"Anyone can be outspoken about Steubenville after the fact. The question is: who will stand up when the next Jane Doe is attacked, without expectation of thanks or acclaim, at risk of derision and ostracism or worse, and speak out about all the other Steubenvilles that are still taking place, and will continue to until enough people say ‘stop’? Well, this is the moment. This is our test. Before another Jane Doe gets hurt, before more young rapists can tearfully claim they “didn’t know”, it’s on us all - men and boys and everyone who loves them - to stand and be counted."

Steubenville: this is rape culture’s Abu Ghraib moment (via guerrillamamamedicine)

(via guerrillamamamedicine)

Tw: rape

misassandry:

feminishblog:

thefemcritique:

THE STEUBENVILLE RAPISTS ARE APPEALING THE DECISION OF THE TRIAL ON THE DEFENSE THAT THEIR BRAINS “AREN’T FULLY DEVELOPED ENOUGH” TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. 

EXCUSE ME WHILE i SET EVERYTHING ON FIRE 

This is absolute filth for the most horrible of horrible reasons, but I wanted to add this less emotive (but equally disgusting) thought for consideration:

Imagine the fucking legal precedent this would set…

This CANNOT happen.

Literally my first thoughts were “holy shit the legal precedents….”

THIS IS WOULD GIVE FUTURE HIGH SCHOOL DATE RAPISTS A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD

Their lawyers should be disbarred.

(Source: theatlanticwire.com, via stfueverything)

"I do feel sorry for these boys. And not only because they will be put in cages that will not make them any better. I also feel sorry that two 16-year-olds are capable of the things these boys have been found guilty of doing. That makes me deeply, deeply sad. ​That we have created a world in which, at just 16 years old, and even younger, boys can already hate girls this much. That they can already dehumanize and degrade them. That misogyny is so insidious and so effective as to make 16-year-old boys incapable of respecting this girl, of seeing her as a human being with the right to make her own choices, even when drunk, and the right to remain unviolated, even when passed out. I am sorry for these boys that, at 16, some of their humanity is already gone. The cruelty of kids is not new, and I guess it should not shock me, but this specifically gendered cruelty, at such extreme levels and at such a young age, is shocking to me. And I do feel very sorry for these boys.

Just not as sorry as I feel for the girl they raped."

Mia McKenzie, On Rape, Cages, and the Steubenville Verdict (via sugaryumyum)

I’m sorry that, when they go home, they will be coddled and comforted and cooed over by people who will reinforce the notion that they did nothing wrong. They will learn nothing, and they will do it again.

It’s irresistible to call for their permanent incarceration. Viciously, I would be happy if they never saw the light of day again. But that solves nothing - it doesn’t teach them or any other young men that young girls and women are human beings deserving of respect and humanity. It doesn’t lessen this brave girl’s trauma, or make her community realize what monsters they’ve been and rally to support her.

There have to be alternatives to imprisoning people, I just don’t know what they are. I’m going to be scouring McKenzie’s Resources page for more insight.

(via gardeningoctopus)

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)

Rachel Maddow shares a clip from an Al Jazeera documentary featuring an Ohio State Legislator who is advocating extreme anti-abortion legislation.

People who don’t identify as women, but still have the ability to get pregnant, are also affected by bills like Ohio’s “heartbeat bill.” Co-sponsored by Jim Buchy, the man above, it would have banned abortion once the fetal heartbeat could be detected - as early as six weeks into the pregnancy.

I love that huuuuge awkward shift he does in the top left gif while he tries to answer that simple question.

(Source: sansastone, via slutever--forever)

"Ohio bill would block domestic violence, cancer screening, HIV/AIDS funding for Planned Parenthood" (Plunderbund 2012) →

da731:

“In addition to restricting the flow of federal ‘family planning’ funds, House Bill 487, sponsored by Representative Ron Amstutz and adopted without a recorded vote by members of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee, completely prohibits the distribution to Planned Parenthood of Ohio or any of its affiliates from any of the following federal programs:

• Violence Against Women Act
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act
• Infertility Prevention Project (US Dept of Health & Human Services)
• Minority HIV/AIDS initiative funds (Centers for Disease Control)”

Really, Ohio? Are these people trying to get voted out of office?

(Source: alittlecoconuttart, via fuckyeahplannedparenthood)

Why The Republican AG’s Anti-Birth Control Lawsuits Should Be Over Before They Even Start →

prolongedeyecontact:

Republicans oppose the new rule ensuring that women’s insurance will cover birth control, so they’ve now done what Republicans seem to do whenever they disagree with President Obama — sue:

Seven states sued the Obama administration Thursday over its requirement that employers cover contraception in workers’ health plans.

The lawsuit, led by Nebraska’s attorney general, contends that the proposed rule violates Roman Catholic institutions’ rights under the First Amendment to express their beliefs and practice their religion… .

All seven attorneys general behind the lawsuit—from Nebraska, South Carolina, Michigan, Texas, Florida, Ohio and Oklahoma—are Republicans.

This lawsuit, of course, is entirely without merit. As Justice Scalia explained in a Supreme Court opinion more than twenty years ago, the Constitution “does not relieve an individual of the obligation to comply with a ‘valid and neutral law of general applicability on the ground that the law proscribes (or prescribes) conduct that his religion prescribes (or proscribes).’” Thus, because the new regulations apply equally to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, there is no constitutional problem.

Nevertheless, it is doubtful that the Republican AG’s lawsuit will even receive a decision on the merits because of a doctrine known as “standing.” Under Article III of the Constitution, a plaintiff is not allowed to file a lawsuit unless they have in some way be injured by the defendant. But the states filing this lawsuit have suffered no legal injury whatsoever because of the new regulations, and they don’t even appear to claim that they law impacts them in some meaningful way. Rather, this lawsuit is simply seven state officials suing because they do not like the way the law impacts someone else — in this case, certain Roman Catholic institutions.

As the Supreme Court explained most recently in Massachusetts v. EPA the Constitution “prohibits” states from suing the federal government “to protect her citizens from the operation of federal statutes,” so a responsible judge will dismiss this lawsuit right out the gate. The states simply have no constitutional authority to be in court in the first place.

Sadly, however, there’s nothing in the Constitution preventing these seven AGs from wasting taxpayer money on a frivolous lawsuit.

____________________________________________

“Frivolous misuse of taxpayer money” is quickly becoming the GOP’s middle name.

racetothestoneage:

I’m so happy you’re doing this list! Just thought I’d help you out a little :)

Virginia has a third antichoice bill in progress. It will eliminate Medicaid funding for poor pregnant people who need abortions because their fetus has zero chance of survival.

Yup, already passed the House, and is on the Senate floor. +6 net for Virginia, so far.

Pennsylvania recently had a bill going through (pretty sure it was signed by Governor) that would enact strict, unnecessary, and costly abortion clinic regulations (TRAP laws). The clinics would have to meet the standards of free-standing ambulatory centers. Virginia recently did the same thing.

+15 to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and also Kansas. (Kansas’ TRAP laws got blocked by a judge, which does not remove points here.)

Wisconsin introduced a “Partial Birth Abortion” ban in December 2011 despite it not existing as a procedure and already being outlawed at the federal level. Michigan did the same thing last September. Wisconsin also had a bill called SB 306 in regards to counseling and informed consent for abortions (puts more unnecessary burdens on providers).

I know Michigan’s partial abortion ban is actually in effect (+15). I think Wisconsin’s is only introduced in committee so far from the Google search I did, so +1 for now.

Wisconsin also gets +6 net for SB 306 passing the Senate, and it goes to their other chamber now.

Michigan proposed a bill that would make it legal to bully someone if you were bullying them because of a deeply held religious belief. I.e. the bible says gay people are disgusting and therefore I can now bully you because of it.

I remember that one. If there’s one thing nice to be said about Gov. Snyder, he signed the House version of the anti-bullying bill that didn’t contain that ridiculous clause (only the Senate bill did). So Michigan will only get +6 net for this.

They also had a useless bill about “fetal remains.”

Passed the Senate, pending in House. +6 net for Michigan.

Ohio passed a bill restricting access to abortion for minors via judicial bypass last year in November.

+15 to Ohio.

Oklahoma introduced, and maybe passed?, a bill this January banning fetuses from being in food. Which was never happening to begin with.

That silly bill didn’t pass. As far as I could tell from my follow-up research it never even made it on the floor. So just a +1 for Oklahoma there.

I’m not sure if you’re doing Federal Laws but there’s PRENDA, which is vile. Arizona has their own state version of the bill brought by Trent Franks.

Federal laws aren’t accounted for in this as a whole (although people in Congress who introduce such laws CAN earn points for their state by doing so).

Congressman Franks alone will count for +5 to Arizona, since he is such a whackjob. I couldn’t find anything on Arizona’s state-specific version, though, so I’ll hold off there.

Vermont is in the beginning stages of creating a single payer health care exchange on our own. Governor Shumlin is trying to get a waiver from Obama because we want something better than what the Affordable Care Act will provide. We also have Bernie Sanders, the only self-described Socialist in Congress. Just Sayin’ :)

If that does happen to become law, it’ll be -15 for sure.

This map is really good for anti-abortion bills: http://www.aclu.org/maps/2011-abortion-access-under-attack-state-legislatures

As well as ThinkProgress. They’re really up-to-date about new legislation. Keep up the good work!

(Source: stoneagechronicles)

Ohio "Heartbeat" Bill Shelved Until 2012, Again →

prolongedeyecontact:

Despite three days of testimony both for and against the proposed Ohio “heartbeat” ban that would outlaw abortion as early as 4 weeks post conception, and huge pressure from the anti-choice group Ohio Prolife Action, the senate has chosen to not bring the bill up for a vote this legislative session.

Via Politico:

The leader of the Ohio Senate said Wednesday that he’s suspending hearings on a bill that would ban abortions at the first detectable fetal heartbeat, saying amendments proposed by supporters have created confusion.

Supporters of the bill have handed senators more than 20 proposed amendments, said Ohio Senate President Tom Niehaus, a New Richmond Republican.

“These eleventh hour revisions only serve to create more uncertainty about a very contentious issue,” Niehaus said in a statement.

Ironically, Janet Porter and her backers accidentally killed their own bill due to their attempted “technical” tweaks.  Sort of makes you wonder if the bill really only existed for media attention and fundraising purposes in the first place.

[This bill is one of the most ridiculous things antis have proposed. I guess I missed the part where suddenly a heartbeat is a total game changer as if sentient, autonomous non-human animals that we kill everyday don’t have heartbeats. “It has a heartbeat?! Well then, of course, the pregnant person no longer has constitutional rights! Didn’t you hear? It has a heartbeat!”]

[TW mention of rape] i submitted my testimony today in opposition of the heartbeat bill here in ohio. i rarely speak out about what has happened to me, but i need to fight for the rights of other women. we can’t let this go through.

mindyradabaugh:

My name is Mindy Radabaugh, and I am a 22 year old college student from Ottawa, Ohio. A few years ago, I was a believer that abortion was wrong.  I was always taught that abortion was something horrible.  I couldn’t imagine anyone who would be willing to make that decision.   I believed that if you weren’t responsible enough to have a child, you didn’t need to be engaging in sexual behavior. I believed all of that, until the day it happened to me.

I changed my mind on January 3, 2009, when I found out I was pregnant.  23 days earlier, on my 19^th birthday, I became a victim of sexual assault. I had been on birth control since I was 12 to try and fix other reproductive problems, but since I moved to school and began supporting myself, I could no longer afford the $75/month to pay for my birth control. So, when I was assaulted, I was not protected against pregnancy.

On top of the many emotional problems I was facing after the assault, I was in a lot of physical pain. I had my suspicions so I took a test and it was positive. While I knew it was a possibility, the pregnancy was still a shock to me and I knew that carrying to term would not be an option for me at that point.  Due to the many reproductive health problems I faced, I was well aware of what I would face as an expectant mother.  I would be considered a “high risk” patient and have to go in for ultrasounds every other week.  Co-pays are expensive. I wouldn’t be able to afford it.  I would also need to be on special medications that would have totaled almost $100/month.

 The night I was assaulted was one of the scariest, most horrible nights of my life.  To have a child through something like that would be devastating for me.  As much as I would have loved that child, I would have never been able to give it the life that it deserved.  I would never be able to look at it and love it fully knowing how it was conceived. There would be too much pain.

After I found out about the pregnancy and before plans were made for my abortion, I had heavily considered suicide.  I was depressed.  I was scared.  I had no one I could tell.  I would have rather died than carry the child of my rapist.  I have never regretted my decision to have the abortion. I was comforted by the wonderful nurses at the clinic and saw a counselor there for several months after the procedure to help me cope.  It was one of the best medical experiences I have ever had.  I have never felt more compassion or kindness from a physician and their staff.  

Because of the abortion I was able to continue school.  I will be graduating in August from my university cum laude with a degree in visual communications.  I have a job and I pay taxes, actually making money for the country, not costing it money as I would have if I had become a mother at 19.

Instead of banning abortion, why not focus on education and prevention? Educate our young people about safer sex.  Encourage contraceptive use. Focus attention on protecting our women from rape and incest.

This bill is harmful to the health and well being of all women. I urge you to please consider women like me; women who need access to safe and legal abortion. 

(Source: mindy-jane, via prolongedeyecontact)

Ohio Governor Signs Bill Restricting Abortion Access for Minors →

prolongedeyecontact:

Ohio may have had a lot of victories last night in overturning anti-union bills, but the state that was becoming one of the most unfriendly to workers is still one of the most unfriendly to women and teens looking for help terminating a pregnancy.

Late last week, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed yet another anti-choice bill into law, this time restricting a teen’s ability to get an abortion with a judicial bypass versus informing her parents.  Judges now have new questions to ask, need to check to see if a teen was “coached” on her answers, and the teen can only go to a judge in her home district. Considering the amount a girl would need to then travel to have the procedure done, as well as the waiting period involved, the new restrictions will make them wait even longer to get an abortion if approved.

And the anti-abortion groups in Ohio think that’s just great.

Via The New American:

“Ohio is witnessing the blessings of having the most pro-life governor and General Assembly in our state’s history working together to save lives,” said Ohio Right to Life executive director, Mike Gonidakis.

Also to be determined by the judge?  Whether a teen is emotionally mature enough to handle an abortion.  Not to be determined by the judge?  Whether she is emotionally mature enough to have to continue a pregnancy she doesn’t want.

[Why must we continually act as if pregnant people are not capable of making decisions for themselves? The level of paternalism inherent in legislation like this is despicable. Here’s the text of the bill.]

Greatest Anti-Abortion Argument Ever

brightthings:

May 2011 - During a rally in Columbus for Janet Porter’s Heartbeat Bill, which would criminalize abortion in the vast majority of cases, Ohio Republican State Representative Jarrod Martin came up with an economic rationale to pass the legislation: to help the U.S. compete with China.

Martin argued that since there are far more Chinese students taking AP classes than American students, the U.S. needs to ban abortion so women will have more children in order to rival China’s academic dominance.

Martin: When you look at China and you look at their population, the population growth that China has and other Third World countries have compared to the population growth of the United States; China right now how more children in AP and gifted classes than the United States has in school. Think about that, they have more children in their gifted classes than we have in our entire school system. And we are killing thousands and tens of thousands of babies every year. How do we compete? We have to think about our future. That’s a little bit of economics behind this bill.

Ahaha holy fuck that is priceless. They have smarter children because they have more children! Of course! It’s not the vast differences in our educational systems at all!

These are the people we are fucking electing. OHIO. LOOK AT YOUR LIFE. LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES.

OH Governor Signs Anti-Abortion Bill →

Ohio Governor John Kasich (R) signed a bill into law that will restrict abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy unless a doctor determines the fetus is not viable or if the woman’s life is endangered. The bill does not include an exception for instances of rape and incest. Doctors who break this law could face arrest or have their medical licenses revoked.

Elizabeth Nash, public policy associate at the Guttmacher Institute, stated, “This is a big deal, in that it could have a real chilling effect on later abortions because there’s a potential to be thrust into the court system for providing an abortion after viability. It would be a huge burden for a provider to go through all of that and have to hire a lawyer to prove that you provided an abortion under the law.”

Ohio joins 39 other states with late-term abortion limits, including seven states that passed similar legislation: Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Idaho, Indiana, Missouri, and Alabama. Since January, the Ohio legislature has taken up eight other abortion related bills.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)