Found While Doing Some Research

I Think This Video Is Awesome!!

SB1037 Finally Someone Gets It !

I think this bill is awesome! Finally someone realizes that no young girl grows up thinking I wanna be a prostitute. Also that the past is the past and in order to move towards a better future the past needs to be dropped allot of times. I was at a conference before and listened to a former prostitute express how hard it was for her to stay out of that lifestyle,because of the barriers placed on her because of her past. Like not being eligible for foodstamps or housing,that system leads to an unfortunate spiral of crime because people have to be able to at the very least clothe,feed, and shelter theirself. So kudos to gov. Pat Quinn for this change in law. It is a step towards complete reproductive freedom but there are plenty more to be taken.

Sexuality, the Media Monster and Mess

Being a part of the RJ movement has meant and done a lot of things for me. Not to mention all the things I've learned along the way. Some of those things are exploring and owning my sexuality. Whether I wear a t-shirt and jeans or simply a g-string, that is my choice. That does not make me a whore or an obvious rape target. Even the most natural thing such as breast feeding has become seen as a sexual act, thanks to society and the media monster. We as women must take back our sexuality and be unashamed and unapologetic for doing so. Next time I blog I'll be sure to post the poem "Why I Gotta Be a Ho?!" I read it again earlier and it has my creative juices flowing. Till next time......signing off with my fem-fist raised high!

Capacity Building

I attended a workshop addressing effective advocacy work. Some of the key topics that stuck with me were: determining what your issues are, choosing a target (legislator or not) who will possibly support your issues and building a relationship with them. Often times we can identify problems without hesitation but everyone has problems. The key is turning those problems into issues and then focusing on getting some influential people on board. Sure, money (or lack there of) are issues within themselves BUT that should not deter you from seeking out those individuals of "power." You should also work on building a relationship with other organizations. Alone the battle seems impossible but together we can move mountains. Needless to say, I am looking forward to having some in- district visits with some of my future supporters.

Signing off with my fem- fist held high!

Jon Stewart Supports Free Birth Control

The Daily Show - Culture War Update - The Dividening of America - Dana Perino vs. Free Birth Control
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Free Birth Control: For Some...

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has recently approved free birth control to be included in health insurance plans without a co-pay. You know what this means, right? I am going to have an exorbitant amount of premarital, no strings attached, unprotected sex! 'Cause you that's what all the right-wing conservatives are expecting me to do. For some odd reason they believe the sky is falling whenever a groundbreaking victory for women occurs. And here's a little advice for all you right-wingers out there: Just because you give someone free and easy access to contraceptives doesn't mean she'll turn into a nymphomaniac!

But I digress. It is truly amazing that many women will have access to free birth control. It's also amazing that the HHS's decision also includes breastfeeding supports and screening for gestational diabetes, HIV infection and domestic violence to be covered in health insurance plans without co-payment. However there's a loophole here: Religious employers have the option to refuse contraceptive coverage to their employees. What? I thought one of principles this country was founded on was the separation of church and state. Why must people's spiritual beliefs hinder people from accessing proper healthcare? Those right-wing beliefs have so stealthily slithered into what is supposed our victory. Don't get me wrong, I am absolutely ecstatic about being able to access birth control for free. I will definitely take advantage of that resource. I just feel that it should be available to all women. So we as women must continue to fight until all women have access. We've won the battle but not the war.

Feminist Quote

I found it with Feminist Quotes on the Android Market. : Because women's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we're the first to get fired and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get beaten we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nymphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a 'real’ man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect childcare we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggressive and 'unfeminine’ and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still can't get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty about abortion and...for lots of other reasons we are part of the women's liberation movement. ~Author unknown, quoted in The Torch, 14 September 1987

We've Won One of Our Battles!

How awesome is it that the U.S. Department of Human Services is requiring health insurance plans beginning on or after August 1, 2012 to cover several women's preventive services, including birth control and voluntary sterilization? And that's with no co- payment! We need this now but we'll take it in 2012. So many conservatives are upset at this decision but they're also anti- choice. All together now, "CONTRADICTION!" Anyway, seeing this with my own eyes really motivates me to continue to advocate for all women. We are here and we deserve equal rights. This world could not exist without us so when I think of all the battles we have to fight I am truly baffled. Women can do far more than prepare meals and take care of home. So to all my women out there please continue to fight all those who seek to oppress us. As you can see, we can move mountains! Saying "PEACE" with my left hand and with my right hand my FEM-FIST is raised high!