motherjones:

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

With New Evidence in Hand, Texas Lawmaker Files Bill To Eliminate Waiting Period For Abortion →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

Andrea Grimes, bringing us some good news.

If only more legislators cared to be proactive about preventing the need for abortions, instead of shaming those who have to live with the consequences of politicians’ poor choices.

Bill Renews Debate Over Rural Access to Abortion in Texas →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

Before Texas’ abortion sonogram law passed last legislative session, some women in rural communities seeking to end their pregnancies relied on telemedicine, with physicians — working in partnership with medical technicians or nurses — administering prescription drugs via videoconference to induce early-stage abortions. 

If new legislation filed by Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, passes in 2013, women in remote corners of the state may have even fewer options to get the procedure. 

2011’s abortion sonogram law — another measure Patrick championed — requires that a physician, as opposed to a technician or nurse, perform a sonogram on a woman seeking an abortion at least 24 hours ahead of the procedure. That in effect prohibits the use of telemedicine for drug-induced abortions, which opponents of the procedure call a welcome consequence for a little-discussed practice.   

SB 97, Patrick’s latest measure, would further increase the in-person requirements for physicians. In addition to the in-person sonogram 24 hours ahead of the abortion, doctors would have to personally administer both ofthe two medications used for drug-induced abortions, and see the patient again for a follow-up appointment within 14 days, a particular challenge for the roving doctors who treat women in the state’s rural counties.

[NB: More people than just cis women need and want access to abortion care.]

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)

"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)

Things to remember when you vote this year.

stfusexists:

I know that in the US, we have remarkably short memories. So I’ve thrown together some things that I really, really hope everyone remembers at the polls this year. These are all things that have happened in 2012 - seriously.

• Michigan Pushes Horrifying Fetal Remains Bill
• To Paul Ryan, “Rape is just another method of conception”
• The 5 Most Ridiculous Reactions to Free Birth Control
• Sex, Lies, and Limbaugh 
• 3 Republican Lies About the Birth Control Mandate
• Your Birth Control Is Now Free – Thanks, Obamacare!
• Todd Akin Makes Ridiculous Rape Remarks…And He’s Not The First
• Paul Ryan: Rape Is Just Another Method of  Conception
• Texas Defunds Family Planning

I want everyone to sign this petition, but if you live in TX, I NEED YOU TO SIGN THIS PETITION →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

One more time, with feeling (PLEASE SIGNAL BOOST!):

The petition is asking the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to not enact new abortion reporting requirements.

I will personally be delivering the signatures to the TX HHS commission THIS WEEK (possibly TOMORROW).

These new requirements are intended to make abortion more difficult to provide and harder to access for the Texas doctors who have a legal right to provide the procedure and Texans who have a legal right to undergo it.

The new proposed rules are Department of State Health Services and HHSC’s attempts at putting into statute that which Rep. Bill Zedler’s proposed legislation could not put into law with his proposed, but failed, HB 1602 (82nd Legislature) and HB 1131 (80th Legislature), as well as the unattached Zedler amendment to SB7 in 2011.

Throughout the public comment period that opened on this matter in April, DSHS has as yet been unable or unwilling to identify any existing problems that these new requirements solve, or give any reasoning for their inception beyond admitting that they are a direct response to Bill Zedler’s personal desire to see his own anti-woman, anti-choice beliefs put into legal statute by any means necessary.

HHSC, if it adopts these new abortion reporting requirements, is subverting Texas’ critical democratic process by bending to the wishes of one individual legislator.

FOR TEXANS, THERE IS ONE MORE THING YOU CAN DO.

And if you have questions about why this matters, I explain it here.

I want everyone to sign this petition, but if you live in TX, I NEED YOU TO SIGN THIS PETITION →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

The petition is asking the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to not enact new abortion reporting requirements.

I will personally be delivering the signatures to the TX HHS commission.

---

These new requirements are intended to make abortion more difficult to provide and harder to access for the Texas doctors who have a legal right to provide the procedure and Texans who have a legal right to undergo it.

The new proposed rules are Department of State Health Services and HHSC’s attempts at putting into statute that which Rep. Bill Zedler’s proposed legislation could not put into law with his proposed, but failed, HB 1602 (82nd Legislature) and HB 1131 (80th Legislature), as well as the unattached Zedler amendment to SB7 in 2011.

Throughout the public comment period that opened on this matter in April, DSHS has as yet been unable or unwilling to identify any existing problems that these new requirements solve, or give any reasoning for their inception beyond admitting that they are a direct response to Bill Zedler’s personal desire to see his own anti-woman, anti-choice beliefs put into legal statute by any means necessary.

HHSC, if it adopts these new abortion reporting requirements, is subverting Texas’ critical democratic process by bending to the wishes of one individual legislator.

FOR TEXANS, THERE IS ONE MORE THING YOU CAN DO.

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

From the Texas Tribune:

A federal appeals court on Tuesday lifted a temporary injunction and ruled that Texas can remove Planned Parenthood from the Women’s Health Program. 

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission responded swiftly to the decision with an e-mailed statement. 

“We appreciate the court’s ruling and will move to enforce state law banning abortion providers and affiliates from the Women’s Health Program as quickly as possible,” HHSC spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said in a statement.

There are NO words.

For the record, here are Texas’ anti-choice laws:

1. You must undergo a transvaginal ultrasound before the abortion
2. You must listen to a state-mandated, anti-choice lecture designed to discourage you from getting an abortion
3. You must wait 24 hours after the ultrasound and lecture before getting an abortion (this means you have to make two trips - this is required for the pill and for surgical abortions)
4. If you are a minor, you must obtain parental consent or undergo judicial bypass
5. Public funding for abortion is only available in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest

liberal-life-and-randomness:

bebinn:

monotonousmoron:

This year, Virginia became the 8th state requiring a woman to get an ultrasound before having an abortion. #ProLife (Taken with Instagram)

Typical of anti-choicers not to understand or care about consent.

Typical of anti-choicers not to understand or care about the increased cost to patients and clinics, forcing clinics to cut down on non-abortion services.

Typical of anti-choicers not to understand or care about how waiting periods negatively affect people’s jobs and child care, or put people in danger from abusive partners.

Typical of anti-choicers not to understand or care about adding to the “trauma” of abortion they love to crow about.

Typical of condescending, paternalistic anti-choicers not to trust us to make our own decisions on our own time.

Oh yeah, I’m definitely feeling that pro-life love.

Aren’t the ultrasounds transvaginal? As in, the patient is getting penetrated by a device that they may or may not want inside of them? As in, things like consentual sex and abortion are not invasive because they’re what the person WANTED, as opposed to something that is being forced on them?

Virginia’s aren’t transvaginal (they tried and failed), but Texas has required transvaginal ultrasounds for almost a year, and North Carolina’s law is on hold by a judge. Oklahoma’s was thankfully struck down by a judge in March.

Transvaginal ultrasound requirements were a political fad that sputtered out in the spring. However, Paul Ryan, the GOP’s vice president pick, has a 100% anti-choice voting record, including forced ultrasounds. I bet he’d love to mandate forced transvaginal ultrasounds across the country if he couldn’t get his way banning all abortions outright.

(via masenko-your-face)

WTF Texas??!!?!

myplannedparenthood:

It looks like Texas is poised to ban doctors from discussing abortion as a medical option. Take a look at the newest proposed anti-abortion rules from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

(via seriouslyamerica)

fuckyeahchoice:

rabbleprochoice:

stfuhatemongers:

fuckyeahchoice:

conskirs:

Oh … you didn’t already know that?  Puhlease.  If you leech off the government, I’m guessing you are smart enough to Google ‘free’ so you don’t have to pay for anything.

Yeah, good luck to people living in poverty and far away from any healthcare center. 

It’s not just a matter of ‘free condoms’, it’s accessibility and it’s choice. Condoms don’t work for everyone. Some people have allergies or sensitivities that make them impossible. They should have access to other birth control options as well. 

Not to mention, not everyone knows birth control even EXISTS or that you can use it without being condemned to hell or dying. Do you know what the state of sex education looks like right now? Some places may have fairly decent information, but others I can compare to the sex education I received in Libya about 30 years ago. (That is not good.)

Also, I’m only responding to the picture because the commentary is obviously just meant to be inflammatory and ridiculous. 

They forget that someone has to pay for those. It’s better if we make the insurance companies cover that stuff instead of donors and tax payers.
It’s not like Trojan is manufacturing and distributing those for free.

You know what? Why don’t you come back and talk to me once teenagers stop thinking that ingesting a large quantity of Mountain Dew will prevent pregnancy.

Maybe once we work on the comprehensive sex education thing we can revisit the whole “googling free condoms” thing.

Love,

Rabble

My partner thought, and this was just the other day, that if you have sex with someone right after you make them pregnant the sperm would ‘ruin’ the egg. Like, if you just keep having sex it will reset the pregnancy every time.

This is someone I have two children with and listens to me rant all day. 

I mean, it was funny but at the same time… scary, right? 

Hey conservatives,

Stop trying to prevent schools from teaching children critical thinking skills that will help them evaluate the information Google presents.

Then we can talk.

Just kidding, we won’t. We’re finally going to get our money’s worth, and you can all just

(Source: )

TX Dept of State Health Services is being undemocratic in order to go after abortion providers – PLEASE HELP STOP IT! →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

I’m going to be traveling for the next week or so. I imagine posting will be light overall.

But, as a Texan, I’m very concerned about this week’s DSHS meetings to decide whether to change abortion-reporting regulations, changes that would serve only to intimidate abortion providers and patients who seek their services. 

So, I’m re-posting from last week. PLEASE HELP SIGNAL BOOST! Thanks.

_________________________________

[Cross-posted from scatx.com]

From Andrea Grimes at RH Reality Check (this whole article is important – PLEASE read it):

Next week, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Council will consider whether to adopt new abortion reporting requirements in the state–requirements that are being adopted at the behest of a Republican politician who failed to get his desired requirements passed through democratic means in the state legislature last year.

Tea Party-endorsed Rep. Bill Zedler wants the state to collect more personal information about abortion-seeking women and increase vague “complication” reporting requirements for abortion providers. The Texas HHSC is considering the new requirements as a kind of consolation prize to Zedler, who tried and failed to pass the requirements as an amendment to the Texas law that bars Planned Parenthood (and other “abortion affiliates”) from participating in the Medicaid Women’s Health Program in the state.

[NB: these new restrictions will affect more people than just cis women]

I started a petition a while ago asking DSHS to stop this. PLEASE GO SIGN IT, especially if you live in Texas.

Next week, DSHS will have two public hearings where the public can offer their opinions about this:

• Wednesday, June 13 at 10am (local time) at Department of State Health Services, Robert E. Moreton Building, Room M-739, 1100 West 49th Street
• Thursday, June 14 at 10am (local time) at Department of State Health Services, Robert E. Moreton Building, Room M-739, 1100 West 49th Street

If you live in Austin and can be at either one of these, please go!

TX Dept of State Health Services is being undemocratic in order to go after abortion providers – PLEASE HELP STOP IT! →

keepyourbsoutofmyuterus:

[Cross-posted from scatx.com]

From Andrea Grimes at RH Reality Check (this whole article is important – PLEASE read it):

Next week, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Council will consider whether to adopt new abortion reporting requirements in the state–requirements that are being adopted at the behest of a Republican politician who failed to get his desired requirements passed through democratic means in the state legislature last year.

Tea Party-endorsed Rep. Bill Zedler wants the state to collect more personal information about abortion-seeking women and increase vague “complication” reporting requirements for abortion providers. The Texas HHSC is considering the new requirements as a kind of consolation prize to Zedler, who tried and failed to pass the requirements as an amendment to the Texas law that bars Planned Parenthood (and other “abortion affiliates”) from participating in the Medicaid Women’s Health Program in the state.

[NB: these new restrictions will affect more people than just cis women]

I started a petition a while ago asking DSHS to stop this. PLEASE GO SIGN IT, especially if you live in Texas.

Next week, DSHS will have two public hearings where the public can offer their opinions about this:

• Wednesday, June 13 at 10am (local time) at Department of State Health Services, Robert E. Moreton Building, Room M-739, 1100 West 49th Street
• Thursday, June 14 at 10am (local time) at Department of State Health Services, Robert E. Moreton Building, Room M-739, 1100 West 49th Street

If you live in Austin and can be at either one of these, please go!

Will Low-Income Women in Texas Find Care Without Planned Parenthood? An Analysis of the System Says the Answer is No →

keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus:

I’d like to describe Andrea Grimes and this post by using one of her favorite words: BALLER.

RH Reality Check set out to test the WHP’s non-Planned Parenthood provider listings over the past week and found that while initial searches of TexasWomensHealth.org turn up what appear to be hundreds of available providers, many of them don’t provide any kind of contraceptive care, don’t take Medicaid Women’s Health Program clients, or are simply misleading duplicate listings.

In Austin, for example, many WHP clients visit the Downtown Austin Clinic for contraceptives and cancer screenings. What if a resident of the 78702 zip code who formerly relied on Planned Parenthood had to suddenly find a new doctor?

We searched for providers within 30 miles of 78702, which turned up 137 doctors and clinics — initially, a very promising number. But once we weeded out the duplicates, we were left with just 49 individual providers, including those like the Austin Endoscopy Center. When we called to try to make a gynecological appointment there, we were understandably turned down: “This is a colon cancer center,” the operator told us. No women’s health care there.

Several times, locations listed on the Texas WHP website weren’t taking new Medicaid clients, were only taking those within a limited age range, or simply did not accept Medicaid Women’s Health Program patients. The People’s Community Clinic, which serves low-income and uninsured clients, told us they were only taking adolescents or pregnant women—and pregnant women are, by definition, excluded from the WHP.

The Austin Regional Clinic, which has several locations in Austin, looked promising until we were told, repeatedly, that they don’t accept Medicaid WHP clients—neither does the similarly situated Austin Diagnostic Clinic. 

Ultimately, we were able to find nine providers within a 30-mile radius of our selected zip code that accepted the WHP and were taking new patients—some could see a patient for an annual exam as soon as the following day. Provided, of course, that clients are able to travel. The Lone Star Circle Of Care, which also focuses on under-served populations, had appointments in neighboring cities.

But for a WHP enrollee who may not have a car or who can’t afford to take a day or a half-day off from work, it may be a matter of having to make the difficult decision of choosing between several hours’ worth of pay—which could mean making rent or buying baby formula—or getting her annual exam.

And if Planned Parenthood is excluded from the WHP in Texas, there’s a good chance that WHP patients wouldn’t have the good luck we had in finding nine available providers if, as a George Washington University study predicts, existing providers simply will not be able to fill in the gaps left by Planned Parenthood.

[NB: More people than just cis women are affected by these draconian changes to the WHP.]

Now imagine trying to do the same thing RH Reality Check did while working full-time and caring for children.

(Source: keepyourbsoutofmyuterus)