Good News: Anti-choice amendments FAIL in senate committee

I know a feminist's work is never done, but once in a while, we should stop to celebrate our victories.

Published on RHRealityCheck.org (http://www.rhrealitycheck.org)

Anti-Choice Amendments Fail in Senate HELP Committee
By Emily Douglas
Created Jul 13 2009 - 4:18pm

Chalk up a second win for women's health on the road to health care reform: today, the Senate HELP Committee defeated a handful of anti-choice amendments to the Affordable Health Choices Act, its version of health care reform legislation (the first win, remember, was passage of a Sen. Barbara Mikulski-sponsored amendment to increase access to basic preventive care for women, including cancer screenings and contraceptives, and prohibit the practice of gender-rating among insurers).

Senators Hatch (R-UT), Ensign (R-NV) and Coburn (R-OK) were behind the anti-choice amendments, which were intended to hamper women's access to comprehensive health care in any number of ways. They would have prohibited any public funding of abortion including through private plans made available through a health insurance exchange; would have expanded provider refusal clauses (we've been through that fight before [1]); and would have pre-emptively stated that the bill, if passed in final form, would not supercede existing state laws, such as parental notification statutes, restricting access to abortion care.

Each amendment failed along a nearly-straight party line vote, with Sen. Robert Casey of Pennsylvania the only Democrat to vote for the amendments.

This may not be the last we see of amendments like these, however -- the Senate Finance Committee will soon mark up its own version of health care reform, and the tri-Committee House bill is another avenue through which anti-choice amendments could be trotted out.

Posted by,
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

Pro-Life leader questions need for diversity

Please watch the following video, which features incoming NOW President Terry, along with Elisabeth Crum, who was on the Young Feminist Task Force workshop with me at the NOW National Conference in Indiana.

I am so glad Operation Rescue's leader questions the need for diversity in Supreme Court. This just proves how ridiculous that Pro-Life group's argument is. He is clearly racist, as many of those people are.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/video/2009/07/13/VI2009071302693.html?referrer=emaillink

Posted by,
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

Action Alert: Help Pass the Women's Equality Amendment

Join NOW with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney as she Reintroduces the Women's Equality Amendment. Take Action! Send an Email to Congress and President Obama to say "YES" to Women's Equality. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney to Reintroduce Women's Equality Amendment on Capitol Hill Take Action! Tell Congress and President Obama and Congess that it's time! Did you know that women are not represented in the U.S. Constitution? Join NOW and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney as she proudly introduces the WOMEN'S EQUALITY AMENDMENT ON CAPITOL HILL! Tuesday, July 21st, at 10 a.m. House Triangle (on the Capitol side of Independence Avenue across from the Rayburn building). Show your support for putting women's rights in the U.S. Constitution. We need as many organizations and individuals as possible to join the Congresswoman on Tuesday to demonstrate the breadth and intensity of our commitment to equal rights. Please bring signs from your state, your home town, or your organization. Invite friends and family. Include your staff and summer interns. Come watch history being made. Lend your voice to the fight for women's rights! Call of email Congresswoman Maloney and thank her for her leadership: http://maloney.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=73 Washington Office: 202.225.7944 phone, Manhattan Office: 212-860-0606 phone Posted by: Jerin Alam National NOW Young Feminist Task Force National Organization for Women (NOW)

I Stand with Sotomayor

Today, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary will begin its hearing on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Throughout the week, Sotomayor for Justice will be providing complete coverage and analysis of the hearings from the best legal experts in the country.

Working with our partners, we have compiled over 350 articles and reference materials to keep you informed on the facts and record of Judge Sotomayor going into today's hearings and will post analysis from our experts daily and in real-time through our blog and on Twitter.

Please note we have received word that Judge Sonia Sotomayor's opening statement at her confirmation hearings will be earlier than originally expected. Sotomayor is now expected to make her opening statement at 2pm Eastern.

Here are 5 simple ways you can show your support for Sotomayor.

Live Stream of Confirmation Hearings
Sotomayor for Justice will live stream every minute of the hearings as a public service to help inform and educate everyone about the qualifications, experience, and commitment to justice that Judge Sotomayor has exemplified in her life and career.

Find a Watch Party
Join others in your community and come out and join a watch party. Watch the hearings, join in the conversation, and make new friends.

Sotomayor for Justice Blog
Read and comment on the expert opinion of legal analyst on our blog. You don't have to be a lawyer to comment and show your support for Sotomayor.

Nomination Tweets
Sotomayor for Justice will track all of the conversations on Twitter around her nomination in real time. Anytime, anyone, anywhere, tweets about Sotomayor we'll pick it up and report it to you.

Free Poster Download (and more)
Show your support by downloading your free poster of "I Stand with Sotomayor".

The community is bursting with pride and excitement over the pending confirmation of Judge Sotomayor. She has an impeccable record of accomplishment and possesses all of the credentials and experience that make her worthy of serving on the nation’s highest court. We look forward to making her confirmation hearings accessible to everyone and to share in this historical event.


Sincerely,
Henry Solano
Henry Solano
Interim President and General Counsel
MALDEF

P.S. Be sure to tell your friends and family. They'll appreciate the reminder!

Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

THF: The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World

Posted by: THF (HappyFeminist@gmail.com)

Book available here.

There are few times when I have felt this proud to be a Hunter student. I am proud, very much so, I love my school more than I ever expected to love an institution. But today, looking through this book, I felt in awe.

Dr. Joni Seager is in Hunter College's Department of Geography, and her areas of expertise are vast: "Militarism and environment; feminist geography and the comparative international status of women; international environmental policy." She presented her book at the Association of American Geographers Conference in Las Vegas, where my friend first heard about this.

If you follow our twitter (we're up to 330 followers!), my wonderful friend and active Women's Rights Coalition member, Stefanie Faith Gray, got a chance to meet her and got me a copy of her book. So, thank you yet again, Stef, for introducing me to something amazing.

Hunter pride and celebrity-professor love aside, the book is full of great data...horrible, horrible facts to know about the world and country in which we live. The book includes jaw-dropping information on female genital mutilation (FGM), rape, forced prostitution, etc. and was published in 2009, so it's up-to-date.

Were you curious about which countries have the highest maternal mortality? Have I got a book for you! (Ugh).

I stray from my normal posts about good news, you say? No, not really. Think of all of the debates you've ever gotten into with that jackass in your women's studies/poli sci class who says,"I think people blow this sexism thing way out of proportion." Wouldn't you love to have a lightweight paperback to carry around with you that you could pull out in class and say, "Oh, wait. Here's some facts from the UN and the US Department of State. SURVEY SAYS: You're an idiot"?

The book is packed full of easily visible data, with pages and pages of world maps color-coded with explanations on percentages of women affected, often broken down by race/ethnicity and religion. The result ends up being so easy to use, it reads like a magazine. In fact, it reminded me of the (though often odd-looking) analyses Newsweek would do, years ago when my family still had a subscription.

Here is a clip of the CEDAW signatories map:

(C) Joni Seager, Myriad Editions Limited 2009

If you are curious about buying it, may I also recommend IndieBound.org, a website that connects independent book sellers (after a fun three-month-long fight for a sexual harassment case I dealt with at, let's call it, "Boundaries," I am no longer interested in huge corporation book retailers). The book is there for you to purchase or find locally.

I commend Dr. Seager for this undertaking and thank her for providing us with such a great tool!

Good News: Your voices have been heard!

ACTION ALERT Dear Jerin, Your voices have been heard! This morning, the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (Labor HHS) eliminated traditional sources of funding for abstinence-only programs by passing the appropriations bill for FY 2010. The Labor HHS subcommittee and the Obama Administration has recognized what we already knew: abstinence-only sex education programs do not work. The evidence is irrefutable that spending for abstinence-only education is not only wasteful, but also the programs put young women's health at risk. A 2004 study by the House Committee on Government Reform, conducted at the request of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-30-CA) found that over 80% of the curricula used in the largest federally funded abstinence-only programs contained "false, misleading, or distorted information about reproductive health." In addition to pulling the plug on funding for failed abstinence-only sex education programs, the bill eliminates a ban on syringe exchange programs, which have been proven to be a highly effective strategy for preventing HIV. The subcommittee's approval of this bill is terrific news, but our work is not complete. The bill will now face a vote in the House Appropriations Committee and in the full House of Representatives. Thank you for speaking out! For Equality, Norma Gattsek Government Relations Director P.S. We will keep you up-to-date on future votes on this bill. Posted by: Jerin Alam National NOW Young Feminist Task Force National Organization for Women (NOW)

Sexual Assault Survivor Resources

If you or someone you know is a survivor, PLEASE get help. It's never too late. If you are wondering if what happened to you was sexual assault, please speak to someone. I know it might seem scary to start this journey, but I guarantee you will come out a stronger and happier person in the end.

Sexual Assault Services for survivors

• Counseling
• self-defense
• acupuncture &
• Yoga.

Most resources are free for survivors or have a small fee.

OUTSIDE CUNY

The complete list: http://nycagainstrape.org/resources.html

The following are places I personally know of. However, any of the services in the above guide should be helpful.

Organization	Services
Center for Anti-Violence Education (CAE) http://caeny.org/ Susan J. Moesker CVPP Coordinator 327 7th Street, 2nd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11215 phone (718) 788-1775 fax (718) 499-2284 *NEW* email: susan@caeny.org	Free 5-week workshops for survivors of sexual or domestic violence. They do not ask for proof that you are survivor. They offer a sliding scale fee for others. It is $100 for students.
Mount Sinai Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI) http://www.mssm.edu/savi/%20/%20_blank Angela Cummings, SAVI community organizer angela.cummings@mssm.edu Manhattan: (212) 423-2149	Throughout the year, SAVI offers short-term groups for adult survivors of rape, domestic violence, and childhood sexual abuse. Please call (212) 423-2140 to inquire about these and other groups that may be in development. Short-term individual counseling
New York Center for Children Address: 333 E 70th St. New York, NY 10021 Contact: Kathryn Schwartz , Administrative Director Phone: (212) 517-3012 Fax: (212) 517-6738 E-Mail: katie@newyorkcenterforchildren.org Website: Go Hours: M-F 9-5pm, by appt Handicapped Accessible Languages: Spanish, American Sign Language	Adult Female Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group When: Tuesdays evenings, 6:30-8pm Beginning September 8th for 14-16 weeks The group is free and confidential.
New York Jiu Jitsu (212) 343 - 8310 666 Broadway - Enter on Bond St. http://www.nyjiujitsu.com/	free trial week, or attend one of our monthly free rape prevention seminars. In addition we offer discounted prices for college students, NYC public school teachers, NYPD, FDNY, military personnel and government agents.
Safe Horizon Program: Brooklyn Rape and Sexual Assault Program When: Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 Time: 6:00 â€" 7:30 pm Who: Survivors of rape/sexual assault and/or survivors of childhood sexual abuse/incest and their allies. Allies include supportive friends and family, and service providers. 18+ years of age required. Yoga Yoga is an ancient system of breathing practices, physical exercises and postures, and meditation intended to integrate the practitioner's body, mind, and spirit. Yoga is a form of exercise that uses slow movements and stretching. It is good for increasing flexibility and balance. It is also good for relieving stress and relaxing. Where: Safe Horizon, 50 Court Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn NY. (Take the 2, 3, 4, 5 Trains to Borough Hall, the A, C, F Trains to Jay Street, or N, R Trains to Court Street) Also: Wear comfortable clothing, and bring a yoga mat or towel. Class is appropriate for all levels of yoga practice â€" beginners very welcome! Please contact the Brooklyn Rape and Sexual Assault Program to register: (718) 834-6688, ext 21 or email: josephine.torielli@safehorizon.org or alella@safehorizon.org	Yoga Healing Activity Drop-In Group
St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital : Crime Victims Treatment Center Address: 411 W 114th ST. , Suite 2C New York, NY 10025 Contact: Susan Xenarios , Director Phone: (212) 523-4728 Fax: (212) 523-4781 E-Mail: cvtc@cvtc-slr.org Languages: Spanish Hours: M-F 9-5 PM, by appt Handicapped Accessible ALL SERVICES FREE	Counseling: Short-term individual. Long-term individual. Short-term group counseling as scheduled. Telephone counseling. Other Services: Information and referral services to all populations. Creative arts therapy. Acupuncture every other Monday at 6pm for one hour.

WITHIN HUNTER

Short-term counseling on campus

Hunter College Personal Counseling Services

Stop by room 1123 Hunter East Building or call (212) 772-4931.

sudi.shayesteh@hunter.cuny.edu

Sudi Shayesteh
Director, Personal Counseling Services

Alicia K. Czachowski, MPH
Coordinator of Health Services
Hunter College, CUNY
695 Park Avenue, 307 HN
New York, New York 10021
p (212) 772-4800
e (aczachow@hunter.cuny.edu)

WITHIN CUNY

Directory of CUNY Women's Center's Council

College	Services
Borough of Manhattan Community College Women's Resource Center 199 Chambers Street, Rm. S360 New York, NY 10007 Deborah Parker, Director Tel: 212-220-8165 Fax: 212-220-8182 Email: doparker@bmcc.cuny.edu M - F , 9am-5pm	On & off Campus Referrals Resource Library Respite Lounge Support Groups Workshop on Health, Domestic Violence, Parenting, Relationships and Career Planning Women's Leadership Conference Weekend
Brooklyn College Women's Center 2900 Bedford Ave., Rm. 227NE Brooklyn, NY 11210 Sau-Fong Au, Director Phone: 718-951-5777 Fax: 718-951-5477 Email: sau@brooklyn.cuny.edu M - Th. 10am-6pm	A multi-functional drop in space, computer lounge and resources Crisis intervention counseling/advocacy On and off campus referrals A variety of workshops and performances cover a wide range of topics and interests: Sexual harassment, Financial/Career planning, Cutting edge artistic showcase, Rape/domestic violence, Sexuality/women's health, Leadership /organizing development. Home for on and off campus student clubs and organizations Programmatic consultation to community based organizations and local schools
College of Staten Island Women's Center wmscenter@mail.csi.cuny.edu 2800 Victory Blvd., Rm. 2N-106 Staten Island, NY 10314 Dr. Ellen Goldner, Program Coordinator Phone: 718-982-2871 Fax: 718-982-3643 Email: Egoldner@mail.csi.cuny.edu T 9:30am - 2:30pm ; W 1:30 pm-5:30pm & Th.11am-2pm	Referral Brochures Workshops Support Groups Seminars Workshops
CUNY Graduate Center The Center for the Study of Women and Society 365 Fifth Avenue, Rm. 5116 New York, NY 10016 Dr. Ann Humpherys, Director Tel: 212-817-8905 Fax: 212-817-2988 Email AHumpherys@gc.cuny.edu M-F, 9am-5pm	Symposiums Lectures Collaborations with grass-root and professional organizations
John Jay College of Criminal Justice Women's Center 445 West 59th Street, Rm. 3322N New York, NY 10019 Dr. Katie Gentile, Director Tel: 212-237-8110 Fax: 212-237-8282 Email: kgentile@jjay.cuny.edu M 1pm-5pm; T/Th. 10am-5pm & F 12pm-7pm	Referrals Counseling Supervision for counselors & externs Conferences Film Presentations Seminars Workshops Grant procuring for research projects, student housing funding Advising
Kingsborough Community College Women's Resource Center 2001 Oriental Blvd., Rm. M382 Brooklyn, NY 11235 Dr. Estelle Miller, Director Tel: 718- 368-4700 Fax: 718-368-6573 Email: EMiller@Kingsborough.edu M-Th. 8:30 am -5:30pm & F 9am-4pm	Referrals Counseling Film Presentations Workshops Support groups Academic tutoring
LaGuardia Community College Student Women's Center 31-10 Thomson Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 Dr. Vanessa Bing, Faculty Advisor Tel:718-482-5787 Fax: 718-482-2019 No Office Hours womencenter@lagcc.cuny.edu	Seminars Workshops Peer Support Groups Referrals
Medgar Evers College Center for Women's Development 1665 Bedford Avenue, Rm.2023P Brooklyn, NY 11225 Safiya Bandele, Director Tel: 718-270-5155 Fax: 718-270-5181 Email: safiya@mec.cuny.edu M-Th. 9am-7pm; F 9am-5pm	Referrals Counseling Film Presentations Seminars Support Groups Workshops Individual counseling and advocacy Emergency metro cards Off-campus workshop for adolescents Special programs
Queens College Women's Center- Student Org. Student Union-Rathaus Hall 65-30 Kissena Blvd. Rm M101 Flushing, NY 11367 Phone: 718-997-5000 Contact: qcwomenscenterclub@yahoo.com	Domestic Violence Walk Fundraising activities Guest Speakers Outreach programs Self defense class Girl talk Debate
York College Women's Center 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard Jamaica, N.Y. 11451 Linda Mckinzie-Daugherty, Program Coordinator Phone: 718.262.2941 Fax: 718.262.2009 Email: mckinzie@york.cuny.edu M-Th, 10am-10pm; Sat. 11am-3pm & 1 Sun. per month 12pm-4pm	On & Off Campus Referrals Resource Literature Respite Lounge Workshops Film Presentations Advising & Support Career and Life Planning Advisement Walk and Talk Groups Stress Reduction Activities Special Events Host Office for the Women's Club

Sincerely,
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
National Organization for Women (NOW)

EVENT: Queens - Abortion Rights: Why We Need a New Movement

QUEENS
Wednesday, July 22
7pm
Queens Diversity Center
76-11 37th Ave, 2d Fl.
Jackson Heights, Queens
(btwn 76th St & 77th St)
E/F/R/V/G or 7 to the 74th/ Roosevelt
isojacksonheights@gmail.com
nycsocialist.org

Featuring JENNIFER ROESCH
Author, Turning Back the Clock: Women, Work, and Family today
Editorial Board, International Socialist Review

"This battle is about self-determination by women of the direction and course of their lives and their family's lives. Abortion is about women's hopes and dreams. Abortion is a matter of survival for all women."

-Public statement by Dr. George Richard Tiller in 2001.
Dr. Tiller was murdered May 31, 2009 in Wichita, Kansas, while attending church with his family. He was one of three providers of late-term abortion in the U.S.
Abortion rights are under attack. The right wing has waged a 35-year war on women's rights: now 51% of people consider themselves "pro-life". Abortion "alternative" clinics now outnumber abortion clinics 2 to 1. It is time to rebuild an abortion rights movement that is unapologetic in its demand for women's control of their own bodies.

THF: Recipe for awesome

Posted by: THF (HappyFeminist@gmail.com)
Image via: Seagull

My recipe for today? Two parts good news, four parts activism, stir.

Good domestic news: D.C., starting today, will recognize same-sex marriages.

The D.C. Council has passed a gay marriage recognition bill. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has signed it. The Board of Elections and Ethics has rejected a referendum effort aimed at overturning it. A Superior Court judge has upheld that decision.

Good foreign news: Uganda will pass a bill that outlaws female genital mutilation (FGM).

"The way God made it, there is no part of a human body that is useless," President Yoweri Museveni told a gathering in the eastern Karamoja district.

These things don't happen by themselves! Keep up the good work, feminists (wherever you may be!)

With that in mind, now is a good time for some quick activism:

1. Give your Member of Congress a call today and remind them health care can’t wait!
2. Sign the petition and declare your independence from the insurance industry.
3. Tell Congress that we want real healthcare reform now.
4. Make sure reproductive-health services are covered in the new health-care system.

And don't miss Sarah Haskin's latest!



News via: California NOW, Twitter's @Haliburton, @FeministCampus (the girls from the Feminist Majority Foundation or FMF), and @ShelbyKnox. Thanks so much!

THF: May I have health care reform, now, please?

Posted by: THF (HappyFeminist@gmail.com)
Image via: WebMD

Now, I know we're all freaking out about Sarah Palin's resignation and trying to figure out which scandal caused it. But there's other stuff going on in D.C. this summer! Like health care: a huge deal that has great timing right now and means a lot to Americans. About 22,000 people lose their lives in the U.S. every year due to lack of insurance. This is a national issue, and this needs to be addressed. And soon! But I did not know how exactly it affected women until I got on twitter and saw @daninespencer (Danine Spencer) post a link to a blog post she wrote. She quotes the following data (emphasis mine):

"The good news is that most women do have health insurance.

• 64% have employer-based coverage
• 10% are on Medicaid.
• 6% have private policies
• 3% are enrolled in other government programs (i.e., military)

The bad news is that women are much more likely than men to be covered as a dependent on a spouse's employer-sponsored health insurance. (This may change as the "he-cession" continues.) Twenty-five percent of women (23.7 million) are covered as dependents. This makes them more vulnerable to losing their insurance if their spouse loses his job or the employer drops family coverage. They are also more likely to lose their insurance if they are divorced or widowed. (I know one woman who divorced her husband of 40 years when she was 62 years old. Since she wasn't eligible for Medicare yet, she had to negotiate for three years of health insurance in the divorce settlement.)

Only 39% of women (37 million) have their own job-based insurance. These are the women the system is supposedly "working" for but health care costs are rising every day whether you have insurance or not."

You can read the rest of this great, informative post here. She gets her data from a Kaiser Foundation report, found here.

But, as always, I put the good news up here. So here it is:
Obama is making a serious push for health care this year. This has to pass first, though, through Congress.

According to NARAL, "the Republican leadership on the Senate Finance Committee is demanding health care reform language that will take away access to women's comprehensive reproductive health services." You can take action on this issue here.

So I urge you today, really, really urge you, to contact your representatives and senators and tell them that women need health care reform and they cannot wait. Do not let this issue go by another year.

UPDATE: NOW provides us with more fun data: "insurance companies tend to charge women age 55 and under more than men for the same coverage, even without including maternity care."

THF: Follow-ups to make you smile

Posted by: The Happy Feminist (HappyFeminist@gmail.com)

WASP pilot Bernice Falk Haydu pulls back the chair of President Barack Obama after signing S.614, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, in the Oval Office Wednesday, July 1, 2009. At far left is WASP pilot Elaine Danforth Harmon, and at right is Lorraine H. Rodgers. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) is at right in green. Current US Air Force pilots are in the background. Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) was established during World War II, and from 1942 to 1943, more than a thousand women joined, flying sixty million miles of non-combat military missions. Of the women who received their wings as Women Airforce Service Pilots, approximately 300 are living today. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

6/3/09 Edit: I previously posted on this topic, the link for that post is here.

Two Pro-Choice Events Coming Up Next Week

Re-Elect City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn!

Tuesday, July 7^th

5:30 PM

Quinn 2009 Campaign Headquarters

123 West 18th Street, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10011

Please join NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn and activists from NARAL Pro-Choice New York & Planned Parenthood of New York City to discuss issues important to New York City women and collect signatures to get Chris on the ballot!

Please RSVP to lhoward@prochoiceny.org or 646-520-3506

-------------------------------------------------------------

Choices: Abortion

Wednesday, July 8^th

6:30 PM- 8:30 PM

NARAL Pro-Choice New York

470 Park Avenue South, 7^th Floor, NYC

NARAL Pro-Choice New York and the National Institute for Reproductive Health in partnership with co-sponsors the New York Abortion Access Fund and Exhale presents: “Choices: Abortion”.

Presenters will share the work they do each day to provide financial assistance to low-income women who cannot afford to pay for an abortion, support and counsel women after they have an abortion, ensure that all women have the health care coverage and access necessary to obtain reproductive health care, and work on the legislative and political levels to ensure that all people have access to safe and legal abortion.

Presenters include:

Constance DeCherney, Board Chair, New York Abortion Access Fund

Kristen Schultz Oliver, Lead Trainer, Exhale

Myra Batchelder, Director, Low-Income Access Program, the National Institute for Reproductive Health

Sabrina Shulman, Political Director, NARAL Pro-Choice New York

Event is free and open to all with RSVP to Lalena Howard at lhoward@prochoiceny.org or 646-520-3506. Event space is wheel-chair accessible

Press about us

We (Women's Rights Coalition) were at the following event Saturday, and our work with the CUNY-wide sexual assault policy is mentioned!

http://who-will-kiss-the-pig.blogspot.com/2009/06/saturday-afternoon-in-tompkins-square.html
A serious moment about a serious subject: sexual assault among college students. Jerin Alam of the Young Feminist Task Force discusses the proposed CUNY sexual assault policy that students at the city university are trying to implement. One out of four women and one out of six men are sexually assaulted in colleges nationwide. For information and help, go to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network or call 800-621-HOPE.


Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
President, Hunter Women’s Rights Coalition (HWRC)

Helping Iran via Twitter

If anyone is on Twitter, set your location to Tehran and your time zone to GMT +3.30. Security forces are hunting for bloggers using location/timezone searches. The more people at this location, the more of a logjam it creates for forces trying to shut Iranians' access to the internet down. Cut & paste & pass it on.

Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
President, Hunter Women’s Rights Coalition (HWRC)

THF OMG: ALPHA WOMEN ATTACK THE LOWER EAST SIDE!

Posted by: THF, HappyFeminist@gmail.com

Come to a FREE and fun concert by women & their supporters.
Sat., June 27th, 2PM at Tompkins Square Park

Co-Emceed by Our Lady of Perpetual PMS and Killer Killy

KILLER KILLY (subversive comedic songs)
JENNIFER BLOWDRYER: (LES punk writer w/Tales from The Lower East Side)
RACHEL CLEARY: (political storyteller)
MICHELLE LEONA: (haunting and horny accordian songs)
ROSIE REBEL: (showcases her bra inventions...on roller skates!)
JERIN ALAM: (speaker- Women's Rights Coalition)
SARAH B.: (punk teen poet sensation)
NEOANGIN: (one man electronics-gone-mad-art band from Berlin w/paintings & masks)
RACHEL TRACHTENBURG AND THE OH MY GOD GIRLS:
(debut of the Teen Girl Indie Pop-Rock Players!)
JESSICA DELFINO: (raunchy, insurgent rock & folk)
LONE VEIN: (Day of The Dead-inspired gloom tunes)
RUBBER ROOM RATS: (Female-fronted freaky post-punk)
DETHRACE: (a theatrical art rock experience...10 ft. tall fiberglass super-robots, playing 666 volts of metal!)

Plus MORE TBA, coming soon!

Also featuring:
The twisted art and underground comix of Jenny Devildoll Gonzalez, and Daniella Day's Coney Island collage art.

Clothing Swap:
Bring or Take CLEAN WOMEN'S CLOTHING only!
(no winter clothes please)

Helpful info. and literature from local political groups and non-profits!

Produced by Our Lady of Perpetual PMS and THE SHADOW - NYC's underground newspaper since 1988*

Sponsors needed – please call 212-631-1181 (24hrs) or email: TheSHADOW@MediaFilter.org

REBUILD THE TOMPKINS SQ. PARK BANDSHELL - Sign the petitions at the shows!

*These shows celebrate the vitality and creativity of the counter cultural scene that has survived on the LES, despite the rampant gentrification, soaring rents and lost venues that have contributed to the cultural genocide sweeping New York City.

We will also be on stage to discuss the CUNY-wide sexual assault policy.

THF: Chirp, chirp!!

Art by: blue bird, by Narelle Craven
Posted by: THF, HappyFeminist@gmail.com


twitter.com/HappyFeminist

Holy. As of this morning, I had 177 followers. Tonight, I have 184. Oh, my goodness! I don't even know what to say on that front. I'll post about how Hunter is awesome regularly and how its Women's Rights Coalition is amazing. ;)

Event posting to come later tonight! Stay tuned.

Urge Governor Paterson to Sign A755-A / S958-B into Law to Protect Victims of Domestic Violence From Discrimination in the Workplace

A775A/S958B Bill Passes NYS Assembly and NYS Senate

Take Action!
Urge Governor Paterson to sign this Legislation into Law

NOW-NYS has just learned that the legislation below has passed the Assembly and Senate. It is time to urge Governor Paterson to sign it into law.
This bill gives protection to domestic violence victims by not allowing employers to discriminate against them.

The National Organization for Women-New York State, Inc. strongly supports A-755-A/ S-958-B, which will protect victims of domestic violence from being discriminated against by employers. This bill prevents employers from refusing to hire or employ, from barring or discharging, and from discriminating in compensation terms against actual or perceived victims of domestic violence. According to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, one in four women experiences domestic violence in her lifetime; up to 6 million women are physically abused annually. This means that 25% of women may be affected by this type of discrimination should they attempt to work and become financially independent in order to escape an abuser.

One of the main reasons that women are forced to continue living with their abuser is their lack of financial independence and resources. The ability to find and hold down a job is essential in order to break away from the abuser. In this vicious cycle, however, many abused women are unable to perform to their best professional ability because of the abusive situation in their home. Often, victims need time away from work for any number of reasons, such as: conferring with an attorney or domestic violence counselor, appearing in court, to seek medical attention, arrange for alternative housing or recuperate from injuries. Victims may be embarrassed or fearful of losing her job and is therefore reluctant to inform her employer of the circumstances of her life. "We want to encourage victims of domestic violence to disclose their abuse if it is affecting their work," said Jean Haertl, Director of Workplace Violence Prevention in Massachusetts. "Less than 10 percent of businesses have a policy on workplace violence that includes domestic violence. We don't think about it until someone is killed."

Because of her need for flexible hours or time off to protect herself, a victim of domestic violence is commonly terminated or demoted. This termination has a restrictive effect on her financial resources thus hindering her ability to protect herself. Donna Kausek, domestic violence specialist for Partners HealthCare, states, "We want to keep victims working. If someone is not working, it gives the perpetrator more access to the victim, and the victim has less financial support to help provide additional safety."

This legislation will make it unlawful for an employer or licensing agency to discriminate against victims of domestic violence in hiring or employment practices, helping to ensure the safety as well as the economic viability of victims and their children or dependents. The National Organization for Women-New York State, Inc. strongly urges legislators to pass bill A-755-A/ S-958-B.

Urge Governor Paterson to sign this bill into law.

Posted by:
Jerin Alam
National NOW Young Feminist Task Force
President, Hunter Women’s Rights Coalition (HWRC)

THF: NYS State Senator Eric Adams is my new favorite pen pal

Posted by: THF -- HappyFeminist@gmail.com

NYS Senator Adams recently sent me a response to an email of mine. Senator Adams represents state senate district 20, and you should check out his website. There are a lot of shout-outs to awesome NY women. (I cut out unrelated text that made this way long; bold emphasis is mine):

Dear Sabrina,

Thank you for your informative letter. It is my conviction that if you take the time to write me, I should respect your communication by reading it and responding. During these times of great demand it is important that we have knowledgeable citizens provide us with intelligent views on the various issues confronting our state.

I fully support legislation to render all gender-specific language in the NYS Domestic Relations Law gender-neutral, thus affording same-sex couples the identical opportunity, the identical freedom, to contract civil marriages in the same way as opposite-sex couples do currently.

I believe that no legal status, no rights, no benefits, no privileges, and no protections relating to marriage should differ based upon the gender of the parties involved. [THF: hmm...blocking gay marriage = gender based discrimination? I love legal minds!]

The unfairness inherent in depriving same-sex couples of this fundamental justice undermines the stability of family relationships, creates in every sense a second-class citizenry, and weakens our society. I will vote in favor of a gay marriage bill because I believe that gay couples desire exactly the same type of committed relationship as do straight couples, and that relationship, marriage, is a basic human right.

Please continue to reach out to my office. As our office endeavors to go green, I encourage you to continue to send future correspondence to my email address.

Best,

Eric Adams

NYS Senator

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Therefore NYS Senator Adams = My new favorite pen pal. :-D

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Homework!: Click here to find your State Senator and write to them!

Let me know if they write back!

Contact me at HappyFeminist@gmail.com if you need a sample letter.

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THF: I read the news today, oh girl

Image (C) Moody's for Youth
Posted by: The Happy Feminist


Ladies. Gents. Gender non-conformists. Lend me your ears.

Actually, let me lend you mine. I've been waking up unspeakably (though I will whine and bitch at length) early in the morning the past month to collect press clips for my internship. The list of news clips of interest are sent to everybody in the committee. And I feel special about that, oh yes I do.

Ok, no, I don't, not really. I'd actually feel more special if I were writing about feminism (did you miss me like I missed you?). So I wanted to do the same thing, but with the news you send me.

You know those articles on Feministing that you send to your friends? The absurd bullshit that the New York Times tries to pass as editorials sometimes? Or, you know, really anything that you post on Facebook that some asshat you knew in high school who you forgot you were "friends" with says is hateful towards men? True story. Also, wondering why there isn't birth control that men have to take isn't hateful. De-friended, kthxbye.

Send any interesting links or articles to HappyFeminist@gmail.com and I'll post the best clips once per week.

THF: A call to activism (a.k.a., letter-writing)

I, The Happy Feminist, am happy today to accept the title of President-elect of the Women's Rights Coalition. Feel free to add me on facebook (I'm listed as President-elect in our facebook group); you can message me anytime with anything you may need. I write my first blog from D.C. today.

I am not feeling awesome about the assassination of Dr. Tiller, but I took a page (pun...is it a bad time for puns?) from Carolyn Maloney's book and decided to make a call for action.

I invite you all to take any outrage you may have about Dr. Tiller's death and write to your senators and congressmen/women about it. Whether it be New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Transylvania, whatever. Contact them! Here's a letter I sent to mine, please read it and send it along:

To my esteemed Senators:

I would like to begin my letter explaining how much I appreciate the work that you do; I am fully aware of how little like a picnic your job must be.

I write to you today to ask for renewed enforcement of the FACE Act of 1994, and I am sure you know why. Dr. Tiller’s work is controversial to some, but we can at least agree that civil disobedience may be a tradition we respect in this country, sure, but violence is not. Trusting women is the belief of the pro-choice movement, but the health of a human being is the belief of those who support late term abortions.

Politics aside, domestic terrorism is unacceptable. I cannot imagine what those people attending church the morning of Dr. Tiller’s death felt upon hearing the gunshots. My fear of domestic terrorism is not unfounded:

“The man charged with murdering a high-profile abortion doctor claimed from his jail cell Sunday that similar violence was planned around the nation for as long as the procedure remained legal, a threat that comes days after a federal investigation launched into his possible accomplices.” (Roxana Hegeman, Associated Press Writer, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090607/ap_on_re_us/us_abortion_shooting)

I am calling on you for renewed enforcement of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act of 1994. “FACE makes it illegal to intentionally use force, the threat of force, or physical obstruction to injure, intimidate, interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with individuals obtaining or providing reproductive health care services. FACE also punishes anyone who intentionally damages or destroys a facility that provides reproductive health services.” (http://www.prochoice.org/about_abortion/facts/face_act.html)

I know that this issue will continue to be debated in the years to come, but I hope that we can at least do so peacefully.

Sincerely,