California NOW

The Pill: Where Would We Be Without It?!

Perhaps nothing changed the course for American women more than the introduction of The Pill. After being officially approved by the FDA, by 1967 12.5 million women relied on the contraceptive to control their own family planning. This kind of control by women of their own destinies affected every aspect of society.

The development of The Pill brought about profound change, much of which would not have happened without Katharine McCormick, an often overlooked hero of the movement for oral contraception. An early feminist, McCormick fought for suffrage, and then, at the age of 75, turned her attention--and her wealth--towards developing safe and effective birth control for women. McCormick was a philanthropist and scientist who put up the money for the testing of the oral contraceptive.

The Pill has a rich and empowering history, and a new book project will examine just how profound its affects were. The book, more generally about the 1960s, includes a chapter exploring the effects of The Pill on American families, and the author of the chapter is looking for subjects to interview. If you were born in the 1960s, and your mother took the pill, email the author of this chapter to set up an interview to tell your story of how if affected her life and therefor yours. If you were on the pill in the 1960s and one of your children would be interested in talking about how it affected their life, contact the author and share your story as well.

How Do You Define Consent?

What comes to mind when you think of consent? Some words that come to mind are agreement, mutual and coerced.

Yes, I said coerced. Because many times when a person does not agree to consensual sex they may be coerced or pressured into agreeing to it. Sometimes we are faced with the question, “If you loved me, you would” or “I thought you loved me”. That is NOT consent! Consensual sex is when you both agree, not when one person forces the other.

Recently, I was on a college campus and women were discussing the “walk of shame”. This was described as when a woman is drunk and she has nonconsensual sex. All of these women were unaware that in the state of California, you are not legally able to consent if you are drunk. This was a wake up call for them! They asked me questions and did not realize that was the law. Prior to this they thought the “walk of shame” was just something that, as they said, “happens all the time”.

Dialogue alone can create change and when that dialogue begins online it can be the first step in making change in your community. What does consent mean to you? How can you create change?

Guest Blog by Lisa Covington

Del Rio: Fight for the Rights of Teens, For the Sake of Everyone

Check out the article by CA NOW’s Action VP Chelsea Del Rio, in this month's Because People Matter: Progressive News and Views. It’s about California facing another parental notification initiative attempt. She says: “Our fight to defeat parental notification initiatives and other attacks on abortion rights not only protects reproductive health services but also strengthens women’s autonomy and freedom.”

Ain’t it the truth.

She also points out that to fight off this dangerous initiative that would put teens already at risk at greater risk, pro-choicers individually and collectively will face "yet another year of diverting time, resources and energy from providing already limited services for women." This pisses me off because I’m sure this is part of their plan!

So, join the fight! Chelsea says:

It is essential that we work to protect access to abortion not only for teens in California but also for women across the country who, more and more, may be forced to look to Cali¬fornia. If the parental notifica¬tion initiative does qualify for the ballot we will need your help to defeat it. Stay informed via California National Organization for Women, www.canow.org. In the meantime, consider other action you can take to ensure access to reproductive health services. Become a clinic defense escort and help women navigate through anti-choice protestors to access abortion services. Sacramento NOW provides training and coordinates weekly escorting. Contact us at sacnowactivist@yahoo.com. Or, consider housing or providing rides for women who must travel to the area to receive abortion services. To do so, sign up with ACCESS: www.whrc-access.org.

Pic is Sac NOW protesting Proposition 85, one of the parental notification initiatives we defeated.

Show Appreciation for Abortion Provider's Today!

Today, March 10th, is the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers.  Use this day to recognize the courage and commitment of abortion provider's in your community - send them flowers or cards, bring them treats, make a donation or offer to volunteer.  And if you know a doctor, nurse, health worker, clinic staffer or clinic escort make sure to thank them - each one regularly puts their life on the front line to ensure that abortion services are safe and accessible.

California NOW sends out a huge THANK YOU to all of you!

Abortion Rights Under Attack in CA

An outrageous initiative was delivered to the CA Attorney General’s office last month proposing that restrictions on abortion rights are added to the California Constitution. According to the initiative, abortions should not be performed past the 24th week of pregnancy unless the mother’s life is in serious danger because it is deemed that a fetus is viable, or can live outside the womb after this period. The initiative was written by Laura Storms of The San Jose Group.

I have been an activist for 25 years in the fight to keep abortion safe, legal and accessible because I believe that the decision to terminate a pregnancy is between and woman and her doctor, not the government. I trust their decisions! It is vital that we take a stand against this initiative to protect the rights and health of women everywhere! Please make a generous contribution to California NOW to support our work to protect abortion rights.

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

Homemade Sex Shirt Makes the News

In Illinois two junior high students were suspended for wearing homemade shirts that read "safe sex or no sex."  They attached packaged condoms to the shirts too.

These girls stated that they were trying to make a point about the unrealistic abstinence-only education they receive at their school, and feel the suspension was unjustified since they were simply exercising the freedom of speech.

I instantly thought of our I Heart Consensual Sex campaign.  I know the shirts have created a lot of conversation among college students and wondered what we may start to see here in California as teens start getting their hands on our shirts and buttons. 

Recent statistics show that most young people have sex for the first time around 17.  Seven in ten teens have sex by age 19.  Shouldn't they start learning and talking about safe, consensual sex prior to this?  Shouldn't high schools foster an environment in which young people can have access to open, honest information about sex?

Pastor Sarah

Just in case people think that Pastors don't support Reproductive Justice and women's right to have domain over her own body, here is Reverend Sarah Halverson; graduate of Chapman University and Claremont School of Theology, she is now working on a PhD in the New Testament.  Her ministry is Senior Pastor of Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa California.   Tune into her sermon podcasts! 

Thank you Rev Sarah for speaking at the Roe event at the Circle of Orange and all the great work you do for Social Justice.  (it's dark because we are in an alley at night, commemorating back-alley abortions)

Media Action: Anti-Choicers Lie, KFRC and KCBS Put it on the Air

Anti-choicers are running these ads in the Bay Area that tout lies and contain gross inaccuracies. And Bay Area radio stations KFRC and KCBS are airing them anyway, as are stations in other states.

The ads include this gem: "Roe vs. Wade says you can choose to have an abortion for virtually any reason, at any time, right up through the 9th month." Do you think they are actually that stupid, or they are intentionally trying to deceive the public? These stations should never have put these ads on our public airwaves. Let's get them off the airwaves.

Take a listen to the ads. Then take action. Email KFRC and KCBS and let them know that you do not support them accepting advertising dollars for factually inaccurate and misleading radio spots.

Photo from IndyMedia Ireland

Roe Rally ~ Orange California

Mandy Benson, President of California NOW, speaking at a great demonstration celebrating 35 years of Reproductive Justice; sponsored by OC NOW, January 22, Circle of Orange.