California NOW

Join us for Consensual Sex!

  People are excited about consensual sex.  It is fun to do and it is fun to talk about. 

It might not always be the easiest subject to bring up but it is crucial that we do so, any chance we get.  As we discuss consent we become better equipped to control our bodies and define our sexual encounters.

April is Sexual Assault Prevention month - join CA NOW in our campaign to spread the word about consent.   To get more information about joining the campaign, hosting an event or getting campaign materials contact Chelsea, vpaction@canow.org.

Ecospot Grand Prize Winner

The Alliance for Climate Protection and Current TV challenged you to make provocative ecospots, shorts video messages to drive your friends, community, and government to get involved in solving the climate crisis. They are proud to announce that the grand prize winner of the 60 Seconds to Save the Earth Ecospot Contest is Dave Schlafman for his video entitled Sky is Falling.

Save Women's Studies at U of South Florida

The University of South Florida is having budget problems and the provost of the college has put Women's Studies and Africana Studies on the chopping block. Makes sense right? Women and people of color have less access to resources, education and full equality in society, so when times get tough, cut our programs, we are used to it.

Hahaha. Those days are over. Today, we fight back.

Help USF save these important departments by signing a petition. Show them some love and support by adding your name today!!

Nipples are a Deadly Weapon in Texas!

A woman taking a flight from Lubbock was recently forced to remove her nipple piercing with pliers while male TSA staff laughed in the background.

Here's what the TSA had to say about it: "TSA is well aware of terrorists' interest in hiding dangerous items in sensitive areas of the body, therefore we have a duty to the American public to resolve any alarm we discover." They also said that agents are trained to treat people being searched in "sensitive areas" with dignity and respect, but I guess those words must have different meanings in at least one Texas airport.

Raise your hands if you think a nipple piercing could be used to take down a plane. Someone in the back there? No?

Now raise your hand if you think this belongs in the same category as all the other women who have complained that TSA regulations have been used to violate their personal space and safety.

Gloria Allred has taken on the case, so we'll keep watching to see where it goes.

Don't You Want to Go Here?

If you are in the area, check out the Ventura County Women's Forum focusing on Educational Justice: Gender Equity and Social Change, on Saturday, April 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at California State University Channel Islands in beautiful Camarillo.

From the press release:

The daylong event will include an address by keynote speaker Anna DiStefano, Provost at Fielding Graduate University. There will be workshops led by educational leaders from throughout Ventura County on topics ranging from Empowering Underrepresented Women and Girls to Gender, Educational Policy, and Reform to Sex Education.

The organizers will also recognize four women as pioneers in education: Ella Flagg Young, Mary McLeod Bethune, Miriam I. Cruz, and Sucheng Chan.

The forum was inspired by the Beijing International Womens Conference of 1995 and the 12 critical issues identified at the conference: Poverty, Education, Health, Violence, Economic Justice, Power Sharing, Institutional Mechanisms, Human Rights, Media, Peace, Environment, The Girl-Child. The first forum in 2006 addressed Economic Justice.

The goal of the forum is to strengthen and inspire local women leaders. The attendees will discuss issues of gender equity and social change in education to develop coordinated action plans for improving womens educational opportunities in Ventura County.

The event is hosted by CSUCIs Center for Multicultural Engagement. Other sponsors include California Lutheran University and the Center for Equality & Justice, the McCune Foundation, SAGE, the Ventura County Community Foundation, the Ventura County Star, the Ventura-Oxnard Chapter of the National Organization for Women, AARP, and NWPC.

Registration is $60 and $20 for students (identification required) and includes lunch and refreshments.

Go here for more information about the forum, or call 805-658-4193.

Pregnancy as Disability

So, California Assemblymember Chuck DeVore wanted to pass a bill that would deem pregnant women temporarily disabled, and therefor able to use parking spaces reserved for the disabled.

We tend to think--and we told the Sacramento Bee as much--that there are some problems with that. Namely, that it classifies pregnancy as a disability. If pregnancy-- in fact a quite natural state for women--is a disability across the board, then will pregnant women be treated differently in other venues?

The bill died, but it's the second time it's been introduced, and could well be seen again. What do you think about it?

Inspiration in a Movement

I haven’t posted much lately, because I just haven’t been inspired. Sex scandals, negative campaigns and political infighting just haven’t inspired me much lately. But today, I was truly inspired. I spent the day at the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom Lobby Day, where high school and college students told their own personal stories about how cutting Medi Cal by 10%, as called for in the Governor’s budget cuts, would threaten their own families health and financial security.

After the lobby visits, I was blown away by the stories told by these young women.  The assembly members, senators and staffers they met really listened to them, and you could see the excitement in their eyes as they realized they were participating in making a difference for women and children in California!

After that inspiring day, I was privileged to give a Lifetime Achievement Award to Senator Sheila Keuhl, and the Legislator of the Year Award to Speaker-Elect Karen Bass, at the California NOW Legislative Reception at the State Capitol. I was very touched to be given the honor of recognizing two women I respect and admire so much. As the former Field Director of California NOW, I am comfortable with planning events, organizing volunteers, making the arrangements and moving the furniture around for events like this, but as the recently elected President, I am still not accustomed to standing among women like Senator Kuehl and Speaker-Elect Bass, who have given up private life to serve the women and men of California and pave the way to a more just, safe and equal society. Pioneers in Californian politics, Kuehl was the first openly lesbian in the legislature and Bass will be the first woman and African American Speaker.

Surrounded by allies from the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, supportive legislators and the hardworking staff, interns and membership of California NOW, I got that warm cozy feeling of being a part of a movement. Tonight I am really inspired.

What Does a Feminist Look Like?

This great video spells it out:

It reminds me in some ways of the work we did on A Passion for Justice: 21st Century Feminism.

How about you? What makes you a feminist?

March 22 = World Water Day

I'm Not Afraid of the Dark

Tonight's a full moon, I'm not afraid.

Tomorrow is a new day, I'm not afraid.

Because activism is my light.

Because heart guides my path. I'm not afraid of the dark.

Here's some exciting Earth Hour news:

The Parks service in San Francisco is offering nature hikes on Alcatraz on March 29. The Golden Gate Bridge and Ghiradelli Square will be joined by landmarks all around the City by the Bay. Restaurants across the city will be hosting candlelit dinners, including Bistro Boudin – the creator of San Francisco's Original Sourdough French Bread – which will also be turning off its signature red neon sign. The Building Owners and Managers Association has thrown tremendous support behind Earth Hour, and dozens of downtown buildings including 101 California will "turn out" for the event. Parc 55 Hotel and The Westin San Francisco Market Street are both turning off their non-essential lighting and asking their guests to do the same. And the news is getting around – media from the San Francisco Chronicle to KCBS radio are spreading the word!

For more info on how to build community support and organize your own Earth Hour event, check out this handy Community Kit.

MySpace's Our Planet page is all about Earth Hour! Check out the videos posted, and don't forget to become an Earth Hour friend.

Earth Hour is on Ecorazzi – America's favorite enviro-gossip and lifestyle site. Check it out!