Posts Tagged reproductive health and rights

You decide: Which anti-choicer takes the cake?

It’s time to play a little game I like to call “Which anti-choicer takes the cake?” It is not a fun game. But sometimes–like, for instance, when I can’t decide which horrible quote to blog about, it’s one we have to play.

1) In a Senate committee hearing last week, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky demanded to know if an energy department official was pro-choice and then cried “hypocrisy” because women get to have abortions while his toilet doesn’t work. [Video]

“The point is that most members of your administration probably would be frank and characterize themselves as being pro-choice for abortion. But you’re really anti-choice on every other consumer item that ...

It’s time to play a little game I like to call “Which anti-choicer takes the cake?” It is not a fun game. But sometimes–like, for instance, when I can’t decide which horrible quote to blog about, ...

National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers

Today is the 18th anniversary of the murder of Dr. David Gunn, who was shot by Michael Griffin. Dr. Gunn was the first abortion provider killed in the US because of his job. Since then the violence has continued all the way up to the murder of Dr. George Tiller in 2009. Abortion providers – doctors, nurses, and clinic staff – face harassment and threats every day because they provide important medical care. And yet it’s the people who oppose abortion, including people who have killed other human beings because of this view, who call themselves “pro-life.”

In honor of Dr. Gunn’s memory March 10th is the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers. Providing abortions should just be ...

Today is the 18th anniversary of the murder of Dr. David Gunn, who was shot by Michael Griffin. Dr. Gunn was the first abortion provider killed in the US because of his job. Since then the

Human rights, privilege, and why I bowl for abortion access

I had to pay for my abortion out-of-pocket.

Luckily, I had a modest but steady income. The out-of-pocket price of $400 for a first-trimester abortion was a big unexpected cost. But I could afford it. My boyfriend at the time contributed half. I cut back on take-out, downgraded to drinking 40s, and kept an eye on my balance for a few weeks. That was that.

If I had needed an abortion a year earlier, when I had recently moved to New York City and was making just enough for rent and eating sandwiches for every meal, I wouldn’t have had the money. But even then I could have called my parents and they would have unquestionably lent me whatever I ...

I had to pay for my abortion out-of-pocket.

Luckily, I had a modest but steady income. The out-of-pocket price of $400 for a first-trimester abortion was a big unexpected cost. But I could afford it. My ...

New wave of anti-abortion bills is about punishing women – not about saving babies

There’s been a lot of talk of late about how the numerous abortion restriction bills being introduced at the moment aren’t about protecting fetal life, but about shaming women. Thomas at Yes Means Yes! has said it, Hadley Freeman at The Guardian has said it, and our own Miriam, writing at Colorlines, broke it down yesterday. One of the most compelling arguments I’ve read for this view of the situation is from a woman who herself used to believe – and preach – that prohibiting abortion was really a matter of defending innocent fetal life.

That woman is Andrea Grimes, the journalist, blogger and former pro-life Republican (and all-around awesome lady-person). Grimes wrote this week about ...

There’s been a lot of talk of late about how the numerous abortion restriction bills being introduced at the moment aren’t about protecting fetal life, but about shaming women. Thomas at Yes Means Yes! has said ...

Ohio “Heartbeat” bill could ban abortion just 18 days after conception

Ohio lawmakers will soon introduce a new abortion bill that would make abortion illegal as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, a move that some commentators say would mean a complete ban on abortion.

The “Heartbeat” bill will apparently be introduced later this month, right before Valentine’s Day (Get it? Hearts! Why let an unprecedented attack on women’s bodily autonomy get in the way of your seriously tacky marketing?) by Republican Representative Lynn Wachtmann. The bill is the first of its kind in the country, and if it passes we can expect copycats from other strictly anti-choice states like Texas and Oklahoma.

Robin Marty, writing at Alternet, explains why this bill would be tantamount to a complete abortion ban:

By ...

Ohio lawmakers will soon introduce a new abortion bill that would make abortion illegal as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected, a move that some commentators say would mean a complete ban on abortion.

The “Heartbeat” ...

Oct 18-22 Is Intl Access to Safe Abortion Week

This week the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) is hosting “International Access to Safe Abortion Week” to raise awareness about the importance of access to safe abortion worldwide, as well as highlight work being done to achieve greater access for women.

I’m glad they’ve taken the opportunity to draw attention to this issue. We’ve come a long way, but much more remains to be done to ensure better access and save women’s lives: each year, an estimated 20 million unsafe abortions occur worldwide. About 70,000 women, the vast majority of them in developing countries, die from the consequences of these unsafe abortions every year, and untold numbers suffer severe health effects.

So we know the numbers are grim. But what ...

This week the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) is hosting “International Access to Safe Abortion Week” to raise awareness about the importance of access to safe abortion worldwide, as well as highlight work being done ...

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