moominmuppet

A possible attempt to enstate a gag order within the US similar to what we have outside the US -- I'm not seeing enough backup on this to be sure about what's going on, and I'm on every reproductive rights list known to maude. My suspicion is that they're trying it (because they're constantly trying this crap), but that it'll come up against the same legal barriers it has in the past (as I understand it, and anyone feel _very_ free to correct me if I'm wrong, these attempts have been successfully fought on First Amendment grounds in the past, at least within the US). Again, this is from hazy recollections of mine, and I'm posting this as much to get feedback from other folks on my friends list as to "pass the alert".

According to The Advocate, statistics show that lesbian and bi female teens are 2-3 times as likely to get pregnant as straight girls. Likewise, almost twice as many gay and bi male teens have gotten a girl pregnant than their straight counterparts.
Which shows that sexuality in the younger LGBT generation is very fluid and labels... are only labels.
Callen Lorde's free program, Health Outreach to Teens (HOTT) is now receiving federal funding for free STD testing and contraception for queer girl teens who feel much more comfortable receiving GYN services in an LGBT setting than in a place like Planned Parenthood or by a family doctor. Callen Lorde is an LGBT Health Center in Chelsea http://www.callen-lorde.org/

Nifty things we can learn from the Platypus genome

Pretty scary WTFery on the work group assigned to review gender identity disorder for the DSM-V

Interesting little snippet from SciAm: How is the gender of some reptiles determined by temperature? (the info about interaction of genome and temperature was news to me, although I knew about the basic phenomenon)

And as long as I'm posting links, this is an older post of Heron's, but the studies and results are fascinating enough to be worth a relink

Anti-Choice Groups Launch Deceptive Campaign against Oral Contraceptives

Anti-choice extremist group the American Life League launched a campaign against oral contraceptives that will culminate with protests on June 7 outside clinics that distribute birth control. The Pill Kills Babies falsely labels oral contraceptives as abortificants, claiming that oral contraceptives are the same as abortion except that it "kills a preborn baby" earlier.

Reproductive Health Reality Check points out the disturbing lies that the campaign proclaims. The American Life League falsely claims that the pill is dangerous to women's health because it causes breast cancer, cervical cancer, infertility, birth defects, and "much more."

The anti-choice extremist groups chose June 7 as the protest day because it is the anniversary of the 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut case that overturned a Connecticut law banning the use of contraceptives on the basis of marital privacy.

Just in case you were confused about who in this country is actually working to decrease abortion rates (here's a big hint: We're the ones being called murderers, jezebels, and immoral sluts).

I think it's really, really crucial that everyone know that not a single national "Pro-Life" organization in the US endorses contraception use. Most actively agitate against the most reliable forms, and often against all forms.

Outside the clinics, it's not at all uncommon to hear anti-contraceptive ranting almost as often as anti-abortion ranting (sometimes only anti-hormonal contraception, sometimes larger rants about what women really ought to be doing with their time and priorities). And a decent number of the signs and pamphlets are specifically anti-contraception as well.

So before you decide the folks screaming in front of the clinic are so very extreme from the major organizations on the "Pro-Life" front, let me repeat that: Not ONE national pro-life organization endorses contraception as part of a plan to minimize abortion.

If there's an exception out there I haven't heard about, please pass me the links; I'd be happy to see any of them actually showing signs of sanity.

In the meantime, keep in mind that the above group is NOT protesting on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Even if you could never or would never choose an abortion yourself, these people are trying to change your life. They are protesting the court decision that made it legal for a doctor to prescribe contraceptives to a married couple. Did you know that was still controversial? Surprise.

If you think you have a right to private and accurate medical advice from your health care provider, keep in mind that the interpretation of a right to privacy is relatively new. I agree with that interpretation, some wish the courts had gone another direction, or supported their arguments differently, but either way, there's an entire body of law dependent on this argument, and trust me, you want most of that law, and if you live in the US, you tend to assume so deeply that you have these rights that it's hard to imagine not having them. Go ahead, give it a try. Because that's the world these paternalistic fucks would like to give us.