of sex education at Pro-choice Lobby Day on March 4th at the Capitol!
Opponents of the bill said that it sent a pro-premarital sex message, and that schools should instead focus on teaching abstinence as a way to prevent pregnancies or STIs.
Sadly, this would make WI only one of 16 states required to include contraceptive education in their sex education classes. Also, WI is one of 22 remaining states that require abstinence and celibacy to be stressed as the best choice for protection against pregnancy.
It is tremendously important that Minnesota follow in Wisconsin's footsteps and add contraceptive education into all sex education class agendas. MN teens are faced with horrifying statistics, like the fact that 1 in 4 MN teens contract an STI by the time they reach 24,rates of HIV infections were up by 13 percent in 2009, and 1 in 3 women will become pregnant by the age of 21. A vast majority of this can be avoided with comprehensive sex education.
Help us to shed light on the necessity of sex education at Pro-choice Lobby Day on March 4th at the Capitol!
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