Last Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction that blocks an Arizona law prohibiting federal funding, through Medicaid, for health providers who also perform abortions. The request was granted to Planned Parenthood since the District Court Judge Neil Wake “said the organization was likely to succeed on the merits of its case”. In a statement, Bryan Howard, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood Arizona, responded that “The court’s ruling protects the right of Arizona women to continue to receive important medical care from the medical providers of their own choice, without interference by the state”. In July, Planned Parenthood sued the state of Arizona in an effort to overturn the law that blocked it from receiving government funds. The law was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer in May and is designed to prevent the allocation of public funds to clinics that also provide abortion in the state. The law will effectively cut funding for all health services provided by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, impacting the nearly 4,000 women receiving Medicaid-funded health care in the state. Arizona does not currently provide tax dollars for abortion and these funds were all allocated for other health services.
Author: Feminist Majority Foundation Blog
Reproductive Rights Groups Launch Educate Congress Initiative
Reproductive rights groups are partnering up for the ‘Educate Congress’ initiative, which will send a copy of Our Bodies, Ourselves to every congressional office. The action is designed to educate congressional representatives on how women’s bodies work. Our Bodies, Ourselves was originally published in 1971 by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective and is currently in its 9th edition. Judith Norsigian, Executive Director of the Our Bodies Ourselves organization, said that the goal of the action is to “advance evidence-based reproductive health policy-making in this country.” She also went on to say, “most of us get pretty poor quality sex education and reproductive health education when we’re growing up. This country has a long way to go in that respect.” Robert Macphearson notes that, after Congressman Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comments on August 20, contributors to the latest editions of Our Bodies, Ourselves actually drove from Chicago to hand deliver a copy of the 944-page tome to Akin’s office in Saint Louis, Missouri. To fund the cost of the action, the groups in the Educate Congress initiative are doing a fundraiser on Indiegogo.com, a crowdfunding website. You can learn more about their campaign action plans and goals on their campaign home page.
Akin Compares McCaskill to a Dog
Missouri Senate candidate and current Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) recently compared his opponent Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) to a dog in remarks he made at a campaign fundraiser. “She goes to Washington, D.C., it’s a little bit like one of those dogs, you know ‘fetch,'” Akin said. “She goes to Washington, D.C., and get all of these taxes and red tape and bureaucracy and executive orders and agencies and she brings all of this stuff and dumps it on us in Missouri.” To hear his comments in full you can watch the video here. Akin already faced nationwide criticism in August after sparking controversy by claiming that “legitimate rape” does not usually lead to pregnancy. Akin has been endorsed by right wing staunch women’s rights opponent Phyllis Schlafly, who stood to the right of Todd Akin at his press conference in September when he announced he will stay in his race against incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill. Akin had faced pressure to drop out of the race due to his “legitimate rape” comment. Many Republicans, including Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), and four former Missouri Senators, urged Akin to step down from the race.
Transgender Policy Approved in East Aurora Schools
Schools in East Aurora, Illinois, will implement a policy that supports transgender and gender nonconforming students after the school board voted unanimously in favor of it Monday. The policy states that transgender and gender nonconforming students have the right to be addressed by the name and gender pronoun with which they identify. According to the policy, a court-ordered name or gender change is not required. Students also have the right to use the restroom and locker room that corresponds to their gender identity. This decision comes soon after a Catholic school in Indianapolis, Indiana, publicly stated that it would not recognize a transgender student’s preferred gender, saying that it conflicted with their Catholic beliefs. Students protested the decision in support of the transgender student. The school board of Toronto, Canada, introduced a policy similar to that of East Aurora last week. Their proposal extends the policies to staff as well as students, and includes guidelines for students’ privacy.
Suspects Arrested in Shooting of Pakistani Teen Activist
Pakistani authorities arrested three men today who were allegedly involved in the shooting of teenage activist Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan’s Swat Valley earlier this week. According to the Atlantic Wire the arrested men all named another man, called Attaullah, as the mastermid of the attack. Attaullah remains at large. On Tuesday, Pakistani Taliban members claimed responsibility for the shooting.
Malala Yousafzai is known for her outspoken criticism of Taliban atrocities. She was shot in the head after two men approached her school van on her way home from school Tuesday.
In early 2009, under a pen name, Yousafzai published a diary for the BBC that highlighted the Taliban ban against girl’s education in the northwest Swat district of Pakistan. Yousafzai was awarded a cash prize and an award for her courageous peace work to raise awareness by the Pakistani government in 2011. In that same year, Yousafzai was also nominated for an International Children’s Peace Price.
Center for Reproductive Rights Launches
The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) has launched a new campaign called “Draw the Line,” asking Americans to sign a “Bill of Reproductive Rights.” The CRR aims to “deliver a thundering statement” to the U.S. Congress and the President that it is their responsibility to secure reproductive rights as fundamental human rights. The Bill of Reproductive Rights reads: “We the people of the United States hereby assert the following as fundamental human rights that no government may deny, and that our governments at every level must guarantee and safeguard for all.
- The right to make our own decisions about our reproductive health and future, free from intrusion or coercion by any government, group, or individual.
- The right to a full range of safe, affordable, and readily accessible reproductive health care-including pregnancy care, preventive services, contraception, abortion, and fertility treatment-and accurate information about all of the above.
- The right to be free from discrimination in access to reproductive health care or on the basis of our reproductive decisions.”
“Draw the Line” addresses continual attacks from politicians on reproductive rights. The CRR has attracted a number of A-list celebrities to promote the Bill, including Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, Amy Poehler, Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Silverman, Billy Crudup, and Caroline Kennedy. The launch of this campaign marks the 20th anniversary of the CRR, and highlights the upcoming 40th anniversary of the historic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on February 5, 2013. To get involved, individuals can pledge their support by signing the Bill of Reproductive Rights, sharing the campaign on social media, and finally supporting the fight by donating online.
Cost/Benefit Analysis: 27 million women will get much needed contraception…with a side of PMS
Bayer Pharmaceuticals recently announced their partnership with the Clinton Foundation to provide half priced implantable contraceptives for 27 million women living in developing countries worldwide. The contraceptive, known as Jadelle (or Norplant), is a progestogen-only plastic rod which is implanted under the skin and last up to five years, or until a woman decides to have it removed.
At a United Nations conference following the announcement of the Clinton Foundation’s partnership with Bayer, former President Bill Clinton said:
“This is a very big deal, and it will play itself out over and over again in the lives of citizens who will be safe, who will have healthier families and who will live longer lives.”
I can’t argue with Clinton about contraceptive use being an effective way of reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, but it’s too bad that the brand he sweet talked his way into a 6 year contract with is infamous for giving American women horrible PMS. The drug is no longer sold in the US due to complaints from over 30,000 users. They reported side effects ranging from headaches to depression and were compensated at around $1,500 each.
Some studies suggest Jadelle, and other implantable birth control methods, could increase a woman’s chances of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS. Yet this is true for any hormonal birth control method, not just Jadelle. Common sense suggests unprotected sex greatly increases a woman’s chances of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS. Thus the real health risk isn’t the use of hormonal contraception, it’s the lack of protection!
Feminist Majority Foundation Global Programs Director Anushay Hossain argues that the decision is simple,
“experts estimate that about 250 million women around the world currently either wish to delay or prevent pregnancy all together but lack access to contraceptives- that is absolutely unacceptable and ridiculous. In the year 2012 if women still cannot be in control of their reproduction that can be one of the greatest moral failures of our time. This is not a women’s rights issue, it’s a human rights issue.”
Affordable contraceptives are clearly a better alternative than the devastating maternal mortality rates in poor nations. Although the use of hormonal contraceptives without the use of condoms may increase the risk of HIV/AIDS contraction and transmission and Jadelle may cause PMS symptoms, it seems to me that the benefits outweigh the risks. Distribute contraception to 27 million women, partner that with a safe sex campaign, ensure that condoms are readily accessible to women receiving the Jadelle, and give women control over their own bodies.
The reality is that all standpoints on the issue stem from a desire to ensure the safety and well-being of women worldwide. While the concern about the safety of the Jadelle contraceptive brand is warranted, with the proper distribution methods the benefits will likely outweigh the risks. The Clinton Foundation projects that the distribution of Jadelle will prevent an estimated 30 million unwanted pregnancies from 2013 to 2018 and save 250 million dollars in US global health costs.
Ohio Court Upholds Abortion Restrictions
On Tuesday, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio upheld a 2004 Ohio law that restricts the use of the drug RU-486, also known as mifepristone or the “abortion pill”. The ruling bans the use of RU-486 beyond seven weeks, making a surgical procedure the only option for women seeking to terminate a pregnancy.
This puts women at greater risk due to the more invasive nature of a surgical abortion. Judge Karen Nelson Moore, who cast the lone dissenting vote in the decision, wrote, “We simply should not conclude as a matter of law that every woman who would prefer a medical abortion would be equally likely to obtain a surgical abortion.” Gary Dougherty, Planned Parenthood state legislative director said, “This decision puts ideology over science, and bans a safe method of abortion early in pregnancy.”
In early September, an Idaho court blocked the case of a woman who had been criminally charged for terminating her pregnancy with RU-486 instead of traveling to a clinic or hospital as required by state law. The court found that this Idaho law does not apply to pregnant women themselves, but rather to professionals like doctors who conduct abortion procedures.
Media Resources: Court Ruling 10/02/12; RH Reality Check 10/02/12; Cincinnati.com 10/02/12; Reuters 09/11/12
REGISTER TO VOTE! It’s not too late…YET!
Voter registration day may be coming to a close…but you still have time to register! Most voter registration deadlines are in early October though, so you don’t have much time left!
In 2008, six million Americans didn’t vote. Today, September 25th, marks National Voter Registration Day. If you haven’t registered already, register now. Then tell everyone you know that you did it!
Examples like Senator Al Franken’s 235 vote victory in 2008 and other close races should be a constant reminder of the difference few hundred votes can really make in elections. Voting is essential to maintaining healthy democratic processes and it’s time for women make our voices heard–especially considering the recent political climate that has been increasingly hostile to women’s rights and lives. The only way to show our elected officials that we won’t take it anymore is to get out the vote and make change.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 6, 2012, and as women’s rights activists are acutely aware, there is much at stake for women in this year’s elections. Women’s rights have been threatened in unprecedented ways and it is time to stand up and vote for candidates who respect women and stand with women! Not only are we voting to determine our next president, but we’re also choosing our representatives in Congress (women are running in record numbers!), and deciding the fate of critical ballot proposals. All of these elections will have a huge impact on the political landscape of the coming years.
This fall, there will be measures of concern in 34 states, covering everything from abortion rights to health care to same-sex marriage to workers’ rights. Become familiar with your state’s ballot initiatives and what you can do to get involved in your community.
National Voter Registration Day is a reminder that mobilizing voters and making sure they are properly registered by critical deadlines is essential for maintaining the integrity of elections and progress for women’s equality and rights. Surveys form the 2008 presidential race revealed that single women were drivers of the new electorate, yet only 22.8% of eligible young voters 18-29 voted just two years later in 2010, compared to 70% of seniors 65 years and older. Let’s motivate a high turnout and use our political power. It’s time to demonstrate our political power.
Today’s date on the calendar should serve as your sticky note: “Remember to Register!” If you’re anything like me (or any other social media addict) you need notifications to blow up on your news feed. So be that notification and help a person out and post reminders about voter registration to your followers, your friends, and your readers. Ladies, it took 72 years to win the right to vote. It’s time to use it.
Get involved at National Voter Registration Day and Get Out Her Vote, and check out the HERvotes website for more information on what’s at stake for women in this election. Become part of the GOHV Facebook event to stay in the loop and get all the latest updates from your campus team.
Download PDFs of our feminist voter registration signs and share them with us on twitter or facebook! Use the hashtag #RegisteredFeminist!
PDF 1: http://feministcampus.org/vote/2012/thisfeministvotes.pdf
PDF 2: http://feministcampus.org/vote/2012/imaregisteredfeminist.pdf
It’s about time! DC Becomes First City in US to Launch Transgender Equality Campaign
The District of Columbia’s Office of Human Rights launched a Transgender and Gender Identity Respect Campaign last week with the aim of “promoting respect for the District’s transgender and gender non-conforming communities.” This is the first government funded campaign of its kind.
The campaign includes a series of print PSAs featuring transgender and gender-non-conforming Washingtonians. Each ad emphasizes the idea that every person should be treated with courtesy and respect.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray supports the campaign, saying:
“[It] is an important piece of a larger effort by my administration to ensure all residents have equal access to employment, housing and public services and accommodations regardless of gender identity or expression.”
The TLGB community and their allies in the DC region have been demanding more action from the city in combating discrimination and violence against transgender and gender-non-conforming communities in the face of discrimination and violence. Anti-TLGB violence in the DC metro region is a serious problem in need of serious attention and solutions. Last summer, DC made national news for a spree of shootings targeting the transgender community.
While violence and discrimination against the TLGB community in DC has been alarming, the city is certainly not an outlier. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality surveyed nearly 6,500 transgender Americans for their National Transgender Discrimination Survey (2011). Lisa Mottet, a co-author of the final report on the survey, said:
“There is no safe city — there is no safe state — for transgender people in the United States.”
According to the survey, 26 percent of transgender Americans have experienced some form of physical of assault because of their gender identification. More than 50 percent of those surveyed said they had experienced some form of “serious discrimination” (for example, being fired, incarcerated, or evicted) because they are transgender.
In the DC area specifically, the prostitution-free zones that legislators were adding to and adjusting in January of this year create institutionalized discrimination against transgender individuals (mostly women). As Alison Gill, a member of the DC Trans Coalition, stated:
“Since passing the laws allowing for the creating of prostitution free zones in 2006, these zones have been used to harass and criminalize trans people and shatter trans communities. Although both the police orders implementing prostitution free zones (PFZs) and on transgender people prohibit profiling, we know from community experience that profiling trans people as sex workers is a prevalent occurrence. This attitude is reflected in both the violence committed by police against the trans community, and in some cases, even expressed directly. Due to the lesser burden of proof required by PFZs, police are able to turn general suspicions that trans women are prostitutes into arrests. In effect, trans women are banished from given areas of the city at the police chief’s discretion. Many of this past year’s violent attacks on trans women have happened in or near these profiling zones. The simple fact is that rather than eliminating prostitution, PFZs facilitate bad or lazy police work and lead to the harassment of trans women.”
I am excited about this campaign because it represents a significant step forward in the effort to create a culture of equality. However, a vital component of cultivating a culture that respects transgender and gender non-conforming individuals is creating a legal system that respects and supports them. I hope DC continues moving forward on this issue and other cities around the country start to wisen up and follow their lead!
Take part in this movement by taking pictures of the PSAs as you encounter them throughout the city and posting them on Twitter with the hashtag #TransRespect. You should also become a fan of the DC Office of Human Rights on Facebook to show them you dig what they’re doing!
United Nations Releases LGBT Rights Publication
Yesterday the United Nations released “Born Free and Equal,” a 60-page booklet detailing the basic legal rights States must provide LGBT individuals. In the pamphlet[PDF], the U.N. details five strategic areas to improve the condition of LGBT individuals: Protect LGBT people from violence, Prevent torture and inhumane treatment of detained LGBT individuals, Repeal laws criminalizing homosexuality, and Prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Protect LGBT freedom of expression.
Some key policies the United Nations believes are necessary for LGBT individuals:
– Provide appropriate training for law enforcement for handling cases involving LGBT individuals and monitored detention areas
– Recognize a person’s sexual orientation is subject to the persecution that may require asylum
– Provide education about LGBT individuals and intersex individuals to reduce stigmatization.
In the foreword of “Born Free and Equal,” Navi Pillay United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated “For all the difficulties, this is a time of hope: an increasing number of States now recognize the gravity of the problem and the need for action. With commitment and the combined efforts of States and civil society, I am confident that we will see the principles of equality and non-discrimination translated into reality for millions of LGBT people around the world.”
Female Poverty in Bangladesh Result of Biased Family Laws
Many women in Bangladesh face poverty after a failed marriage as the result of discriminatory family laws according to a new Human Rights Watch report released on Monday.
According to the report, outdated family laws that do not recognize the rights of women in cases of divorce and abandonment drive women to stay in abusive marriages or live in poverty on their own. The few laws there are in place for protecting women are not enforced in family courts, leaving women with few resources.
While Bangladesh has different personal laws depending on the religion of the individuals, the Muslim, Christian and Hindu laws overlap with each other in places such as stricter qualifications for separation for the woman and eliminating the right to equal marital property.
Human Rights Watch suggested the following measures for reducing the poverty among women in Bangladesh:
– Reform personal laws to remove discrimination on the basis of sex in marital property and rights to a divorce or separation and eliminate polygamy
– Publicize resources available through the law against domestic violence and ensure that they are implemented
– Make sure that family court eliminate unnecessary delays and grants protections in interim periods
– Reinforce and improve existing assistance programs for women such as shelters
Proposed Anti-Abortion Measure in Canada Lacks Support
Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Stephen Woodworth has proposed a private-member bill calling for the study of when a baby becomes a human being.
MP Woodworth’s motion (motion 312) would review part of the Canadian homicide Criminal Code which states that a fetus becomes a human being at the moment of birth. Woodworth told reporters “Until a child’s little toe pops out of the birth canal, that child is not recognized as a human being in Canada… [This law] dehumanizes and excludes an entire class of people.”
Pro-choice activists are worried that this could be an attempt to criminalize abortion, though MP Woodworth claims that it would not change current laws. However, many anti-choice organizations have supported his motion. According to The Globe and Mail “By saying babies [are] not a human being until they are born, Mr. Woodworth said people can convince themselves that aborting a fetus is not the same as killing a human being – much like plantation owners in the deep south prior to the American Civil War convinced themselves that black slaves were not human.”
Discussion on Motion 312 is set to resume on Friday, but Woodworth doubts he will receive the 50 per cent vote needed to pass. “At this point I am not optimistic that I will come close to the 50 per cent required to pass this motion, although I continue to want to meet with Members of Parliament and to try to convince them of that,” Woodworth said.
Cuccinelli Gets His Way — VA Board of Health Reverses Decision
Today the Virginia Board of Health met and voted 13-2 to reverse their June decision to grandfather in existing clinics, exempting them from new, hospital-like restrictions for the state’s abortion clinics, commonly called TRAP laws or Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers. Instead, the board has allowed existing clinics to come into compliance with regulations within two years or face closure.
Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli refused to accept the grandfather provision asserting the board did not have the authority to amend the regulations. Cuccinelli also released a memo on Wednesday, threatening Board of Health members by telling them, according to the Virginia Pilot, that “they could be denied state legal counsel and [would] have to pay for their own defense if they again disregard his advice about relaxing controversial abortion clinic rules and litigation ensues.”
Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation which has opposed the TRAP regulations and had many representatives at the meeting, said “This board decision is an underhanded method to make abortion inaccessible and outrageously expensive. Without clinics there is no choice for women. It threatens women’s health and lives because many women’s health clinics in Virginia may be forced out of business. These unnecessary and arbitrary rules will result in Virginia women having restricted access to not only abortion services but also to low-cost birth control services, cancer screenings, and sexually transmitted disease testing, as well as other women’s health services.”
The Board of Health was largely appointed by Governor Bob McDonnell, who is a strong opponent of abortion and women’s rights, and gained national attention when he initially advocated the requirement of a transvaginal probe ultrasound prior to an abortion.
The Board of Health meeting was packed today, with people filling both the board room and an overflow room and some 200 people standing outside who couldn’t gain admission. During the time set aside by the Board for public comment 14 pro-choice, abortion access supporters spoke, including representatives from Planned Parenthood, ACLU and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Eleven anti-abortion opponents, including National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Virginia Family Foundation, also spoke. After the Board reversed its decision, some pro-choice advocates walked out of the room, chanting “shame shame, you don’t care if women die.”
The amendment passed by the Board in June exempted existing clinics from hospital-like building regulations. The law will now require that all first-trimester abortion clinics are built (or renovated) to meet hospital-like construction standards. Also under the regulations, state authorities, without notice, can enter any clinic to examine patient medical records, gather a list of current patients, and interview patients on site, potentially violating both patient and provider privacy.
Before taking effect, the targeted regulations approved today must be certified by the Attorney General who will advise the Governor to sign the law. After the governor, there will be a 60 day comment period after which the law will go back before the Board of Health for final approval. This lengthy process makes it difficult to challenge the laws in court, which will have to wait until after the regulations have been implemented.
Media Resources: Virginia Pilot 9/13/12; Feminist Daily Newswire 7/17/12; 6/18/12
Russian PM: Pussy Riot Incarceration “Unproductive”
Almost a month after three members of the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot were found guilty of “hooliganism” and sentenced to two years in prison, Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev said Wednesday that they should be released. Although Medvedev said he finds them ‘nauseating,’ he also said further imprisonment would be “unproductive.” Musicians, activists and human rights groups worldwide have been standing in solidarity with the Pussy Riot members both online and in the streets. In light of the proximity of Medvedev’s comments and the band members’ appeal date, October 1, the international community rallying around the slogan “Free Pussy Riot” may finally win. In a case that has shed international light on the Russian government’s intolerance of dissent, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Yekaterina Samutsevich, 30, and Marina Alyokhina, 24, have been in jail since March, when they were arrested after performing (video) a “punk prayer” on the altar of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in dissent of Vladimir Putin. The members entered the church wearing bright colors and balaclavas, singing “Mother of God, Blessed Virgin, drive out Putin!” The band members said their intent was to challenge the Church’s political support for Putin and to show their dissatisfaction with Putin’s 12-year political dominance. Today news also broke that the European Parliament has nominated Tolokonnikova, Samutsevich, and Alyokhina for the “freedom of thought” award, or the Sakharov Prize, for special contribution to the protection of human rights. The prestigious award is named after Soviet human rights activist Andrei Sakharov, and comes with a 50,000 euro award. The winner of the prize will be announced in December. Its first recipients were Nelson Mandela and Soviet dissident Anatoly Marchenko in 1988.
Egypt Lifts Ban on Veiled Women TV Anchors
For the first time since the 1960’s, a woman wearing a traditional Muslim headscarf known as a hijab, presented the news on an Egyptian state TV channel. Fatima Nabil appeared on Sunday to give the mid-day news bulletin. After her segment, Nabil told reporters “At last the revolution has reached state television.”
Under former President Mubarak’s regime, women were not allowed to wear a hijab on camera and either needed to remove their traditional covering or take a job behind the camera. Despite multiple lawsuits, the government ignored court rulings demanding the removal of the ban against veiled women appearing on state television.
As a result of the change, more women are expected to present news and weather updates in the country.
HIV Stigma Deters Rural African Women from Seeking Prenatal Care
Many women in rural areas of Kenya do not seek prenatal care in clinics for fear of being stigmatized as being HIV positive, according to a study published in PLoS Medicine, the leading open-access medical journal.
The study, based on a 2007-2009 survey of 1,777 pregnant women in a highly-populated area of rural Kenya, found that only 44% of young pregnant women gave birth in clinics. Many women chose to deliver outside of a clinic setting to avoid HIV testing, despite knowing the risks of spreading HIV to their baby without any treatment. One participant stated “There are men who don’t like it when their women come to the clinic, and they do quarrel [with] their wives if they heard that the women were screened for HIV… Some men can even send their women away just because of that.”
Similarly, a comprehensive literature review published in July by the Health Policy Project found the prevalence of HIV stigma affects women seeking prenatal care in other parts of Africa and the world. The tragedy is antiretroviral drug treatment during pregnancy reduces mother-to-child-transmission of HIV to less than 5% according to the World Health Organization, and prenatal care reduces maternal mortality.
Pussy Riot Members Flee Russia
Two members of feminist punk band Pussy Riot have fled Russia to evade arrest, according to the Huffington Post. Three members of the band were found guilty of “hooliganism” and sentenced to two years in prison earlier this month. The maximum sentence for the charges was seven years.
The hooliganism conviction stems from an action by five members of the band who performed a “punk prayer” (video) on the altar of Moscow’s Christ the Savior Cathedral in dissent of Vladimir Putin. The members entered the church wearing bright colors and balaclavas, singing “Mother of God, Blessed Virgin, drive out Putin!” They noted later that their intent was to challenge the Church’s political support for Putin and to show their dissatisfaction with Putin’s 12-year political dominance.
Following the three convictions in the case, police announced they were searching for the two members of the group who also participated in the performance but had not been identified due to the balaclavas the group wore.
Pussy Riot tweeted that the two members who have left the country are “recruiting foreign feminists to prepare new protest actions” and that twelve members of the group are still in Russia.
Celebrating Women’s Equality Day
Women’s Equality Day is coming up this Sunday! Tis’ the season to mobilize for women’s rights! Women’s Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. It is a time where many advocates for women’s rights get together to celebrate and rally to advance women’s equality. In the current political climate, it marks a great opportunity to get the word out about our opposition to the War on Women and the setbacks it has caused to the women’s rights movement.
In the DC area, there are a few events going on, including the Abortion Access Fund’s 2nd Annual Summer Celebration of Choice. This event will be a fundraiser walk and a reception, and the proceeds will go to the Abortion Access Fund. This is a fund for patients of Dr. Carhart, an abortion provider who has been the victim of numerous forms of harassment and intimidation because of the life saving work he does. The first Summer Celebration of Choice was last summer outside of Dr. Carhart’s clinic in response to Operation Rescue’s Summer of Mercy 2.0, where they had planned to harass patients in staff all week in Maryland. Their plans were largely foiled by dozens of pro-choice supporters who turned out for the event.
Another exciting event is Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s Rally in Arlington, Virginia this Sunday. It will be at 11:30 AM at 1600 South Hayes Street, near the Pentagon City Metro. They will be bringing their famous big pink bus to Arlington to highlight women’s health as a key issue in this election by talking to voters and standing up for reproductive rights. There will be speakers as well as tons of that unmistakable pink Planned Parenthood swag. The bus will also be touring other states this week and in the future, so make sure to follow their tumblr to stay posted.
If you are not in the DC area, make sure to check out what your local communities are doing for this holiday. Perhaps you could commit to some service work like helping out a soup kitchen or battered women’s shelter, or making a project on your own! With attacks on women’s rights and health so prevalent this year and during this election season, let’s make Sunday a day for equality!
Tweet at @FeministCampus and @MajoritySpeaks and tell us what your plans are for Women’s Equality Day!
Iranian Graduate Programs Bar Women Applicants
Seventy-seven graduate programs will no longer be available to women in Iranian universities across the country, according to Iranian new site Rooz Online. The restrictions were added to the academic manuals of institutions this year without any warning. Since a news outlet discovered the restrictions earlier this month, the Ministry of Education and universities have been bombarded with demands for an explanation.
Subjects ranging from accounting, pure chemistry, mining engineering, and urban development engineering will only be available for male applicants in 36 different universities including the University of Tehran. Women have been accepted into these programs with no restrictions as early as last year. It is unclear if women students will be allowed to complete degrees they have already started. Female students who have been accepted that start in the coming academic year will not be able to study in certain fields.
Officials from the Ministry of Education justified the decisions of universities citing the “the basis of the needs and necessities of society.” The Director General for the spread of education from the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology stated, “Some fields are not very suitable for women’s nature such as agricultural machinery or mining, partly because of the hard work involved in them.”
After the negative response to the new policies, many officials have attempted to back-track their statements. The decisions to bar women from specific programs also comes after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced the end of sex segregation in schools, a practice that continues in many universities.