Todays Lady News | Page 3

Black Female Legislators Walk Out Of Florida House Debate On Race-Selective Abortion

Jessica WakemanApril 22, 2013 //

7 things we're qualified to teach middle aged men. Read More »

My Abortion

This author says her abortion was the best decision of her life. Read More »

Today's Lady News

Catch up on all your women's news. Read More »

Abortion opponents in Florida are currently trying to pass a ban through the House of Representatives that would criminalize abortion on the basis of race or gender. Despite a lack of evidence that race- and sex-selective abortions are a problem in the United States, it’s becoming a popular tactic of the anti-abortion movement to claim reproductive rights are a secret genocidal plot against black folks. You can read a breakdown of such bills — including an amazing smackdown by Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin — from 2011. FL’s Rep. Charles Van Zant, a white dude and a Republican, sponsored the legislation and fulminated last week that abortion is “reducing the black population.” Several black female legislators walked out of the debate on Thursday, claiming the bill is an opportunistic grab to ban abortion. “I don’t appreciate anyone trying to explain what any other ethnic group’s lifestyle is and what they do, when you really don’t have any authority to interpret it,” said pro-choice legislator Rep. Barbara Watson, who is black. “I think the women and people of color in that chamber deserve an apology from him.” Nevertheless, FL’s House eventually passed the bill. [Huffington Post, Feminist.org] Keep reading »

El Salvador Will Not Allow Lifesaving Abortion For Young Mother

Jessica WakemanApril 18, 2013 //

A 22-year-old mother of one in El Salvador faces jail time for seeking an abortion on a nonviable pregnancy because her fetus is developing without a brain. The woman, identified as Beatriz, cannot get an abortion because terminating a pregnancy is illegal in El Salvador under all circumstances, even though the pregnancy is posing a threat to her own life. Beatriz’s hospital asked for permission to legally perform an abortion on her over one month ago, but authorities have not yet responded. She’s now appealing for help from El Salvador’s Supreme Court. [Salon]
Posters reading “Stay Strong And Support The Boys” have been posted in the neighborhood of Rehtaeh Parsons, a young woman in Nova Scotia who committed suicide recently after a photograph of her alleged rape was distributed around school and police did nothing to punish her alleged rapists. [Think Progress]
Well, it didn’t take long for that Dove Real Beauty Sketches video to get parodied! [YouTube]
Carla Hale, a gym teacher at a Catholic high school in Ohio, was fired from her job for being a lesbian after Hale’s mom died and the obituary listed the name of Hale’s partner. Disgraceful. [NBC4i] Keep reading »

Hey, Conservatives: Even Nancy Reagan Supports Marriage Equality

Jessica WakemanApril 17, 2013 //

Gay Marriage Wins

"TIME" magazine declares that gay marriage has already won. Read More »

Sonia On Gay Marriage

Justice Sonia Sotomayor blasts discrimination against gays. Read More »

The Gay Agenda

Walk the dog, cook dinner, break up a heterosexual marriage. Read More »

Former First Lady Nancy Reagen supports marriage equality, according to a new Sirius interview with her daughter Patti Davis. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Religious Right! In the interview, Davis explained her mother does support the legalization of gay marriage but emphasized that Reagan “is not comfortable going out in the public eye and getting in the firing line of anything.” Okay, that last part is kind of shitty. But I’m still happy to hear even Nancy friggin’ Reagan believes all love is created equal. [Huffington Post]
On how poverty drove women into Kermit Gosnell’s illegal abortion clinic. [Think Progress]
A Philadelphia priest allegedly sexually assaulted a woman and smeared menstrual blood on her face and then told detectives he couldn’t speak about the assault because it happened at confession. The church then sent him to Poland. [AlterNet]
Oh, look, another Internet shitstorm about feminism! [Daily Dot] Keep reading »

Ohio Seeks To Ban Sex Ed Teaching “Gateway” Sexual Behavior

Jessica WakemanApril 16, 2013 //

Abstinence Panties

"Pro-abstinence" panties will keep teen girls from getting pregnant, right? Read More »

Ab Only Sex Ed Sucks

Every teenager in Mississippi is pregnant, basically. Read More »

Abstinence Message

Abstinence-only sex education is rebranding its message. Read More »

A finance committee in Ohio’s House of Representatives voted on a budget amendment to restrict sex educators from mentioning “gateway” sexual behavior — i.e., anything “non-abstinence” like fingering and groping. Y’all know that abstinence-only sex ed doesn’t actually work, right? [Innovation Ohio, My Fox 28 Columbus]
A federal judge has prevented the last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi, the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, from closing by blocking a law that would have forced it to shut its doors. [Feministing, Think Progress]
Not down with those “I Need A Hero” T-shirts being sold to women and girls by Disney? Then there’s a Change.org petition you may want to sign. [Daily Dot]
This is a very necessary essay about how not all trans people feel “trapped in the wrong body.” [BuzzFeed] Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Three Teen Boys Arrested, Charged With Rape, After Suicide Of Audrie Pott

Jessica WakemanApril 12, 2013 //

Three teen boys in California have been arrested and charged with the sexual assault of Audrie Pott, a 15-year-old girl, who committed suicide after pictures of the rape were posted online. Audrie was raped while passed out at a party in September 2012. The images were posted online and she killed herself eight days later. When will it end??? [People]
An editorial in USA Today suggested that the “left-wing” media has completely ignored the case of Philadelphia abortion provider Kermit Gosnell, who abused his patients. The reality, though, is that the media hasn’t ignored the story at all. [Salon]
Rep. Paul Ryan, a former Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2012 campaign, said he wants a country where abortion is “outlawed,” continuing, “We want a country where it isn’t even considered.” [Huffington Post] Keep reading »

Man Vandalizes Indiana Planned Parenthood With An Ax

Jessica WakemanApril 11, 2013 //

A 27-year-old man vandalized the Planned Parenthood clinic in Bloomington, Indiana, with an ax and splashed the clinic with red paint this morning. According to police, he targeted Planned Parenthood “due to abortions being performed there. He stated his intent was to damage the building because they ‘kill’ and ‘murder’ babies. He attributed his actions to his religious beliefs.” Clinic violence is domestic terrorism and it is scary. [IndyStar]
A florist has been sued by Washington state for refusing to sell flowers to a gay couple for their wedding. [Think Progress]
The Paycheck Fairness Act, which would protect women suffering wage discrimination, is still stalled in committee. [Think Progress]
On Ashley Judd’s aborted run for Kentucky’s Senate and what it means when we discuss gender and mental health. [Ms. Magazine]
Delaware is set to introduce a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. [Queerty] Keep reading »

Oh, Good: Alabama Restricts Abortion Rights Even More

Jessica WakemanApril 9, 2013 //

Alabama’s governor signed legislation placing more restrictions on abortion providers, including requiring them to have admitting privileges at the local hospital. [Yahoo]
Michigan lawmaker House Rep. Tom McMillin, a Republican, said transgender protections “violate the privacy rights of women and children,” saying that bathrooms should have to post signs saying “woman and girls may be confronted there by men who think they are women.” [Think Progress]
On feminist porn and Toronto’s recent Feminist Porn Awards. [The Week]
On why everyone needs to stop overanalyzing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s hair (if it’s not obvious already). [Slate] Keep reading »

President Obama Apologizes To “Best Looking Attorney General”

Jessica WakemanApril 5, 2013 //

Miniskirt Ban

Indonesia to thoughtfully ban miniskirts so women don't "invite" rape. Read More »

Another Miniskirt Man

Italian town considers a miniskirt ban to "restore urban decorum." Read More »

Frisky Feminism!

Everything The Frisky has ever written about feminism! Read More »

President Obama called California Attorney General Kamala Harris to apologize for calling her the nation’s “best looking attorney general” while introducing her at an event. [Politico]
Also, three things Kamala Harris should be known for that don’t involve her looks. [ColorLines]
Uganda has proposed a ban on miniskirts with this sterling logic: “We know people who are indecently dressed: they do it provocatively and sometimes they are attacked. An onlooker is moved to attack her and we want to avoid those areas. He is a criminal but he was also provoked and enticed.” [Guardian UK]
The president of Uruguay was caught on a microphone calling President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina an “old hag.” [BBC]
Also, Obama may not support today’s decision by a federal judge to make the morning-after pill accessible to girls ages 16 and younger without a prescription. “He believes [the age restriction] was the right, common sense approach to this issue,” according to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. [Think Progress] Keep reading »

Texas School Allows Student Tony Zamazal To Wear A Dress To Prom

Jessica WakemanApril 4, 2013 //

Trans Kids & Identity

Some transgender kids have it more figured out than the rest of us. Read More »

Transgender Frat Boy

Emerson fraternity raises money for trans brother's surgery. Read More »

Trans 1st Grader

Transgender 1st grader challenges Colorado school's bathroom rules. Read More »

today's lady news

Thanks to the good works of the ACLU, Spring High School in Spring, Texas, will now allow George “Tony” Zamazal, who is trans and identifies as female, to wear a dress to her prom. The school had previously forbidden the senior from wearing a dress. Said Tony, “I’m so grateful that my school has agreed to let me be myself on such an important night.” [Think Progress, Queerty]
Across the world today, feminists have celebrated Topless Jihad Day by staging topless protests against conservative Islam. Much of the activism has also been in support of Amina, an activist in Tunisia who posted topless pictures of herself online and has gotten death threats. [MonaEltahaway.Tumblr.com]
Two women claim they were drugged (allegedly by employees) and raped at The Abbey, a gay bar in West Hollywood. [Queerty] Keep reading »

Harvard Students Protest Tyga’s Concert Over Sexist Lyrics

Jessica WakemanApril 3, 2013 //

Rick Ross Rape Rap

Rick Ross rapped about drugging a woman and raping her. Read More »

Rick Ross Banned

Michigan radio station won't play Rick Ross after rape reference in song. Read More »

Lil Poopy

RIP society: he's a 9-year-old rapper who slaps adult women's butts. Read More »

Rapper Tyga is booked for the Yardfest concert this month on Harvard’s campus — but not if over 1,000 students, who have signed a petition requesting him not to perform for the school on the basis of his sexist and violent lyrics, get their way. In particular, the song “Rack City” is problematic for its profligate use of the word “bitch” and lyrics comparing himself to a pimp making a woman “hop the boulevard / I need my money pronto.” [Harvard Crimson, Salon]
In related news, Talib Kweli told a HuffPost Live segment that Rick Ross is “misguided” and should apologize for rapping about drugging a woman and raping her. Ross kinda sorta apologized already, but not really, because he just blamed women for “misunderstanding” him. [Madame Noire]
The Dallas Mavericks owner said he would be willing to draft Brittney Griner, a 6’8″ player for the Baylor women’s basketball team, to his team in the NBA. Presently there is no rule which says the NBA can’t draft a woman. [ESPN]
Karen Finney, the first African-American spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, has joined MSNBC as a new talk show host. [NewsOne] Keep reading »