I am so thankful for Scott Walker.

she-who-loves-the-rain:

ladycontrarian:

Thanks to him, at least 4 Planned Parenthood clinics are closing in Wisconsin.

Thankfully it’s only between April-July. 23 other PPL clinics are open.

If it was permanent it would lead to delayed treatment for STD’s and cancer, and later abortions since the other clinics have to treat the closed clinics had. It could actually lead to more abortions since the women getting birth control from those clinics could not get it anymore and would have to wait longer to get prescriptions.

Yeah lucky Wisconsin -.-

Scott Walker of course have a private doctor if he gets prostate cancer so this will not affect him.

Only three of the 27 Planned Parenthoods in Wisconsin provide abortions, and none of them are closing. If Walker’s trying to make a point, I hope he knows he’s failing.

I didn’t see anything about the closures being temporary, though. Source?

stfuconservatives:

fuckyeahfeminists:

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed into law a bill that forces women to wait three days before they can obtain an abortion in the state; under the law,weekends and holidays do not count toward that waiting period.

And because patients would have to wait longer, legal abortion in the state of South Dakota is at risk

The local Planned Parenthood, which is the state’s sole abortion provider, announced prior to the bill’s passage that, if the bill passed, the group may no longer be able to perform abortions in the state. 

And in North Dakota, the governor just signed three terrible laws that will almost certainly shut down their last remaining clinic and outlaw most abortions. Dakotas, WTF???

Please spread the word about the Abortion Assistance Blog. You can send in or find offers for transportation to the nearest clinic, lodging or a place to rest, babysitting during the procedure, funds, and people offering moral support. The only way we can even begin to help the people of North and South Dakota is if more people send in offers!

(Source: rhrealitycheck)

Tumblr, in all its glorious wisdom, won’t let me reblog myself, but please reblog my post, Resources for Decision-Making and Low-Income Parenting! The more people who know about it, the better!

Anti-Choice Legislature in Arkansas and what it means to you.

fuckyeahsexeducation:

By now you may have heard that Arkansas is receiving an onslaught of proposed bills and new laws that limit people’s reproductive choices. These are just a few of those laws and bills:

               * New Law, currently in affect: a ban on abortion after 20 weeks except in cases of rape, incest, or in saving the parent’s life

               * New Law, not yet in affect: a ban on abortion after 12 weeks except in the cases of rape, incest, or in saving the parent’s life.

               * New Bill (SB1157): Amending the law regarding consent to abortion. Although we don’t know what it all entails yet this usually  requires you to look at an ultrasound or have a doctor describe an ultrasound before an abortion is preformed. If the pregnancy is early enough this may require a transvaginal ultrasound.

               * New Bill (SB913): This requires that you take both doses of the abortion pill in the clinic with the doctor there. Usually you take one in clinic and take the other at home as you have to wait 3 days before taking the other pill. This would really affect people who had to travel to get the procedure done. This also allows the “father” and “maternal grandparents” to sue the doctor.

               * New Bill ( HB276): Amending the law regarding waiting periods for abortions. Again, we don’t know the details but this would largely affect those who had to travel or those close to the cut off date.

               * New Bill (HB1098): this changes the definition of child under the child maltreatment act to from the time a fetal heartbeat can be detected to 18 years of age. That means that if a doctor thinks that a pregnant person is somehow abusing the fetus they could file a report.

               * New Bill (SB913): this bans telemed abortions, abortions where the doctor is not physically in the room when the abortion pill is administered, but watches remotely and offers virtual counseling.

               * New Bill (HB1899): Would allow doctors and pharmacists to refuse you birth control based on their moral beliefs

               * New Bill (SB818): Would defund Planned Parenthood

Now what does this all mean to people in Arkansas? This could mean that one or more of the Planned Parenthood clinics would have to shut down or reduce programs which could leave people without affordable birth control, STI testing, genital infection testing, infection treatment, wellness exams, prenatal care, post natal care, free condoms, pregnancy tests, the morning after pill, and the abortion pill. If they try to get an abortion or self abort they could possibly be charged with child abuse. They would only be able to get the abortion pill if they are able to go to the clinic twice in 4 days. They would only be able to get a surgical abortion before 12 weeks. This also means that if the parent’s life isn’t in immediate danger they may be forced to carry a dead or non-viable fetus to term which can cause several health problems and be incredibly traumatic.

What does that mean to you? If any or all of these bills are made into laws this sets a precedence. If your state or wherever you live sees Arkansas accomplish all this they may want to start passing other laws. Right now North Dakota Senate just passed a 6-week abortion ban bill. Now many of you may be pointing out that many of these laws are unconstitutional and do go against federal law. This is true, a state Judge in Idaho just struck down a 20-week abortion ban as unconstitutional. However, they are planning to appeal this and take it all the way to the Supreme Court. Not only is this a time and money consuming procedure if Arkansas were to do this, but also until this happens some of these laws are already in affect or going into affect. Also, these people want to take it to the Supreme Court so that they can call into question Roe vs. Wade and try to get it overturned. That’s the main thing, they want abortion to be illegal on a federal level. This is scary considering 20 states have laws that restrict abortion.

Now, what can you do about this? If you live in Arkansas, or any state for that matter, there are a few things you can do.

               1. Educate yourself. Look into what your local laws are, and what the bills are that are coming up. Really look into what they say. Educate yourself on what abortion is, what it does, and why it is used. There are a lot of myths out there, so I’m going to be spreading some posts around to help you.

               2. Talk about it. To everyone! Reblog posts or make posts on social networking sites, talk about it in school or at work. Tell people what’s going on and what they can do.

               3. Write to newspapers and magazines. Write to as many groups as you can to tell them where you stand. Not only does your voice get heard, it encourages others to speak up as well

               4. Call or email your local government. Many people have websites you can comment on, or emails and numbers available. Research who your local representatives are and tell them how you feel.

               5. Make petitions, fliers, and protest. Make a petition on line or on paper and get signatures of people who support your cause. Take the information you learned about and make pamphlets or fliers to spread around town and educate others. Many places are holding protests, in Arkansas we’re having one at the Capitol (in Little Rock) March 23rd at 3:00). You are welcome to come show your support even if you don’t live here and maybe it’ll help you figure out what you need to do for your state. If you do live in Arkansas, if you can please go! It’s very important.

               6. Vote. I know a lot of people say voting doesn’t matter, but this is a great example to show it does. Vote for people who aren’t going to do this to you. Research who is voting for these awful bills and spread the word so people know not to vote for them. I’ll be making a post of all of the politicians involved in these bills later.

(via keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)

motherjones:

Chart o’ the day, “everything is terrible” edition. More here.

"

I know I’ve told this story before, but my abusive ex refused to let me take birth control. I was on the pill until he found them in my purse.

I went to the Student Health Center—they were completely unhelpful, choosing to lecture me about the importance of safe sex (recommending condoms) instead of actually listening to my problem.

Then I went to Planned Parenthood. The Nurse Practitioner took one look at my fading bruises and stopped the exam. She called in the doctor. The doctor came in and simply asked me: “Are you ready to leave him?” When I denied that I was being abused, she didn’t argue with me. She just asked me what I needed. I said I need a birth control method that my boyfriend couldn’t detect. She recommended a few options and we decided on Depo.

When I told her that my boyfriend read my emails and listened to my phone messages and was known to follow me, she suggested to do the Depo injections at off hours when the clinic was normally closed. She made a note in my chart and instructed the front desk never to leave messages for me—instead, she programmed her personal cell phone number into my phone under the name “Nora”. She told me she would call me to schedule my appointments; she wouldn’t leave a message, but I should call her back when I was able to.

And that was it. No judgment. No lecture. She walked me to the door and told me to call her day or night if I needed anything. That she lived 5 blocks from campus and would come get me. That I wasn’t alone. That she just wanted me to be safe.

I never called her to come to my rescue. But I have no doubt that she would have come if I had called. She kept me on Depo for a year, giving me those monthly injections in secret, helping me prevent a desperately unwanted pregnancy.

I cannot thank Planned Parenthood enough for the work they do.

"

Curious Georgiana (via ummhuraira)

Pretty much crying my eyes out here.

(via gardeningoctopus)

(Source: sexistmorons, via gardeningoctopus)

“Pregnant with an IUD: The Story of My Abortion” (RH Reality Check 2012)

alittlecoconuttart:

I just had the quite bizarre experience of getting pregnant. Bizarre because for the last two and a half years, I’ve had the Paraguard IUD - as effective as tying your tubes, they tell me. Then one day my period doesn’t come. My breasts are swollen, my back aches, and I have the crazy thought that this feels like pregnancy. Something is definitely wrong, at least. So I head to CVS to get a home pregnancy test, just to rule it out. We have plans for brunch with friends, so I slip into the bathroom to get the test out of the way while my boyfriend puts away groceries. And then I stare at it. For a really long time. Because that is most definitely a plus sign.

Hmm. That’s odd. Of course I’d only bought one test, so after a moment of staring, we hurry down the street for more. Another, and then another, and this time the digital ones that say “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant” clear as day. Every one has the same confusing answer. “Pregnant.”

On the drive to the urgent care center, I remember all the mornings in the past month I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at my protruding stomach and half-heartedly thinking: It’s like I’m pregnant. How did I know? My boyfriend drives, one hand resting firmly and supportively on my knee. We joke nervously to distract us from the shock.

In the exam room, the nurse is young and friendly. She admits she’s nervous for me, clearly shaken by the news that IUDs are not a guarantee. I laugh with her to try to make her more comfortable, that makes two of us. We wait and wait for confirmation that our lives are, in fact, upside-down, while a Nickelodeon sitcom plays in the background. Finally an old male doctor comes in and tells me the same thing as the CVS family planning aisle. I’m pregnant.

Read More

(Source: rhrealitycheck.org)

The measure to defund Planned Parenthood will now advance to a floor vote in the Ohio House of Representatives.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)

darkjez:

BREAKING: The Ohio House Health Committee votes to DEFUND Planned Parenthood, 11-9. #HearUsOH

So many people are gonna suffer because of this.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)

Planned Parenthood to Remain in Texas' Women's Health Program →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

Planned Parenthood will continue participating in the Women’s Health Program — for now. Travis County District Judge Stephen Yelenosky on Thursday approved a temporary injunction to delay the state’s implementation of the “Affiliate Ban Rule,” which would bar the nonprofit from participating in the program, until a full trial can be held in December.

[NB for link: more people than just cis women need and want access to affordable reproductive health care.]

(via ok4rj)

What would a Romney Victory Mean for Reproductive Rights? →

With Election Day now upon us, it’s worth weighing the impacts of a Mitt Romney win on reproductive rights and healthcare. In general, Romney seems likely to cater to the extreme anti-choice faction of his party. 

Here’s a sneak preview of possible scenarios:

1. The Supreme Court gets more anti-choice. All of the abortion-related decisions on the court in recent history have been a 5-4 (or 4-5) split, with Justice Anthony Kennedy as the swing vote. The court has four justices in their 70s right now, which means that the next president could have one or more opportunities to appoint new members. Romney has made it clear that he would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned, and would appoint federal judges and Supreme Court justices that feel that way, too. Even if those appointees don’t get to throw out Roe (at least, not right away), they could still make important decisions on state laws currently caught up in the court system, like laws requiring a sonogram before an abortion and other laws that ban abortions after 20 weeks. A Supreme Court ruling upholding those laws could set new precedents for the burdens states are allowed to impose on women seeking an abortion.
2. Planned Parenthood loses federal funding. One of the first things a new president gets to do is write a budget, and Romney has pledged to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood providers immediately. “It will not be part of my budget,” he has said. And it’s not just Planned Parenthood. A Romney-Ryan administration would take away Title X family planning funds from any healthcare provider that also provides abortions.
3. Healthcare reform gets overturned. Romney says he wants to toss out “Obamacare”—except for the parts that people like, such as making it illegal to deny coverage to someone because of a preexisting condition. The problem is, the parts Romney doesn’t like are required to make the other parts work. There are a lot of provisions in healthcare reform that are particularly helpful for women. For one, I’ve known women who were told that heavy periods or cramps qualified as a “pre-existing condition,” which the reform bill would outlaw. More broadly, under Obamacare, insurance companies can no longer charge you more just because you’re a woman—a practice known as “gender rating.” Birth control and other preventative care are now available without a co-payment. You can stay on your parents’ healthcare until you’re 26, which is particularly useful for women, who go to the doctor more often than men.
4. There’s no more co-pay-free birth control. Even if Romney doesn’t succeed in overturning healthcare reform, he has singled out the requirement that insurers cover contraception as an “assault on religion” that “will end” if he becomes president. Paul Ryan has promised that the birth control mandate “will be gone” on “day one” of their administration.
5. There are stricter limits on federal funding for abortions. Last year, GOP House members—including Paul Ryan—tried to pass a law that would have redefined rape as only including “forcible rape”—which would likely exclude statutory rape and possibly date/drugged/drunk rape. This is important, because federal laws dealing with the use of government funds for abortions have typically included exemptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act also includes other new limits, like barring tax credits for employers who choose to offer a health plan that covers abortion and making it illegal to use your own tax-exempt health savings account to pay for an abortion.
6. The Global Gag Rule returns. Romney has said he will reinstate this rule, also known as the “Mexico City Policy,” that bars any US-funded organization working abroad not only from providing abortions, but from offering referrals or even discussing abortion as an option.
7. Parental consent laws are federalized. In 2005, 2007, and 2011, Paul Ryan cosponsored the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, a bill that would make it illegal to take a minor to another state to avoid parental notification and consent laws for an abortion in her home state. Under the bill, a minor’s parents must be notified in writing at least 24 hours before she can have an abortion.
    
8. Hospitals are allowed to deny women access to abortion, even if their lives are in danger. Under current law, any hospital accepting Medicare or Medicaid and affiliated with a religious institution that refuses to provide abortion care under any circumstance is legally required to transfer a woman who needs a live-saving abortion to a hospital that will. But last year, the House passed another bill that Ryan cosponsored, the Protect Life Act, which, if passed, would allow hospitals to refuse to “participate in” or “provide referrals” for abortions.

(Source: stfuprolifers)

Anti-Abortionist Stabs Man At Protest Outside of Planned Parenthood →

thepersonalispolitic:

socialismartnature:

This is horrible. But kudos to this woman and her father for fighting back against a bigot trying to block access to a Planned Parenthood. We need a mass struggle to utterly demolish the anti-woman, anti-abortion movement in this country and send it into the dustbin of history next to the likes of the old Witch-hunters, Prohibitionists, and Anti-Miscegenationists.

===

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A man was stabbed Tuesday during a violent confrontation with an abortion protester outside a Planned Parenthood health center, police said.

Ted Clair was stabbed seven times in the abdomen and neck during a fight with Christopher Tolhurst, who had signs denouncing abortion and Planned Parenthood, officials said.

Witnesses said that earlier in the day, Clair’s 22-year-old daughter, Kailah Clair, argued with Tolhurst and kicked over his protest signs, Lt. Dennis Ward said.

They said Tolhurst pushed the woman, and she returned later with her father, who confronted Tolhurst.

Ward said in a statement that witnesses reported Ted Clair pushed Tolhurst to the ground and punched him “numerous times” in the face, and then Tolhurst stabbed Clair.

Tolhurst’s signs denounced abortion and Planned Parenthood, but Planned Parenthood for Southwestern Oregon spokeswoman Sarah Mosely said that clinic only provides health services and doesn’t perform abortions.

Neighbor Charlotte Cook said the protester accosted people coming and going through the area.

“It was an accident looking for a place to happen,” she said.

Cherie Adams said he would yell obscenities at her when she walked past him, and she changed her route to work.

“He’s been out there for months,” she said. “He’s screaming at people. I had a feeling something like this would happen.”

This is so gross and disturbing because it would have been very simple to stop this from happening if something had been done when the harassment started, at the very beginning.  Harassment needs to be illegal and harassment victims deserve legal protections.

Latest Attack in the War on Women - Cutting Off WIC (a program that feeds low-income mothers and babies) funding from Planned Parenthood. →

brashblacknonbeliever:

thebearyscarypandaspensieve:

The Oklahoma State Department of Heath has just announced that it will end its WIC contract with the state’s Planned Parenthood affiliates, effectively cutting off the federal funding that the organization’s clinics rely on to provide health services to low-income women.

“We don’t like the idea of ‘killing babies.’  Therefore, we will cut off money for food for starving babies.” - Republican logic.

And now I want to burn things.

(Source: skeptikhaleesi, via becauseiamawoman)

Pro-Choice Sites To Read

bebinn:

Guttmacher Institute - conducts research and provides education on sexual and reproductive health in the US and worldwide.

NARAL Pro-Choice America

RH Reality Check

Abortion Care Network

Planned Parenthood Advocate

Our Bodies Our Blog

Abortion Gang

Abortioneers

Every Saturday Morning - a group of clinic escorts write about their experiences at the only abortion clinic in Louisville, Kentucky.

I Am Emily X - stories by activists and staff at Planned Parenthood

Blog For Choice

Feminists for Choice

Pro-Choice Thank Yous

Thanks, Abortion!

Many Voices. Many Choices.

45 Million Voices

Project Voice

I Am Dr. Tiller

Radical Doula - a blog run by a doula of color who identifies as genderqueer and provides doula services at a low cost to people not only giving birth, but having abortions.

Sometimes I reblog myself, just for funsies. These are non-Tumblr websites, which is why many of your favorites aren’t on the list.

"Texas lawmakers intended to defund Planned Parenthood when they slashed the state’s budget for family planning last year, but the drastic cuts have also resulted in closed clinics and a reduction in women’s access to care, according to a report published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. […]

According to the article, the 2011 funding cuts have resulted in 53 clinic closures across the state – not only PP clinics – and to reduced operating hours at 38 other clinics. “We are witnessing the dismantling of a safety net that took decades to build and could not easily be recreated even if funding were restored soon,” the authors write."

The Austin Chronicle

[NB: more people than just cis women need and want access to the Women’s Health Program, family planning, and reproductive health care.]

(via keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)

(via stfueverything)