femifist

I have yet to find a “pro-life” organization that supports and promotes  birth control.  If you’ve read my previous blogs on this subject matter, you are aware that I am pro-choice, but a big advocate on simply preventing unwanted pregnancy before it occurs.  As an open-minded individual who likes to look at issues from many angles, I have navigated several “prolife” websites.  Here are my findings:

1.  http://www.prolife.com/ is a religious-based, anti-choice website, that considers “career and education” false gods that women worship.  The site shows several pics of mutilated fetuses and has interviews with former abortion providers who claim that they always believed they were committing murder, but it was such a lucrative business that they continued to do so.   I could not find any mention of contraceptives throughout the site.

2.  http://www.prolife.org/  Prolife.org is an informative website about what is happening in the news in regards to abortion laws.  There was no mention of contraceptives that I could find.

3.  http://prolifeaction.org/about/  Prolife Action seeks to overturn abortion laws by way of peaceful protest.  They work on recruiting young people to join the anti-choice movement.  They discuss abortion and it’s aftermath.  There is no mention of contraceptives.

4.  http://www.prolifeblogs.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?search=contraceptives&IncludeBlogs=2&limit=20  Prolife Blogs is a site where bloggers discuss anti-choice issues.  The link is what came up when I did a search for contraceptives.  One article claims that “normal women can’t remember to take the pill consistantly, thus leading to more abortions.”  There are several articles about risk factors of the pill and how it isn’t as effective as we are led to believe.  There is NO information on how to properly use contraceptives at all.  I should add that most of these blogs seemed to be written by men.  From personal experience, I can tell you that during the 8 years that I was sexually active with men, I was on the pill (Or-tho-tricyclen and later Or-tho-tricyclen Low) and using condoms.  I never had ANY complications or adverse side-effects and I have never been pregnant or had an STD.

Now lets take a look at some Pro-choice websites:

1.  http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/index.html  Naral Pro-Choice America is a pro-choice organization that supports a woman’s right to choose, family planning, comprehensive sex education, and birth control.  There weren’t any details about actual abortion procedures as I was hoping there would be.  There are NO opinions, just facts present.

2.  http://prochoice.com/  Pro-choice.com is actually NOT a pro-choice website.  The site gives information on 3 options: parenthood, adoption, and abortion.  The majority of the site is saturated with opinions, as most anti-choice websites are.  There is no mention of birth control.

3.  http://www.prochoice.org/  Pro-choice.org is an organization called the National Abortion Federation.  This site was VERY informative.  It goes into detail about every type of abortion procedure and gives many ways that you can get involved in your community.  There is mention of Emergency Contraception, but not of promoting birth control pills or condoms.

4.  http://www.protectchoice.org/  Protect Choice is an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between young women and the organizations that serve them.  They promote comprehensive sex ed, birth control, and reproductive rights.  I was delighted to see the image of the woman, raising her fist in solidarity, incompassed by a woman’s symbol.  I have this same image tattooed on my leg.  I fell in love with the image at The March For Women’s Lives in 2003.  A picture is worth a thousand words…

I urge you to read all the information you can get your hands on about this topic, educate yourself, and speak with women who have had abortions or chosen not to.  Get the real story from the people that lived it.  AND, for goddess sake, promote birth control, will ya?

I am writing this in response to an article entitled “Super Models VS Feminists” by: Suzanne MacNevin.  Go here to read the article: http://www.lilithgallery.com/feminist/fashion/Supermodels-Vs-Feminists.html

In “Supermodels VS Feminists,” MacNevin argues that supermodels are household names and feminists are obscure in our society today.  In her opening paragraph she refers to supermodels as “anoerexic bimbos.”  I was completely appalled.  There are so many pressures on women to meet unrealistic beauty standards and then to have a self-proclaimed “feminist” calling other women names in reference to physical appearance is hypocritical.  Aneorexia is a serious and common disease among young women.  It is not something to joke about or take lightly.  An assumption that a beautiful woman is a “bimbo” comes from a society that judges us based on looks, not from feminism.  How long have feminists been fighting to be characterized by our brains and abilities and not by our appearance?

MacNevin compiled a list of  supermodels and and a list of feminists.  I had only previously heard of a handful of the supermodels.  I do agree that Americans could recognize supermodels more quickly than famous feminists, but I disagree with MacNevin’s point of view.  As feminist activists we must find a way to change the institution first.  Prevention first.  We have to start instilling self-love in little girls when they are babies, infants, toddlers, preteens, adolescents even.  We have to teach them not to subscribe to popular culture because it’s bullshit.  We have to challenge them to think for themselves.  Supply and demand.  If society changes, the interest in supermodels decreases and the visability of supermodels decreases.  The frequency of eating disorders in young women may even decrease!

MacNevin asks “Where are all the famous feminists of today?”  It does seem like feminists started blending into the woodwork, doesn’t it? There is certainly still a need for feminism, but have our voices been stifled????  I believe the answer is a loud NO.  Below I have expanded on her list.  My additions are in red….just to name a few more as there are many.

Famous Feminists

Music:

http://books.google.com/books?q=list+of+feminist+politicians&ct=title&lr=&sa=N&start=0

http://www.amazon.com/Feminist-Science-Studies-New-Generation/dp/0415926963

I am a 27 year old, bisexual woman.  I live with my girlfriend, Sally, of nearly 3 years.  We met through a mutual friend in the south in January 2006 and moved to the east coast together in January 2007.

If soul mates exist, she is mine.  For the past 3 years, she has been my biggest supporter, my voice of reason.  She has comforted and carried me through many difficult times.  When finances permit, we fully intend on getting married.

I’ve been very fortunate to have a loving and supportive family who respects my relationship and wants me to be happy.

Proposition 8 is discrimination and it hurts me.  I love my girlfriend more than I’ve ever loved anyone.  We’ve had ups and downs, moved across the country together, been impoverished, shared finances, discussed marriage and children.  We are the same as any couple.  I would be devastated if anything ever happened to her, especially if I were not permitted to see her in the hospital or get an update of how she was progressing.  Most straight couples take this basic right for granted.  Take a moment and think of it’s importance. 

On that note, I will close by letting you bigots know that if you choose to dehumanize me and my LGBT brothers and sisters by not granting us the basic fundamental right of marrying the people that we love, there is no place for you in my world.  I don’t respect you because you don’t respect me.  You believe that my love isn’t good enough.  And I believe that you have no capacity for compassion or love in your cold, dead, heart.

On Saturday, November 15th, I participated in a nation wide rally in opposition to  the recent ban on gay marriage in California (Proposition 8).  The wonderful organization responsible for the rally is called “The Impact” and here is their website.  http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/

Because many people are not aware of what the legal implications of gay marriage actually are, I thought I would break it down for you-Layman’s terms.  Here we go:

Straight, married, couples have these basic rights:

TAX RIGHTS

1.  Ability to file joint income tax returns with the IRS and state taxing authorities.

2.  Creating a “family partnership” under federal tax laws, which allows you to divide business income among family members.

3.  Inheriting a share of your spouse’s estate.

4.  Receiving an exemption from both estate taxes and gift taxes for all property you give or leave to your spouse.

ESTATE PLANNING BENEFITS

5.  Creating life estate trusts that are restricted to married couples including QTIP trusts, QDOT trusts, and marital deduction trusts.

GOVERNMENT BENEFITS

6.  Receiving Social Security, Medicare, and disability benefits for spouses.

7.  Receiving veterans’ and military benefits for spouses, such as those for education, medical care, or special loans.

8.  Receiving public assistance benefits.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

9.  Obtaining insurance benefits through a spouse’s employer.

10.  Taking family leave to care for your spouse during an illness.

11.  Receiving wages, worker’s compensation, and retirement plan benefits for a deceased spouse.

12.  Taking bereavement leave if your spouse or one of your spouse’s close relatives dies.

MEDICAL BENEFITS

13.  Visiting your spouse in an intensive care unit or during restricted business hours in other parts of a medical facility.

14.  Making medical decisions for your spouse if he or she becomes incapacitated and unable to express wishes for treatment.

DEATH BENEFITS

15.   Consenting to after-death examinations and procedures.

16.  Making burial or other financial arrangements.

FAMILY BENEFITS

17.  Filing for step-parent or joint adoption.

18.  Applying for joint foster care rights.

19.  Receiving equitable division of property if your divorce.

20.  Receiving spousal or child support, child custody, and visitation if you divorce.

HOUSING BENEFITS

21.  Living in neighborhoods “zoned” for families only.

22.  Automatically renewing leases signed by your spouse.

CONSUMER BENEFITS

23.  Receiving family rates for health, auto, homeowners’, and other types of insurance.

24.  Receiving tuition discounts and permission to use school facilities.

25.  Other consumer discounts and incentives offered only to married couples or families.

OTHER LEGAL BENEFITS AND PROTECTIONS

26.  Suing a third person for wrongful death of your spouse and lose of consortium (loss of intimacy).

27.  Suing a third person for offenses that interfere with the success of your marriage, such as alienation of affection and criminal conversation (these laws only apply in a few states).

28.  Claiming the marital communications privilege, which means a court can’t force you to disclose the contents of confidential conversations between you and your spouse.

29.  Receiving crime victims’ recovery benefits if your spouse is the victim of a crime.

30.  Obtaining immigration and residency benefits for non-citizen spouse.

31.  Visiting rights in jail or other places where visitors are restricted to immediate family.

These or just a few of the legal rights that straight couples have in the United States.  Gay couples that are legally married in Massachusetts DO NOT have all of these rights.  The state of Massachusetts legally recognizes their marriage, but the federal government does not.  That means that they cannot file a joint federal income tax return and they cannot get Social Security benefits for their spouse or any other federal benefit for that matter.   Same sex couples married in states that allow “civil unions” reap even fewer benefits.

I strongly encourage all of you to find out who your legislators are and tell them that you want gay marriage to be legal.  Under the constitution, all men and women are created equal.  All of us deserve to marry whomever we choose!

Let’s say that you are not LGBT and you do not know anyone that is.  The law doesn’t directly affect you, so you don’t care.  I challenge you to put yourself into the shoes of an LGBT couple.  If you are married, think of your spouse.  Imagine what it would be like if he or she was seriously injured and you were not permitted to see him or her in the hospital.  Or how about if he or she was the main bread-winner in your home and was killed in an accident, leaving you with no money and no SS benefits.  Or suppose that the house and property were in your deceased partner’s name and you lost everything!  This is serious and important!  Support love!

My friend, Dan White (aka Providence Roller Derby announcer: Diamond Dan) is trying to win a contest to be the new host for The Rhode Show in Providence.  He’s acted as Master of Ceremonies at several events in and around Providence and is well-known. Please, please, please, go to this link and vote for him.  There are five finalists and the one with the most votes, wins.  http://www.wpri.com/generic/entertainment/ent_other_3/the_rhode_show

He has a video submission that you can watch too!  He’s a great guy and will make an awesome host!  So, please go vote for him NOW!

Where does Barack Obama stand on women’s issues?

1.  Obama has always been an advocate for a woman’s right to reproductive choice and will oppose any amendment to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

2.  Obama is a supporter of the Prevention First Act (January 2007) which will increase funding for comprehensive sex education, teaching abstinence only AND safe sex methods simultaneously.  He wants to prevent pregnancy by making birth control affordable and available.

3.  Obama wants to reduce domestic violence rates by providing $25 million per year to domestic violence prevention organizations to train staff and provide services to affected families.  He also supported the Violence Against Women Act which aims to strengthen domestic violence laws.

4.  Women still make 77 cents to a men’s dollar.  Obama will fight for pay equity.

5.  Obama aims to protect Title IX which ensures that women have equal access to education from pre-K all the way through graduate school.

6.  VA hospitals were not set up to accommodate the huge influx of female veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.  Obama will fight to ensure that VA hospitals have the resources and funding to care for female vets, with emphasis on helping victims of sexual trauma.

I also checked John McCain’s official website because I wanted to list what he intended to do for women as well.  I was appalled to find that there didn’t appear to be any word of women’s issues anywhere on the site.  I was surprised and astonished.  I at least expected him to mention providing better health care for female veterans!!!

Today I just wanted to talk about Question 1 because the election is fast approaching and there are many people that do not have a clear understanding of what this entails.

Question 1 is a proposed law that would decrease Massachusetts state income tax to 2.65% starting January 1, 2009 and completely eliminate the state income tax starting January 1, 2010.

If you vote yes: you are voting to reduce state tax and then completely eliminate it.

If you vote no, you are voting to keep state tax the way that it is right now.

I understand that times are hard for everyone right now and the prospect of not having to pay state tax may sound like a good idea, but if this passes, here is what will happen:

1.  68,000 state employees could be laid-off

2.  police departments and public schools will lose funding

3.  roads and bridges won’t receive the up-keep required to keep them safe

4.  There will be limited health-care access for seniors and people with disabilities.

7.  There may be longer emergency room waits

Please vote “no” on your ballots.  With non-profit organizations/social service agencies recently taking a major budget cut, we can’t afford to take this chance.