Tag: reproductive rights

Last June women throughout Quito, Ecuador looked up at the iconic statue of the Virgin Mary at El Panecillo, visible from every corner of the valley, to see a stark banner hanging from her skirts. It said: "Safe Abortion" followed by a cell phone number. The hotline was organized by local young activists, in collaboration with the Dutch organization Women on Waves, as a resource for women who sought a safe termination to an unwanted pregnancy in a country that outlawed the procedure. In the first two hours of its existence, the hotline received 79 calls.

There is one place where the definition of gender remains binary - in the womb. When it comes to sonograms, amniocentesis and standard pre-natal testing, there are no nuances. Here, the pronouncement, "It's a girl," can translate into fierce and instant parental rejection. The fact is that when the issue is "sex selection abortion," the same sex is always being selected -- female.

The Washington Post asks why Sarah Palin has granted so few interviews since her selection as John McCain's running mate, saying that while McCain is entitled to his choice, he is not entitled to keep the public from being able to make an informed assessment of his judgment.

The Washington Post examines South Dakota's proposed abortion ban, which would ban abortion except in cases of rape, incest and a narrow interpretation of the health and life of the woman, and if passed could be used to bring a challenge to Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court.

Obama's campaign responds to McCain's abortion attack ads with television spots highlighting McCain's extremist views (via Politico).

Legal experts question the constitutionality of a Texas judge's ruling ordering a woman to stop having children as a condition of her probation (via the Austin-American Statesman).

Cristina Page urges Barack Obama to hold John McCain's feet to the fire on choice, and cheers NARAL affiliates' work on prevention

"Daily Kos" exposes McCain's dismal record on reproductive rights

Nicholas Kristof suggests that Obama make a speech on gender comparable to his previous one on race, and offers him talking points

Both McCain and Obama are reaching out to women voters

Due to changes in Washington State's primary rules, Dino Rossi was able to list himself as a GOP candidate - not a Republican

Wisconsin's bill requiring hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims has passed in the state Assembly, and its next stop would've been the governor's desk.  Unfortunately, Republicans delayed the movement of the legislation, and it will now have to wait until the full Assembly convenes in February.  Advocates of the bill have fought for six years to get it passed

Oxford scientists have published a study suggesting that using the pill can cut women's risk of getting ovarian cancer, and continues to protect them for at least 30 years after they stop taking it

RH Reality Check blogger Florence Machio urges voters to remember that whoever is elected President will impact women's reproductive rights around the globe

This is the second time in as many years the doctor has been thusly investigated as he is a top target of such anti-choice organizations like Kansans for Life (like the rest of Kansans are for death?), and Operation Rescue (they aren't interested in rescuing `born' children from anything).

This is the second time in as many years the doctor has been thusly investigated as he is a top target of such anti-choice organizations like Kansans for Life (like the rest of Kansans are for death?), and Operation Rescue (they aren't interested in rescuing `born' children from anything).

Bush has used his Oval Office years to limit reproductive freedom and stack critical posts with right-wingers bent on rolling back the clock.

And now it appears yet another reactionary Bush appointee is on track to get a lifetime position as a federal judge...

Dr. Susan Orr, like other recent Bush appointees to the position, actually opposes federal support for contraception. She is a former official with the anti-choice Family Research Council. According to news reports, she has fought against federal employees health insurance including contraception, has taught abstinence-only-until-marriage education, and cheered the Mexico City Gag Rule. I haven't found anything about whether she has actually worked against the Title X family planning program, which provides access to services for low income women, but I'm guessing she's not going to be a big supporter of services to adolescents.

As I completed her abortion, I asked her what she was now going to do about her affiliation with that anti-choice club. Startled, she gasped, sat abruptly up on the operating table, and, with eyes booming horror, blurted out in a tremulous, frightened voice, . . .