Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?

 I hope you all took the time out today to exercise and utilize your right to vote. Women and people of color weren't allowed to vote once upon a time so voting is not a privilege. It is a duty, your duty. You must support your candidate!!! Yes, government, we just might still love you tomorrow. As long as every person still waiting in line to vote has the opportunity to do so. And as long as their votes are accurately counted!

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Was it Rape, Incest, or Life Threatening ?

We all knew that election time means a few things and the war on women is one of them. Abortion always seems to get media attention now and hardly ever after that (unless it's some new anti- choice legislation being introduce). Now every anti- choice politician seems to be coming out of the wood-works to state how they don't believe a woman should have an abortion under any circumstance. Rape is being redefined as I type and as quick as they let all this malarkey out of their mouths, an apology is soon to follow. Or in some cases a "clarification."
These "circumstances" leaves the door open for people to argue that one woman's decision to terminate a pregnant is justifiable and all others aren't. The only justifiable reason for choosing abortion is BECAUSE A  WOMAN CHOOSES TO! Having choice means women get to choose if and/or when she decides to become a parent under any circumstance.

Friday, October 19, 2012

ABORTION, ABORTION, ABORTION!!!

I find no shame in telling people that I've had an abortion. There is no shame in making choices and decisions regarding my OWN body. No one knows what a woman's current mental, physical, or emotional state is when choosing to terminate a pregnancy or carry it to term. Either way, a woman should be supported in her decision making. Too often does society look to shame and control women without tackling the issues surrounding abortion. What are some of the factors that aid a woman in determining to terminate a pregnancy? What social disparities contributed to her decision? What can we do to make sure women receive support and access to resources that will help her in all of her decision making? Women are forced to carry unwanted and unintended pregnancies to term because of lack of resources and support.Abortion isn't as black and white as society often seems to make it. What abortion is and always has been is a choice that women have to make. Carrying a pregnancy to term is the same thing: a woman's choice. And that is where the real shame lies.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

It's Election Time

Once again the time is upon us to get out and vote! Just in case you have recently moved or have never registered to vote, please go and register. If you have moved you should receive something in the mail asking you to fill it out with your updated information. If you need to register for the first time you can go to the County Clerk's Office, board of election commissioner's Office, City and Village Offices, Township Offices, precinct committeemen, schools, public libraries, military recruitment offices. If you wish to have your voices heard now is the time. You cannot complain about the system without voting to try and change it. Registration is open year round except:during the 27-day period just prior to an election and during the 2-day period after each election (1 day after in Chicago). This gives you the entire month of September to register. Please do so now! As before, every vote counts and whichever candidate you support needs your vote now more than ever. Utilize your voice, get out and vote!!!!!!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

What The Hell?!

I learned yesterday that The world is unfair. I mean I've known this for a while, (for a while I mean the last 12 years...my parents sheltered me a lot) but I found out just how unfair as of yesterday. Does anyone know that at least 27 states in this country including our dearly beloved Illinois do not have mandates against rapists sharing custody of children with their victims?! So in other words, If you are raped, and become pregnant as a result and you choose to go through with the pregnancy and have the baby, the man that raped you can come back later and try to sue you for custody of that child. Does that make any sense? In what frame of mind is that even remotely possible?! Something like that should not even be an issue but in this male dominated society, the Penis rules everything and if you have one you can get away with almost everything including forceably sticking it into a woman, impregnating her and then wanting the precious baby that comes out of her. Or not really wanting  the baby at all but just wanting the power over her,  to make her a victim again by a using custody battles against her.  Not to mention the trama the poor child. Its bad enough that they are a product of a rape but then to actually be partially raised by them to??? I know one thing, if anything like that happens to me or any of my relatives, I'm moving to Philly (Pennsylvania) where they have the strictest Rapist for custody laws in the country. (Come on Chicago and the U.S of A all together, I love you but...WE GOT TO DO BETTER!!!!!)

Friday, August 24, 2012

Understanding My Beliefs

Whenever I mention that I volunteer for the Chicago Abortion Fund or when I am conducting community outreach people are shocked to hear that I support abortion. This reaction is usually followed by their opinion on abortion, which is fine. My views may not be the same as theirs and I do not expect them to always agree with them. The annoying part isn't so much about them disagreeing with me, its more frustrating when they try to convince me that my opinion is wrong and that I'm a demon spawn or something. Then I get the luxury of spending 5-10 minutes out of my life explaining to them why I believe what I believe.
I believe that a woman has the right to choose whatever she wants to regarding her body and reproductive health. At no point should politicians decide what she can and cannot do with HER body. Some people fail to realize the machine behind abortion restrictions. Anti- choice politicians do not care about life, these restrictions are about control. These are the same politicians who support and maintain a patriarchal society that strips women, people of color, LGBTQ, and low-income individuals of their human right to exist freely. I cannot believe in a system that claims to be concerned with life but with every possible chance they are throwing my brothers and sisters in prison cells. This is the same system that cuts public funding for crucial social services like mental health institutes, clinics, affordable healthcare, child care, public assistance, social security and the list goes on. I cannot support a system that blames and shames women who are raped, who report it and nothing else happens, failed once again by the system. The same system that refuses to provide public schools with adequate funding yet charges college students an insane amount of money to receive a post secondary education, much of which could've been taught/learned in our high schools if only our youth were given the opportunity to think and speak outside of the textbook! So yes, I do believe in abortion, I do believe in women's rights, civil rights and any other right that is mine yet somehow I have to fight for every waking day of my life.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

My Abortion III

They were okay at first, then they became stronger. I was doubled over when they called my number to go to the back. The nurse had to help me walk back there and I was embarrassed because I noticeably had bleed on myself. When I walked into the room, everything was set up, the table, the instruments, they even had a ultrasound machine. The Doctor came in, she was nice, a woman about my age with a warm smile. I was so happy not to have an old stogey looking guy who just wanted to finish his day so he could go play golf or something. She welcomed me and explained everything she was about to do. I did not obt to be put to sleep so I was awake for the whole thing. The medication that we had to put in our cheeks helped start the process by stopping the pregnancy. Next when I was laying down after the equipment was put in place, a needle was supposed to be injected into my cervix but since I had recently had a baby, the medication opened my cervix enough to not need it. She put a tube into me to pump out the products of conception. I felt every pump. Im not going to lie, it did hurt. It was not something I particularly wanted to be doing at the time. I would compare the pain to a bad pap-smear. Afterwards, I was checked by the ultrasound machine to make sure everything was okay and was helped up by the nurse. the Doctor said goodbye but at the time I was kinda too focused on the pain to say anything to her. I was helped into the recovery room by one of the nurses. I sat down in that lazy boy for about 10 minutes before I could get up again. when I did get up though, I was able to walk upright. I looked around the room and I saw some of the girls still laughing and cracking jokes and some were doubled over or looking very sleepy. After another half hour wait I was allowed to go home and  when I got there,  I looked in the bag they gave me to find antibiotics, Ibuprofen and a REALLY big box of condoms.

My Abortion II

After lollygagging at a restaurant for 2 and a half hours an walking around for just as long almost, I came back to the hospital to pay for my procedure. I was number 22. At this point all the "FP" patients were sitting in the main lobby waiting room. It was then that as most people do when they sit together, we started to talk to each other. I learned all of their stories. We were all in the same age range from 25 to 33. We all had different reasons for choosing to abort. Some of the reasons ranged from Having too many kids already to not being ready to be a mother to just being scared of the pain of childbirth to abusive boyfriends who were intimidating their partners to do so. After another hour of waiting we were shuffled off. Down a hallway, up some stairs into another room where there were bags on every seat filled with pads, booties even bigger pads and hospital gowns both paper and cloth. We were given instructions on what to do and what not to do during and after the procedure was over with. We were also given a little cup with two pills in it. They were called Misoprostol, and we were told to put them both on the inside of our cheeks and let them dissolve.
They tasted like you would expect them to, bitter, mediciney, chalky. The girl sitting next to me starts moaning about how she cant swallow medicine without any water and they instruct her to let it dissolve in her cheek or leave. Big plastic bags were passed around to put our personal belongings in (as we were still holding them at that time). As the girl on my left left passed me one of the bags, I felt like I was bleeding. I shifted in my chair to feel that familiar feeling of blood in-between my legs. That's when the cramps started.

Friday, August 17, 2012

My Abortion

I had to wake up at 5am to get to the facility where I was having it at. It was a whole hour and a half train ride from where I lived. When I got there, I had to wait 30 minutes outside just to get in. Thank God is was summer like weather outside. When I first entered the facility it seemed a little dismal but after I went to my particular floor, It was a little nicer. There were big windows to let the natural sunlight in. After I checked in for my appointment I sat in the waiting room filling out paperwork to be called. There were at least 10 other girls with the same appointment at the same time as me. After I returned the paperwork and sat down to wait for the nurse, I looked around and realized 10 other girls had now walked in. I heard of double booking but this is ridiculous! Ten minutes go by and Im called by the nurse. I go back into this short hallway to get my blood pressure checked. They only have the really hard plastic chairs in the back waiting area (as opposed to the only regularly hard plastic chairs in the front waiting area.) a couple more minutes go by and its time for the ultrasound. I walk in the room and the ultrasound tech half smiles at me and tells me to undress from the waist down and lay down on the table. She does the ultrasound in less then 3 minutes and tells me to put my clothes back on. I'm told to sit outside in the waiting area again. There I realize I've been there for almost 3 hours! Just to get that done for a 5 minute procedure done. after another 20 minute wait I am told I'm done for now and that I can have lunch and to come like in 4 hours..."Four Hours!!!! In a neighborhood that I don't even know! I didn't even bring my phone charger!" I thought to myself. Oh well hope I can find somewhere nice to sit.....underneath my breath.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Atheist II

So In my last post, I talked about my first encounter with an atheist. Of course I can sit and say that he's crazy and ignorant and some sort of evil genius out to take over the world. Being a part of the My voice my choice leadership group over the last 5 years, I've met different people whom have different beliefs and ideas than my own. Yet we still have gotten along and they are still good people. The world if filled with people with different beliefs, I believe that is because God gave us free will and that lets us choose what and whom we want to believe. Being Pro Choice is just that Pro-choice and I have to not only believe in the choices that women make but in choices that everyone makes. We live in a country that was founded on these principles and even though America doesn't always live up to that, that common creed is still in our hearts, so with that, I guess Ill be giving him a call this week.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Untitled and Unleashed

To hear/ read some people state that only 1st trimester abortion should be legal because (that is enough time for women to make up their minds angers me. At any time during an unwanted pregnancy it is a woman's right and personal decision to choose abortion. With that choice should come access but unfortunately, the system isn't designed that way. My choice was made but I didn't have access to the abortion. My procedure was the same amount as my monthly income. By the time I saved up for it I was in my in my second trimester. Even if I had chosen to get an abortion in my 2nd trimester I should've been able to. Now women are being stripped of their rights and choices with such bills as the Fetal Pain bill. This society is so set on war; war on women, war on drugs, war against terrorism, and the list goes on. Their should be a war on this society, the politicians, poverty, greed, domestic violence, rape, discrimination, and HATE! Instead we are attacked for being who we are and the decisions we make. Being born with a vagina, having my own mind and voice means I have to fight constantly. But I don't mind the fight, just the reasoning behind it.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Atheist

I grew up in a Christian home going to a catholic grammar school for 8 years from 1st through 8th grade. I have also had friends and neighbors who have been different religions and creeds. My Ex Husband was a Muslim when I met him. I've known Jews and Gentiles alike yet they all have one thing in common, they all believe in a higher power or God. Last night though, was the first time I met someone who does not believe in any higher power other than science, he calls him self an Atheist'. I've never met someone like that in real life before and I found it enlightening to met him. After I had the "God" conversation with him and hearing his reasons for not believing in a higher power, I was convinced. I am now completely convinced that, there is no way there isn't a God. I know that God has helped me and my family get through some horrible times and my faith is even stronger now because he could not convince me otherwise. Every reason he had for not believing in God was something I had read or heard a counter argument for. Jesus even said himself in the bible that "blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed", ever heard of "Doubting Thomas?"  

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Mississippi's War on Women!

Last year's voters sent a message by rejecting the "personhood" amendment but that didn't stop the lawmakers from conjuring another plan to deny women their right to choose abortion. The only abortion clinic in Mississippi is facing closure for "not complying" with state laws regarding abortion providers. The providers have to be board certified OB-GYN's and the staff must have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The same hospitals deny them these privileges due to the hospitals religious beliefs (hence, the "non- compliance). Mississippi has the lowest abortion rate AND the highest teen pregnancy rate in the entire nation. These statistics make sense since there is but one clinic. Women are forced to travel out of state to attain abortions IF they can afford to. Many of them are forced to carry unintended and unwanted pregnancies to term. Surely this affects the poverty rates in Mississippi. The poverty rate in Mississippi is 19% and females account for 57% of that number. Abortion and poverty intersect whether lawmakers believe this or not. Denying women their reproductive rights has its consequences and this is only one of them. It is a woman's rights to choose if and when she decides to parents and the nature in which she chooses to parent. This is why I love fighting for reproductive justice; the need is prevalent! We must continue to fight the war on women!!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Entertainment

So there's this new show on  Vh1 called Love and Hip hop Atlanta a spinoff of the original Love and  Hiphop which is shot in New York. One of the characters on the show is a producer named Stevie J. He is on the show with his Girlfriend/kids mother and he seems to really love her until they show him again in the studio a couple of minutes later with someone he calls his artist but whom he  is obviously sleeping with. The show is about 3 or 4 episodes in and this guy just gets continuously worse every episode with his escapades. That's not the problem though, It makes for good television. The issue I'm having is ...it seems like people are starting to not only accept him but congratulate him on being such a dog towards women. I even heard him being referred to as a PIMP (which by the way I think PIMPS are the scum of the earth)! Like how are his actions okay? he cheats on the women who loves him shows them no respect and gets rewarded for it. My concern is how  are kids looking at this. Little boys and girls are already growing up with Lil Wayne, Wacka Flocka, and Nicki Minaj as there role models. How much better can the influence of Stevie J be? I just hope that the generation under us will be able to see these people for what they are, a gimmick used to make money through entertainment. Because everyone wants to be entertained right?

Friday, June 29, 2012

The Supreme Court upheld the "Obamacare" healthcare reform yesterday in a  5-4 ruling. YEEESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!. It absolutely boggles the mind for me why Some people (Rich people) cant fathom in there heads that were ( human beings) supposed to help one another . People help other people, isn't that the American christian way that this country was supposed to have been founded on centuries ago? yet Some people cant get it in there heads that if you are an employer you need to pay for health care for your employees (ehem ehem Walmart) and If you have a pre-existing condition you should not be denied  medical insurance because of that. Its not a hard concept to learn....come on!!!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

RJ Activist and Proud of It!!!


Unwanted pregnancies do forever change the course of women’s lives. It starts the second we find out. The decisions to carry the pregnancy to term or the choice to have an abortion both carry lasting effects. For me, choosing to have an abortion forever changed me and the course of my life. I would not be here typing this blog if I had not chosen abortion. It’s hard to imagine my life being any other way. I’ve been exposed to a whole new struggle that I never knew existed. The struggle that I was faced with 5 years ago is the same one that women have been battling for decades; the struggle to govern their own bodies!
            I was unaware of the struggle that comes with being born with a VAGINA! How did it come to this? When and why do laws and lawmakers get to decide how and when women choose to become parents? And why are there millions of supporters for these politicians whose definition of woman means silent housewife, stand behind your man, cook and clean, and most importantly DON’T HAVE AN OPINION?! They are just as ignorant as I was before I had my abortion.
I am forever grateful to the Chicago Abortion Fund. I am more than a grantee. I am a once blind and silent young woman with no intentions of being any more than what I already was. Now I’m loud, resilient, and determined to create a world that doesn’t force feed my daughters the same bs I ate for 23 years! In the land of the free, why doesn’t my body belong to me?

Friday, June 15, 2012

Chicago Abortion Fund's Summer Film Series

Please join us this summer as we screen "The 'A' Word," "12th & Delaware" and "We Always Resist: Trust Black Women" at UIC's Jane Addams Hull-House Museum.

No charge, but donations to support CAF's work are always appreciated.

Come watch an insightful film and stay for the engaging discussion afterward!





Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Community Forum Today on Birth Control

Community Forum on Birth Control will be happening today at the K.L.E.O. Family Life Center at 5:30. I am so excited to be able to give back to the community the knowledge I have gained. Knowledge is nothing if you don't spread it.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Breastfeeding....why the hype?

So i finally stumbled across the infamous Time Magazine cover that displays a woman breastfeeding a child. Now I'm one of the biggest supporters of breastfeeding and I encourage all mothers to do so. However, not all individuals feel the same as I do. You hear folks say its disgusting, it spoils your child or that it's inappropriate. I for one don't see what the hype is all about. Its simply a mother feeding her child; its no different from adults eating a burger in public or a mother bottle feeding her child in public. But enough about how I personally feel about breastfeeding in the public. I want to get to the point of this posting which is the cover to Time Magazine.

In my opinion, this cover is completely inappropriate. People have been talking about the age of the child, but that's not my issue. My issue with this cover is the obvious detached bond that the woman has with the child. Breastfeeding is more than just feeding your child. Its also creating a bond with your child that only a mother has and can do. This cover does none of that. It actually, in my opinion, perpetuates the negative assumptions about breastfeeding...i don't know. Tell me what you think.


Thursday, May 10, 2012

Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health awareness month in America; but i wanted this post to focus on Mental Health awareness in the Black communities. There are several things that are taboo in our communities like sex and abortion, but mental illness is amongst the list as well. I think that it is very interesting that the things that affect are communities the most are the things that we don't discuss. We see people roaming the streets on a daily basis in our communities who are either talking to themselves, harming themselves or worse harming others. We automatically write them off as "crazy". These people aren't crazy! They have mental health issues and rather than seeking professional medical help, they self medicate.

Depression is one of the top mental health disorders that is seen within the Black community. Yet it is also most commonly overlooked. We need to bring more awareness to our communities about this issue. I understand that their are barriers like fear, embarrassment, lack of insurance, denial or access to mental health facilities; and while access is often a barrier that seems to be out of our control awareness and assistance is definitely something that we CAN control. Let's stop shaming and start educating ourselves and our communities about Mental Health Disorders in the Black community.


Friday, May 4, 2012

Why Must Black Women Be Hated On All The Time

So I was watching Sheri Shepherd's comment she made on her show about when she was younger and having had a lot of abortions and as I looked at the comments under the video I was disgusted. Not only that but that video lead me to all these videos that were very hateful and demeaning towards black women. Most of them were by black men and this was very disappointing. It saddens me that we are always at the forefront of scrutiny in the public eye. When will the madness stop, and people wonder why black girls and women have so many issues with their self and their body. I just hope that it gets better as my daughter gets older and I pray that she realizes that only she can define her self and not this messed up society.

Friday, April 27, 2012

The "A" Word

This months TV show was on community support and we had a good conversation about it and why it is important for leadership groups like My Voice, My Choice to exist. Although we didn't get that many callers, but we did answer questions via twitter while on air, which was awesome and we will be doing it again next month. I just want to keep stressing how important it is for us to support each other, especially us people of color because some one is always trying to make our decisions for us, and we must be apart of the deciding process when things affect us. So lets support each other more.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Community Forum's

So we did a forum yesterday on Hip Hop and Reproductive Choices. I love doing community forums but I get frustrated when the community barely shows up for the forum. It is truly a challenge, but I feel it's worth it when people tell me they are glad that I came to their community with helpful information. So people did show up and it was a nice experience. Now I am just determined more to get people more involved because it takes a mighty fist to make a blow not just a finger pointed. So I will continue on and tonight is our TV show and we will be talking about community support and our leadership group so tune in!!!!! CAN TV Channel 19 or 21

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Back from CLPP

I just came back from an amazing weekend in Massachusetts at the clpp conference. I spoke on two different panels and at a speak out. As always I felt empowered as we discussed all the important topics concerning our rights as women. There were so many wonderful people from many different places and backgrounds. I ate good while I discussed how so many issues connect and relate to reproductive justice. Overall it was a great experience.

Another Attempt To Deny Access

So as I was reading Ms.Magazine today, I saw that the Gov. of Mississippi has signed into law a bill that would shut down the only abortion clinic that the state of Mississippi has. The governor's reasons were to “ensure that the lives of the born and unborn are protected in Mississippi.”-Phil Bryant Mississippi Gov. This really pissed me off; because not only are you affecting the women in an entire state, but possibly the women in the surrounding states as well.

I had an abortion while I was attending UIUC in Champaign, IL. Financing wasn't my only barrier, the biggest barrier I faced was access. I had to travel to Chicago to get my procedure done, because I couldn't get it done in Champaign. Now luckily, i only had to travel to another city. I couldn't imagine having to travel to a whole other STATE! That's ridiculous, unfair and unjust.

From my experience here at CAF, we see a lot of women who have to travel across several states to get a procedure done that their live in state does not conduct. This causes not only an additional financial burden, but also other burdens as well. What if that woman is a single mother with no support system? Who will watch her children? Or who will cover her bill that she had to neglect to cover the cost of travel for a procedure that will save her mental health. It really bothers me how, as a woman, the fate of my body is determined by some male politician. When is this going to stop?

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Miss Universe pageant allowing transgender women

NEW YORK — Transgender women will be allowed to participate in the Miss Universe beauty pageant next year, officials announced Tuesday, a week after they ruled a trail-blazing 23-year-old could vie for the crown this year.
Pageant officials said they are working on the language of the official rule policy change but expected final word to come soon. Trials for next year’s Miss Universe pageant begin this summer.
The move comes five days after the organization said that Jenna Talackova could compete in the Miss Universe pageant this year.
Talackova, a Vancouver resident, underwent a sex change four years ago after being born a male.
Her sex change initially led organizers in Canada to disqualify her from the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant in May, citing a rule that she must be “naturally born” a woman.
Talackova pleaded with the pageant’s leaders to drop the rule.
“I am a woman,” Talackova said Tuesday. “I was devastated, and I felt that excluding me for the reason that they gave was unjust. I have never asked for any special consideration. I only wanted to compete.”
Donald Trump, who runs the Miss Universe Organization, wished her “the best of luck in her quest for the crown.”
The official rules will have to be approved by Trump and NBC, which co-own the contest.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Pioneer Women of Color in the Movement!

RIP Rev. Addie Wyatt, who fought injustice everywhere! Side note....she was a founding member of National Organization for Women (NOW) and they have yet to acknowledge her death. Wow!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addie_L._Wyatt

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Outreach

So we did outreach this past weekend and as always I was happy to do it and happy to see what people responses are to the information we pass out. So we also pass out condoms and I find it very interesting how some people are very happy to receive them and then some people act as if we are offering them something we shouldn't be. It is so crazy how people act like they don't have sex, but it's everywhere. It's nothing to be ashamed of people.

The "A" Word

Tonight is our monthly cable access show and I'm excited to be discussing the Pro-Choice language. I hope we get a lot of supportive calls as I already know we will get some unsupportive calls but hey it comes along with the territory. All that matters is that people are discussing a topic that needs to be discussed and that is our reproductive rights. So see you tonight at 8pm on Can TV.

Friday, March 16, 2012

BIRTH CONTROL IS INEXPENSIVE?

Lets get something straight. Birth control is NOT inexpensive. The women who do not have health insurance or anyone who's had to buy it can attest to that. Even women who pay for birth control and have insurance will agree. I suggest that whoever believes it is cheap should offer to pay for it! Until then.......shut it!!!!

War on Women

It is so crazy as we get closer to election time it seems like officials are trying to gradually strip our reproductive rights away. That's why it is so important we know who we are voting for and if they hold our best interest in hand. So I encourage everybody to vote pro-choice.

Now take that Texas! Ha

In abortion battle, White House defunds Texas Women Health Program

at 05:26 PM ET, 03/15/2012


Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. (Michael Ainsworth - AP)
After Texas blocked abortion providers’ participation in its Medicaid Women’s Health Program, the White House officially notified the state Thursday afternoon that it will pull all funds from the program, which totalled about $39 million last year.

Twenty-nine states participate in the Medicaid’s Women Health Program, which extends Medicaid coverage for reproductive health services to lower-income women who do not qualify for the rest of the entitlement program’s benefits. In Texas, the program served about 130,000 women, with the federal government footing 90 percent of the bill. About half of the clinics participating in the program would have been disqualified by the new legislation.

“We very much regret the state’s decision to implement this rule, which will prevent women enrolled in the program from receiving services from the trusted health care providers they have chosen and relied on for their care,” Medicaid director Cindy Mann wrote in a Thursday letter to Texas officials.

While nine states have passed legislation to end abortion provider’s government funding, Texas is the first to lose federal dollars over it. Other states’ laws have only affected state spending, or have been held up by court challenges.

The issue boils down to what federal regulations allow states to do, and not do, in selecting providers for their Medicaid programs.

Texas passed a law last year that bars abortion providers from participating in the program, even if they are providing other services, like contraceptives and cervical cancer screenings. The federal government says that such a decision violates the state’s Medicaid contract.

In letters to other states that have tried similar moves, U.S. officials note that federal regulation does not allow states to bar a certain provider from Medicaid for providing a legal service.

“The law is very clear in Medicaid around free choice of provider,” Mann told reporters Thursday afternoon. “We strive to provide as much flexibility is possible...but on this case, federal law precludes us from doing so.”

The Obama administration has asked Texas to lay out a plan, by April 16, for how it will phase out the program. Gov. Rick Perry (R) has suggested that the state will pick up funding for the program, but where exactly those dollars come from still remains to be seen.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Wisconsin to ban some abortion coverage, re-focus sex education

MADISON, Wisconsin | Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:03am EDT

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Wisconsin lawmakers have approved controversial measures to block the state's new health insurance exchange from covering abortions and require sex education classes to emphasize abstinence as the preferred method of birth control.

Both bills, which were voted through the Republican-controlled Assembly by 61-34 late Tuesday, now head to the desk of Republican Governor Scott Walker, who is widely expected to sign them.

The laws ban private insurers from offering abortion coverage in the plans they offer through the state-run exchange where thousands of Wisconsin residents will buy subsidized coverage under President Obama's healthcare overhaul.

Two Democrats, Peggy Krusick and Tony Staskunas, and one independent, Bob Ziegelbauer, joined Republicans in supporting the abortion bill, which opponents said would necessarily impair women's health by limiting access to abortions for those who require them.

A handful of Democratic representatives wore Planned Parenthood T-shirts as they voted unsuccessfully against the measure.

Also late Tuesday, the Assembly passed a bill that repeals the so-called "Healthy Youth Act" passed last session by Democrats that provided "comprehensive sex education."

Once Walker signs the measure, it will require schools that offer a human development and growth curriculum to emphasize abstinence as the preferred method of birth control and emphasize the role and “socioeconomic benefits" of marriage.

The measure would also remove information on contraceptive methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration from the required curriculum.

Democrats argued the bill would neglect science-based teaching and put children at risk from sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy.

Last week, lawmakers in Utah passed a measure that would ban public schools from teaching contraception as a way of preventing pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

Supporters of the measure in both Utah and Wisconsin argued that sex education was best left up to parents.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

A Day To Celebrate!!

Today is International Women's Day!!! I hope everyone is celebrating and empowering women on a daily basis anyway; but particularly on this day we need to celebrate women and their choices to make decision for their bodies, for themselves and by themselves! In light of recent legislation that makes it harder for women to access their reproductive services, we still have to remain aggressive in this fight but also celebrate our accomplishments thus far as well. So today I'm not forgetting our current fight, but I'm celebrating our past fights and accomplishments!! Embrace the essence of being a woman today and everyday! Much love

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

She has to get paid for having sex and she wants us to pay

This is what a "conservative" talk show hosts said. I don't know how people can even make the relation of being paid for sex to someone wanting to have control over their body by having affordable birth control.I think this was a very idiotic comment and I was disgusted by this man which it is always a man making these asinine comments. More reason though for me to just keep doing the work it takes to keep the law from dictating my choices about my body.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Say What?!

In today's news of "Ignorant People Say the Craziest Things," someone ignorant said that the only time women have unintended pregnancies is when she's unfaithful and doesn't use protection. Um, okay. What about when birth control fails, condoms break, people in a monogamous relationship have sex, rape, incest, or a host of reasons why women experience unwanted pregnancies???? That is all *drops mic*

Friday, March 2, 2012

Does A Woman have to be careless in her sex life because she is having an abortion?

So yesterday I did the television show we do every last Wednesday of the month The "A" Word. It's just so crazy to me how people automatically think because a woman has an abortion that she is promiscuous or doesn't use condoms or birth control. So we had a caller that asked do we think it is okay to use abortion as a form of birth control and I responded that abortion is a form of birth control and that is up to the woman if she feels that's the best option for her. So someone else called in and said that we are giving young women the wrong idea and if there using abortion as a form of birth control, that she has to be having unprotected sex with multiple people that would subject her to std's and sti's. It just baffles me that even though all the forms of birth control state that there not 100 percent effective and we all know the only way to not get pregnant or contract any sexual disease is not having sex, people automatically assume women are careless in their sex life. I felt like I was talking to the man at a protest that told me women are too stupid to keep their legs closed, that's why they have to resort to abortion. People need to realize abortion is an option that is available for a reason and that is because it is a service that is needed regardless the reason why.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

As we come to the close of Black History Month

So this months TV show in honor of Black History Month is about Black People that have made their mark in the reproductive justice movement. So while going over information for the show Brittany which is the guest for tonight brought up a good point about how we as people forget about black history as February ends and that we should continue to care about it and become educated on it. I had to totally agree with her on this one, we don't really realize the importance of knowing our history and I am a firm believer that in order to know where your going,you have to know where you have been. We as black people have a rich history and have been significant change makers since the beginning of our existence. I think it is very important for us to remember this and the more you learn about our history it will be easier to remember. So I just want to say Thank you to all my sisters and brothers that have made history and dared to be different, so I can have the rights I have.

Friday, February 3, 2012

War on Contraceptive Discussion

So I know I'm late blogging about this, but I'm blogging now. So Monday we had this discussion about the current state of access to contraceptives. Of course the sneaky anti-choice found out about it and showed up and they were on edge. So this is what I don't get about the anti-choice/"pro-life" people,they are suppose to be so much for life but fail to tend to the services of the actual living. Like for instance this lady had the nerve to ask do we go into these communities we service and tell them that they are at high risk for being single mothers and not finishing high school. I was really thrown off guard by this question because for one it had nothing to do with the topic at hand and also why remind the poor of their slim chances they have in life to be successful because of their economic situation. This was a very asinine thing to ask,so i thought, especially coming from a white privileged woman.This is the exact reason why I do the work that I do because I am poor myself for now and I don't need anyone reminding me of that and adding to my oppression because that's in fact what your doing when you tell a poor black girl that instead of giving her the information to keep her from being that statistic and giving her the support to believe that she can rise above her circumstances.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

versus

In my hometown, Louisville, Kentucky-you're either a sports fan of  University of Kentucky  or University of Louisville.   If a U of L student wears a UK sweatshirt on U of L's campus: "They should have went to UK!"

The rivalry has broken up homes, pitted brother against brother and spouse against spouse. Not in the literal sense, but who ever wins the annual U of L/UK basketball game-wins big bets and most importantly bragging rights and reminders of how, "You´re team lost!" But, the sore loser will continually remind their foe of how the last time their team beat theirs, no matter how long ago it was.

The game between pro-life and pro-choice is not that simple and downright vicious at times.  An anti-choice protester at the door of the abortion clinic will use baby doll props, their own live children, Jesus pictures, statues of Mary and yell through a bullhorn to prove their point.

The anti-choice opposers will offer protection to the client as she enters the door.  But that´s only some of them, while the pro-lifers are trying to recruit the others of pro-choice to be on their team with a bible in hand or their own baby on their chest, hanging from a harness.

In the end, there are no losers or winners. But if their is a so-called winner, it is the woman who finds the way to do the best for her and/or her circumstances. But this decision could be unhealthy or deadly, depending on the means that are available.

"Abortion will not be stopped...the question becomes simply that of what kind of abortions society wants women to have," stated Shirley Chisholm, in her book: Unbought and Unbossed.  "clean, competent ones performed by licensed physicians or septic, dangerous ones done by incompetent practitioners."

It would be great if this debate was as simple as scoring points or getting personal fouls, but it is not. Unfortunately it seems in its current state of debate, there will never be "a side" that wins.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Contraceptives are starving the baby!!!

Wow the anti choicers have really done it this time. I mean who comes up with such ridiculous conclusions. The definition of contraceptive is to deliberately prevent conception or impregnation. So first of all you can't starve something that hasn't even been conceived. Secondly you can't starve a fetus. Like i said before I was having wishful thinking that people would stop being air heads, but I see that's all I can do for now and keep fighting the fight of choice.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Missed Connection

Last week the mayor of the third largest U.S. city closed branch libraries on Mondays and laid off 176 of its library staff! Literacy is a huge problem in Chicago (and nationally) and cutting off access to the possibility to be or become more literate is going to make this city worse.

People are already limited on resources and limited to increase their resources.  The job market is kaput and those looking for jobs don't have the skills set that the "good" jobs are looking for.  Also, the majority of job applying is done via the Internet. 

The library provides Internet.

The reduction in libraries in a city like Chicago is dangerous.  Shut down the libraries, and we will be left with a Red Eye, with bold letters on the front stating: HOMICIDE REPORT.

The family-oriented branch I live near is now closed on Mondays. 

What a way to start out the week? Wouldn't you rather have your child going to the neighborhood library after school, than returning the first day of the school week after school to sit on the couch watching TV? 
TV has limited options, despite the increase in cable channels. Libraries offer you an array of choices at no charge to the patron.  Including CDs and DVDs.

Many youth these days could probably give you a break down of the major text lingo out there: OMG, BRB, or LOL.  But we should not be laughing if they never used a dictionary book to look up a word or checked out a book at the library. The youth are our future and we seem to forget that.
 
There is no truer statement than: "Knowledge is Power." Disenfranchised groups, such as girls and women are already at a disadvantage when it comes to access of knowledge.  For the most part females are not encouraged to "be smart." Many are in limited situations: confined to their homes, their neighborhoods or no graduation from high school.

Pregnancy rates of high schoolers and in some cases middle schoolers in Chicago are alarming!  Because education is lacking, especially sexual health education.  Hearsay and misinformation is taking many girls down the wrong path.  And unfortuantely this path can be generational.

I remember in my Sociology class my professer saying that education is a great way to get out of poverty.  As a recent college grad, I would say student  loans can lead you to poverty.  But, I do believe that higher education can open the door to more opportunities.

In order to get to complete a higher education, you must know how to read and have access to reading.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Chanting for Roe V. Wade!!!!

So excited to be kicking off the chants for this years rally. Even though it's like 9 degrees I still feel just as excited as if it were a breezy 72 degrees. It is so important that we remember the women that opened the doors and made choice possible. Now its up to us to carry the torch and make sure those doors stay open and new ones open up. I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!!! Peace, Love and Choice!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Roe V Wade Rally

Today the women in the leadership group and myself will be participating in the annual Roe v. Wade rally at the Thompson Center. I am quite excited about this event because it will be the first Roe v. Wade rally that I have attended. I am happy to be a part of this. However, I am quite nervous also because I will be speaking. I have always been one to shy away from public speaking because it has never been one of my strong points. If I am to continue to do this work and to be a leader this one aspect that I will always have to face. So today I will be facing my fears and standing up for what is right. There's nothing like killing two birds with one stone.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Vote NO! on single issue voting

"There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives."
-Audre Lorde

A 2008 cover of Ms. Magazine featured President Barack Obama bursting out of his jacket, shirt and tie like Superman, but instead of a S, a fitted t-shirt hailing: “This is what a feminist looks like."

The feminist magazine is an obvious supporter of abortion access and Obama said out loud that he supports abortion access as well

But that is not the only platform he ran on for increasing rights for girls and women. He also addressed, "women's rights, opportunities, [and] advancement," according to Eleanor Smeal article in The Huffington Post Web Site. Smeal is the president of the Feminist Majority Foundation and publisher of Ms. magazine.

Now it's four years later and instead of focusing on all of the United States ills, such as war, poverty, unemployment, philandering elected officials, and police's abuse of power (to name a few). The focus once again will be given to a polarizing issue: gay marriage or abortion. Take your pick!

This is foolishness on all parties involved, those running for a political office and the voters who put them in office. As the Election Day gets closer and closer, the single issue mud slinging has begun!

As Mitt Romney has been the forerunner as the presidential Republican candidate, former Speaker of the U.S. House and Republican presidential nominee hopeful Newt Gingrich has sent postcards to South Carolina residents stating that Romney was a pro-abortion as former governor of Massachusetts.

"The Record is Clear: Massachusetts Moderate Mitt Romney Can't Be Trusted to Protect Life," the mailing stated. It also stated that he allowed abortion pill access and appointed a pro-abortion judge as governor. The South Carolina Primary is January 21.

Hopefully the politicians running on a single issue platform and the voters who side with them, will get the hint that the abortion issue, like another issue is and has never been single or by itself. With lack of education running amok, sexism still a deadly disease of society and girls receiving mixed and influential media messages, and unequal pay among males and females, abortion and access to it will always be an issue of other issues.

Let's see the bigger picture, instead of seeing only part of the picture.

The links in this article are in no affiliation with the Chicago Abortion Fund.


Roe v. Wade Rally

This Friday is CAF's annual rally in support of the historic Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion! Thank you in advance for your support! Come on down to the Thompson Center from noon to 1 pm to show your support of women choosing to control their bodies (as we should be). Cannnot wait to see you guys and give the opposition some food for thought:)

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

OMG Finally!!!!!

So as you can see from my blogs I have been catching up on TV. So tonight was the premier of The Game which was already one of my favorite shows and has definitely won a place in my heart now. So as you would know if you were watching last season that Melanie had got an abortion without Derwin knowing. So as usual he was upset and talking about she killed his "baby". Melanie was totally unapologetic for her decision and stood by her choice. This was the first time that I have seen the subject of abortion presented on TV where their not showing the woman being totally distraught over her choice. She reminded me of myself when she said Yes I had an Abortion!!! The only thing I didn't like was her reason behind having it though it was suppose to be because she didn't want to lose Derwin because it wasn't his fetus,but hey whatever the reason it was her choice just like it was mine. Kudos to the writers of The Game.

Friday, January 6, 2012

New Year Same Issues

So I love that I am the way I am and I am not blinded by people manipulations and own opinions and I stand strong on my own. I know it's a new year but people have the same issues. Sometimes I think people will change with time but I finally realized some people are just stuck in their ways and don't feel like they can learn anything from anyone. The anti-choicer"s are still trying to limit rights as a woman and so is the government but like I said last year I will not be silenced. I hope that more people will change just wishful thinking.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

What is the proper age for a young woman to be on birthcontrol?

So I was at the doctor yesterday and in came three girls that were 14yrs. old this I knew because they were having a conversation that gave out there age. So they were talking about things that 14yr. old talk about music, boys. parents, the usual. So one of the girls was there to see the doctor and she had a prescription in her hand that she had brought with her. So the girl asked her what it was and she was like it's my birth control shot. Now I did not know how to feel when I heard this, I was kinda happy but then it clicked like she is 14 is she having sex already. When I was 14 my mom had me scared straight out of boys and the only ones I was really interested in were the ones in the magazines. Boy times have changed! I was glad that her mother had that talk with her and decided to take preventative measures but on the other side I was thinking why does she need this at such a young age. Sex should be the last thing on her brain but it all has to do with society and how girls are automatically sexualized at a young age and the fact that sex is every where on the TV, magazines and radio. The media really takes a toll on society.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Pregnancy Free!

It occurred to me last week that this is the longest I've went without being pregnant since my first pregnancy in 2001. My last abortion was in August of 2007, coincidentally the same year that I received funding from the Chicago Abortion Fund and joined the leadership group. Since, I have learned about several birth control options including tracking when I ovulate. This is a huge deal to me because this proves that with knowledge comes power. I am taking back my body with the work that I do and I am learning and teaching others along the way. Truly an awesome feeling!!!! Peace!