California NOW

Consensual Sex Rocks My World

Tabling at the Vans Warped Tour in Mountain View's Shoreline Amphitheater was awesome. We set up our Consensual Sex table with a jar marked "donations are sexy." Music lovers, staff and volunteers bought I Heart Consensual Sex buttons to pin on their backpacks and concert tees. One Dad came by and took a resource card for each one of his daughters. He told us what a great idea this was and how supportive he was of education that covers all the facts (not just abstinence). Many also stopped by to talk about what consent means to them and how their lives have been impacted by sexual assault. I think it was very empowering for people to share their experiences and learn about a campaign that is trying to promote healthy and safe sex. How cool of Warped Tour to host non-profit orgs at the show!

Women in Entertainment: Take a Chance on Us

There are a lot of things that have gotten me thinking about women in entertainment recently. For one thing, I've been reading Women & Hollywood, a great blog with a "Hollywood Feminist of the Day" feature that is truly inspiring.

But really, the thing that started me off was seeing Mamma Mia.

I expected it to be a light Summer film, no real emotional investment. I mean it's a musical based on ABBA songs fer cripes sakes! Then I found myself in tears halfway through the first big dance number.

Why was I crying to "Dancing Queen" of all songs?

Check out this 3-day film fest honoring the Queer API community

This year's festival includes a featured screening of queer Asian Pacific Islander women's films, four Q&A sessions with filmmakers and a panel discussion with internationally acclaimed British South Asian filmmaker Pratibha Parmar.

These "girls" cross all boundaries...

HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS SPENT THEIR SUMMER is a visual conversation of sexuality across cultures and generations of women. The film opens this weekend through Maya Releasing - make sure to check it out!

Feminist Art in SF

Check out Amber Whiteside's review and analysis in the SF Bay Guardian of the art exhibit "The Way That We Rhyme: Women, Art & Politics." The exhibit is at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (701 Mission, SF) through June 29th.

Whiteside points to the emergence of more feminist art shows, but wonders if too much of it has been "regurgitations of the same old feminist art show with the same discourse, participants, and audience." This show, though, she thinks breaks the mold to some extent. However, she asks an important question about feminist art, and indeed about feminist space and movement in general: "While I understand the rationale for creating a dedicated space for women's art, I think in some ways it only further marginalizes women. Let's integrate women's political art into the larger context and invite men to participate, reminding them that feminism is — and has always been — about men too."

Good point. What do you think?

Regardless, the show definitely seems worth checking out.

The pic is one of the artist's work featured in the show, Lisa Anne Auerbach. VERY cool stuff!

Check It Out: International Museum of Women

Masum Mamoya is the curator of the Women, Power and Politics Exhibit at the International Museum of Women.

The untold stories of women claiming and exercising their power around the world and throughout history come alive in I.M.O.W.'s global online exhibition Women, Power and Politics.

From March 8 to December 31, 2008, Women, Power and Politics is available to audiences worldwide in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. They focus on one provocative new topic each month and ask the questions no one is asking. Like never before, women and men are focusing on issues of substance concerning women's political participation.

If you don't already check out the online International Museum of Women on a regular basis, you should. It's gorgeous, powerful and empowering. We can learn so much about ourselves and each other! Here is a description from the website:  I.M.O.W. is a groundbreaking social change museum that inspires global action, connects people across borders and transforms hearts and minds by amplifying the voices of women worldwide through global online exhibitions, history, the arts and cultural programs that educate, create dialogue and build community. With its unique focus on cultural change, I.M.O.W. advances the human right to gender equity worldwide.

Support Feminist Films - They ROCK!

Last night I found myself all alone in a movie theater. Normally, I would be excited to have my own screening, but on this occasion it made me sad because it really brought home how under appreciated feminist film making is in our society. I went to see the absolutely wonderful film Girls Rock. At times it was a relief that I was alone in my enormous individual screening, that way no one could hear me crying my eyes out as I relived my teen years as the odd girl in black that listened to the music that no one else at school understood.

But there was also no body around to join me as I continued to cry (this time tears of joy) and laugh as these young women found their inner rockers. It's not everyday we get to watch young women empower themselves on the big screen and I hate the fact that this film was going to close its run early because not enough people had come out to see it. So the moral of this story is: Please don't put off seeing that amazing feminist film you've been thinking of seeing. I know we all do it. It does matter that you get out there and see them in the theaters. If we don't do it they won't stay in the theaters for long, they won't make money, and the next one won't get funded and made. And if that happens, what will we have to cry and laugh about when we go to the movies next time?

Nellie McKay plays for CA NOW

CA NOW is proud to announce that Nellie McKay will be performing at our private party at the Viper Room, Saturday, April 19.   Singer, songwriter, feminist, champion of animal rights and the funniest jazz musician ever!   

You may have heard her on The David Letterman Show, The View or the Prairie Home Companion.  Her newest album is Obligatory Villagers on her own label, Hungry Mouse Records, released by prestigious jazz house, Vanguard Records.   We can't wait to hear her ode to feminists, Mother-of-Pearl!    

It's The Anita Rufus Show!

Past president of Palm Springs NOW and National NOW board member, Anita Rufas has her own talk radio show.  You can guess you won't be hearing Stern, Limbaugh or Dr. Laura!

The Anita Rufus Show
Saturday  2pm-4pm
K-News, AM 970 KNWZ, East Valley
AM 1140 KNWQ, West Valley

Known throughout the Desert communities and around the world to friends, family, fans and foes alike, Anita Rufus IS the Lovable Liberal. Every Saturday afternoon from 2 to 4 pm, the Anita Rufus Show will engage you in a conversation about politics, relationships, and the realities of everyday life that we can all relate to, and about hich we all have strong opinions.

Anita Rufus is an award-winning talk show host, previously recognized with the 20th Annual Commendation Award from American Women in Radio and Television for the best  small-market radio program. She has led the efforts on statewide referendums as well as run for the United States House of Representatives.  Anita has plenty to say, so don't miss one of the Coachella Valley's most progressive voices exclusively on the Anita Rufus Show Saturday's on KNews.

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS and 2 DAYS addresses first-hand the all-too-real experience of a girl who braves the dangers of illegal abortion. 

Unfortunately this realistic depiction of the abortion issue did not get the press that the other films had received, despite its numerous awards and nominations.  J. Hoberman notes that the popularity of the film goes beyond the abortion question and into the treatment of women protagonists.  4 MONTH’s main characters as recognizably human – naïve, desperate, sympathetic – dealing with unintended pregnancy in a place where legal abortion is not an option, as opposed to the less messy situations of the leads in KNOCKED UP or JUNO, who have the option of abortion but choose to decline it. 

California NOW is proud to feature 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, AND 2 DAYS on the 2008 State Conference handbill, and to offer support for and information about the film at the Conference in West Hollywood.  We are so proud to know that there are filmmakers and studios who will create and release projects that tackle the tough issues in beautifully artistic ways that remain true to the realities women face.

Submitted by Lindsey Horvath, VP Young Feminist CA NOW & President Hollywood NOW