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.

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

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?

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.