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.]

keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus:

This is part of a decades-long pattern of domestic terrorism against abortion care and providers. Looking forward to the MSM ignoring this case like ALL THE OTHERS.

Investigators are still trying to determine what caused a fire at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic — the second suspicious fire at a Georgia reproductive clinic this week. No one was injured in the Wednesday morning fire that started on the third floor of the Cobb County clinic, which anti-abortion advocates regularly protest, according to local news reports. […]

On Sunday, a fire was reported at another clinic in Gwinnett County. In addition to the recent fires, women’s health clinics reported break-ins and stolen computer equipment in March after the Georgia legislature approved a restrictive bill preventing abortions after 20 weeks. Clinic workers said the thefts were attempts to intimidate doctors who perform abortions and fought against the bill. “They’re treating us like terrorists,” Richard Zane, whose Atlanta Women’s Health Center was burglarized, told a local Patch site.

Gov. Nathan Deal signed the 20-week ban, which has no exemption for cases of rape or incest, into law earlier this month.

stfusexists:

cherrispryteaintsobrite:

standupfordownthere:

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton of D.C. received 89 percent of the vote in her last election, yet anti-choice lawmakers refused to allow her to testify on a bill that specifically targets women in D.C.

This is another Sandra Fluke moment.

Oh, look, DC women being used as a political pawn by fucking assholes WHO DON’T LIVE HERE.

I PAY MY FUCKING TAXES, I WANT MY FUCKING REPRESENTATION. 

Stay classy, Republicans. Stay classy. 

keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus:

KYBOOMU has been profiled on Ms. Magazine’s blog and I’m thrilled. I’d love for you all to read it. But what I truly dig about the post is the list of other repro rights blog that Avital (the author) included:

• Team Uterati, founded in 2012 by Imani Gandy (Angry Black Lady), aims to provide comprehensive up-to-date information about anti-choice, anti-women’s health and anti-reproductive rights legislative measures in various states. Gandy started Team Uterati as a “community-based organizing tool for feminists fighting for equal rights and reproductive justice.” The project, which is the first of its kind on the Internet, also contains a continually growing Wiki with resources, articles, databases and a forum.
• Abortion Gang: Abortion Gang’s website says it best: “We are unapologetic activists for reproductive justice.” The site discusses reproductive health and justice, and reminds us again and again that the personal truly is political.
• Bebinn: A collection of pro-choice information, rants and unrelated gifs, “for all your pro-choice needs!”
• Care2: An array of comprehensive coverage under the heading “Dispatches from the War on Women.”
• Huffington Post – Laura Bassett: HuffPo’s politics writer tackles both state and national reproductive rights news in a concise, easy-to-understand fashion.
• Prolonged Eye Contact: With articles and commentary on abortion and reproductive rights, this site, according to Jessica Luther, “is REALLY phenomenal at being inclusive in how they talk about repro rights.”
• Rabble: “Radically pro-choice” site that offers the tagline, “It’s pro-choice or NO choice.”
• Radical Doula: Almost defying categorization, Radical Doula is site run by activist Miriam Zoila Pérez, and connects the dots between reproductive rights, birth activism, doula work, LGBT issues, immigrant rights and racial justice.
• Reproductive Rights Prof Blog: This website keeps tabs on reproductive rights issues from legal and academic perspectives.
• RH Reality Check: The one-stop shop for breaking news and opinion on sexual and reproductive health and rights, with updates throughout the day.
• Shakesville: At Melissa McEwan’s one-stop shop for progressive and feminist news, bloggers Misty Clifton and Shark Fu have done a great job of keeping the Shakesville community informed and aware of various reproductive rights news.

deedennis:

The amazing @Momentumcon Closing Session: Sex in America.  I can’t say enough about Dr. Joycelyn Elders and Esther Perel.  Their speeches were so inspiring. 

feministryangosling:

ETA: If you find yourself questioning MCAs feminist or philanthropic credentials, you may want to click here, here, here or here.

azspot:

-None of the men who think parenthood is THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD seem willing to do it full-time themselves, even when, like Mitt Romney, they surely have the family money to enable them to be financially comfortable and still stay home full time;

-None of the men who think parenthood is THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD have ever suggested that if we value it so much, we should pay for it;

-None of the Republicans who think parenthood is THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD support legislation like federally-mandated maternity (and in an alternate universe, paternity) leave that would enable more parents to stay home for longer (or even reasonable) periods of time with newly-born children;

-Very few of the Republicans who think parenthood is THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD support legislation like national healthcare, which would help families who aren’t as rich as the Romneys to stay healthy, and which would enable more parents to stay home with their kids since health insurance would be one expense off the table;

(via slacktivist)

audaciaray:

Advocates for Sex Workers, Elected Officials, and Public Health Experts to Call for Law Barring Use of Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution

Report to Reveal Public Health Crisis Caused by NYPD’s Confiscation of Condoms

On Tuesday, April 17 people with experience in the sex trade, elected officials, public health experts, and human rights advocates will hold a press conference calling on the New York State Assembly to pass legislation barring the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution. Supporters of Bill S323/A1008, known as the No Condoms as Evidence Bill, say that allowing condoms to be confiscated by police and used as evidence in criminal cases discourages sex workers and other vulnerable New Yorkers from carrying condoms, undermining efforts to combat sexually transmitted diseases and educate the public about safer sex.

At Tuesday’s press conference, The Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center and the PROS Network (Providers and Resources Offering Services to Sex Workers) will release a report, entitled “Public Health Crisis: The Impact of Using Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution in New York City.” The report reveals findings from two separate surveys of NYC sex workers, including a survey conducted in 2010 by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) that is only now being released.

WHAT: Elected Officials, Public Health Experts, and Human Rights Advocates Hold Press Conference Calling for Legislation Banning the Use of Condoms as Evidence of Prostitution, Release Report on Public Health Crisis in NYC

WHO: Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Audacia Ray of Red Umbrella Project, Sienna Baskin of The Sex Workers Project at the Urban Justice Center, Chris Bilal from Streetwise and Safe (all members of the PROS Network), and Kathryn Todrys of Human Rights Watch.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 17that 1:00pm

WHERE: Room 130, Legislative Office Building