Quick Hit: Newly released poll shows stong support for sex ed among parents in WV

A poll released yesterday shows strong support among parents of school-aged children in Kanawha County for medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education that includes information and skill building on a variety of topics, including waiting to have sex, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and how to use condoms and other methods of birth control.

According to the article, “Survey shows Kanawha County parents want sex ed in schools,” in The State Journal:

Sixty-eight percent of respondents said sex education should be taught inWest Virginia schools, while 25 percent said no and 7 percent said they weren’t sure. Of those surveyed, 53 percent said sex education was taught in their school district while 21 percent said no and 25 percent said they weren’t sure.

You can read the full article here.

Quick Hit: Abortion on Prime Time

So apparently Dr. Cristina Yang had an abortion on Grey’s Anatomy last night.

I haven’t seen the show in a while and didn’t catch it last night, but “A Character on Grey’s Anatomy Actually Had an Abortion on Prime-Time Television Last Night” by Willa  Paskin in New York Magazine today caught my attention.

Grey’s has explored the edges of this territory before. Cristina wanted to get an abortion in season two, before that ectopic pregnancy; Addison has talked about having had an abortion, after getting pregnant with Mark. But last night’s storyline constituted a much bolder step, if one perfectly in keeping with character: There’s probably no woman on TV right now more single-mindedly dedicated to her career than Cristina. It has long been her defining characteristic. If it occasionally makes her into a caricature, it has also unquestionably established that she would have an abortion in this circumstance. The writers didn’t have to get her pregnant at all, but once they did, this was the only plausible resolution for her.  Still, many shows before Grey’s have shied away from doing what’s right for the character when it comes to abortions.

Read the whole piece here.

I wish I could comment, but, as I already disclosed, I didn’t see the episode.  I will wait patiently until it’s available online, but until then I am asking all of you out there:  Did you catch this episode?  What did you think of it?

Can a bus full of West Virginians help change the country?

Damn straight, it can.  And in the coming days, we will find out just how much.

Last Thursday just before 2 a.m., I boarded a bus in a deserted parking lot in Charleston, WV, along with a dozen or so other people.  We bumped along through the night (ahh, there’s nothing like a late-night/early-morning bus ride on aging mountain roads), stopping once in Morgantown to pick up another half dozen folks, before we continued over the mountains and through the valleys.  We pulled into Washington, DC, just after 9 a.m.  We got little, if any, sleep that night, but we hopped off the bus, excited and energized.  We were in our nation’s capitol, and we were going to meet with our Senators and Congresspeople, and rally with thousands of other women’s rights and reproductive and sexual health advocates.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I didn’t sleep a minute that night, and I barely slept the night before.  I was tired, stressed and, like most of you, frustrated and disappointed about the seemingly unfathomable situation we were in (Really?  We are still fighting for birth control?).  But the people on that bus inspired me; they gave me energy…and hope.  We, if I do say so, were amazing.  We were in our twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties and seventies.  We were women and men.  We were pastors and activists; moms, dads and grandparents; health care providers,attorneys and scientists; professional advocates and first-timers; friends and strangers.  And we were all West Virginians.  West Virginians who care about women’s health and recognize the importance of essential community providers like Planned Parenthood, the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia and other Title X funded health care centers.

(Some of the West Virginia group after the rally)

We spent the day–after initially hustling past a couple of extreme anti-choicers and their graphic and misleading propaganda– meeting with the West Virginia delegation and talking about the importance of women’s health and the basic, lifesaving care provided by Planned Parenthood and other essential community providers across the U.S. and in the Mountain State.  Senator Rockefeller’s staff met with the whole group, while staff of Senator Manchin, Congresswoman Capito and Congressman McKinley met with smaller groups.  Sen. Rockefeller’s, Sen. Manchin’s and Congresswoman Capito’s staff took the time to listen to our stories, consider the facts, answer our questions and address our concerns.

The Stand Up For Women’s Health Rally on the National Mall was a highlight of the day.  If you’ve never seen a sea of pink “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” shirts and “Don’t Take Away My Cancer Screenings” placards filling the lawn in front of the Capitol, you are missing a beautiful sight (seriously).  By the time our group got there, the rally was in full swing, but we heard rousing comments from Congresswoman Dianna DeGette; actors Ed Harris, Connie Britton and David Eigenberg; Wade Henderson of the Leadership Council on Civil & Human Rights; Anthony Romero of the ACLU; and Planned Parenthood patients.

All in all, it was an inspiring and incredible day.  We traveled more than 750 miles roundtrip in just under 24 hours to get a total of 60 minutes with four of our five Congressional representatives.  It was worth every minute.  The next day, Congress agreed to a budget bill to fund the federal government through the end of Fiscal year 2011 in September.  That budget bill does not eliminate the Title X family planning program or bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding for preventive care.  Thanks to the dedication of the people on that bus–and on all of you who have called your Senators, written your Representatives and told your friends and family about this unprecedented attack on women–funding for basic health care for millions of women, men and teens is safe…for now.

Fringe members of Congress–politicians who want to overturn Roe v. Wade and who clearly do not care about women or their families–have not and will not give up.  Both the House and Senate will vote on a separate bill this week to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding for preventive health care.  These extreme members of the GOP are committed, not to creating jobs, fixing the deficit or improving the economy, but to denying millions of women birth control, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

I am hopeful, although not certain (how sad is that?), that common sense and compassion, as well as the stories of patients, concerns of bus riders, and calls and letters of Mountaineers everywhere will give West Virginia’s representatives the courage to stand down those who do not value women’s lives and to stand up for the women and families of West Virginia and across America.

***Stay tuned.  We will let you know whether your representatives stands up for women or steps aside for those who would rather let women get sick and die.***

More than 100 Rally in the Rain in Charleston, West Virginia!

Last Thursday, despite wind, rain and cold temperatures, over 100 family planning supporters attended the Rally For Women’s Lives to stand with Planned Parenthood and up for access to family planning, preventive care and women’s health care.  Amid a sea of umbrellas and signs with such sayings as “Don’t take away my breast exams” and “I [heart] the Women’s Health Center” and clad in ponchos , hats and rubber boots, activists from around the state gathered in front of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Building in downtown Charleston to raise awareness about this critical issue.

The rally was organized by Planned Parenthood Health Systems, WV FREE, the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, ACLU of West Virginia, the National Association of Social Workers WV Chapter and West Virginia Citizen Action Group in response to the U.S. House of Representatives vote on February 18th to eliminate the Title X family planning program and to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funding for lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing and treatment. 

Activists connected with old friends, met new ones, shared stories of how essential community providers including Planned Parenthood, the Women’s Health Center and county health departments had cared for them over the years, listened to music and waved to the often-honking cars that passed by on Virginia Street.   They got wet–soaking wet, really–but the rain didn’t dampen their spirits.  Throughout the rally, chants including “Hey, Senators, hear our call!  Women’s right’s protect us all”  and “What do we want?  Birth Control!  When do we want it?  Forever!” could be heard up and down the block.  In between all of the fun and camaraderie, activists filled out postcards to their senators and some even called their offices, asking them protect Title X, Planned Parenthood and the more than 5 million Americans who receive health care services through Title X funded clinics and Planned Parenthood health centers.

Speakers included Margaret Chapman Pomponio of WV FREE, Frank Crabtree of the ACLU of West Virginia, Sharon Lewis of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, the Reverend Jim Lewis and yours truly here at Planned Parenthood Health Systems. 

Mr. Jeremy Brannon, a supporter of family planning and Planned Parenthood, produced this awesome video that captures the excitement and energy of the event.  Check  it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ysf0qGMR7g&feature=player_embedded.

Thanks so much to ALL of the volunteers who made this rally happen.  There were many without whom this event would not have happened.  A special thanks goes out to DL host, Jim Kerrigan, for his help spreading the word and for setting up and tearing down in the pouring rain, and to Mike Pushkin for his help making the sound system function without a hitch!

If you’d like to learn more or want to get involved, please email me at kira.miskimmin@pphsinc.org.  We can always use more help, and I promise you, your time will be well spent!

Because We’re Not Gonna Take It, It’s Time to Rally!

RALLY FOR WOMEN’S LIVES
Thurs, February 24th, 5 p.m.
Robert C. Byrd Federal Building, 300 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV

 

On Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to eliminate the Title X family planning program and to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any federal funding for lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, and STI testing and treatment.

Needless to say, this measure is extremely dangerous and completely out of step with mainstream America.  If the Senate doesn’t doesn’t put an end to the insanity, millions of people in this country–over 50,000 in West Virginia alone–will lose access to their primary, if not only, means of health care.

All three of West Virginia’s representatives voted to defund Planned Parenthood.  Since they did not act in our best interests, we must make it clear to our senators that West Virginia needs basic health care services and that defunding Title X and Planned Parenthood are not acceptable!

Join Planned Parenthood, WV FREE, the Women’s Health Center of WV, ACLU of WV, the National Association of Social Workers WV Chapter and WV Citizen Action Group as we stand up for the millions of people in this country who depend on the care of Planned Parenthood and other essential community providers as we call on our sentators to “Protect Title X and Planned Parenthood!”

So please join us, and please spread the word!  Email kira.miskimmin@pphsinc.org for more information.

West Virginia Lobby Day For Women’s Lives Was A-Mazing!

Yesterday, over 100 women’s rights and reproductive health advocates joined Planned Parenthood Health Systems, WV FREE and the ACLU of WV at the State Capitol to lobby for women’s lives.

Advocates from all over the state, including students from the Peer Mentors Healthy Relationships Club at Capitol High School, nursing students from the University of Charleston, and medical students from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine spoke to state legislators about the need for improved access to preventive health care, including birth control, STI testing and treatment, and medically accurate, age-appropriate sex ed.

Specfically, advocates asked their legislators to help pass HB 2439/SB 509, the Insurance Fairness Act, to extend insurance coverage for birth control and prenatal care to dependents of policy holders, and to work to defeat any attempts to restrict women’s access to reproductive health care.

Delegate Nancy Guthrie read an incredible letter from the Peer Mentors Healthy Relationships Club students on the House Floor, and Delegate Barbara Fleischauer presented over 1,000 petition signatures in support of insurance fairness.

Check out this video from our Champions for Choice luncheon, hosted by ACLU, Fairness WV, Planned Parenthood and WV FREE, to hear an encore reading of the Peer Mentors Healthy Relationships Club students’ letter, statements by Planned Parenthood on the U.S. House’s defunding of Planned Parenthood and Title X, WV FREE on insurance fairness, ACLU on bills to ban all insurance coverage of abortion in West Virginia, and Fairness WV on nondiscrimination and anti-harrassment bills.  You can also catch powerful remarks from Delegate Meshea Poore and Delegate Virginia Mahan.

All in all, it was an a — wait for it — mazing day.  Thank you to all who were able to join us and who made Lobby Day For Women’s Lives a smashing success!

And so it begins…

Yesterday, House Republicans took another step in their Pledge to America.  A jobs bill?  Additional tax cuts for working families?  Deficit reduction efforts?  Nope, none of the above.  Instead, just one day after voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act and all of the benefits it provides women and families, they have introduced the Smith Bill, H.R. 3.  They may call it the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” but H.R. 3 is no such bill.  It would restrict all funding for abortion, even if the cost of the abortion is paid for entirely by a person’s own money.

In “Forget Jobs and the Economy, GOP To Introduce Government-Expanding [Restriction of] Abortion Measure As H.R. 3, ” Igor Volsky concisely summarizes the seriousness of this measure 

They’re not only placing new restrictions on abortion services but also expanding the role of government in private life.

Read the entire article at http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/01/20/abortion-hr3/.

Quick Hit: One Woman’s Story

In the latest Modern Love column in The New York Times, Nicole Hardy shares a powerful and personal story about the journey that led her to Planned Parenthood.

“Single, Female, Mormon, Alone” is a must-read.  As personal, private and unique as Hardy’s story is, it is universally moving.  Because, while the journey is different for each of us, it turns out, we all have a story.  Hardy’s, however, begins with an admission:

Of all the places I felt sure I’d never go, Planned Parenthood topped the list. Because, you know, they perform abortions and give condoms to kids, or so I’d been warned. Yet one spring afternoon found me in its waiting room next to a teenage girl, who was clearly perplexed by the intake form and likely bound for an uncomfortable, humiliating four minutes in the back of a borrowed Chevy Chevelle.

Read the entire column at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/fashion/09Modern.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1.

Quick Hit: Chrisitian Patriarchy Movement

Last week, in “Creepy Christian Patriarchy Movement Shackles Daughters to Their Fathers and Homes,” Gina McGalliard looked at the “stay-at-home-daughter movement [that] encourages young girls and single women to forgo college and employment in favor of training as ‘keepers at home.’”

If you think girls being taught the best use of their intellect is in supporting their fathers’ wishes or that women who believe their purpose is to be their husband’s helper is lore from a time long ago and a land far away, think again.  It’s the Christian Patriarchy Movement.  And it is happening here and now.  For a look into this disturbing fringe movement read McGalliard’s article at: http://www.alternet.org/story/149022/creepy_christian_patriarchy_movement_shackles_daughters_to_their_fathers_and_homes?page=1.