Feminist Majority

HERvotes Blog Carnival: No Religious Exemption for Birth Control Coverage

2012-01-31T16:49:00.003-05:00

by Kim Gandy, Feminist Majority Foundation

Despite enormous pressure from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Obama Administration recently decided not to broaden the religious exemption for contraceptive coverage under the Preventive Care package of the Affordable Care Act. This demand for additional exemptions, would have denied millions of American women contraceptive coverage, including students, teachers, nurses, social workers, and other staff (and their families) at religiously-connected or affiliated schools, universities, and hospitals, as well as agencies and institutions like Catholic Charities.

The Catholic Bishops are now leading a backlash against this decision, and women are speaking out. Because of the Affordable Care Act, millions of women who may have been denied access to birth control will now have full access under their health insurance plan, with no co-pays or deductibles, beginning in August 2012. Birth control is the number one prescription drug for women ages 18 to 44 years. Right now, the average woman has to pay up to $50 per month for 30 years for birth control. As a result, many women have had to forgo regular use of birth control and half of US pregnancies are unplanned.

Women of all faiths are employed by hospitals and schools that are owned by religious interests, and they should not be denied equal health care coverage. We urge the Obama Administration to continue to stand strong for women’s health care.

Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

What Difference does a Co-Pay Make? Plenty!- Cindy Pearson, Raising Women’s Voices

The Greatest Advance for Women in a Generation- Jean Silver-Isenstadt, MD, PhD, National Physicians Alliance

#Fail on Birth Control from The Washington Post- Thomas Dollar, NARAL Pro-Choice America

Response to Washington Post Criticism of Contraceptive Coverage- Nancy Keenan, NARAL Pro-Choice America

HERvotes Blog Carnival: Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act

2012-01-31T11:14:00.005-05:00

by Emily Alfano, National Council of Jewish Women

For the eighth #HERvotes blog carnival, our coalition of women's groups is joining forces for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found alarming rates of sexual violence, stalking, and domestic violence. One in 4 U.S. women has been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, and nearly 1 in 5 has been raped in her lifetime.

This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation that would reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the largest policy effort aimed at responding to and preventing these crimes. First passed in 1994, VAWA supports comprehensive, cost-saving responses to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Since its passage in 1994, more victims report domestic violence to the police and the rate of non-fatal intimate partner violence against women has decreased by 53 percent.

HERvotes supports VAWA’s lifesaving programs and services and urges Congress to reauthorize and improve VAWA’s critical programs for five more years.

Let’s spread the word and make sure Congress hears our voices.

Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Combating Domestic Violence: A Call to Reauthorize VAWA- Mallen Urso, National Women’s Political Caucus

Taking the Violence Against Women Act to Higher Ground- Emily Alfano, NCJW

Tell Your Senator to Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act Now- Elizabeth Owens, AAUW

Why VAWA is a Queer Issue- Terra Slavin, L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center and Sharon Stapel, New York City Anti-Violence Project

Universities Should Support VAWA- Melissa Siegel, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board

Students Against Dating/Domestic Abuse- Sara Skavroneck, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board

Loveisrespect.org- National Youth Advisory Board Against Dating Violence- Kevin Mauro, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board

Teenage Dating Violence and VAWA- Nikki Desario, loveisrespect.org National Youth Advisory Board

Joining Forces – Women Veterans Speak Out: The Trenches, Remembered- Joan Grey, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation

Violence Against Women Act up for Reauthorization- National Association of Social Workers

Wake up, People! Domestic Violence is an Epidemic!- Donna Pantry, Elf Lady's Chronicles

Recession and Women: How Economic Insecurity Enables Abuse- Donna Addkison’s, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW)

More Bipartisan Support Needed for Violence Against Women Act- Terry O'Neill, Say It Sister- NOW’s Blog for Equality

Check out the Action Petitions:

National Organization for Women

HERvotes Blog Carnival: Protecting Unemployment Benefits

2011-12-08T15:44:00.006-05:00

by Hannah Gordon, Feminist Majority Foundation

Welcome to the seventh #HERvotes blog carnival on the need to protect women and employment during these tough economic times, with a focus on the importance of extending Unemployment Insurance (UI) before the December 31st deadline.

It is critical that Congress acts before the end of this calendar year to renew federal UI. The loss of this lifeline will hurt over 6 million people and their families who stand to lose their benefits during 2012.

If Congress fails to extend the benefits, women will suffer. According to Dr. Adriana Kugler, chief economist for the Department of Labor, 2.2 million women will lose their benefits if UI is not extended. Many others will be affected too, including 500,000 Latinos and 400,000 Latinas, 1.2 million African Americans (including 500,000 African American women), and millions of children.

UI must be extended in order to protect American families. 1.8 million struggling families will be immediately kept afloat. This will have a positive impact on our overall economy too; studies show that every $1 spent on unemployment insurance stimulates $2 in growth in the U.S. economy.

Extending unemployment insurance must be a vital priority for Congress. For many American families and many American women, the protection of their benefits is crucial.

Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media.

Let’s spread the word and make sure Congress hears our voices.

The blog posts below include personal stories and more information on why unemployment insurance is critical. Happy reading and thanks for joining in the fight to protect women’s economic welfare.

#HERvotes, a multi-organization campaign launched in August 2011, advocates women using our voices and votes to stop the attacks on the women’s movement’s major advances, many of which are at risk in the next election. We are very excited HERvotes is growing in membership and reaching millions of people.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Congress Must Protect the Lifeline Women and Families Depend On- Vicki Shabo, National Partnership for Women and Families

A Day Of Thanks & Of Aspiration: No Child Should Be Hungry On Thanksgiving, Or On Any Day - Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Mom'sRising.org

No Time for Games: Extend Unemployment Insurance- Katie Kopania, Say It Sister- NOW's Blog for Equality

The Cycle of Abuse and Financial Security- Lauren Levine, Jewish Women International

Looking for Jobs that Don’t Exist Is Hard Work - Anna McClure, National Women's Law Center

Latinas call on Congress to Extend Unemployment Insurance Set to Expire on Dec 31- Natalie D. Camastra, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

Extend Unemployment Insurance!- Heather Munro Prescott, Knitting Clio

At the Edge-Emily Alfano, National Council of Jewish Women

Women and Families Need Unemployment Benefits Extended Now!- Carol Rosenblatt, Coalition of Labor Union Women

I may lose my home because I can’t find work- Juli from Wisconsin, unemployedworkers.org

I Want My Pay Equity-Emmily Bristol, Sin City Siren

Women and Unemployment- Dren

Women, Black Workers Hard Hit By Attacks on Public Employees- Tula Connell, AFL-CIO

Even in a Recession, Flex Makes (Dollars and) Sense- Nanette Fondas, MomsRising.org

Unemployment Insurance in the 1930s and Today- Michael J. Wilson

And Now, About Those Mega-Rich Alleged Job Creators…- Lily Eskelsen, National Education Association

Congress Should Act Now to Extend Unemployment Insurance- Beth Scott, American Association of University Women

The 99% and Our Homes- Nancy Wilberg-Ricks, National Council of La Raza

Small Steps Forward in Job Gains, But Not Enough to Close Gender Gap- Caroline Hopper, Institute for Women’s Policy Research

‘Squash Amash’ March Planned by Grand Rapids Group over Unemployment Benefits Debate- Garret Ellison, mlive.com

Unemployment and Taxes- Andrew Brusnahan, UnemployedWoman.com

Unemployed Blogger Finds Humor In Rich/Poor Divide- Claire Gordon, AOL.com

I Am ‘Occupying’ D.C. for My Children and Future Generations- Linda Evans

When My Husband Faced Unemployment- Karoline, Mom’s Rising

Unemployment Insurance is the LEAST We Can Offer Working Families- Elisanta “Lisa” Batista

Without Unemployment Insurance, My Family Would Have To Choose Which Bills to Pay- Teresa “Tigger” Rey, Mom’s Rising

Good Education. Good experience. Still Unemployed- Theresa Witt

Holiday Fear- Christy Jones, AAUW

Unemployment, Congress, and People Like Me- Danielle Jackson, National Women’s Law Center

The Pathways Back to Work Act: A Must-Pass Piece of Legislation for Women- Julie Vogtman, National Women’s Law Center

Happy Holidays, Congress! It’s Time to Extend UI- Julie Vogtman, National Women’s Law Center

“No Christmas for Congress” Unless UI is Extended- Anna McClure, National Women’s Law Center

November’s Drop in Unemployment News Leaves Vulnerable Groups Behind- Abby Lane, National Women’s Law Center

Action Alert: Tell Congress to Extend Unemployment Insurance- YWCA USA

Navigating Unemployment- Jen, Mom’s Rising

Women, the Economy, and Unemployment Insurance- Angel Savoy, Metro DC Chapter, Coalition of Labor Union Women

Unemployment Insurance, Good For People, Good For Country- Sherry Saudners, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation

Women and the Unemployment Crisis- National Association of Social Workers

Surviving a Corporate War on the Middle Class- Verlene Jones, Seattle Washington, Coalition of Labor Union Women

Extend Unemployment Benefits, But Don’t Stop There- Lindsay Beyerstein, Ms. Magazine Blog

Tough Job Market for Recent College Grads- Corrina Beall, Feminist Majority Foundation

Women, Sexism, Racism & the Economy: Why Congress Needs to Reauthorize Unemployment Insurance- The Opinioness of the World

Women, Black Workers Hard Hit by Attacks on Public Employees

2011-12-08T14:20:00.001-05:00

by Tula Connell, AFL-CIO

The improved jobs figures out last Friday obscured the ongoing decline in public-sector jobs. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted when releasing the March unemployment data:

Employment in local government continued to trend down over the month. Local government has lost 416,000 jobs since an employment peak in September 2008.

The loss of such jobs is important because the nation’s well-being depends not only on job numbers increasing, but on the creation of quality jobs—those that pay decent wages and enable people to attain or maintain a middle-class life. According to National Employment Law Project (NELP), the new jobs being created aren’t as good as the ones that have been lost. NELP found that jobs in lower wage industries, such as retail and food preparation, made up 23 percent of the jobs that were lost in the recent recession. Yet they made up 49 percent of the jobs the economy has gained in the past year. As the BBC Business puts it:

In other words, it appears that while people may finally be returning to work, they have to work for less pay.

In contrast, jobs in the public sector have provided such economic stability. They have also made it possible for some of the nation’s most economically marginalized—women and minorities—to achieve financial security often denied them in the private sector.

So attacks on public employees hit women and black workers especially hard.

Susan Feiner, professor of economics and of women’s and gender studies at the University of Southern Maine, writes that:

employees at the federal (43 percent female), state (53 percent female) and local (61 percent female) levels have been able to better resist the wage reductions, benefit cuts and mass lay-offs that giant multinational corporations have visited upon employees over the last decade.

Yet Feiner finds that “while women represented 57 percent of the public-sector work force at the end of the recession,”

women lost the vast majority—79 percent—of the 327,000 jobs cut in this sector between July 2009 and February 2011, according to a January report by the Washington, D.C.-based National Women’s Law Center.

Steven Pitts, labor policy specialist at the University of California-Berkeley Labor Center, writes today about the striking results of his new research brief, Blacks and the Public Sector. In sum:

The public sector is the single most important source of employment for African Americans.
During 2008-2010, 21.2 percent of all black workers were public employees, compared with 16.3 percent of non-black workers. Both before and after the onset of the Great Recession, African Americans were 30 percent more likely than other workers to be employed in the public sector.
The public sector is also a critical source of decent-paying jobs for black worker. For both men and women, the median wage earned by black employees is significantly higher in the public sector than in other industries.
Prior to the recession, the wage differential between black and white workers was less in the public sector than in the overall economy.

As California Progress Report writes:

For blacks and others, “the best anti-poverty program is union organizing,” the UC Berkeley Labor Center notes on its website.”

And so moves by Republican governors like Scott Walker in Wisconsin and John Kasich in Ohio to shred the ability of public employees to bargain for a decent middle-class life are also specifically targeting the ability of women and black workers to remain in the economic mainstream.

Cross-posted with AFL-CIO Blog

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Unemployment Insurance is the LEAST We Can Offer Working Families

2011-12-08T13:58:00.004-05:00

by Elisanta “Lisa” Batista

The reason I say “working” families is because this economy is much more complicated than “working” and “unemployed.” There are many families like ours, struggling, even though we both technically have jobs. We are both in our 50s, have no retirement savings and are living paycheck to paycheck.

A year ago, my husband who was our family’s main breadwinner lost his job at a manufacturing plant. This is an industry that has been hammered in the present economy.

Thanks to the extension of unemployment insurance a year ago, my husband was
able to continue to pay the bills for a while longer. Then he took a job at another
plant that, unfortunately, pays less than half of his previous position. There are
many workers like him.

Even when times are tough, we try to count our blessings. We are fortunate to have health insurance through our jobs and I am lucky to work for a company that has allowed me to work extra hours for more pay. I am also allowed a flexible schedule when a family emergency arises. Both my daughter, who has debilitating neuropathy, and my mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer’s disease, live with us. It’s tough.

That’s why it is important that we not forget about our workers, especially this holiday season. Making sure that workers have unemployment insurance while they are looking for a job is the least we can do for hardworking families and will help stimulate our economy for everyone.

Cross-posted with Mom's Rising

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Congress Should Act Now to Extend Unemployment Insurance

2011-12-08T13:55:00.003-05:00

by Beth Scott, American Association of University Women

As Congress tries to wrap up before taking its holiday break, a major issue it needs to deal with is the extension of federal unemployment insurance (UI). AAUW urges Congress to extend UI. We are committed to promoting the reduction of poverty, and UI plays a key role in reducing poverty and helping our economy recover.

UI provides basic benefits to Americans who have lost their jobs and are retraining or looking for another job. For many, UI benefits are the only way they can afford to stay in their homes and stay above water financially. Congress has until December 31 to renew UI, and if these benefits are not renewed or if their renewal is delayed, millions of Americans will be hurt. In January alone, more than 2 million people would lose their benefits, and millions more would have this critical lifeline cut off in the near future — more than 6 million would lose their benefits during 2012.

UI is particularly important for women, as the last few years have been especially unkind to them. According to the Pew Research Center, “Employment trends during the recovery have favored men over women in all but one of the 16 major sectors of the economy.” In November 2011, women gained more than half (65,000) of the 120,000 new jobs reported, yet analysis shows a wide job gap of 1.5 million jobs between men and women. Single mothers in particular are struggling — their unemployment rate is 12.4 percent, compared with the national average, 8.6 percent. Unemployment insurance benefits help these families survive while unemployed parents retrain for new careers or look for new jobs.

But UI doesn’t just benefit families struggling to make ends meet; it’s also good for our economy. Extending UI will immediately help millions of families stay afloat, and they will, in turn, spend that money in our struggling economy. Studies show that UI benefits are usually spent, not saved, and as a result, every $1 spent on employment insurance stimulated $2 in growth in the economy.

Not extending UI would have a devastating impact on American families and on our economy. Extending UI is not just a matter of simple fairness but the key to families making ends meet and to our nation’s economic recovery.

If you want to show that you value this protection for American families, then join us as we begin ramping up for My Vote, the AAUW Action Fund’s new voter education and turnout campaign.

Cross-posted with AAUW Dialog

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Sad Reality: New President, Same Fight

2011-11-30T16:54:00.004-05:00

by Stephanie Drahan, National Women’s Law Center

In 2008 when then Senator Barack Obama was still campaigning for the presidency and there were notions that the Bush administration would offer a parting shot to women’s groups and the reproductive health community, Obama’s take on the proposed regulation to expand religious restrictions was clear –

“We need to restore integrity to our public health programs, not create backdoor efforts to weaken them. I am committed to ensuring that the health and reproductive rights of women are protected.”

But now, here we are three years later, and under President Obama, we are still having a very similar fight.

In August, we secured a huge victory when a set of preventive health services were adopted by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to be covered by all new health insurance plans without co-payments included contraception. But even then, we were disappointed by the inclusion of an exemption for certain religious employers. Our supporters helped us send nearly 15,000 messages to HHS expressing our opposition to the refusal language included in this groundbreaking rule.

But religious institutions are pressuring, President to expand the refusal language to exclude a broader range of instituions. Before Thanksgiving, we gathered nearly 10,000 messages from our supporters opposing both the original exemption and any expansion of it.

But that may not be enough! We need to continue to keep the pressure on. Please make sure your friends, family, peers, and colleagues know that the President is under pressure to the refusal language and that women may lose the coverage they gained this summer and encourage them to get involved. You can call the White House directly 1-888-534-5471 to register your opposition or send the President an email.

If the current language is expanded, more than a million women may lose coverage for birth control that we fought so hard for. We can’t let that happen. Tell President Obama that all women need access to affordable birth control!

To learn more about why denying contraceptives harms women, check out our factsheet.

Cross-posted with the National Women's Law Center

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Fight Against an Expanded Religious Exemption that Denies Birth Control Coverage

2011-11-30T16:49:00.001-05:00

by Dren Asselmeier, Center for Inquiry on Campus

I have my own opinions about birth control and whether it should be made available at no cost to women who want to have control over their reproduction, but I think that there is something that we can do to solve this issue that is more decisive than weighing our biased and subjective opinions. We need to look to unbiased sources. It is imperative that we turn to science and critical thought in order to study and truly understand the implications of the decision we are going to make.

Why do Catholic bishops have any say in what we do as a matter of public health? Are they doctors? Have they studied society in order to understand what happens when birth control is outlawed or available only at prohibitive costs to some women? Do they think that the rights of women, and all people, are more important than faith? I can not possibly speak for all Catholic bishops; in fact, you might be surprised to find out that I have never met one. Regardless, it is very unlikely that in his free time any Catholic bishop has decided to study science, sociology, or public health to an academic and professional level at which other experts in such fields could consider the bishop an authority on those topics. Bishops may have studied some things outside of faith and may be academically knowledgeable people, but I am going to assume that being a bishop means studying and regarding faith and religious doctrine above every other area of study.

Because their expertise is in faith and understanding of religious texts, I think that bishops should have absolute say over church doctrine. If they think that everyone should wear those cool hats to church and high-five as they eat crackers, that’s perfectly fine and well within their right as bishops (I think). No philosophy or religion or worldview, however, has the right to deny people medicine, to be allowed to hurt others, to repress women, or to take away the rights that are mandated by our government. I think that a religious exemption in order to avoid providing mandated health care is unacceptable because we do not have a religious government. We have to trust in professionals who study actual outcomes and efficacy of social programs to make important societal decisions. We have to look to what is best for society and not what is best according to one religion that bases its knowledge on a creed written several hundred years ago. Plus, if we allow for religious organizations to deny some healthcare to their employees because it upsets their religious views, then where is the line drawn? Is it okay for religious organizations to deny some rights but not others?

I don’t want to spend too much time on hypothetical situations, but what if we allowed other religious exemptions, like honor killings? What if we decided that it was okay for Mormon organizations to not provide healthcare to black people because of the Curse of Cain Doctrine, which some have interpreted to mean that black people are cursed? What if we determined that it was okay for a man to kill his son for being disobedient, as the Bible states he should (Deuteronomy 21:18–21)? We, as a society, do not allow religious conviction to excuse murder, rape, theft, oppression, or the denial of rights to our citizens where there are laws to criminalize these things. No matter how much someone thinks that he or she is acting justly based on faith, that individual is not allowed to infringe on the rights of others. Okay, why not? Well, we have laws that exist for all people. Everyone is subject to laws and to the judicial system no matter what they believe. We have a secular government which means that no one religion is allowed to exercise its rules over anyone else if those rules contradict our laws. Period. Being an American means you have rights no matter what religion you are, and the case of basic health care should be no exception.

If the Catholic bishops said that they have proof of no-cost birth control hurting society in a real, tangible, measurable way that can be observed by science, then I think that we, as responsible thinkers and people who care about the wellbeing of our society, would have to ask scientists and scholars to look at more data and use universal systems of gaining knowledge in order to come to a conclusion. Scientific fields such as sociology and public health have already considered the question of whether easy access to birth control causes more pregnancies, more unwanted children, and other outcomes that most of us would agree are bad for society. Look for news sources that state information from studies and not from religious organizations whose motives are to make people live according to a particular faith:

“About half of all pregnancies in Colorado and across the country are unplanned or unwanted, and many of those result in abortion, according to government reports.” From Health Policy Solutions

“Two new studies taking different methodological approaches arrive at the same conclusion: Unintended pregnancy costs U.S. taxpayers roughly $11 billion each year. Both estimates are conservative in that they are limited to public insurance costs for pregnancy and first-year infant care, and both studies conclude that the potential public savings from reducing unintended pregnancy in the United States would be huge. A related new study provides first-ever estimates of unintended pregnancy for each state, and a starting point for future efforts to monitor states’ progress toward reducing unintended pregnancy.” “Contraceptive use is critical to couples’ ability to reconcile their sexual lives and their childbearing goals.” From a study by the Guttmacher Institute; the second from another study by the Guttmacher Institute

“Despite the advances that have been made in contraception over the past fifty years, an estimated 150 million women worldwide cannot get the birth control they desire. In many parts of the world most young women become mothers before they are 20 years old. A woman who bears children at a younger age tends to have more children over all, is less able to care for them, and is more likely to suffer ill health.” From the Our Bodies Ourselves health resource center (it has a list of sources here)

“Laws limiting teenagers’ access to contraceptive services and information fail to reduce sexual activity and increase the risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to two studies” From The Alan Guttmacher Institute

I don’t want to only cite the sources that reinforce my opinion because that would go against my original premise of counting on authorities to help us make important decisions, but I did not find any information stating that greater access to birth control would have negative consequences for the United States. There may be other studies that I don’t know about; furthermore, many of the studies I did find relate to abstinence-only education, or birth control statistics for specific groups and not the broader population (but they are also positive). The point is that it is not my decision to make, nor should it be a decision made by the Catholic bishops or any other member of clergy or any average layperson. Matters of medicine and public health need to be handled by doctors, scientists, and other professionals whose only goals are to make our society as prosperous, happy, safe, and healthy as it can be.

The Center for Inquiry released an alert asking supporters to urge President Obama to keep religion our of reproductive health care regulations. Read that alert and see how to get your voice to President Obama here.

To read other blog posts about the proposed expansion to the religious exemption for birth control coverage, visit the HERvotes blog carnival page or check #HERvotes on Twitter. Go to the National Women’s Law Center to learn more about important women’s issues.

Cross-posted with Center for Inquiry on Campus

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Make the Promise of Preventative Care in the ACA Real for All Women

2011-11-30T15:12:00.003-05:00

by The Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health

Back in August we were celebrating a win for women’s health – the recognition that contraception is prevention. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) required health insurers (for all new plans after August 1, 2012) to cover a number of women’s preventive health care services, including the full range of FDA-approved contraception, with no out-of-pocket costs, which is a huge step forward for fairness and improved health outcomes for women and their families. We blogged on that victory here.

There was one glitch with this rule when HHS approved it, the Secretary took comments regarding a religious employer exemption for the contraceptive coverage provision of the rule. The Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s health responded strongly to this proposal, stating that no woman should be denied health care coverage because of the religious views of her employer. We emphasized that there is strong medical and public health consensus that contraceptive services are a critical part of women’s preventative care and that denying this benefit to some women because of their employer would fail to make real the promise of the Affordable Care Act for all women.

Now this religious employer exemption is being held up in the White House. Catholic Bishops are using their influence to try to expand the religious employer exemption in the rule. This cannot happen.

Wisconsin women have seen recent strides towards providing comprehensive reproductive health care and access to contraception in our state. In 2010, we became one of only 28 states to require health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs to include contraception.[1] The Wisconsin law does not include any religious employer refusal clause. The HHS rule is, in fact, more limited in that way than the current Wisconsin law. For that reason, it is critical that the Federal Government does not lead Wisconsin backwards. Our current Governor included a provision repealing contraceptive equity in the state budget, and though it was removed due to its non-fiscal nature, it could be brought up later this legislative session. We need a strong federal rule – saying that contraception is prevention for all women.

Call (202-559-1164) or email the White House today, to tell them that all women deserve access to affordable, comprehensive, preventative care.

This is the ACA provision most likely to impact women’s lives, and two thirds of Americans support it. Tell the President not to weaken this important rule because of the pressure of a few, because nearly all sexually active women, regardless of their religious beliefs, use contraception at some point in their lives.

Cross-posted with the Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health

art of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Check out the action petitions:

Catholics for Choice

National Women’s Law Center

Feminist Majority Foundation

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

NARAL Pro-Choice America

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health

National Council of Jewish Women

HERVotes Blog Carnival: Women v. the Bishops

2011-11-30T12:28:00.013-05:00

by Kim Gandy, Feminist Majority Foundation

Welcome to the sixth #HERvotes blog carnival on the effort by the Catholic bishops to allow some institutions to refuse, under the Affordable Care Act, birth control coverage without co-pays to students and employeesof hospitals, universities, and other institutions, or other religious affiliated or connected institutions such as Catholic Charities.

Birth control coverage with no co-pays? Without a doubt one of the most popular benefits of the Affordable Care Act, the preventive care provisions for women require nearly every health insurance provider to cover contraception without any cost sharing.

Until now. Maybe. Because there’s a full court press from the Conference of Catholic Bishops (yes, reportedly even the Archbishops are weighing in) pressuring the White House to dramatically expand this refusal clause.

The Catholic bishops want to exempt the health insurance of every religiously-connected or affiliated institution from this requirement, and millions of Americans would lose this benefit – students, teachers and staff at religiously-connected schools and universities; social workers, nurses, and other staff (and their families) at religiously-affiliated hospitals that employ thousands of people, huge organizations like Catholic Charities, and many more – regardless of the religious beliefs of those employees and students.

Although the pro-choice community opposed having any exemptions from contraceptive coverage, the guidelines issued by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius contained a narrow exemption that applied primarily to houses of worship. But the bishops want more. Much more.
If the bishops have their way, at least six million women with health insurance will lose this new contraceptive coverage benefit, for no reason other than where they work or go to school.

We must keep the Affordable Care Act strong, and preventive care for women is critical.

Join us by sharing the posts below on Facebook, Twitter (using the hashtag #HERvotes), and other social media.

If we spread the word far enough we can make sure the White House hears women’s voices as strongly as they are hearing from the bishops.

The blog posts below share more reasons why we need to take action now. Happy reading and thanks for joining the fight to save contraceptive coverage in the Affordable Care Act.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Birth Control Under Attack- Debra Ness, National Partnership for Women and Families

Losing My Religion: Catholic Bishops Attack Reproductive Rights, Hoping to Undermine Birth Control Coverage- Megan Kearns, Opinioness of the World
Don't Boss My Birth Control- Amy Cotton, National Council of Jewish Women

Conservative Media Are Still Pretending That Catholics Don't Support Insurance Coverage For Contraception- Marcus Feldman, Media Matters

President Obama: Don't Cave in to Bishops- Say It Sister, NOW's Blog for Equality

Fight Against an Expanded Religious Exemption that Denies Birth Control Coverage- Dren Asselmeier, Center for Inquiry on Campus

Latinas urge Obama Administration to Support Birth Control Access For All Women- Rebecca Pleitez, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

Conscience Clause: Preserving Morality or Creating Immorality?- Liz Beaulac, National Women's Law Center

Sad Reality: New President, Same Fight- Stephanie Drahan, National Women's Law Center

Make the Promise of Preventative Care in the ACA Real for All Women- The Wisconsin Alliance for Women's Health

Calling On President Obama to Demonstrate His Respect for Women- Amy Allina, Raising Women's Voices for the Health Care We Need
The Catholic Church Wasn’t on My Ballot: What’s Next for President Obama and Birth Control - Abigail Collazo, Fem 2.0

What is So Wrong With Abstinence Education? - Kat Sabine - the Bitch in the house

Take Action: Don't Let the Catholic Church Deny Birth Control Coverage to Millions - Holly L. Derr, Ms. Magazine

Is Obama Caving to Bishops out of Misplaced "Gratitude"? - Holly L. Derr, Ms. Magazine

The Other 99% - Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, blogging on Huffington Post

Message About Birth Control from the 71% - Meghan Shalvoy, Feminist Majority Foundation

The Other 99%: Will Obama Betray Them? - Carole Joffe, RHRealityCheck

Washington Post's Gerson Ignores Catholics' Opinions To Accuse The Obama Administration Of "Anti-Catholic Bias"- M.F., Media Matters

Right-Wing Media Twist Pelosi's "Conscience" Comment To Claim She "Bash[ed] Catholics"- C.R., Media Matters

Fox & Friends Hypes Gerson's Op-Ed To Accuse Obama Of Being "Anti-Catholic"- Media Matters

Women’s Basic Health Coverage Is Not For Sale- Miri Cypers, Jewish Women International
Tell Obama to Protect Birth Control- Maureen Shaw, sherights

Tell President Obama All Women Need Affordable Birth Control- Judy Waxman, National Women's Law Center

My Employer Shouldn't Control My Contraception Decisions- Leila Abolfazli, National Women's Law Center

Blog Carnival: #HERVotes against the Bishops- Heather Prescott, Knitting Clio

Should Catholic Bishops Have the Right to Control Your Life?- Janet Hill, Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)
An Open Letter to President Obama- National Organization for Women

Should Organized Religion Have More Rights Than Women?- Georgia Platts, Ms. Magazine

Check out the action petitions:

Catholics for Choice

National Women's Law Center

Feminist Majority Foundation

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

NARAL Pro-Choice America

Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health

National Council of Jewish Women

Correct. Protect. Respect. Promoting Economic Security with Safe Workplaces

2011-11-15T15:58:00.002-05:00

by Donna Addkison, President/CEO, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW)

Women work. A lot of women work, making up 47% of the American workforce today. Two out three do so to provide the sole or a substantial part of a household income. Yet women in the workforce continue to be the targets of unwanted, unwelcome sexual harassment in the workplace. While the EEOC handles 10-12,000 cases every year, we know this is just the tip of the iceberg. Sexual harrassment threatens women's ability to provide financial support and economic security for themselves and for their families.

Ever heard the story of the woman on the road as a corporate trainer who had company salesmen appear at her hotel door in the nude? Or the one about the mid-level manager with a boss who continued to ask her out again and again and again in spite of her saying no? And the one about the woman working in construction who was subjected to physical intimidation along with the more subtle forms like 'pin-ups' of naked and nearly naked women in the onsite office? Probably not - estimates suggest that only 5-15% of incidents of sexual harassment are reported.

Why? The answers are as simple as they are complex. When your paycheck puts a roof over your family, food on the table, and gas in the car, how do you take on the bad behavior of those who have some level of authority over your work life? Do women sacrifice their jobs or their dignity? Or both?

While women struggle to get a strong foothold in industries and careers with good pay and benefits, they often face the specter of sexual harassment in the workplace. How many women do you know who have their own stories to tell? How many mothers, sisters, and daughters have faced or fallen victim to sexual harassment? How many is enough?

Men and women - both bring value to the workforce. Let's create safe working environments where men and women are respected at work, protected from sexual harassment, and afforded opportunities to climb career ladders that lead to economic security for themselves and for those who depend on them.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Preparing America's Future Workforce: Harassment and Bullying in Schools and How We Can Stop It

2011-11-15T15:47:00.006-05:00

by Devi Rao, Fellow, National Women's Law Center

Sexual harassment in the workplace is back in the news, for better or worse. But any productive discussion about sexual harassment should include harassment in schools as well as the workplace, both of which are prohibited by federal civil rights laws.

As a new study by the American Association of University Women shows, sexual harassment in schools is a serious problem, one that deserves serious public attention. The study found that about half of students in middle or high school experienced some form of sexual harassment at school during the 2010-2011 academic year.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, charged with enforcing Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education, has recently reiterated that what may be commonly referred to as “bullying” may actually be prohibited sexual harassment.

But who’s left out? Although some harassment and bullying of LGBT students may be covered by Title IX — if those actions are due to a student’s failure to conform to gender stereotypes — there is no federal law that prohibits discrimination solely based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

This is a significant loophole in federal civil rights law; the AAUW study found that being called gay or lesbian in a negative way was the second most prevalent form of harassment. And in a 2009 study by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 84% of LGBT youth reported verbal harassment, 40% reported physical harassment, and 18% reported being assaulted at school in the previous year because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

But two pending bills could help solve this problem and provide much-needed protection to LGBT students.

First, the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), introduced by Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), would outlaw discrimination in public K-12 schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. Senator Franken recently introduced SNDA — and then withdrew it for procedural reasons — during the Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee markup of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Franken gave a passionate and moving speech on the importance of SNDA, and plans to offer it again on the floor of the Senate when the chamber as a whole takes up the ESEA.

Second, the bipartisan (!!!) Safe School Improvement Act (SSIA), sponsored by Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) and 32 co-sponsors, including Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), would require schools to undertake efforts to prevent bullying and harassment, including that on sexual orientation or gender identity. Senators Casey and Kirk introduced and then withdrew SSIA as an amendment to ESEA during the markup, but Sen. Casey plans to introduce it on the floor of the Senate. The SSIA has 113 co-sponsors from both parties in the House andSNDA has 147.

We need to ensure that Title IX, a historic advance in educational opportunities for women and girls, is protected against attack. But at the same time, we need to extend existing civil rights protections to LGBT students. All children deserve an education free from harassment. And if harassment is effectively addressed at school, there is hope that the employees of tomorrow will not face as much harassment in the workplace.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Unions and Sexual Harassment

2011-11-15T14:59:00.007-05:00

by Carol Rosenblatt, Executive Director, Coalition of Labor Union Women
At a time when women’s rights are under attack in so many areas – we need to be sure that sexual harassment is recognized and taken seriously. Candidates who seek our vote must be clear that they will support, enforce and strengthen protections for women on the job.

The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) recently gathered information through personal interviews of CLUW officers, other union officials and online research to determine what unions have done to establish procedures on sexual harassment. What follows is an overview of the information we collected and examples of what workers experience on the job.

In March 2009 the AFL-CIO Executive Council issued a statement on the Charter Rights of Working Women which stated in part…” the AFL-CIO will do all in its power to secure for women the rights set down in this Charter One of the provisions under “Access to employment and promotion” is: “Employers must be held responsible for ensuring women have a safe workplace free of all forms of violence and sexual harassment.” And in closing calls on its affiliated organizations and other progressive forces to commit themselves to the promotion and implementation of the principles set out in this Charter.

AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) has online “Sexual Harassment: It’s About Power” and includes:

Don’t think it is your fault.

Seek support from family and friends.

Object. Speak to the harasser and be specific about what behavior you find unwelcome.

Keep a log.

Speak to your union steward.

Speak to your supervisor.

If these steps don’t solve the problem file a formal complaint with your state human rights agency or the EEOC.

UE, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America’s online “Fighting Back!” Information for workers and stewards states:“Every instance of sexual harassment will be unique and creating appropriate responses will require the Steward to be thoughtful, sensitive, and resourceful”Some of the suggestions they offer are:

The Union should make all members aware that sexual harassment is illegal and the union will fight on behalf of its members to stop it.

Make the employer post notices that sexual harassment is illegal.

Many women are not sure who to turn to when they are being harassed.The union can appoint several stewards (some of whom should be women) who are well known and respected by the members to be a special committee to deal with sexual harassment.

When dealing with the issue in grievance meetings make sure the victim isn’t harassed again by the company by being made to recount what happened in front of many bosses. Make the company show some sensitivity.

Make the harasser pay for the crime, not the victim. Too often, the boss’s solution is to move the victim off of her job.

Ray Bradford, the National Director of The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) Equal Employment Opportunities Department said that because many of their members do not have steady jobs, they fear that reporting sexual harassment may subject them to retaliation up to termination. Education is particularly important, utilizing Labor Radio, Twitter and Facebook in order to reach a larger and younger audience.

And the casting couch is still alive and well in Hollywood, Gwyneth Paltrow, Megan Fox, Lisa Rinna and others have all talked publicly about their experiences.

Janet Hill, CLUW’s National Vice President from the United Steelworkers said the sexual harassment policy is incorporated in Civil Rights Guidelines that have been established to provide guidance for union members and leaders to help eradicate discrimination in the workplace. It is a pocket guide for Civil Rights Committees that exist in every local union and it explains how a member with a civil rights problem or grievance should proceed in accordance with the policy of the Union. A Committee on Sexual Harassment has been established that investigates complaints and develops educational programs for USW employees.

Connie Cordovilla, Assistant Director of the American Federation of Teachers Human Rights and Community Relations Department said the union urges its locals to pursue contract language which protects members from sexual harassment citing it as a form of discrimination and encourages and supports programs to further understand and combat sexual harassment. Schools are not required by law to provide sexual harassment training, but school districts that are found to have incidents of sexual harassment are viewed more harshly by courts than those who have extensive staff and student training.

Carolyn J. Williams, the Director of the Human Services Department of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers informs us that in addition to training that is provided for business agents and stewards, a Women’s Conference takes place every two years that is attended largely by rank and file members and workshops on sexual harassment are part of the program. They also provide suggested contract language on sexual harassment to their locals, urging them to adopt.

Sandra Burleson, Director of the Human Rights Department of the Transport Workers Union expressed that transit companies should train employees on sexual harassment in the same manner as security training. Female bus drivers encounter passengers who flash or make physical contact. How to respond is important, yet reporting a customer still has to be done with care. The growing numbers of women in leadership in the union has helped as women members who experience sexual harassment find it easier to raise these issues with someone of the same gender.

Georgi-Ann Bergamian, CLUW’s National VP for the United Autoworkers informs us that the international union demands that broad anti-discrimination language be included in all contracts and sexual harassment policies are established by a special bargaining convention that occurs every year.

KC Wagner, Director of Workplace Studies of Cornell University stated that employers usually have sexual harassment policies and some level of employee training. It is common practice for unions to train stewards. However, she stated that sexual harassment is still part of a continuum of violence towards women.

We need to be vigilant in raising awareness about sexual harassment and doing all within our power to combat this ugly form of discrimination including making our expectations clear to any candidate seeking our support as the 2012 election cycle moves into high gear.

HERVotes Blog Carnival: Fighting Sexual Harassment

2011-11-15T11:29:00.007-05:00

By Eleanor Smeal, Feminist Majority Foundation President and Ms. Magazine Publisher

Welcome to the fifth #HERvotes blog carnival. This time we're focusing on the need to keep strong the laws and public policies to end sex discrimination and sexual harassment in schools and in the workplace. HERvotes, a multi-organizational campaign launched in August 2011, advocates that women must use our voices and votes to stop the ongoing attacks on the major advances of the women's movement. We are very excited that HERvotes is reaching a growing list of member groups and organizations and millions of people.

HERvotes called attention in early November to the dangerous personhood state constitutional amendment on the Mississippi ballot--which we're pleased to report was soundly defeated last week by a margin of 58-42 percent. Now, sexual harassment has emerged as an issue in the presidential primaries at the same time that a member organization of HERvotes, the American Association of University Women, has released a historic report on the high levels of sexual harassment in our nation's schools.

Sexual harassment has been ruled decisively by courts as a form of sex discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people in the workplace from sex discrimination. Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 protects students, teachers, professors and staff in all educational institutions receiving federal funding from sex discrimination.

Both of these federal laws, major advances of the women's movement, are under attack by members of Congress who seek to gut such protections and by Supreme Court decisions that have weakened them.

We must keep Title VII and Title IX strong. We have a right to know where policymakers stand on these issues.

How to join the fight:

*You can share the posts below on Twitter --using the hashtag #HERvotes--and on Facebook. If we spread the word far enough we can make sure Title VII and Title IX are enforced.

* You can ask where candidates and policymakers stand on issues of Title IX, Tile VII and sexual harassment in the workplace and in educational institutions.

The blog posts below share more reasons why we need to take action now. Happy reading, and thanks for joining the fight to end sexual harassment.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

***

Bullying Vs. Sexual Harassment–Do You Know the Difference?, by Susan Strauss, Ms. Blog

Just a Typical Day at School, by Catherine Hill, American Association of University Women

Sexual Harassment a Problem for Latinas, by Rebecca Medina, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

Unions and Sexual Harassment, Carol Rosenblatt, Coalition of Labor Union Women

Sexual Harassment in the Technology Era: “Apps Against Abuse”, Soojin Ock, National Women's Political Caucus

Correct. Protect. Respect. Promoting Economic Security with Safe Workplaces, Donna Addkison, Wider Opportunities for Women

Welcome to the Jungle: Sexual Harassment in College, Bettina Hager, National Women's Political Caucus

Sorry Rachel, There Still is Sexual Harassment, Joan Grey, Business and Professional Women’s Foundation

Cain, Sexual Harassment and the Campaign Against Women in Public Life, Erin Matson, National Organization for Women

Why Mississippi’s ‘Personhood’ Measure Is a Threat to Women Everywhere

2011-11-01T14:55:00.002-04:00

By Lauren Kalina, Advocates for Youth Intern

On November 8, the state of Mississippi will vote on ballot initiative 26, which will attempt to change the Mississippi constitution to define human life as beginning at conception. The actual text of the initiative is as follows:

Section 33. Person defined. As used in this Article III of the state constitution, “The term ‘person’ or ‘persons’ shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.”

For the women of Mississippi, this initiative would attempt to ban abortion, certain types of birth control as well as treatment for infertility and miscarriage. This is a major violation of a woman’s reproductive rights. Additionally, Initiative 26 could have many more far-reaching, unforseen legal and political implications.

Recently, many anti-choice presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, have come out in support of this life-threatening measure. Romney, like many other conservative politicians, seems to be confused about just how extreme Initiative 26 is. Here, you can watch Rachel Maddow set men straight about how birth control works.

Women’s access to birth control could be severly limited by Initiative 26 because this measure considers a fertilized egg as a human life. However, many forms of birth control prevents the implantation of fertilized eggs, therein creating a conflict. Maybe if our politicans had received better sex education they might understand this more thoroughly…

This vote on November 8th is of particular importance to Mississippians, but should be of great importance to women all over the country. According to CNN, Mississippi is the only state with a “personhood” initiative on the ballot this year. However, according to the CNN article, similar measures are being planned for next year in Florida, Montana and Ohio; and efforts in at least five other states are in the planning stages.

A yes vote on this measure would open the floodgates for more bills such as this to be introduced in other states. Mississippians for Healthy Families has created a coalition of organizations that oppose Initiative 26. The coalition includes: the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, The American College of Obstetrician Gynecologists and many more.

Regardless of where you live, you can help make a difference in the lives of women and families throughout Mississippi by donating today to the Vote No on 26 campaign. Your support will help the campaign’s grassroots efforts to prevent the passage of this harmful initiative.

Crossposted from Amplify Your Voice.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Losing Your Rights Via Personhood

2011-11-01T14:28:00.003-04:00

By Janet Hill, Coalition of Labor Union Women, National CLUW Vice President (United Steelworkers)

Don’t be fooled by Initiative 26, Mississippi's the “personhood amendment." Government has gone too far and this amendment raises many disturbing questions about the status of women if enacted. The essential question to ask is, if a woman is lying unconscious in a burning building with a rack of embryos, which would be saved first? Initiative 26 would seem to imply the rack of embryos. Why else would Initiative 26 make it possible to deny lifesaving treatment to women? It raises serious questions about medical treatment of common problems such as ectopic pregnancies, infertility and even high-risk pregnancies. This could be why the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and Mississippi Chapter of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are opposed to this initiative. Clearly it comes between the doctor and his or her patient. The Mississippi Nurses’ Association and the Mississippi State Medical Association oppose it as well.

Even more appalling, a girl raped by her father could be forced by the state to bear her father’s child because there are NO allowances for rape or incest. This goes against all of our society’s values. Perhaps this is why Catholic Bishops in several states oppose this law.

Initiative 26 also poses this disturbing question: If a woman miscarries, no matter how early, no matter what the reason, does the personhood amendment allow her to be charged with murder? Keep in mind that between 50 and 70 percent of first-trimester miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities in the fertilized egg. Studies estimate that between 30 to 50 percent of fertilized eggs miscarry before or during implantation.

This amendment may radically change over 4000 laws in the state and cause strange lawsuits and criminal charges. It would also outlaw many common forms of contraception. Shouldn’t a state with the highest poverty rate and 31.9 percent of its children living in poverty be thinking about creating good paying jobs not more children? Over the past decade, the cost of raising a child to 18 for a two income middle class family rose 40% to $226,920. Then there is the $155 million a year price tag for Mississippi teen pregnancies, the nation’s highest teen pregnancy rate.

The folks in Colorado voted down the personhood amendments--twice. I encourage everyone in Mississippi to vote NO on Initiative 26, aka the “personhood amendment,” November 8. If you don’t live in Mississippi but have friends and family there encourage them to vote no. Make sure to contact your state representative in Mississippi and ask her or him how this amendment creates jobs when the average income went down and more women and children are slipping into poverty. Ask how this helps create jobs and, finally, tell him or her to quit wasting time and do something about the jobs crisis.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Cross-posted with HERvotes

Photo from Flickr user themonnie under Creative Commons.

Wisconsin Rep Planning "Personhood" Bill to Criminalize Abortion

2011-11-01T14:24:00.004-04:00

By Sofia Resnick, The American Independent

The “personhood movement” has recently grown legs in Wisconsin, where state Rep. Andre Jacque (2nd Assembly District) has promised to introduce a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would change the definition of a person to include “preborn” babies. The intended effect of “personhood” amendments is to criminalize abortion; many critics say such laws could also criminalize some forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization.

In a YouTube video on the recently launched website of Personhood Wisconsin — affiliated with Pro-Life Wisconsin and Personhood USA — Jacque explains that his state’s constitution is flawed because in order to have access to the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Wisconsinites must first be born.

He continues:

“What this simply does is takes out that requirement that you be born to have these inalienable rights that I think we all should enjoy as human beings. Unfortunately, if you take a look at the possibilities of Roe v. Wade being overturned, we would not have constitutional protection for the unborn in Wisconsin. And that’s why I feel that short of having this change in the constitution and putting it before the voters, there will be the ability for an activist Wisconsin state Supreme Court to deny rights to people that clearly should have that kind of protection – all people, every person at all stages of development.
It really is something where if you take a look at the statute that we already have on the books here in Wisconsin, in terms of prohibiting abortion, that could be stripped away, and it’s important that we find a way to restore that guarantee to all Wisconsin citizens that their human dignity will be respected from the movement of conception until natural death.”

According to Personhood Wisconsin, the amendment is “currently in drafting” but will be introduced this month. This week Personhood Wisconsin unveiled a billboard advertising the to-be-proposed amendment with pictures of humans at different stages of development and an all-caps message on the billboard reading: “YOU. ME. EVERYBODY. WE’RE ALL JUST GROWN-UP EMBRYOS.”

The billboard was designed by Youth Defence, an anti-abortion-rights media group based in Dublin, Ireland, and is sponsored by Pro-Life Wisconsin, 40 Days for Life of Green Bay, Personhood USA and Youth Defence. According to Pro-Life Wisconsin, it is currently located on Highway 41, south of Green Bay, but will move to a different location in Green Bay every three months.

“Demonstrating that at one point, all of us were just embryos, the personhood message is one we can all identify with,” said Pro-Life Wisconsin spokesperson Virginia Zignego in a statement.

On November 8, Mississippians will vote on whether to add a “personhood” amendment to their state constitution.

Excerpted from The American Independent News Network.

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Original photo of bowl and spoons from Flickr user gniliep under Creative Commons 2.0; text added.

HERvotes Takes On the Mississippi “Personhood” Amendment

2011-11-01T12:52:00.002-04:00

By Eleanor Smeal

Welcome to the fourth #HERVotes Blog Carnival! This time, we’re writing with an especially urgent focus. There’s an extremely dangerous constitutional amendment to the Mississippi state constitution on the November 8th ballot. It grants personhood and constitutional rights to a fertilized egg.

Election day is just one week away. We must stop the outrageous movement to give fertilized eggs more rights than women and girls.

The implications are staggering. By giving constitutional rights to a fertilized egg, the amendment could ban emergency contraception, birth control pills and IUDs as well as all abortions, even in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the woman or girl. It could eliminate medical choices for women, such as some cancer treatments or in vitro fertilization. It could allow the state to investigate and even prosecute a woman for a miscarriage. Undoubtedly it would lead to many court cases.

How to join the fight:

You can help in this get-out-the-vote effort by urging everyone you know in Mississippi– your friends, family, co-workers, or members of groups you are affiliated with–to Vote No on Initiative 26.
To take direct action, you can donate here to help the statewide Mississippi coalition campaign buy desperately needed television and radio ads.
You can share the posts here on Twitter–hashtags #HERvotes and #NoOn26—and Facebook. If we spread the word far enough, we can reach every women’s-rights voter in Mississippi.

With your help, this outrageous Mississippi Initiative 26 will be defeated. The blog posts here share more reasons why we need to take action now. Happy reading, and thanks for fighting for women’s lives!

Part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

Photo from the Mississippians for Healthy Families Facebook page.

Let(ting) Her Die is NOT an Option

2011-10-18T16:39:00.004-04:00

“I was pregnant, I was miscarrying, I was bleeding. If I had to go from one hospital to the next trying to find one emergency room that would take me in, who knows if I would even be here today. What my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are trying to do is misogynist,” admonished Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) from the floor of the House last week. What she’s warning against sounds impossible. Why would a dying woman be refused life saving measures?

If the House Republican Majority has its way, this scenario would not just be a horror story- it would be reality. The Let Her Die bill (officially called the “Protect Life Act” H.R. 358), sponsored by Representative Joe Pitts (R- PA) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), seeks to do just this. The bill would “prohibit federal funds from being used to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services.” The Hyde Amendment has prohibited federal funding of abortion since 1976, so what makes this bill different? Let Her Die allows any hospital with moral objections to abortion to deny women the procedure, even if the life of the woman is at risk.

Hospitals would be allowed to NOT save the life of a dying woman on “moral grounds”.

Such a cruel bill would never become law, right? Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Let Her Die bill with all Republicans except two voting for it. That’s right, members of the United States Congress actually signed off on a law that would allow women to be denied lifesaving treatment!

Before becoming law, the bill has to be approved by the Senate, a situation that is extremely unlikely to happen. Plus, President Obama has said he would veto the bill immediately. Still, this bill should never have made it this far through our government. Congress should be protecting women, not signing off on legislation that blatantly endangers their lives.

Members of Congress should not be playing political games with women’s lives. Our elected officials must not pursue misguided, brutal, and dangerous bills like Let Her Die. We should not forget that an overwhelming majority of House Republicans voted for the Let her Die bill. With so many Americans out of work, Congress should be focusing on creating jobs and bettering the lives of the American people. Instead, members of the House of Representatives are using their position to take away women’s reproductive rights, and, as this bill shows, their right to lifesaving medical procedures.

As Representative Speier’s story shows, real lives are at stake. Real women will die if this bill would become law. Congress must realize that Let[ting] Her Die is NOT an option.

Women Have Lives On The Line With Health Care Reform

2011-10-11T18:09:00.004-04:00

by Jessica Mason Pieklo

Like thousands of other families the recession has hit ours hard, but it could be worse. My family currently has health insurance, and both my husband and I still have jobs. We live paycheck to paycheck but still I feel lucky.

It’s a tenuous luck, a luck that is one medical emergency away from bankruptcy if we lose these protections. Even with insurance the recent c-section birth of my daughter still left us with a nearly $10,000 hospital bill, which is especially difficult to pay when there is no paid family or medical leave and returning to work means a return of childcare costs approaching $2000 a month.

But thanks to the Affordable Care Act my family can take a few steps back. We can exhale a bit. We can turn our attention to the countless other challenges we face raising children and balancing careers. Maybe it doesn’t seem like much to others, but for us it might literally be everything.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on essential benefits such as hospital stays, nor can they deny coverage to any child under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition. The Affordable Care Act means that all health insurance plans must cover preventative services such as contraception, mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay or coinsurance. Should my children reach adulthood in a time of economic contraction like we have now, they can stay on our insurance until they are 26 years old–a benefit I did not have and one that cost me thousands in uncovered medical expenses at a time when I was just trying to set out as an adult.

That all could change in the next election. The value of reproductive health care as preventative medicine is being questioned, as is the entire foundation of health care reform. Young adults may soon find themselves again without insurance, and given the current state of the economy, no employment prospects to either provide that coverage or an income to defray unexpected medical costs. Women may once again be discriminated against in terms of coverage and cost and families may find themselves kicked off insurance through no fault of their own.

At a time when women and families are facing what can seem like insurmountable challenges, now is not the time to roll back these kinds of protections. Quite simply, too much is at stake.

This blog is part of the #HERvotes blog carnival. Read more HERvotes posts by the Feminist Majority and other women’s groups.

Public Funding of Family Planning is Essential, Even Under Health Reform

2011-10-11T17:53:00.000-04:00

This week, as we celebrate the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, which promises to bring great benefits to women in this country, new threats to women’s health care have emerged. Last month the House of Representatives voted to eliminate federal funding of Planned Parenthood and cut entirely the Title X program, which supports family planning clinics across the country. Though the Senate has since rejected this proposal, House Republicans have vowed to continue to push for these cuts.

Many have spoken out about the harm this would have on low-income women, who rely on Planned Parenthoods and other family planning clinics for important preventive care like contraception and cancer screenings. Even in Massachusetts, where 98 percent of residents have health insurance due to groundbreaking state health reform, such cuts would be devastating.

Massachusetts has a robust network of family planning clinics, Planned Parenthood among them, which offer contraceptive services and counseling, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and cervical and breast cancer screening on a sliding fee scale. In the wake of Massachusetts reform, family planning clinics continue to play a role in providing services to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents.

In 2008, a year after Massachusetts’ health reform law took effect, Ibis Reproductive Health and the Massachusetts Department of Health Family Planning Program undertook research to explore the impact of reform on low-income women’s access to contraception. We conducted a survey and interviews with family planning providers and also held focus groups with English- and Spanish-speaking low-income women.

We found that health reform has provided a number of benefits to women and many women expressed relief over finally having insurance.

But our research also uncovered new barriers. Information about insurance plans and what is covered is confusing and difficult to navigate. For women new to insurance, having to get a prescription for contraception filled at a pharmacy instead of getting one’s method onsite at the clinic required education and support. Many women struggled to keep up with the numerous paperwork requirements to prove eligibility for state-subsidized plans and were pushed on and off insurance plans as a result, which likely affected their ability to consistently stay on contraception.

Providers also worried that teenagers on their parents’ insurance would not seek out family planning services for fear of their parents’ finding out.

Immigrant women also reported experiencing barriers to health care. Many do not qualify for subsidized insurance plans under reform and some have stopped seeking health care because they are afraid of being fined or deported if authorities find out they are undocumented and uninsured.

Our research also showed that family planning providers—in addition to their traditional role of providing sexual and reproductive health care—were taking on the challenge of addressing barriers for these populations most in need. Family planning clinic staff helped women enroll in insurance plans, determined their eligibility for state-subsidized plans, and spent time helping women decipher what their plans cover.

Family planning clinics also addressed patients’ other primary health care needs, including in some cases helping managing chronic conditions like diabetes and mental illness. They have also been a safety net for the uninsured and underinsured—they will never turn anyone away.

When Massachusetts health reform was first in effect, the Commonwealth made enrollment grants to health care agencies to help them get their clients signed up for health insurance. In spite of dramatic reductions to those grants, and after massive cuts to the state budget following the recession, family planning providers continue to serve women above and beyond what they have the resources to do.

Federal funds from the Title X program and state funds support Massachusetts’ 11 family planning agencies, which include 81 clinics located across the Commonwealth. If Congress succeeds in eliminating funding for Title X, it will succeed in eliminating subsidized services for the women who need them most. It will also lead to increased costs in Massachusetts and other states, because investments in family planning save dollars. We can hardly afford to stop funding cost-saving programs in the current economic environment.

The major goal of health reform—both in Massachusetts and nationally—is to achieve universal health care coverage. Even with the great strides Massachusetts has made, we still need a safety net. Continued support for Title X and family planning providers, including Planned Parenthood, supports the goals of health reform and ensures access to critical preventive health services for the most vulnerable women.

This blog is part of the #HERvotes blog carnival. Read more HERvotes posts by the Feminist Majority and other women’s groups.

The Affordable Care Act and Women

2011-10-11T17:41:00.001-04:00

By Desiree Hoffman
YWCA USA Director of Advocacy and Policy

March 23, 2011, marked the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Yet polls show that less than 47% of Americans know how it affects them.¹ Lack of understanding was highest among low-income households and the uninsured. When asked, “Do you feel you have enough information about the health reform law to understand how it will impact you personally?,” 61 percent of households with incomes less than $40,000 per year said “no;” 60 percent of uninsured individuals responded “no.”

Today, many households are struggling in a difficult economy and rightly feel a sense of disconnection between their own lives and politics. It isn’t surprising that many people don’t feel they have enough information about the ACA, let alone feel they have accurate information.

Recently I had the chance to speak to a room full of seniors and retirees about the ACA. What stood out to me was the audience knew more about how the law protected their grandchildren than they did about how ACA helps them. Under the new law, the audience knew that insurers could no longer discriminate based on a child’s preexisting condition, and that dependent children under the age of 26 could remain on their parent’s health care plans. What the mostly female audience did not know, however, was that they would no longer be charged co-pays for preventative services such as mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, immunizations, and annual physical exams.

Retirees and seniors were not aware that the ACA:

provides free mammograms every one to two years for women aged 40 and above, and patients identified as high-risk candidates for breast cancer can receive consultation on chemoprevention, and genetic evaluation;

makes it illegal for insurers to deny coverage to women based on pre-existing conditions, including cesarean sections, breast cancer, chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes and even domestic violence; and

ensures that low-income and moderate-income women and families are able to afford health care by expanding Medicaid and offering new affordability credits to families — between 133 percent to 400 percent of the federal poverty level (Example: The range is between $29,328 to $88,000 for a family of four based on 2009 HHS guidelines) — to help pay for health care premiums.

Most shocking to me was that the audience of primarily women had no idea that, before ACA, insurers refused to cover survivors of domestic violence. Before the law, insurers defined domestic violence as a pre-existing condition since many victims often had higher utilization rates of the emergency room and, thus, were viewed as “high risk” or more costly to insure, providing the basis for refusal of health care coverage at all. Under ACA, an insurance company can no longer discriminate against — and re-victimize — a domestic violence survivor by denying health insurance coverage.

From the provisions that help children and grandchildren, to the measures that address breast cancer and help domestic violence survivors obtain health care insurance, the ACA clearly makes healthcare more affordable for women and their families. While the affordability credits do not kick- in until 2014, they are important components of the law that help low and moderate income families. People are struggling with rising healthcare costs and stagnant wages in an economy where unemployment remains high; expanding Medicaid and providing subsidies to help pay for health care premiums will help tremendously.

Despite these benefits, there are intensifying efforts to repeal or weaken the ACA. At the beginning of the 112^th Congress, bills were introduced to repeal the entire law, but they did not muster enough votes to pass. Now, there is a flurry of amendments to halt agencies from fully implementing key provisions of the ACA, and bills to restrict comprehensive reproductive health care services.

This month is declared both national Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Knowing the important benefits that ACA means for breast cancer prevention and treatment and for survivors of domestic violence, there is no better way to commemorate this month than by speaking out in support of the ACA to your Senators and Representative or by educating yourself and your loved ones on the benefits of the new law.

To learn more about the new law visit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/relief-for-americans-and-businesses#healthcare-menu

This blog is part of the #HERvotes blog carnival. Read more HERvotes posts by the Feminist Majority and other women’s groups.

#HERvotes Blog Carnival Takes on Health Care

2011-10-11T17:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the third #HERVotes Blog Carnival! This time, the focus is on women and health care. The blog posts below share personal stories and details about the new benefits from the health care reform law, while also offering original insights on what’s at stake for women and health care. You’ll also find personal stories and analysis delving into the health care services we’ve all gained–and will gain–through the passage of the new health care reform law.

Some of the most impactful new health care services for women and families that have come about because of the new health care reform laws include:

• All new health care plans now must cover certain preventive services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without charging a deductible, co-pay, or coinsurance.
• Young adults are now allowed to stay on their parent’s health care plan until they turn 26 years old.
• Insurance companies are now prohibited from imposing lifetime dollar limits on essential health care benefits, like hospital stays.
• Insurance companies now cannot deny health care coverage to children under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.

These new benefits are just the start of the increased coverage that will come about as a result of the new health care reform law. And to find out more about developments in coverage, go to www.Healthcare.gov for the most updated answers to your enrollment and coverage questions.

Last but not least: Since many of these resources and stories will help moms and families looking for information about health care coverage, please be sure to share the link to this blog carnival on Facebook and to follow our Twitter conversation at #HERvotes.

Enjoy reading the many thoughtful and eye-opening blogs below!

This blog is part of the #HERvotes blog carnival.

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It’s In The Law: Breaking Down What’s In It For You In the New Health Care Law, Thao Nguyen,National Women’s Law Center
Women Have Lives on the Line With Health Care Reform, Jessica Mason Pieklo, Care2.com
She Who Has Health Has Hope — She Who Has Hope Has Everything, Christy Jones, American Association of University Women
Forty Years of Influencing Women’s Health Around the Globe, Byllye Y. Avery,
How Much Would You Pay to Have Your Colon Looked At?, Cindy Pearson, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need; National Women’s Health Network
What the Health Care Bill Means for Women, Jessica Stites, Ms. Magazine
Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege, Carol Rosenblatt, Coalition of Labor Union Women
Women’s Health: It’s Essential!, Cindy Pearson, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need; National Women’s Health Network
Raising Our Voices for the Health Coverage Women Need!, Lois Uttley, Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need
Vaccinating the Public Against Health Care Misinformation, Lisa Bennett, National Organization for Women
In Massachusetts, Health reform is a Life Saver for Women, Amanda Dennis and Kelly Blanchard,Ibis Reproductive Health
How Restrictions on Health Care Funding Affect Low Income Women’s Access to Care, Amanda Dennis and Ruth Manski
Public Funding of Family Planning is Essential, Even Under Health Reform, Britt Wahlin and Amanda Dennis, Ibis Reproductive Health
No Co-Pay for Birth Control? A Great First Step Towards Truly Universal Access, Kelly Blanchard,Ibis Reproductive Health
Women’s Health, Worth Fighting For, by Avis Jones DeWeever, PhD, National Council for Negro Women
The Affordable Care Act and Women, Desiree Hoffman, YWCA
A Bright Future Starts Now, Emily Alfano, National Council of Jewish Women
New Health Care Law and Young People: What You Need to Know, Sarah Audelo, Amplify Your Voice
The New Health Care Law and Me, Becky Mezzanotte, National Council of Women’s Organizations
As a Young Woman, I Need Healthcare!, Kendra McCormick, National Council of Women’s Organizations
Better Health Care for Millions of Women? The Right Wing is Outraged, Outraged!, Carol King,Ms. Magazine
Catholic Death Panels Coming to a Hospital Near You, Carol King, Ms. Magazine
U.S. Flunks Women’s Health, Michelle Chen, Ms. Magazine
Birth Control Pills … or a Frappucino?, Leah Berkenwald, Ms. Magazine
“Care,” The New Four-Letter Word, National Women’s Political Caucus
What the Affordable Care Act Has Done for YOU Lately, Colleen Eliza, WIN Writing Group
The ACA and Why Women Need to Vote in 2012, WIN Writing Group

Personal Stories

Though My Son is Still Battling Cancer, We’ve Already Won a Victory, Tracy C. Heiman
For Special Needs Children, the Affordable Care Act Is a Godsend, Magdalena Clark
How My Under-26-Year-Old Son Is Helped by the Affordable Care Act Right Now, Tracy Muñoz
As a Diabetic in Oklahoma, I No Longer Face Annual Limits, Jasmine
Keep Moving Forward on Affordable Care Act: My Daughter’s Story, Lisa Doyle
The Affordable Care Act Has Allowed Our Children to Pursue Their Dreams, Tonya Arroyo
I Wish ACA Had Been Law When I Was a Student, Bernadette Segura
Must-See Video: What Julie, Matt and Baby Violet Faced
How the Affordable Care Act Has Helped My Family, Jose Ricardo Bondoc

Got Equality?

2010-10-01T21:10:00.002-04:00

By Emmy Bengtson and Mehrin Rahman

LGBT rights have certainly been a hot topic this year, and the 2010 Senate race in California is no exception. However, whereas Senator Boxer has consistently proven she is a proud supporter of gay rights, Fiorina seems to want to waste no more time on a civil rights discussion than she does on talking about abortion or the environment.

Fiorina voted FOR Prop 8 and has said that “I do believe that marriage is between a man and a woman.” Moreover, since Prop 8 passed, she thinks that revisiting the issue of same-sex marriage is moot, even “not appropriate,” even though a federal court has found Prop 8 to be unconstitutional.

So now equal rights for LGBT people aren’t an important topic in this election? We’re starting to get the idea that Fiorina has been living under a rock. A big, multi-million-dollar rock.

Time and again, Fiorina has demonstrated that she’s out of touch with what Californians care about, from reproductive rights to the environment. And now, she’s out of touch with majority opinion on same-sex marriages: in a recent CNN poll, 52% of respondents said they think same-sex couples should have the right to marry and have their marriage recognized by the law.

In stark contrast to Fiorina, Senator Boxer has proven she will take a stand for same-sex marriage. For more than 17 years, Boxer has consistently worked towards equal LGBT rights: she voted no on bans on same-sex marriage several times (including Prop 8), voted to prohibit job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and she was given a perfect 100% pro-gay-rights rating by the Human Rights Campaign. Boxer is truly an ally.

The fight for same-sex marriage isn’t over yet. Try to keep up, Carly.

Vote for LGBT Rights. Vote Boxer.

Go Green or Go Home Carly!

2010-09-30T15:06:00.000-04:00

By Mehrin Rahman and Emmy Bengtson

Actually, just go home...

The environment was definitely a hot topic of yesterday’s debate between Fiorina and Senator Boxer.

Fiorina accused Senator Boxer of being “beholden” to “extreme environmental groups”. Of course when asked to give examples of the groups she accused Senator Boxer of supporting, Fiorina stuttered, made excuses, and tried to do what she does best: change the subject when it really matters.

Really, Carly? Well-respected groups like the Sierra Club, the California League of Conservation Voters, and Ocean Champions are the epitome of environmental extremism?

“It is shocking to me to see someone try to get to the United States Senate who would turn their back on the environment,” exclaimed Senator Boxer. And rightly so. While Boxer has won the support of prominent environmental groups, Fiorina was included in the League of Conservation Voters’ “Dirty Dozen”--a list of the most dangerous candidates to our environment. California has long prided itself on environmental awareness and conservation; do we really want one of the twelve worst candidates in the country working for us?

Fiorina also wants to hand over the California coast to big oil and expand off-shore drilling. Carly, need we remind you about BP and the Gulf Oil disaster?

And what about the 400,000+ jobs that would be put on the chopping block if our coast is destroyed? For someone who claims to be so job-focused (remember, other “trivial” issues like a woman’s right to choose aren’t even on her radar) this is a disconcerting position to take.

What’s more is that Fiorina favors Prop 23, which, if passed, would be a disaster for the California environment. Prop 23 puts an end to limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Talk about extremism!

To top it all off, Fiorina says she doubts whether climate change is real.

The Sierra Club Chairman himself says: “While Senator Boxer is a proven leader in creating new clean energy jobs and protecting our environment, Carly Fiorina would take us backward. Fiorina’s skepticism about global warming and her support for new offshore oil drilling off our coast show just how out of touch she is with California voters.” Out of touch with the earth, and out of touch with California.

Vote for the environment. Vote Boxer.

Go Green or Go Home Carly!

2010-09-30T14:56:00.001-04:00

And the winner is... Barbara Boxer!

2010-09-29T20:03:00.004-04:00

By Emmy Bengtson and Mehrin Rahman

Boxer wins!! Certainly in this debate and hopefully come November 2.

In their second meeting to discuss prominent issues of the upcoming election, Boxer and Fiorina answered questions on health care, abortion, immigration, the environment, and the economy.

Debate moderators Patt Morrison of the L.A. Times and KPCC and Gabriel Lerner of La Opinion pressed the issues to both candidates. Senator Boxer spoke with clarity on her opinions and in her rebuttals. Not surprisingly, Fiorina’s predominant debate strategy was to sidestep questions and avoid expressing her own ideas, instead attacking Senator Boxer.

We pro-choice supporters of Boxer were especially interested in hearing Fiorina’s explanation of her previous statement that she “absolutely would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if given the opportunity." In an attempt to change the subject--she obviously knows only a tiny percentage of Californians agree with her--Fiorina not only refused to explain her previous statement on abortion (besides saying that she “happen[s] to be pro-life”), but actually dismissed the topic of abortion in general. Fiorina accused Boxer of using reproductive rights to distract voters from what she sees as more pressing issues--namely the economy and employment. “The subject of this election is not abortion,” Fiorina said.

Really, Carly? Evidently you’re not attuned to all the voters--especially women--who see abortion as a make or break issue.

In a recent poll conducted by EMILY's List, 61% of women responders said they’d be more likely to vote if they knew they could “defeat a candidate who does not trust women to make decisions about their own reproductive health care.” Contrary to Fiorina’s misguided statement, abortion is clearly central to this year’s California Senate election.

Moreover, there is a very real threat to Roe v. Wade, as an increasing number of candidates for the U.S. Senate across the country this year have stated that they would deny abortion even in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the woman’s life. Fiorina’s evasion of the issue of abortion is little more than an attempt not to lose votes...abortion is very much a subject of this election.

By contrast, Senator Boxer made it very clear that she stands by Roe, reasserting her belief that abortion is a decision that must be made by the woman, not by the Senate. “I’m not going to put my views on anyone else,” she said, displaying an attitude we wish more Senators would share. Furthermore, Boxer believes that federal funds should be provided for women in the case of rape, incest, and endangerment of the women’s life.

So take note, Carly: pro-choice students throughout California are watching, listening, and ready to fight for a woman’s right to choose. We’re voting for Boxer, and we’re voting to keep abortion safe and legal.

KEEP ABORTION LEGAL: KEEP BARBARA BOXER

2010-09-29T11:50:00.004-04:00

With only a limited number of days left until the November 2nd elections, coat hangers with KEEP ABORTION LEGAL: KEEP BARBARA BOXER signs are cropping up on campuses—and not a moment too soon.

The race between Senator Barbara Boxer (D) and her challenger Carly Fiorina (R) is still a toss-up—we can take nothing for granted. We cannot afford to lose Senator Boxer—a renowned champion for women's rights and abortion rights—but that's what could happen if we don't mobilize immediately.

A key poll just released shows young people and women comprise the largest segment of undecided voters in the race between Boxer and Fiorina.

This campaign is so crucial, especially considering the fact that another new poll shows that a lot of the women who newly registered and voted in the 2008 Presidential election face a serious information deficit about this year’s campaign. But 61% of those women say that they would be more likely to vote if they knew that they could “defeat a candidate who does not trust women to make decisions about their own reproductive health care.”

Fiorina is one of those candidates, and getting the word out about her extreme anti-choice views will drive voters—particularly newly registered women—to the polls.

That's why we need your help. The Feminist Majority is spearheading a strategic statewide college campus organizing campaign to make sure students—especially young women—vote for Boxer.

Boxer and Fiorina are diametrically opposed on major issues. Here’s where they stand:

Abortion Rights: Boxer is the Senate’s foremost defender of women’s reproductive rights. Fiorina has said, “I absolutely would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if the opportunity presented itself.”
The Environment: Boxer has been a staunch pro-environment legislator, and opposes new offshore drilling in California. Fiorina supports expanded offshore oil drilling in California and elsewhere, saying, “I believe off-shore oil drilling is absolutely necessary.” Fiorina’s “not sure” if climate change is real.
Gay Rights: Barbara Boxer supports same-sex marriage and was an early opponent of Prop. 8. Carly Fiorina voted YES on Prop. 8 to outlaw same-sex marriage in California.
Immigrant Rights: Barbara Boxer is a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, she supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship, and opposes Arizona’s new anti-immigrant law, SB 1070. Carly Fiorina supports SB 1070, the new Arizona law cracking down on immigrants, and she opposes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

Fiorina and her big business backers have millions to throw at this race before the November 2nd election. That’s why it’s so important that we mobilize. We MUST act now to send a clear message to Carly Fiorina that a woman’s right to choose is not for sale. You can help re-elect Boxer by getting involved and spreading the word; here’s how:

You can volunteer—get involved with the campaign on your campus, or start your own! You can also sign up to help phone bank, or adopt a polling place and volunteer on election day.
You can donate to the campaign—a donation as little as $5 can go a long way.
You can follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook to get up-to-the-minute updates and alerts.

We also want to hear from you! Send us your stories from the ground, your videos, photos or blog posts. This blog is a place to share your experiences, ideas and updates with other campaigners.

The race between Boxer and Fiorina is neck-and-neck. Every vote counts, and student voters can make the difference!

Victory for Women! Global Gag Rule Repealed

2009-01-23T17:31:00.000-05:00

The Feminist Majority applauds President Barack Obama for issuing an executive order today that repeals the Global Gag Rule. President Obama’s expeditious action on behalf of women worldwide will save the lives, health, and suffering of literally millions of women worldwide yearly.

“Barack Obama, with the stroke of a pen, is now saving the lives and health of countless women and girls around the world. President Obama is keeping his pledge to women and I believe this is only the beginning,” said Feminist Majority President Eleanor Smeal.

The Global Gag Rule prohibited family planning programs in other nations that receive US aid from using non-US monies for abortion counseling, advocacy, and referrals. The rule was instituted by President Reagan in 1984, was repealed by President Clinton, and was reinstituted by President George W. Bush.

The Global Gag Rule inhibited women worldwide from access to gynecological exams, AIDS prevention and treatment, and contraceptive options. It also halted shipment of condoms and contraceptives to more than 20 countries. In part because of restricted access to reproductive health services, more than 70,000 women annually die from unsafe abortions worldwide.

The Feminist Majority, founded in 1987, works for women’s equality and to enhance feminist participation in public policy nationwide and worldwide.

Senate Passes Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

2009-01-23T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Senate tonight passed by a strong majority the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (S. 181) after defeating a series of Republican hostile amendments. The Senate floor debate for the Act was led by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Dean of the women Senators, for Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) after Majority Leader Senator Reid (D-NV) navigated the bill to the floor.

“President Obama and the Democratic Congress are keeping their pledge to women and all workers to reverse the Supreme Court decision that gutted the right of employees to fight wage discrimination,” said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority. “We’re on a roll to rebuilding women’s rights and civil rights taken away during the Bush era.”

The Senate Act, which has already passed the House in a version coupled with the Paycheck Fairness Act, will go back to the House as a single bill. The House is expected to pass the Senate bill on Tuesday. President Obama is expected to sign it into law shortly thereafter. In almost straight party line votes the Senate kept the pledge of President Obama to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act almost immediately after being sworn in.

Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson’s killer amendment was defeated 55-40 in a nearly straight party vote with Democrats voting against it – only Republican Olympia (ME) voted with Democrats. Several other debilitating Republican amendments also went down to defeat.

The Ledbetter Act corrects the Roberts Supreme Court decision that gutted the ability of women workers to sue for wage discrimination. The Act passed helps not only women, but all workers who are victims of wage discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, or disability.

Why Are YOU voting for Obama?

2008-10-22T11:50:00.013-04:00

Last week we asked our friends on Twitter "Why are you voting for Obama?" We received a huge outpouring of replies that cover a wide variety of issues. Thanks to everyone who responded! And be sure to check out FeministsForObama.org if you haven't already.

You can follow Feminst Majority on Twitter: @femmajority

Announcing the launch of FEMINISTS FOR OBAMA.ORG

2008-10-16T15:21:00.003-04:00

If McCain and Palin win, Women Lose.

Eleanor Smeal, President of Feminist Majority, says, “Obama/Biden are running on the strongest platform for women’s rights of any major party in U.S. history”.

That’s why Feminist Majority launched www.FeministsForObama.org, a side-by-side comparison of the Democratic and Republican nominees on four major women’s issues: Violence Against Women, Abortion and Contraception, Women and Work, and Breast Cancer and Health Care.

To reach as many people as possible, Feminist Majority created three striking PSAs that illuminate some of the grave truths about the McCain/Palin record on women’s issues.

One in Six
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fChyeoMJc3U
“Under Sarah Palin, rape survivors were forced to pay up to $1200 for rape evidence collection kits.”

Unholy Trinity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RFrEzQAOvM
“John McCain voted against funding to fight and prevent domestic violence”

Violation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w7ZZ5huKMk
“John McCain and Sarah Palin are running on a platform that seeks to outlaw a woman's right to an abortion even in cases of rape and incest.”

Quick Facts

Did you know Senator McCain voted against establishing the Army's Breast Cancer Research Program? This program, which started modestly, appropriated hundreds of millions to Breast Cancer research.

Did you know Senator McCain opposes the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act? The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would restore a woman’s right to fight pay discrimination in court.

Did you know Senator McCain has ducked questions on contraceptive insurance discrimination as recently as July 2008?

Visit www.FeministsForObama.org to read more. You can also follow us on Twitter @femmajority.

Joe Biden Wows Women in Sterling, VA

2008-09-19T16:58:00.002-04:00

We just returned from a Women for Obama/Biden rally featuring Joe and Jill Biden in Sterling, Virginia. It was marvelous! There was a large, enthusiastic crowd. Jill Biden gave an impassioned introduction. She is terrific -- a down-to-earth Doctor of Education who really promotes teachers and education for women. Joe Biden's speech was right on target -- a woman's rights speech highlighting the struggle to reduce violence against women (he led the fight for the Violence Against Women Act in Congress), pay equity, the fight for the Supreme Court and the right to legal abortion, paid family and medical leave, raising the minimum wage -- he presented each issue with passion. And he took on McCain -- who votes against women's issues time and time again. We loved it! And he even brought tears to our eyes -- to have a leader who cares so strongly about respecting women. I know he is the real thing -- I've worked with him on women's issues for decades. The crowd's response was electric!

-- Ellie Smeal

Feminist Majority to make Important Announcement on the Presidential Election

2008-09-15T12:35:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, September 16, the Feminist Majority PAC, National Organization for Women PAC, Business and Professional Women/PAC, National Association of Social Workers PACE, National Congress of Black Women, and the Women's Information Network will make a decisive announcement regarding the 2008 presidential election.

What: Women’s rights groups make important announcement on the presidential election

When: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 12:30 pm

Where: National Press Club - Holeman Lounge, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC

Who: Ellie Smeal, Feminist Majority PAC Chair
Kim Gandy, National Organization for Women PAC Chair
Deborah Frett, CEO of Business and Professional Women/PAC
Betsy Clark, NASW-PACE, Executive Director
E. Faye Williams, National Chair, National Congress of Black Women
Kristy Pagan, Chair, Women's Information Network

Video of the event will be posted approximately one hour after the event at the Feminist Majority PAC site

New Videos

2008-08-31T00:33:00.003-04:00

I have some new videos from the DNC Women's Caucus up on our YouTube channel, feministpolitics. Check them out here:

and here:

Press Release: Eleanor Smeal on Republican VP Candidate

2008-08-29T15:47:00.005-04:00

Statement of Eleanor Smeal for the Feminist Majority Political Action Committee on the Selection of Sarah Palin as Republican Vice Presidential Candidate

For Immediate Release
August 29, 2008

John McCain just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand women voters and especially Hillary voters.

Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton. You can’t attract Hillary voters and women voters with a woman opposed to what Hillary stands for. Sarah Palin strongly opposes women’s abortion and family planning rights. She is a proponent of teaching creationism in schools; a global warming skeptic, and an opponent on key environmental issues, such as protecting the polar bear in Alaska and is for oil and natural gas drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Sarah Palin stands with John McCain, who is opposed to affirmative action for women in public employment, public education and public contracting, is opposed to legislation fighting wage discrimination for women (the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act), is opposed to the Violence Against Women Act, authored by Senator Joe Biden, and has a zero rating with women’s rights groups.

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For press contact information, please visit feministmajority.org

Invesco Stadium!

2008-08-29T02:33:00.004-04:00

What a convention! This was my first, and I am unbelievably excited and happy to have been able to come. We started the day at the second Women's Caucus of the convention. We heard from Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, and Michelle Obama, along with many other fabulous women legislators and leaders.

Tonight at Invesco Stadium was amazing. We managed to get great seats by virtue of arriving ridiculously early, and it was completely worth it!

I realize it looks empty in the video, but we arrived crazy early (I admit some obsessing over getting a good seat on my part). As the stadium filled up and the program began, the energy and excitement in the stadium increased. So, naturally, that meant the wave:

We heard from Al Gore, Senator Dick Durbin, Vice Presidential Nominee and Senator Joe Biden, Colorado Congresswomen Diana DeGette, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, to name only a few. And of course, Senator Barack Obama's speech brought the house down.

As my first - and hopefully not last - convention comes to a close, I am entering a video posting craze with clips from throughout the convention that I haven't had time to share yet. Stay tuned to the feministpolitics channel on YouTube for updates!

Finished with Wednesday!

2008-08-28T02:03:00.002-04:00

Done for the night, and back at our hotel now. What a great day, though! As you know, we went to Speaker Pelosi's tea honoring women members of Congress, and then on to the Big Tent, where Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick was making the rounds.

In the Pepsi Center, Senator Hillary Clinton called for Obama's nomination to be approved by acclamation when the role call reached New York.

Later, we heard speeches by President Bill Clinton and Senator John Kerry, along with Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth and Madeline Albright. Joe Biden's son, Bo Biden, introduced him before he accepted his nomination for Vice President. Joe Biden's speech was amazing!

Throughout the speeches, I was struck by how often the speakers touched on women's issues. Senator Biden's authoring and championing of the Violence Against Women Act was a central aspect of the evening. I hope this awareness of women's issues will continue throughout the campaign.

Check out this video we shot inside the Pepsi Center:

So, I've noticed that whatever I blog that the plan is for the next day doesn't usually actually happen. My apologies. So all I'm going to say for tomorrow is second half of the women's caucus, and then going straight to Invesco field. Hopefully it won't rain!

Ellie Smeal!

2008-08-27T18:13:00.003-04:00

We went to a tea honoring women members of Congress this afternoon. Annette Benning, Rosario Dawson, and Eva Longoria all attended, and we heard House Speaker Nancy Pelosi address the amazing progress the women in Congress have effected.

We managed to catch up with our own Feminist Majority President, Ellie Smeal. Check out this update on the convention from Ellie:

We're off to the Pepsi Center now to hear watch as the delegates declare the nomination, and later hear speeches from President Bill Clinton and Senator and Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden.

More from Denver

2008-08-27T03:22:00.006-04:00

The watch party was great! The energy in the room was contagious, and I felt like everyone was excited. We missed Lilly Ledbetter's speech, unfortunately, but we caught Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, among others. And, of course, Senator Hillary Clinton's speech, which, in my humble opinion, was amazing. Everyone in the room seemed moved.

And, I hope everyone caught Ellie Smeal sitting behind Joe Biden!

After the watch party, a few of us headed over to an event for Irish Americans, and then to a party for Lifetime's Every Women Counts Campaign. Here is a group of us at the Irish American event:

On the schedule for tomorrow: Women's eNews panel on the Pro-Women agenda in Congress in the morning. a Life Every Voice for Reproductive Justice event, some Big Tent blogging time, and a 10th Anniversary event for the White House Project. Good Night!

Video Update from the Big Tent

2008-08-26T21:06:00.003-04:00

Quick video update from the Big Tent. We're wrapping up here and heading over to a watch party. More updates soon!

From the Big Tent!

2008-08-26T19:57:00.003-04:00

We started out today at the "Campaign Conversations" event with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She addressed party unity, the priorities of Congress in the next month and after the election, and emphasized the role of science for growth in America.

After the Pelosi event, we went straight to the DNC Women's Caucus, which was sponsored by Lifetime. Thanks and credit for Hillary Clinton's historic run for President were given by many speakers, as well as remembrances for Ohio Congresswomen Stephanie Tubbs-Jones. Rissi Palmer sang a couple songs before opening the caucus with the national anthem.

Speakers included Rosario Dawson, Eva Longoria, Donna Brazile, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ellen Malcolm of Emily's List, and many, many others. Donna Brazile was a huge hit, receiving multiple standing ovations.

After the the Women's Caucus, we took a break to eat and regroup before heading over to the Big Tent. We're off to a watch party next, but stay tuned for more YouTube videos!

Outside the Pepsi Center

2008-08-26T09:00:00.002-04:00

Check out this video of me and Melody from NOW outside the Pepsi Center right after Michelle Obama's speech last night.

We're on the way out the door to the Campaign Conversations event, and then on to the Women's Caucus, and the Big Tent!

Michelle Obama Rules!

2008-08-26T01:52:00.004-04:00

Today was insane, simply crazy.

I started the day bright and early with the "Campaign Conversations" breakfast panel, which is sponsored by the Politico, the Denver Post, and Yahoo! News. The topic was "Obama and the future of race in America." The panelists included House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder, Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Tavis Smiley, and author Dr. Cornel West.

Dr. West and Rep. Jackson both stopped briefly after the event to continue the discussion with Feminist Majority staff.

Later in the day, the EqualiTEA was a huge success! Hundreds of feminists gathered at the University Club in Denver. I hope everyone was able to catch some or all of the video we streamed live from the event. The speakers were all fabulous, and the tributes to Stephanie Tubbs-Jones were especially compelling. Videos of individual speakers will be up on YouTube soon!

After the EqualiTEA, we made our way over to the Pepsi Center in time to hear Caroline Kennedy's speech. We stayed through Claire McCaskill (my senator!), and Michelle Obama.

I thought Michelle Obama was phenomenal! Her speech was perfect, and I noticed she directly addressed women's issues, including equal pay.

On the schedule for tomorrow: "Campaign Conversations" again, the Women's Caucus, more from the Pepsi Center, and some quality time at the Big Tent!

EqualiTEA Prep

2008-08-24T23:02:00.004-04:00

Picked up Big Tent credentials today, and poked around downtown a bit.

In the process of getting everything ready for the Women's EqualiTEA tomorrow at the University Club. Excited for the great response so far. Excepting several members of Congress, as well as Dolores Huerta, Kim Gandy, and Ellie Smeal.

Be sure to catch the live, streaming video of speeches and a tribute to the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Ohio. Include your own remembrance of this champion of feminism here.

Starting tomorrow bright and early with a breakfast panel discussion "Convention Conversations," being put on by the Politico, the Denver Post, and Yahoo News. We'll also be at the "Strike for Your Rights" event tomorrow night sponsored by Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom.

We're Here!

2008-08-24T00:20:00.008-04:00

We arrived in Denver today, and spent the evening mapping out the rest of the week. More of the group will be arriving tomorrow, and we will be meeting to brief everyone on the game plan for the convention.

Be sure to follow the Feminist Majority on Twitter for the fastest updates on the convention!

Check out Ellie's statement on Senator Joe Biden's selection as the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate:

For years, Senator Biden has been a champion in the fight to end violence against women. He was not only the principle sponsor of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), but he was the chief navigator and champion of the issue in the Senate. He has ensured in 2000 and 2006 the reauthorization of this act, which provides vital federal funding for women’s shelters and programs for the reduction of violence against women. This trailblazing act originally provided that a woman has a civil right to enter federal court to secure monetary damages against her abuser. Although this section of the act was struck down by a conservative Supreme Court, Biden demonstrated his commitment to empowering women and his determination to rectify injustices.

Biden has also led in the struggle for women’s equality worldwide. He is a strong supporter of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the international women’s human rights treaty. As the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, he held the first hearings on CEDAW. Also, his leadership led to the passage of the Afghan Women’s Empowerment Act, which provided vital funding for women and girl’s schools, employment training, and health clinics as well as for the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. Biden has demonstrated that he not only understands the plight of Afghan women, but that he has also vigorously opposed Bush Administration policies toward Afghanistan that have not fulfilled our promise to Afghan women. Read More...