Our Reality: Abstinence Comes to Albuquerque, Part 1 from RH Reality Check on Vimeo.

Sarah was in ninth grade when she attended a mandatory 5-day health class on sex-ed in her public school. But when Sarah's mother heard that she was being taught that condoms don't work, abortion is baby-killing comparable to the deaths on 9/11, and that young people are at risk for suicide if they engage in pre-marital sex, she took action and rallied a community to stand up for their children.

Abortion puzzles, part two

Are we obligated to do something about the large number of spontaneous abortions?

http://www.cognitionandculture.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29:abortion-puzzles-part-two&catid=8:moral-psychology&Itemid=34

Birth Control and Bill O'Reilly

Bill O'Reilly thinks birth control is a choice not a medical condition.

Discussing the issue of whether health insurance plans that cover Viagra should also cover birth control, Fox News' Bill O'Reilly asserted: "Viagra is used to help a medical condition -- that's why it's covered. Birth control is not a medical condition, it is a choice." But O'Reilly's assertion is contradicted by professional medical associations that have stated that pregnancy is a medical condition and that "[c]ontraception is medically necessary" for women.

Media Matters - O'Reilly: "Birth control is not a medical condition, it is a choice"

McSexist: McCain's War on Women

Kate Sheppard has much to say about McCain's concern for women.

McCain is ignorant about pay equity, wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and likes to brag about his "sexual conquests" and visits to a strip club.

McSexist: McCain's War on Women | Reproductive Justice and Gender | AlterNet

Bush Administration to Undermine Women's Rights (again)

The Bush Administration is at it again. Hillary Clinton alerts us to the latest insult to our intelligence.

The Bush Administration is up to its old tricks again, quietly putting ideology before science and women's health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is poised to put in place new barriers to accessing common forms of contraception like birth control pills, emergency contraception and IUDs by labeling them "abortion." These proposed regulations set to be released next week will allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide contraception to women who need it. We can't let them get away with this underhanded move to undermine women's health and that's why I am sounding the alarm.

An Outrageous Attempt by the Bush Administration to Undermine Women's Rights | Reproductive Health | RHRealityCheck.org

House Bill 287

This just arrived from Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio.

Will the Ohio General Assembly Give Men the Final Decision about a Woman's Reproductive health Care Choices?

One year ago, State Rep. John Adams (R-Sidney) introduced one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation we have ever seen.

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!

This bill may actually be scheduled for hearings in the coming weeks.

To raise awareness about this offensive bill, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Ohio is partnering with ProgressOhio, an outreach organization that builds awareness of legislative issues.

Please click here to help us stop this bill!

You're not going to believe this...

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.

What is left unsaid is that prenatal paternity testing:

• cannot be performed until at least the 10th week of pregnancy, near the end of the first trimester,
• is an invasive procedure using a long needle through the abdomen to collect fetal cells,
• is expensive – up to $2,000 per test, and
• poses a potential medical risk.

The practical effect of the paternity test requirement would prevent some women from obtaining an abortion during the first trimester.

Once paternity is established, if the man says "No," there will be no abortion.

Please make a secure contribution to help us say "No!" to this outrageous bill!

Even worse...

• If the pregnancy resulted from rape, the woman would be required to provide a police report proving it.
• If the pregnancy resulted from incest, the woman would be required to provide a paternity test or a police report.
• If the woman chooses not to identify the prospective father (perhaps out of fear for her own physical well-being), her only recourse would be to continue the pregnancy against her wishes or have an illegal abortion, a first degree misdemeanor.

Speak out! Help ProgressOhio and Planned Parenthood "veto" this bill now!

We can't let them get away with this!

Here's what you can do to help us fight this outrageous legislation:

• Click here to make a secure contribution to the PPAO Action Fund to support our efforts to fight this legislation and to support pro-choice candidates.
• Sign our petition against HB 287.

A Brief History of the 'Health Exception'

Some valuable background on the health exception from Vicki Saporta.

While the majority of women choose abortion care early in their pregnancies (89% of all abortions in the United States are obtained within the first 12 weeks - PDF), there are cases where a woman may need to obtain a later abortion in order to protect her life or preserve her health, including her mental health. Contrary to the speculation of some abortion opponents, a woman does not obtain a later abortion simply because she's "having a bad day." These cases often involve severe fetal anomalies that can cause great emotional distress and be devastating to a woman's psychological health. ...

A Brief History of the 'Health Exception' | Reproductive Health | RHRealityCheck.org