Anyone from Ohio should be aware of potential rights-infringing legislation that is being proposed...Its the new House Bill 252, which requires a woman seeking an abortion to identify the father and does not allow her to terminate the pregnancy without the man's consent!
You think that's bad? According to Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio's Legislative Director, if Representative John Adam's House Bill 252 is passed, it would do all of the following:
"It provides a man with rights over the woman, but does nothing to charge him with the responsibilities of fatherhood – including child support.
If the woman wanted to end a pregnancy that was the product of rape, then she would be forced to file a police report, even if that police report put her in greater danger of retaliation by her attacker.
If a girl seeks an abortion because of incest, she would either be forced to file a police report or ask her molester to take a paternity test, but he would not be required to participate.
It requires a paternity test if the identity of the father is in doubt, which may delay an abortion past the first trimester.
The bill does not provide funding for expensive paternity tests – a cost that may be passed on to taxpayers.
Rep. Adams believes that any woman who violates these rules should be charged with a first degree misdemeanor – up to six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.
If a woman was found guilty of a second infraction, Rep. Adams wants her to be a fifth degree felon – up to one year in jail, a $2,500 fine, and as a felon she would be unlikely to hold a meaningful job for the rest of her life."
Here is a news clip discussing the bill: http://www.10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2009/07/22/abortion.html
How can you help? Donate to Planned Parenthood of Ohio today so that we can fight this together! You can donate here:
http://www.ppao.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2&Itemid=3
If anyone finds an online form to contact your legislators on this issue please let me know!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
CONGRATS!
Great news!
#1- The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed by the Senate! Here's more info: http://feministmajority.org/media/pressLedbetter_012209.asp
#2-OBAMA FINALLY REPEALED THE GLOBAL GAG RULE! 8 long years and too many women's lives later, but the Global Gag Rule is finally over. Here is more information:
http://feministmajority.org/media/pressGagRule_012309.asp
And if you want to send Obama a thank-you letter, here is a link for that as well:
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3397&autologin=true
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
#1- The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed by the Senate! Here's more info: http://feministmajority.org/media/pressLedbetter_012209.asp
#2-OBAMA FINALLY REPEALED THE GLOBAL GAG RULE! 8 long years and too many women's lives later, but the Global Gag Rule is finally over. Here is more information:
http://feministmajority.org/media/pressGagRule_012309.asp
And if you want to send Obama a thank-you letter, here is a link for that as well:
https://secure.prochoiceamerica.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=3397&autologin=true
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Happy 36th Roe v. Wade Anniversary!
Roe v. Wade saves women's lives by preventing illegal & botched abortions, but we still have a long way to go! Celebrate 36 years of Roe v. Wade, but also read the following to learn how you can join the ROEvolution to continue the benefits of reproductive rights in the future.
KNOW ABOUT ROE?
In the past…
Roe v. Wade legalized abortions, expanding the right to privacy to cover women’s reproductive rights!
In the future…
Roe still has a long way to go.
· Low-income women are four times more likely to have unplanned pregnancies.
· The need for publicly funded family planning services is as critical as ever, as unintended pregnancy rates would be nearly 50% higher for all women and about two-thirds higher among low-income women without these family planning services.
· The Prevention First Act is intended to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted infections in the United States by increasing access to information and services to make this goal a reality, but has not yet been passed.
KNOW ABOUT ROE?
In the past…
Roe v. Wade legalized abortions, expanding the right to privacy to cover women’s reproductive rights!
In the future…
Roe still has a long way to go.
· Low-income women are four times more likely to have unplanned pregnancies.
· The need for publicly funded family planning services is as critical as ever, as unintended pregnancy rates would be nearly 50% higher for all women and about two-thirds higher among low-income women without these family planning services.
· The Prevention First Act is intended to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and sexually transmitted infections in the United States by increasing access to information and services to make this goal a reality, but has not yet been passed.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Encourage & Thank Obama: Overturning the Global Gag Rule
Want to take action against the Global Gag Rule? Below I have posted a letter that I typed up to send to President-elect Obama. Just copy & paste into Word, print, sign & send to Obama. Although Obama has already said he will be overturning the Global Gag Rule, it never hurts to remind him that it is a priority to you, and to thank him for making it a priority as well!
His address is P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL, 60680. Here is the letter:
Dear President-elect Obama,
Congratulations on your history-making victory. I am writing to inform you that I am very proud to have a pro-choice President elected. More specifically, I wanted to write you about protecting and advancing women’s reproductive rights, starting with repealing the Global Gag Rule.
Several news sources have reported that you will be repealing the Global Gag Rule, which would be the most significant and effective change in sexual and reproductive health care we’ve seen in eight years. I would like to take this time to remind you that eight years ago, on George W. Bush’s first day in office, he reinstated the Global Gag Rule, preventing safe reproductive options from being available to women across the world. I am so appreciative that you have agreed to reverse this terrible policy.
I would also like to remind you of the importance of the Global Gag Rule and why I support its repeal. The Global Gag Rule has prohibited U.S. funding for contraception (such as condoms) and abortion referrals overseas. This policy prevents abortion counseling in any way, even when pregnancy is the result of sexual violence. Often the women in need of the abortions are teenage girls. They are denied abortions despite the fact that complications in childbirth and pregnancy are the leading causes of death in teenage girls in developing countries (70,000 adolescent mothers and 1 million infants die each year because the mother is not physically ready to give birth). Unfortunately, with the lack of condoms, women have no choice at all, as abstinence does not work in cases of sexual violence or the common practice of forced marriage at a very young age.
It is wrong to deny women in developing countries a choice that will work and protect their lives. Bush’s abstinence-only plan is not working to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS either. Over half a million women die each year of causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. More than one woman every minute of the day dies and 99% of these women live in developing countries. When you are considering the Global Gag Rule, please keep these raw facts in mind, as this policy is killing women in developing countries as well as stifling the freedom of health clinics.
As you can see, there is only one right decision in regards to the Global Gag Rule and that is to overturn it as soon as possible. Creating awareness about the shocking results of this policy has been all pro-choice Americans could do for the past eight years—but now we can finally have the change that we believe in!
Again, thank you for making the Global Gag Rule a priority, as it is also a priority to me. I will be proud to have a pro-choice President, and look forward to the day when the Global Gag Rule will exist no more.
Thank you and congratulations,
His address is P.O. Box 8102 Chicago, IL, 60680. Here is the letter:
Dear President-elect Obama,
Congratulations on your history-making victory. I am writing to inform you that I am very proud to have a pro-choice President elected. More specifically, I wanted to write you about protecting and advancing women’s reproductive rights, starting with repealing the Global Gag Rule.
Several news sources have reported that you will be repealing the Global Gag Rule, which would be the most significant and effective change in sexual and reproductive health care we’ve seen in eight years. I would like to take this time to remind you that eight years ago, on George W. Bush’s first day in office, he reinstated the Global Gag Rule, preventing safe reproductive options from being available to women across the world. I am so appreciative that you have agreed to reverse this terrible policy.
I would also like to remind you of the importance of the Global Gag Rule and why I support its repeal. The Global Gag Rule has prohibited U.S. funding for contraception (such as condoms) and abortion referrals overseas. This policy prevents abortion counseling in any way, even when pregnancy is the result of sexual violence. Often the women in need of the abortions are teenage girls. They are denied abortions despite the fact that complications in childbirth and pregnancy are the leading causes of death in teenage girls in developing countries (70,000 adolescent mothers and 1 million infants die each year because the mother is not physically ready to give birth). Unfortunately, with the lack of condoms, women have no choice at all, as abstinence does not work in cases of sexual violence or the common practice of forced marriage at a very young age.
It is wrong to deny women in developing countries a choice that will work and protect their lives. Bush’s abstinence-only plan is not working to decrease the spread of HIV/AIDS either. Over half a million women die each year of causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. More than one woman every minute of the day dies and 99% of these women live in developing countries. When you are considering the Global Gag Rule, please keep these raw facts in mind, as this policy is killing women in developing countries as well as stifling the freedom of health clinics.
As you can see, there is only one right decision in regards to the Global Gag Rule and that is to overturn it as soon as possible. Creating awareness about the shocking results of this policy has been all pro-choice Americans could do for the past eight years—but now we can finally have the change that we believe in!
Again, thank you for making the Global Gag Rule a priority, as it is also a priority to me. I will be proud to have a pro-choice President, and look forward to the day when the Global Gag Rule will exist no more.
Thank you and congratulations,
Friday, November 14, 2008
Show Bush how to Get F'd: prevent him from redefining abortion!
Bush wants to change the definition of abortion to something much more broad, that could even include birth control! Although the administration said they would not make any new regulations after Nov. 1st, the Bush administration is continuing its attack on women's health.
Show Bush how to Get F'd!
Click here to send a letter to stop the Bush administration from creating this regulation:
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hhsnov08_ppol?rk=tdAcCKE1H0wCE
Show Bush how to Get F'd!
Click here to send a letter to stop the Bush administration from creating this regulation:
http://www.ppaction.org/campaign/hhsnov08_ppol?rk=tdAcCKE1H0wCE
VERY IMPORTANT FOR OHIOANS:
"BREAKING NEWS – Legislative Update
November, 2008 Content:
I - Ohio Prevention First Act hearing scheduled
II - Abortion Veto Bill also to be heard at same committee
III - Ohio House Health Committee meeting info
I - Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio's request for a hearing for the Ohio Prevention First Act has been granted. Ohio House Health Committee Chairman Lynn Wachtmann (R-Napoleon) has scheduled House Bill 251 for a hearing on Wednesday, November 19, 2008. More than 12,600 Planned Parenthood supporters signed a petition urging that a hearing on this landmark bill be scheduled.
Sponsored by Representatives Jon Peterson (R-Delaware) and Tyrone Yates (D-Cincinnati), HB 251 focuses on the prevention of unintended pregnancies through comprehensive sex education for teens, including abstinence, and affordable, accessible birth control.
Among the provisions of the Ohio Prevention First Act are to:
- ensure that Ohio's state funded sexual education programs provide young people with the information they need to make safe, informed, responsible choices;
- launch a teen pregnancy prevention grant program;
- ensure access to emergency contraception in all emergency rooms for sexual assault victims;
- require pharmacies to fill all in-stock legal prescriptions and to dispense all over-the-counter medications;
- require insurance plans that cover prescriptions to also cover birth control; and
earmark existing state funds for family planning purposes.
II – Also being heard on November 19th is HB 287, sponsored by Representative John Adams (R-Sidney). House Bill 287 would require a woman to have the written informed consent of the prospective father of her fetus before being allowed to have an abortion. That's right...If the man says "No," there will be no abortion. Period!
HB 287 also requires that, if the identity of the prospective father is unknown, a paternity test must be performed to determine his identity so that his consent could be obtained prior to performing the abortion. The practical effect of the paternity test requirement would prevent some women from obtaining an abortion during the first trimester.
III - Planned Parenthood supporters are invited to attend. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 2:30PM or later depending on the length of the preceeding House voting session. Because of the session schedule, lengthy committee agenda, and seating capacity limitations, interested persons are encouraged to contact Stephanie Craddock of Planned Parenthood of Central Ohio at 614-358-8729 or advocacy@ppcoh.org for further details about the hearing."
--Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio
I hope for all Ohioans that the Ohio Prevention First Act is successful, and that HB287 is a failure! Good luck and if you want to attend the meeting you should contact Planned Parenthood as it says in the email I received from them above.
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