Yes He Did! Obama Speaks About Roe Anniversary
A lot of people were skeptical as to whether or not Barack Obama would make a public comment about this day being the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. As an open and passionate pro-choice president, I was hoping for Obama to make a statement, but as the day rolled on and the pro-choice festivities continued, I didn’t hear about Obama making a public statement.
To my delight, and I am sure many others out there, President Barack Obama did make a public statement about the anniversary of this monumental day for women and women’s reproductive health and freedom:
On the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we are reminded that this decision not only protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, but stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters. I remain committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.
While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services.
On this anniversary, we must also recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons: the chance to attain a world-class education; to have fulfilling careers in any industry; to be treated fairly and paid equally for their work; and to have no limits on their dreams. That is what I want for women everywhere.
As I read this statement I was filled with an overwhelming sense of pride. I am proud that I live in a time where I have access to reproductive health care and with reproductive health care clinics like Planned Parenthood, if I cannot afford their services, I am not penalized by being turned away. I am proud that 36 years ago women were given the right to choose and I am proud that 36 years later women as well as men are still recognizing and celebrating this day because the anniversary of Roe v. Wade is a call for celebration; this is our reproductive freedom and the right to choose and to have control over our own lives and our own bodies that we’re talking about. But most of all, I am proud of and truly grateful for every women and every man who stood up for what they believed in, who stood up for women and who made this day possible. And lastly, I am proud to have a president who feels as passionately about this day as I do.
Blog for Choice Day 2009 Open Thread
Today is the day for pro-choice bloggers and activists to get out there and rally to keep what is rightfully theirs–Access to safe reproductive health care. Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and also Blog for Choice Day 2009. I don’t normally allow post pimping on here, but to celebrate this anniversary even further, if you have any posts regarding the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and/or Blog for Choice Day 2009, feel free to post them in the comments!
If this is the first time you’re hearing of Blog for Choice Day 2009 and want to participate in the online pro-choice festivities, NARAL Pro-Choice America is asking the question: What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?
RH Reality Check is also having a live blogging event from 3-4PM EST about messaging and the reproductive rights movement. Check it out here.
Anti-Choice Ads, You’ve Really Outdone Yourselves This Time
While many of us have been celebrating the inauguration of our first non-corrupt president in eight long years, Catholic Vote put out an ad that is basically what anti-choicers have been throwing our way since the beginning of the abortion debate, but this time mixed in something that is historic and great and twisted it around to suit their needs (as usual.)
We have all heard the anti-choice argument of ‘don’t kill your baby, it could grow up to be president!’ That’s true, or it could grow up to cure cancer; also true. And what really happens in most cases is that child grows up to be your average, run of the mill, minimum-wage-earning, burger-flipping citizen. And in some cases, that child could also grow up to be a serial killer, murdering their entire family, their dog, their significant other and boiling them all up on the stove and devouring them before burying their bones in the basement of their parent’s home. But you don’t see pro-choice organizations making public service announcements that say ‘Abort your fetus, it’s going to grow up to be a murderer, kill you, eat you and then bury your bones in your own basement.’ And of course at the end have sweet little text that says ‘Imagine the possibilities,’ because when you do imagine all of the possibilities, scenarios have a tendency to run rampant which I am convinced is what happened with this public service announcement.
Did anyone clue Catholic Vote in that Barack Obama is pro-choice?
And as usual, beware of going to the actual YouTube page, it’s littered with derogatory and anti-choice comments and of course, online arguments.
Blog for Choice Day 2009 is Tomorrow!
Tomorrow, January 22, is the anniversary of Roe v Wade and for the past three years, pro-choice bloggers everywhere have been coming together and blogging about reproductive rights and health in order to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the day where women were given a choice. It is important to keep choice in the national spotlight and for that reason, tomorrow, bloggers will be given the opportunity to speak out about choice for another year.
This year, NARAL Pro-Choice America is asking the question: What is your top pro-choice hope for President Obama and/or the new Congress?
Sign up to participate in Blog for Choice day here and after you sign up, be sure to promote this important call to action on your own blog, social networking sites, etc. to ensure that tomorrow, the blogosphere is full of pro-choice bloggers and blog posts!
Live Inauguration Coverage
After simultaneously watching inauguration coverage from several different outlets, I present you with LIVE inauguration coverage from MSNBC.
You can also watch live inauguration coverage on CNN, although a great deal of people are reporting that their coverage is slow. However, CNN has teamed up with Facebook so you can update your Facebook status via CNN (if you’ve not yet heard of the magic of Ping.fm or Hello Txt.)
You can also follow inauguration coverage on Twitter by searching for updates tagged with #inaug09.
Have fun, this is a historic moment in history and I couldn’t be happier today. We are currently in the last hour of the George W Bush Administration. I am sensing many parties going on tonight!
Sex-Positivity
I'm passionate about sex-positivity and believe every sexual being should have the freedom to explore their sexuality safely and without condemnation. I even lost my ad network after my refusal to censor myself after reviewing feminist porn.So if you're in the market for sex toys, porn, books, etc. take a look at the retailers below, all of which are feminist-friendly.
Out Campaign
The OUT Campaign allows individuals to let others know they are not alone. It can also be a nice way of opening a conversation and help to demolish the negative stereotypes of atheists. Let the world know that we are not about to go away and that we are not going to allow those that would condemn us to push us into the shadows.
