Tag Archive for "Updates"

Posts Tagged Updates

Virginia OKs pro-choice license plates, but not without anti-choice efforts to divert funds from PP

After we were thrilled to announce the sale of Planned Parenthood of Virginia’s “Choose Choice” license plates, the state House decided that although the plate was introduced by the organization, none of the funds made from the plates’ sales should actually go to them. This is despite the fact that the funds from “Choose Life” license plates — already available in the state — currently support the anti-choice organization that introduced them, Heartbeat International.

The good news is that the Virginia Senate struck down the Senate version of the House amendment yesterday, and voted to allow the license plates with the money going to Planned Parenthood.

It’s standard for non-profit organizations to receive at least a portion ...

By Vanessa • 14 years ago

Quick Hit Update: “Kill Your Hooker” Facebook group changes name to avoid deletion

As an update to yesterday’s What We Missed that called attention to the horrendous Facebook group, “Kill Your Hooker So You Don’t Have to Pay Her”, one of our readers alerted us to this: Apparently, everyone’s speedy organizing has resulted in the group changing their name (and link) to make it seem as if the group doesn’t exist anymore. But oh, does it still.
Let’s keep reporting it until this group is gone permanently. Great online organizing, all!
UPDATE: It looks like the group changed its name again, but we can’t seem to find it. If anyone finds it, email me with the link so I can switch up the link again. In ...

By Vanessa • 14 years ago

Obama, Clinton denounces Uganda “Kill Gays” Bill at Prayer Breakfast

Yesterday, President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed the anti-gay Uganda bill which could enforce life imprisonment and the death penalty on gay Ugandans at an event called the National Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast was hosted by an organization that has ties to that very legislation.
According to Bilerico, The Fellowship – also called The Family – is a secretive organization with no website or any indication of legitimacy as a non-profit, but hosts this event every year. A number of religious leaders and lawmakers are said to be members, but asked not to be public about it. (Creeped out yet?) What we do know is that the organization has a history of involvement with the ...

By Jessica • 14 years ago

USO responds to criticism over pink care packages

Last week I criticized the USO’s care packages designed specifically for female soldiers – they were stuffed with things like makeup and Cosmo.

The USO has responded on their blog:

You see, we’ve been hearing from women service members since our Care Package program – Operation USO Care Package – began (that was about 2 million Care Packages ago). We listened carefully, and decided to try to create a package that answered their requests. The Care Package for Female Troops in its current version reflects what women told us they would like to have while serving overseas. Maybe we got it wrong, or maybe this is one of those good deeds that does not go ...

Last week I criticized the USO’s care packages designed specifically for female soldiers – they were stuffed with things like makeup and Cosmo.

The USO has responded on their blog:

You see, we’ve been hearing ...

By Vanessa • 14 years ago

RNC insurance plan covers abortion for their employees

For those of you who haven’t already heard, let me repeat that: the Republican National Committee (RNC) has a health insurance plan for their employees that covers abortion. Now, this shouldn’t even be surprising, despite my out-loud laugh half in amazement, half fury when I found out arriving home last night. Because as Amie and Cecile Richards say – of course their plan covers abortion! It’s a standard health benefit plan any employer would want to offer their employees, yes?
But as Politico points out, for a committee whose platform that says abortion is “a fundamental assault on innocent human life,” and its members just voted for the Stupak-Pitts Amendment attacking the very existence of abortion coverage ...

By Samhita • 14 years ago

OK Cupid Study Finds Bisexual Women Most Likely To Consider Suicide.

Last week I linked to a study from OK Cupid about race and dating. OK Cupid released some more data, including who likes to use strap-ons and what slang daters are familiar with, and who thinks they are a genius (guess who thinks they are geniuses more often than not?) The data I found most striking however, was the data on who has considered suicide.

OK Cupid blog notes that the straight identified people are less likely than “other” to consider suicide. But the number that struck out to me was that the most likely group to consider suicide are bisexual identified women.
Thoughts?
Thanks to Dave for the link.

Last week I linked to a study from OK Cupid about race and dating. OK Cupid released some more data, including who likes to use strap-ons and what slang daters are familiar with, and who ...

By Samhita • 14 years ago

Rihanna Picked for Glamour Woman of the Year.

Really interesting choice, huh? I covered that she would be in Glamour on Tuesday, but didn’t discuss that they had made her Woman of the Year.

Glamour Magazine chose her as one of their “Women of the year.” Although the article does not go into depth about her experience of domestic violence or any treatment she may have received, she does openly discuss the shame and isolation she endured…
…Many women who have suffered from domestic violence also feel that same sense of loss and loneliness. The shame women feel from choosing an abusive partner and feeling that they “allowed” it to happen can also contribute to not seeking help. Sometimes when ...

Really interesting choice, huh? I covered that she would be in Glamour on Tuesday, but didn’t discuss that they had made her Woman of the Year.

Glamour Magazine chose her as one of their ...

By Vanessa • 14 years ago

A poem for Hollywood’s Polanski supporters

Now this is art – a poem by Calvin Trillin at The Nation, titled…
What Whoopi Goldberg (‘Not a Rape-Rape’), Harvey Weinstein (‘So-Called Crime’) et al. Are Saying in Their Outrage Over the Arrest of Roman Polanski
A youthful error? Yes, perhaps.
But he’s been punished for this lapse–
For decades exiled from LA
He knows, as he wakes up each day,
He’ll miss the movers and the shakers.
He’ll never get to see the Lakers.
For just one old and small mischance,
He has to live in Paris, France.
He’s suffered slurs and other stuff.
Has he not suffered quite enough?
How can these people get so riled?
He only raped a single child.
Read the rest ...