H*yas for Choice

A Jewish Perspective on Choice

2010-04-11T16:28:00.001-04:00

While I think that any discussion about a woman's right to chose should be based in the fact that it is an individual who is making an extremely personal choice and so no one else has a right to make that choice for them- I still think it is interesting (but not vital) to look at theological arguments about abortion.

I come from a American conservative Jewish religious background and so I will try t o explain part of the Jewish stance on the subject. But first the necessary disclaimer: Judaism is a very complicated religion and belief and practice of the faith change significantly depending not just on the branch (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist) but with the individual. So there is no official and universally recognized stance on the issue of abortion among Jews. However, there are some generally agreed upon ideas.

First and foremost, in most branches of Judaism it is acceptable to break nearly any and all laws of the Torah to save a life. You can't agree to kill someone in order to have your life spared and it is iffy about whether or not you can sacrifice an animal to a foreign god. So a woman's life is threatened by giving birth, Judaism is ok with her having an abortion.

Secondly, the Talmud states that a life does not begin until birth. However the idea that a fetus has the potential to become a life is an important one, so if someone hurts a pregnant woman and causes her to miscarry, they are required to pay her punitive damages (but he is not accused of murder or any other form of killing)

So generally Conservative (and Reform) Jews are pro-choice and can use the Talmud to back up their arguments. But to as a Conservative Jew I think a large part of the spirit of Judaism is the quest for individual freedom. The holiday of Passover has just ended and Jews around the world recounted the story of our slavery in Egypt. A central theme to the holiday is stated in the Haggadah, “Now we are slaves in Egypt, next year may we celebrate Passover as free men and women in Jerusalem.” The metaphoric interpretations of that line and the depth of meaning in Passover is immense and beyond the point of this post, but a part of the idea is that we are supposed to recognize that we are currently not fully free and still do suffer from oppression from which we one day hope to be free. Denying a woman the right to chose whether or not to have an abortion is oppression and part of our continued metaphoric slavery. Thus I, in the tradition of my faith, yearn for a day when all people of all faiths may be free from oppression and we can all make the decisions that mean so much to ourselves in peace.

Sunday Sex Ed Tips: Outercourse

2010-01-31T15:24:00.005-05:00

So, as I was looking for something to write about this week, I went to Planned Parenthood's birth control list, and found one entry labeled "outercourse." According to Planned Parenthood,

Outercourse means different things to different people. For some people, outercourse is any sex play without vaginal intercourse. For others, it is sex play with no penetration at all — oral, anal, or vaginal.

Now, at first I just laughed and said, "duh, if you don't have sex you won't get pregnant," but then I stepped back and thought about it. Some people might call "outercourse," an "abstinence" method without the sex-negative message, and I would agree. Obviously, if there is no sperm getting anywhere near an egg, then pregnancy isn't happening, but I had never really thought of oral sex and dry humping as methods of birth control. Alas, I was wrong. Choosing to engage in sex acts that don't run the risk of sperm and egg meeting is a form of birth control. Yes, my mind is blown a little bit.

So, now that we have accepted "outercourse" as a form of birth control (or at least I have), let's talk a little bit more about it. The big question: how effective is outercourse at preventing not only pregnancy but also STIs?

Outercourse is nearly 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. But pregnancy is possible if semen or pre-ejaculate (pre-cum) is spilled on the vulva and gets into the vagina.

Outercourse also greatly reduces the risk of HIV/AIDS and many other sexually transmitted diseases — unless body fluids are exchanged through oral or anal intercourse. Some infections, like herpes and HPV, can be passed by skin-to-skin contact. Using latex and plastic barriers can reduce the risk of infection.

So, condoms and dental dams are important in outercourse to protect you from STIs. Flavored condoms are an alternative to plain old latex condoms that might taste funny. And of course flavored condoms can be turned into dental dams just like normal condoms. (See Sunday Sex Ed Tips: CONDOMS for info on how to turn a condom into a dental dam).

But of course outercourse isn't only about oral sex or even anything that involves the removal of clothing. Kissing only non-genital body parts is a form of outercourse that doesn't require any sort of STI protection. (Of course you can get other things like a cold or flu from kissing, so don't make out with that girl down the hall who has strep throat!) And kissing and oral sex aren't all! Planned Parenthood's list of possible forms of outercourse includes: kissing, masturbation, manual stimulation, body-to-body rubbing (aka dry-humping), fantasy (for example watching porn, phone/cyber sex), sex toys, oral sex play, and anal sex play. I would also like to add snuggling, spooning, and dirty dancing to this list. That's a lot of fun in one birth control method!

The most important thing about using outercourse as a form of birth control is knowing and setting boundaries. Talk to your partner about what you want to do and what you don't want to do. If possible, talk to your partner about outercourse before becoming involved in an intimate situation, as it will be easier to set and agree on boundaries. Remember that it is always okay to say NO or STOP if any form of outercourse is making you uncomfortable physically or emotionally.

Hooray outercourse!

Trust Women

2010-01-23T14:49:00.001-05:00

A question that has been a part of American political discourse from the Federalist papers to today is “what choices are best made by the government and what choices are best made by individuals?” There seems to be the general consensus that decisions that affect the majority of the population should by made by the government, and decisions that only affect the individual that makes them should be made by the individual. Thus, for examples, the government should regulate pollution to protect the health of the environment and the population at large, while I can make the decision of what university I will go to. The reason society has divided these decision making powers between the state and the individual is because of trust.
I trust the government to be able to make sense of the large quantities of data and statistics that are necessary in making car safety standards. I do not trust the government to set a price for those cars as we have seen that command economies do not work. The trust works since each sector is able to make the decisions they are best suited to make.
Who is better able to make the choice of whether or not having an abortion would be right for her physical and mental health, safety, and general well being than the woman in question? How could anyone else examine the intricacies and nuances of a woman's life and living situation and decide correctly that it is right for her to bring a child into this world at that time? Hundreds of things need to be considered before giving birth and I trust the woman, and no one else, to make the best decision for her well being on such a personal and private issue.
An individual woman's decision to have a child or an abortion does not affect society at large. In no way does it threaten the general welfare and security of our nation, thus it is not the government's role to make that decision one way or another. It is a woman's right to choose, and I trust women to make the right choices for themselves.

Sunday Sex Ed Tips: CONDOMS

2010-01-23T14:14:00.012-05:00

Welcome to the second installment of Sunday Sex Ed Tips. This week is all about condoms. Now, I know that we jumped right into spermicide last week, but I thought it might be good to take a step back and talk about the thing that H*yas for Choice gives out every week.

Condoms are a barrier method of contraception, as you see in the video above. When placed around the penis, they catch the ejaculate to prevent pregnancy. BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! (cue cheesy game show music) Condoms also act as a barrier to protect you from STIs! According to Planned Parenthood, latex condoms reduce the risk of getting chlamydia, canchroid, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, herpes, HIV, HPV, pelvic inflammatory disease, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Condoms can protect you from STIs not only in vaginal sex, but in oral or anal sex as well.

So how do you properly put on a condom? Just remember OPRAH! Open-Pinch-Roll-Action-Hold. So, to open, first you check the expiration date. If it's expired, then stop there and throw that condom away. It will not protect you! If it's not expired, squeeze the condom over to one side and rip the package open at the other--you don't want to rip the condom!

Next, Pinch. Pinch the tip of the condom until it looks like an elf hat or sombrero. You don't want any air in the condom when it's placed on the penis! This tip that you're pinching will also serve as the receptacle for the ejaculate, so don't pull the condom tight onto the tip of the penis!!

Roll. Place that little sombrero or elf hat on the head of the penis, keeping the tip of the condom pinched. You need about a half inch of pinched condom left at the top when you unroll. Pull back the foreskin before unrolling the condom if the penis is uncircumcised. Now roll the condom down to the base of the penis and smooth out any air bubbles in the condom. (If the condom doesn't unroll easily, then your elf hat was upside down. Get a new condom and try again!)

Action. Well, I think you can all figure this one out...

Hold. Hold the condom against the base of the penis when you pull out. You don't want the condom to slip off at the end! Pull out before the penis softens to ensure that there isn't any spillage. Pull the condom off from the top, holding it tightly--don't unroll and let semen go everywhere. Also, pull the condom off pointing AWAY from your partner! Tie it up or wrap it in something and put it in the trash can--not the toilet. It will clog and be disgusting. Wash the penis before engaging in any more sex acts.

Ta-da! You now know how to use a condom properly! But once again (cheesy game show music) that's not all! Condoms can also be used for sex acts that don't involve a penis! How? By converting a condom into a DENTAL DAM! Dental dams are sheaths of latex that are placed against the vulva or the anus as a protection from STIs during oral-vaginal or oral-anal sex. Just like condoms, dental dams are a one-time-use-only product! It is possible to buy dental dams, but they aren't stocked in your average CVS and they are far more expensive than the FREE condoms from H*yas for Choice.

So, how do you turn a condom into a dental dam? It's actually pretty simple. All you need is a condom and a pair of scissors. You open the condom, once again checking the expiration date first and pushing the condom to the side so you don't rip it as you open the package. Then you snip off the tip of the condom and make a single slice up the side. You unroll it and you now have a latex barrier or dental dam! Ta-da!

Congratulations! You now know more about condoms and dental dams than I did when I started writing this piece. Please leave any questions or "OMG" moments in comments! And don't forget, OPRAH!

Sunday Sex Ed Tips: Spermicide Test

2010-01-17T13:46:00.006-05:00

Hey Choicers!
We're starting a weekly feature with sex ed tips to keep you in the know. Check back every Sunday for a new Sex Ed tip!

Week 1: The Spermicide Test

Spermicide is a birth control method that immobilizes sperm. It comes in lots of different forms like creams, gels, and foams. There is also spermicidal lubricant and some condoms come with spermicidal lube. According to statistics by Planned Parenthood, if women always use spermicide as directed (this is just spermicide with no other BC method), 15 out of 100 will get pregnant in a year. If it's not used as directed, 29 out of 100 will get pregnant in a year. It's recommended that you use spermicide in conjunction with other barrier methods of contraception (i.e. condoms), especially because spermicide doesn't protect you from STIs. Some of the big pros for using spermicide: it doesn't mess with hormones like some contraceptives, it can be carried around in your bag or purse for use when needed, it doesn't require a prescription, and it's readily available in most drug stores, super markets, and all family planning centers. Spermicide is a pretty cool thing, and when used correctly and in conjunction with other methods it can be really effective at helping to prevent an unintended pregnancy.

The big downside of spermicides is that some people are allergic to them because they are made with chemicals. So, definitely use this tip before using spermicide in a sexual situation: Test spermicide on your arm! Yes, you might look a little bit silly rubbing spermicide on your arm, but it's much better than finding out that you have an allergy because of pain or a rash in other places. Seriously, allergies to spermicide can cause soreness, swelling, redness, and itching. And we all know that scratching your arm is less awkward than scratching your crotch...

If you are planning to use spermicide tonight, test it on your arm today. Give it about 20 minutes and see if there are any issues (rash, redness, swelling, burning, etc.). If you go out with someone and they only have condoms with spermicidal lube, test one on both of your arms and just make out for a while to make sure that you're not allergic (and throw that condom away--don't use it later!). Yeah, it's awkward, but your vagina/penis will thank you later!

H*yas in The Voice

2009-11-22T22:30:00.002-05:00

Juliana Brint of The Voice wrote an article in the most recent issue about taking condoms from the H*yas for Choice table. (Full disclosure: I'm quoted in the article.) Here's a short bit where Juliana talks about the feelings associated with making the decision to walk up to the table and take condoms:

As I thought about it, I began to realize that my visits to the HFC table always make me somewhat uncomfortable. As happy as I always am to see their jaunty purple banner—and as grateful as I am for the community service they provide—I always need to mentally brace myself a bit before heading over to take a few condoms off their hands.

I tend to quickly scope out the surroundings, hoping to see a minimal number of friends, acquaintances, and professors. I’m never quite sure about the proper etiquette. Is an explicit request or some small talk expected, or is it acceptable to just reach in and take a few as you stroll by? I usually go with the grab-and-go approach, but even this more discreet method sometimes makes me feel like I have a neon “I’M SEXUALLY ACTIVE” sign hovering over my head.

Obviously, it can be difficult to come up to the H*yas for Choice table. Sometimes people feel awkward. I've been tabling since freshman year (I'm a senior), and I've seen a lot of people come up to take condoms. No explicit request or small talk is expected, in my opinion. The drive-by method of grabbing a few and shoving them in your pocket or bag is completely acceptable. If you want to stay and sign a petition or take a button, please do. Just don't put a button in your pocket with the condoms!!

Share in comments your personal stories about taking condoms from the table or watching people come up to the table.

Bro-Choice Wed. Nov 4th at 8:30 ICC 102

2009-11-01T20:25:00.004-05:00

H*yas for Choice is excited to invite you to Bro-Choice--a panel with men in the Pro-Choice Movement. We have three amazing male pro-choice activists who will be talking about their jobs, how being male has affected their experiences in the pro-choice movement, and why sexual education and reproductive justice are not just women's issues. Can't wait to see you there!

Reality Check: Unsafe abortions' fatal consequences

2009-10-19T15:20:00.000-04:00

My friend Teddy just emailed me an article that reminded me of why H*yas for Choice's mission is so important. I find it very easy to get caught up in the " 'pro-choice' v. 'pro-life'" rhetoric that plagues our daily lives, from the mainstream media to the blogosphere to our conversation on Georgetown's campus - so much so that it can be easy to forget a crucial matter: the lack of contraception and access to safe abortions is a global issue, with often fatal consequences for women everywhere, especially in the developing world. The article, an editorial from leading medical journal The Lancet, mentions a new report released by the Guttmacher Institute, a New York-based NGO that works to advance reproductive health.

Entitled Abortion worldwide - a decade of uneven progress, the report reveals some pretty upsetting facts. Most strikingly, as the editorial states, "somewhere in the world a woman dies every 8 minutes because of an unsafe abortion. [...] Unsafe abortions and related complications occur almost exclusively in the developing world." Of the 8 million women worldwide who suffer from abortion complications, 3 million still lack vital care. Getting access to care is still a lot more difficult in poorer, rural areas where clinics are a rarity. Women who live in those areas, according to the report, are much more likely to turn to "traditional practices and unsafe abortion methods." And that's in places where abortion is legal.

Lest people confuse "pro-choice" with "pro-abortion", as the editor of The Lancet writes, the report makes it clear that "preventing unintended pregnancies remains the key strategy for reducing unsafe abortions." That's why improving access to contraceptives and comprehensive sex ed is so essential. The Guttmacher report shows that in places where contraceptive use has increased (including among married couples), unwanted pregnancies (and consequently, the need for abortions) have decreased.

Ultimately, the editorial concludes that "abolishing legal restrictions on abortion can not only make the procedure more accessible, less costly, and safer but will also fulfil a basic human right for women worldwide." Moral of the story: while we sit around debating where a life begins, women everywhere are dying because of a lack of access to sex ed, contraception, and safe abortions. It's time for a reality check.

You can check out and the full Guttmacher Institute report here, and the Lancet editorial after the jump.

Oh and - speaking of contraception, don't forget to stop by the H*yas for Choice table in Red Square to send your friends Halloween condomgrams!

Unsafe abortions: eight maternal deaths every hour

This week, the New York based Guttmacher Institute released a report entitled “Abortion worldwide—a decade of uneven progress”. So, what has changed since the previous report in 1999, and is the change for the better? Encouragingly, the worldwide abortion rate has fallen. The observed 17% decline (from 35 to 29 per1000 women of childbearing age; currently 41·6 millionabortions annually) results largely from a reduction insafe abortions in eastern Europe, where abortion is legal. However, the abortion rate decreased less in areas where the procedure is still illegal and therefore remains unsafe. The developing world is now ahead of the developedworld in the number of abortions done annually (29 vs26 per 1000 women of childbearing age).Worldwide maternal mortality due to abortionsremained static, at 70 000 deaths per year. Most deathsstill occur in sub-Saharan Africa (38 000) and south-central Asia (24 000). This tragic and unnecessary toll follows from an unchanged rate of unsafe abortions: 14 per 1000 women of childbearing age, currently at 20 million annually. Thus, somewhere in the world a woman dies every 8 minutes because of an unsafe abortion.Unsafe abortions and related complications occur almost exclusively in the developing world, the report states. A poor woman in a rural area is more prone to turn to traditional practitioners and unsafe abortion methods, and is thus three times more likely to experience complications of unsafe abortion and half as likely to receive medical treatment compared with a well-off woman in an urban area. Worldwide, 8 million women have complications from abortion, but only 5 million receive the necessary care. The report indicates that 40% of women of childbearing age (15–44 years) live in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws (permitting abortion only to save a woman’s life or protect her physical or mental health). Even though 19 countries have implemented less restrictive abortion laws since 1997, abortion remains illegal in 32 countries. And in 3% of the world’s countries (including Nicaragua and El Salvador) the procedure is prohibited under any circumstances.That access to safe abortion is still highly restricted for women in the developing world is emphasised in the report. In India, for example, three decades after legalisation, two safe abortions are performed for every three unsafe ones simply because most abortion clinics are located in urban centres while 70% of Indian women live in a rural setting. Similarly, in South Africa, 3 years after legalisation only a third of facilities were functioning because 40% of women were unaware that abortion had become legal. Additional barriers to safe abortion include the procedure’s high cost, a deficit of trained physicians, and lack of confidentiality (consent being needed from a family member).The report’s main message is that preventing unintended pregnancies remains the key strategy for reducing unsafe abortions. A third of all pregnancies (208 million per year) are unintended and half end in abortion. And two-thirds of those unintended pregnancies are caused by a lack of contraception. Unintended pregnancies declined worldwide by 20% since 1995 (from 69 to 55 per 1000 women of childbearing age). In the meantime, contraceptive use increased in many parts of the world, especially in Asia (from 57% to 68%) and in Latin America (from 62% to 71%), while it is least used in Africa (increasing from 17% to 28%). The proportion of married women practising contraception increased globally from 54% to 63%. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest contraceptive use, the most unwanted pregnancies, the fewest safe abortions, and the highest resulting mortality from abortion. Reaching the fifth UN Millennium Development Goal—a 75% reduction of maternal mortality worldwide by 2015—will be impossible without successfully addressing unsafe abortions. The focus on abortion should be urgent, immediate, and multidimensional. Improving sex education and access to effective contraception methods can reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancies and the need for unsafe abortions. Expanding reproductive services can extend health coverage and quality of postabortion care. Abolishing legal restrictions on abortion can not only make the procedure more accessible, less costly, and safer but will also fulfil a basic human right for women worldwide. The current political climate is favourable, because the global-gag rule (the US Government’s policy on banning funding of foreign organisations linked to any type of abortion practice) is out of favour. In the few minutes it has taken to read this text, a woman will have died from an unsafe abortion—the time to act is now. ■
www.thelancet.com Vol 374 October 17, 2009

No Marshmallows Until Marriage!

2009-10-08T20:19:00.002-04:00

I saw this video by the League of Young Voters on Amplify! and had to share!

Don't forget to come by the H*yas for Choice table in Red Square and sign the petition for the REAL Act to fund comprehensive sex ed. Because abstinence-only sex ed is pretty ridiculous. (And now I want marshmallows...)

Pro-choice in the news

2009-10-01T11:29:00.002-04:00

This is interesting - as of May '09 more Americans claim to be pro-life than pro-choice and fewer Americans think abortion should be legal "under any circumstances." What do you all think about that?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/118399/More-Americans-Pro-Life-Than-Pro-Choice-First-Time.aspx

But on a positive note, the rate of abortions (as of 2005) is much lower, perhaps indicating contraceptive use has become more common.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/09/23/us-abortion-rate-at-30-year-low.html

Board Meeting Update

2009-09-17T00:52:00.002-04:00

We had an amazing board meeting this Tuesday--the first since our General Membership meeting. The H*yas for Choice board is looking forward to some great stuff this semester. Here's a recap of the meeting:

1. We still have some tabling times available. If you're interested in tabling, email me (hb94), with your name, netid, and the time that you can table.
Monday 12-1, 2-3
Thursday 10-11*, 11-12, 1-2, 2-3
*We need at least 2 tablers for this time slot!!!

2. Events
a. Clinic Escort Training on Tuesday night went really well! WACDTF holds escort training monthly. We will definitely be going to another training this semester--watch your weekly emails and the blog for more info.
b. Sex Ed- Tuesday, October 6th, 8:30, ICC 104
There will be trivia and fun prizes!
c. Possible "Bro-Choice" event--a panel on being a male pro-choice activist. Once again, stay tuned for more info.

3. Fund-raisers
We're looking at clubs and bars in the Georgetown area for possible fund-raising events. If you have any connections that you'd like to pass along to HFC, please email Erica (ews26).

Condom Reps (updated!)

2009-09-09T00:30:00.004-04:00

Couldn't make it to the H*yas for Choice table on Monday or Thursday? Looking for condoms somewhere in your building?

Condom Reps should have envelopes of condoms on the following doors:

Copley-310, 502
Darnall-102, 123, 206, 323, 507, 522
Harbin-704, 818
Henle-21, 60
Kennedy-216
LXR-304, 408
McCarthy-718
New South-319, 351, 415, 431
Reynolds-407
VCE-863
VCW-240, 505X

Thanks so much to all of our amazing condom reps who provide a great service to the Georgetown community!!

General Meeting Recap

2009-09-09T00:16:00.002-04:00

Tabling:
We table every Monday and Thursday from 10-4 in Red Square (Leavey in bad weather). This Thursday, 9/10, will be our first day of tabling! We still need tablers for the following times:
Monday: 11-12, 1-2
Thursday: 10-11, 11-12, 1-2, 2-3
Please email Mariel (myp2) if you are available to table at any of these times.

Condom Reps:
Condom Reps are students who put an envelope of condoms on their dorm-room door for their floormates. Envelopes and condoms can be picked up at the table on Mondays and Thursdays. If you would like to be a condom rep and are willing to have your dorm door listed as a place to get HFC condoms on our blog, please email Mariel (myp2) with your dorm and room number. Don't worry--your name will not be put on the blog with this information!!

Clinic Escort Training Field Trip. Tuesday, 9/15, 5:30 & 5:40 at Dupont GUTS bus
We will be going as a group to a clinic escort training session hosted by Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force. We will go in two waves. Erica (our VP) will lead the first wave that will meet at 5:30 at the Dupont GUTS bus stop to take the 5:40 bus. Alex (our treasurer) will lead the second wave that will meet at 5:40 and take the 5:50 bus. The training is free, but you will need $3 for metrofare. The clinics in DC are frequented by protesters from around the country, and one of the biggest things you can do to help is escort women through the protesters to the door of the clinic. Even if you don't want to volunteer now to do clinic defense, it's great training to have for the future.

Sex Education Event. Tuesday, 10/6, 8:30 pm.
Gwen Emmons, a representative from Planned Parenthood, will be giving a presentation of comprehensive sex ed information. Most H*yas received abstinence-only education in high school (I know I did), and it's important to know all of your options to make informed decisions about your sex life. We'll have a trivia session with fun prizes after the presentation.

Joining the Board
We have 9 open positions on the H*yas for Choice board! The board meets once weekly on Tuesday nights at 9pm on the second floor of ICC. We're hosting a meet-n-greet for board applicants this Saturday. If you're interested in joining the board, please email Erica (ews26) and she can send you an application and information about our meet-n-greet. Even if you don't want to make a commitment to an official board position, we'd love for you to come to board meetings which are always open to general members!

Opportunities with Feminist Majority Foundation
Danielle Geong of FMF was our guest speaker for the night. We're so grateful to her for spending her evening with us!! FMF is hosting a Women Money Power Summit October 4th and 5th here in DC at The Washington Court Hotel. Student tickets to the Summit are $75, but if you volunteer you can attend some portions of the summit for free. For more info, visit the event site. The following week (10/9-10/10) in Atlanta, FMF will be hosting the Women of Color Conference at Spelman College. Registration is only $15 through September 25th. More info.
FMF is also looking for Spring interns. The deadline to apply is October 15. Visit the intern site to find out more.

General Meeting TONIGHT (9/8) 9pm, ICC 1st floor

2009-09-08T02:38:00.002-04:00

I am incredibly excited about our first general meeting of the semester! We'll have info on how people can get involved, including tabling, becoming a condom rep, and applying for the board. We'll also be talking about the great events we have coming up including our field trip to Clinic Escort training and a Sex Ed night with a representative from Planned Parenthood.

You can RSVP to the meeting on facebook. Hope to see you there!

New Semester, New Events for H*yas

2009-09-02T13:26:00.003-04:00

Today is the first day of classes, and I just wanted to update everyone on all of the great stuff we have planned for this semester.

1. Come visit us at SAC fair on Sunday, September 6th. We'll be at our awesome purple table with free condoms and free lube. Sign up for our listserv, find out more about us, and buy an awesome HFC t-shirt.

2. General Meeting. Tuesday, September 8th, 9pm. Hear more about what we do, volunteer to table or to be a condom rep, find out about some of the cool stuff we have planned for the year, and apply to join the board.

3. Clinic Escort Training Field Trip. Tuesday, September 15th, 5:30/5:45 pm. We will be going as a group to a training session hosted by the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force. We'll take a GUTS bus to the metro. More info to come.

These are just a few of the things coming up soon. Keep an eye out for H*yas for Choice flyers around campus!

Explaining the Abortion Debate Abroad

2009-08-14T11:20:00.002-04:00

Sometimes you get so caught up in your political struggle it's hard to step outside and look at it with some perspective. I am a pro-choice man and I try to be involved in the important American debate about a woman's right to choose what to do with her body. Usually I read blogs and articles and occasionally go to talks, but I have barely done any of those things since January. Why? No, I did not lose the faith, but I did leave the country to study abroad in Spain and visit France. I stepped outside of our pro-choice vs. pro-life fight and got the rare chance to look in, and what I saw was amusing and tragic.

First off, abortion is legal in Spain and France and is at least somewhat paid for by the government due to good public health care. France does a lot to separate church and state and Spain is a nation filled with Catholics and beautiful but empty cathedrals. They have all the history of religious societies, but they have cast away those institutions when it comes time to make laws. Regardless where you stand on the debate, knowing that abortion is legal is "Catholic" Spain (along with gay marriage), is an interesting point. The fact that that right is barely contested is astounding.

A funny part about the abortion rights debate is the terminology. I explained a few times to unpack the terms "pro-choice" and "pro-life." After all, they do not sound mutually exclusive. I explained to my friends that when we say "pro-choice" we generally mean "I am in favor of a woman's right to choose whether or not to have an abortion without government interference," and that when we say "pro-life" we generally mean, "I think a zygote is a life and it should be illegal to abort it." I then explained what the one side calls the other side, namely "pro-abortion" and "anti-choice." I explained that generally people call someone pro-abortion to paint them as someone who wants people to have abortions- and then I would explain the "pro-choice" counter argument of how "no one actually wants abortions, they just should have to right to have one." While when people call someone "anti-choice" they try to paint them as someone who wants the government to decide what you can and cannot do with your body." Generally, I explained, the "pro-life" counter argument is that they think you should have control over your body as long as it doesn't hurt someone else, but as they say a zygote is someone else so it is the government's role to protect that life as they would protect any other life.

That is a lot for me to explain in Spanish and frankly it all seemed a little silly to them. They joked it sounded that the terminology was a bigger battle than the legal one.

Then I explained what I knew about the current legal situation of the right to an abortion which was a far more difficult task due to the Federated nature of our nation and the fact that I am not an expert, but a little more than a layman on the issue. I explained that because of Roe v. Wade you can have an abortion in the US, but because people wouldn't let that go down without a fight, we have a bunch of small battles on the issue. I would talk about how Roe v. Wade was a big thing, it was not the whole kit and kaboodle. I explained that even with the right fundamentally protected, we still have hundreds of fights over the right to access that right. Imagine explaining that we have the freedom of the press, but that it is illegal to sell a newspaper on Sundays or if the news stand person didn't like today's news or they thought it was too late in the day or if you needed a parents permission to get one if you were a minor. It was hard to explain the logic behind all of these small legal battles that is the biggest part of the "pro-choice" vs. "pro-life" thing. But it is easy to explain why these fights happen: because both sides think they are right and neither is going to give up and that we live in a country were dissent is legally protected and some consider it a form of patriotism.

Also during my time outside looking in the Doctor and abortion provide George Tiller was murdered in a church by a domestic terrorist. I was asked to explain how and why this could happen in the US, especially as the terrorist defined himself as "pro-life." I had to explain that some people think that the ends justify the means and that the assassin though that if he killed Dr. Tiller, he would save lives. I had to explain that we are a nation that protects our rights to have guns and a nation that is passionate about their religion. I had to explain to them that in a time when we thought the old wars of the relgions had taught us to stop mixing religion and politics, we still have many people
who think that the "word of G-d" should dictate our government's actions and not the desires of our people.

I tried to explain that we are a nation filled with love and hate, with open debates, religiously conservative people, humanists, athiests, doctors, quacks and guns. I tried to explain the ugly debate on abortion to people whose abortion debate consists of whether or not it should be completely paid for by the government. I felt backwards. "Pro-choice" or "Pro-life" we must all admit that this issue is getting out of hand and the fight itself -not the legality or the illegality of abortion- is becoming a shame of this nation that was built on thirteen colonies that banded together to fight for their collective freedom. We as a society are better than this fight we have let ourselves be drawn into.

I know I cannot see a way out of this jungle of a debate and that we are lost in its wilderness. I know that where we end up when we leave it is important, but I wish that we could be civil about it and then maybe we can find a way together

Great Video about Crisis Pregnancy Centers

2009-08-09T22:01:00.004-04:00

This video by RH Reality Check was posted today on Amplify. I found it incredibly interesting, especially looking at the way that many of these centers position themselves near actual clinics and hospitals in order to mislead women. It's appalling that our tax dollars are being used to tell women outright lies.

The medical lies about breast cancer and "post-abortion syndrome," in my opinion, are particularly heinous. Of course there are risks to any out-patient medical procedure. I recently had a small out-patient eye surgery and it came with the very scary risk of blindness. (Thankfully, I can still see) Anyone considering a medical procedure should be made aware of possible risks, as long as they're true risks. However, when women are told lies about outlandish increases in their risk of contracting breast cancer and risk of committing suicide or becoming a "crackhead whore" as one counselor said, they are not able to make decisions based on actual information. But of course, that's the point, isn't it? Because if these centers offered women true, complete, unbiased information, they would run the risk of actually caring about the lives of these women whom they claim to be helping. By intentionally misinforming these women, CPCs are undermining their rights, health, and life. There is no way to simultaneously lie to women and help them--these CPCs are simply working to further their agenda at the expense of women.

Now, if this stuff is a lie, what's the truth? Regarding breast cancer: As they point out in the video, the World Health Organization says that abortion does not increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. This is a lie that I've heard over and over, and it's being told because it's scary. For American women, breast cancer is the 7th most common cause of death. It's also the second most common type of cancer for American women. If my eye surgeon had told me that I would have a "100%" higher chance of breast cancer after having surgery (as one counselor told a woman in the video), I would definitely rethink things. And that's what these Centers want women to do, make decisions based on false, scary information. Regarding "post-abortion syndrome": Researchers at Johns Hopkins found "no significant differences in long-term mental health between women who'd had an abortion and controls." The "154% higher risk of death from suicide" mentioned in the video doesn't seem to fit with actual research. Nor does this gem: women who get an abortion are "two times more likely to suffer from depression." In fact, the researchers at Johns Hopkins believe that the idea of post-abortion syndrome came from flawed methodology and investigator bias--basically, bad science. But this bad science once again is a good scare tactic, and that's why it is being used to misinform women at these CPCs.

So what can we do? Share the truth with friends, family, and anyone who may come to you for help or information. Know where centers with accurate information are located. (Planned Parenthood is always a good place to start). Also, if there is a center giving out false information in your area or here in DC, let us know. Awareness is key, because no one deserves to be told lies about their body.

Rally in DC for Sotomayor w/ NARAL tomorrow

2009-08-04T21:16:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow (Wednesday, August 5th), at 11:45 AM there will be a rally to urge the Senate to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Molly at Blog for Choice writes:

If you live in or around the DC Metro area and find yourself in the mood to rally, please join representatives of NARAL Pro-Choice America and a progressive coalition of organizations tomorrow, August 5 at 11:45 a.m. to rally for Judge Sotomayor.
Upper Senate Park
200 New Jersey Ave, NW
Washington, D.C.

Thanks to NARAL for the breaking tweet.

Breaking Tweet!

2009-07-16T01:03:00.004-04:00

Hey all! I know posts have been few and far between recently. Obviously there's a lot of important stuff going on in the world. The Sotomayor hearings, the health-care reform bill, Cheney (allegedly) ordering the CIA not to tell Congress about a secret program, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hitting theaters, the Palin saga, etc.

Sadly, I haven't had the time or energy to post on any of the important stuff going on. I've been too busy glued to MSNBC, huffpo, Hogwarts, and antibiotics (I've been really sick). But, thankfully, NARAL knew that we've all been over-extended this week. They tweeted about a great post by Molly on Blog for Choice that rounds up most of the important Choice-related tidbits in the news. Perhaps my favorite part of Molly's post is this amazing quote from Senator Chris Dodd:

"Health care for all means health care for all. And we cannot allow critical services to be denied to women based on the ideological concerns of a few," said Dodd. "That is why I opposed the anti-choice amendments. It is also why I am proud to support ongoing efforts to ensure women have access to family planning and reproductive health services."

Thank you, Senator Dodd for supporting choice and speaking out against policies that would take rights and services away from women! Thanks to Molly for her "Choice Headline Round-Up." And thanks to @NARAL for the terrific tweet! (Speaking of twitter, we'd love for you to follow us @hfchoice.)

Comment Policy

2009-07-08T19:36:00.005-04:00

H*yas for Choice invites anyone to comment and engage in discussion on this blog. However, because we want this to be a safe space to discuss issues of choice, reproductive rights, and sexual health, comments that are hateful or contain personal attacks will not be tolerated. In order to maintain a safe space on the H*yas for Choice blog, we have made some changes to commenting procedure. This new commenting policy will be posted in the blog's sidebar.

1. All commenters must login to a Blogger or Openid account in order to comment.

2. Comments that use hateful language or contain personal attacks will be deleted.

3. Comments that derail a thread or are irrelevant to the initial post will be deleted.

4. Comment moderation will ultimately be at the discretion of the writer of the original post.

Exciting EC News/ Sort of exciting EC News

2009-06-25T16:34:00.005-04:00

In Spain, EC will now be available over-the-counter without a prescription. This is exciting news for the women of Spain as well as H*yas planning to study abroad there.

And last week the FDA approved a generic version of Plan B for women 17 and under who get a prescription. A generic version won't be available to women 18 and older who can get Plan B over the counter until at least August 24, 2009, because of marketing issues.

Plan B was made available over the counter to women 18 and over in the US back in 2006. This was a great moment for reproductive rights, because emergency contraception is all about timing. According to Plan B's website, "it can prevent a pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure." And as we all know, it can take more than 3 days to get into your doctor's office and get a prescription. Access to contraception is an important part of reproductive justice and the pro-choice movement. Kudos to the Spanish government for helping women have better access to EC!

The FDA's approval of a generic version of Plan B is also an exciting story (especially for anyone who has ever purchased Plan B and blanched at the outlandish price). However, the caveat, that it will only be available by prescription to women 17 and younger is a bit less exciting. First of all, the FDA approved Plan B for OTC sales to women 17 and older in April of this year, but in order for this to be put into practice the makers of Plan B have to submit a labeling change for approval. Meanwhile, 17 year olds are still unable to get Plan B over the counter. Now, because the pharmaceutical company that makes Plan B owns marketing rights to OTC emergency contraception, women 18 and over who can get EC over the counter can't get the generic version. I applaud Plan B for all they have done to make emergency contraception available and accessible to women, but I'm saddened that "marketing exclusivity" is blocking women's access to affordable EC. Hopefully after this "exclusivity" ends, we can all have access to both Plan B and the generic levonorgestrel. A woman can dream.

The Meaning of "Pro-Choice"

2009-06-17T22:36:00.001-04:00

This is my first post on the H*yas for Choice blog, so I’ll take this opportunity to introduce myself to the interwebs – my name is Erica Slates, and I’m the Vice President of H*yas for Choice for the 2009-2010 school year.

This post is a bit late, but still an important one considering the nature of this blog. About a month ago, Heather made a great post in mid-May regarding a Gallup Poll that said that more Americans are “pro-life” than “pro-choice”. Just a week later, CNN conducted a poll asking a different but in many ways more relevant question that produced a very different picture. They asked:

The 1973 Roe versus Wade decision established a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, at least in the first three months of pregnancy. Would you like to see the Supreme Court completely overturn its Roe versus Wade decision, or not?

30% Yes, overturn
68% No, not overturn

What these results indicate to me is there is much ambiguity regarding the language surrounding the abortion debate, but that there is still overwhelming support for Roe v. Wade. This is ultimately an incredibly important perspective on the debate and something we, as pro-choice people, must keep in mind when engaging our communities on this debate. Most people do not want to overturn Roe v. Wade.

This is important, but the bigger picture is in the comparison of the two polls: when 68% of Americans believe Roe v. Wade should be upheld, but only 42% of Americans would characterize themselves as Pro-Choice, we are dealing with at least as large a language battle as an ideological one. Maybe, just maybe, part of the polarization around the abortion debate in general and the H*yas for Choice debate in particular is that there is some ambiguity surrounding the definitions of “pro-life” and “pro-choice”. Evidenced by these polls, Americans seem to define “pro-choice” as more radical than, well, “pro-women-having-the-choice-of-abortion”.

What this means for H*yas for Choice is that we need to be careful and precise with our language when we engage people outside the pro-choice activist community. We should explain that “pro-choice” is a very large umbrella that encompasses people with many different beliefs. The “pro-choice” label does not exist as a strict polar opposite to the “pro-life” label. Instead, it is a spectrum on which there exist a wide variety of beliefs. “Pro-choice,” however, does not mean “pro-abortion”.

When we say we are pro-choice, we don’t mean that women should make a particular choice, or that we only support women who make one choice. We simply want the choice to be available, and according to CNN, 68% of Americans agree.

Regular Posting will return in a week

2009-06-14T10:14:00.002-04:00

Hello all! Sorry for the absence of posting. I know that there has been so much about Choice in the media lately and I wish I could have covered it all. Alas, I was finishing up my summer class (final and 10 page paper all in the same week). Then helping my sister move and packing for a trip to the Outer Banks. I will be completely off the grid for the next week camping at the beach, so regular posting will resume June 22.

Candlelight Vigil for Dr. Tiller in DC

2009-05-31T17:42:00.003-04:00

There will be a candlelight vigil in DC for Dr. Tiller tomorrow, Monday, June 1st from 6:30pm-9:30pm at the Lafayette Park side of the White House. So, if you're in DC, definitely go if you can. Facebook event here.

Abortion Provider George Tiller of Kansas Shot to Death On His Way Into Church

2009-05-31T12:59:00.002-04:00

There really are no words. The link to the news article is here. Cara at feministe has written a post on this tragedy here. Thanks to womanistmusings for this info via twitter. I will be writing more as information comes. For now, I ask that you keep Dr. Tiller's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Explaining "Choice" to Pro-Life family members (Part 1: Sister)

2009-05-26T00:46:00.005-04:00

I am the "auntie" to a beautiful two and a half year old boy who I will call Baby B. He is absolutely precious, spoiled rotten, and probably the highlight of all the time I spend visiting home. His mommy, my older sister, is proud of me for almost everything I do at Georgetown. The one thing she doesn't like: H*yas for Choice. My sister is proud that I am president, but not exactly happy that it's this organization. After having Braxton, she decided that she was very much pro-life, and really would prefer that I never speak about my thoughts on choice.

To some extent, I understand. When she found out she was pregnant, her first call was to a friend who had previously had 2 abortions, asking for a phone number for a clinic. Instead, the friend gave her the number of the local Crisis Pregnancy Center (on purpose or by accident, I'm not sure). My sister decided to carry her pregnancy to term, and now she is mom to an adorable little boy. For her, looking into his eyes is enough reason to be anti-abortion. And because she doesn't understand what being pro-choice is really all about, she thinks that I (and other pro-choicers) am pro-abortion. Realizing that made me understand why she didn't want me to talk about choice (and also made me wonder how many people believe that pro-choice=pro-abortion).

Recently, we got into a bit of an argument over the topic. I brought up talking with some people in a class about men's rights as fathers. A question was broached in class about whether a man, if his girlfriend/wife/etc. were pregnant and wanted to have an abortion, could tell her that she had to keep the baby. My sister said that if a man was willing to take care of the child, then the woman should not be allowed to have an abortion. I told her that I disagreed, and she said she didn't want to talk to me anymore. She proceeded to give me the silent treatment for the next two hours. When she finally started speaking to me again, she asked how I could believe that. When I calmly explained the legal ramifications of what she had said, she agreed that women should not be barred from the procedure because of what their husband, boyfriend, etc. says. She is a feminist, after all.

However, she then asked how I would feel if she "had killed Baby B." Not exactly a fair question. Because of all of the emotional attachments, I didn't feel comfortable answering. She was already angry at me (silent treatment, remember?), so I chose not to answer, fearing that saying I would support her decision might come off the wrong way. This was all about a week and a half ago, and I really hadn't thought about it until my mom told me that I needed to apologize. Mom explained that my sister had taken my choice to not answer to mean that I thought she should have had an abortion. So, I spent tonight explaining to her that as a pro-choice woman and as her sister, I am here to support her. I explained that pro-choice doesn't mean I wish she had chosen to abort or anything like that. It means that I support her choice, no matter what it is, because it's her body and her decision.

I hope that she listened. She did thank me for clarifying, but I'm not sure if she fully understands that not only does pro-choice not mean pro-abortion for me, but that pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion for anyone. So, how about you? Any good stories of ways that you have explained what it means to be pro-choice to family or friends? Any suggestions for how I should deal with questions like these in the future?

Gallup Poll Finds that More Americans Identify as "Pro-Life" than "Pro-Choice"

2009-05-15T19:11:00.002-04:00

A new Gallup Poll shows that 51% of Americans identify as "pro-life" while only 42% identify as "pro-choice." This is the first time since Gallup began asking questions about the abortion issue in 1995 that more people have identified as "pro-life."

Gallup asks the question: "With respect to the abortion issue, would you consider yourself to be pro-choice or pro-life?" So before we can even define what "pro-choice" means in this poll, we have to understand what the "abortion issue" is. Further polling questions break this down, asking "Do you think abortion should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal under all circumstances?" H*yas for Choice believes that choice means abortion should be legal under all circumstances. But it seems that only 22% of Americans polled believe that abortion should be legal under all circumstances, while 23% believe it should be illegal under all circumstances. 53% believe it should be legal only under certain circumstances.

So, what does this mean for H*yas for Choice? Well, first of all, it means that we need to remember that Choice is more than an abortion issue. Choice is about consent, access to contraception such as condoms (which HFC provides Mondays and Thursdays 10-4 in Red Square during the school year) and the pill, access to EC, access to abortion, access to pre and post-natal care---basically, it's about providing women with information about and access to all of their options. Not only this, but being pro-choice is about SUPPORTING women and their decisions. And now, more than ever, we need to support all women in the choices they make about their reproductive health.

For thoughts on the Gallup Poll results concerning the wording of the questions, see Cara's post on Feministe.

For Choicers in DC tomorrow!!

2009-05-13T21:24:00.002-04:00

Womanist Musings is by far one of my favorite blogs to read. I highly recommend it. Today, Renee posted a great invite to a fundraising event for DC's chapter of the Younger Women's Task Force. The event is called "Cheers to Choice," and will be held tomorrow night, Thursday May 14th. If you're in the DC area, go check it out!!

From Womanist Musings:

On May 14, 2009 the DC chapter of the Younger Women’s Task Force will host its second annual fundraiser, Cheers to Choice. Cheers to Choice will feature a wine tasting, live music, exciting raffle prizes, and donation collection. All proceeds will benefit the YWTF-DC Metro chapter. Donations of new underwear and socks will be collected at the door for Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS.) With the HIV rate in DC being the highest in the country, this is a very timely and urgent cause!

The title Cheers to Choice embodies not only a woman’s right to reproductive health care, but also a woman’s right to choose her destiny and live in a community that respects her choices without hindering her personal and professional growth through violence, sexism, racism, economic discrimination, or discriminating policies.

Cheers to Choice
Thursday, May 14, 2009
6:30 - 9 pm
Stewart R. Mott House
122 Maryland Ave, NE

Washington, DC 20002

$10 for interns/students
$15 for entry-level non-profit or Hill staff
$20 for all others

RSVP to http://cheerstochoice.eventbrite.com/ or ywtfdc@gmail.com

For more information about YWTF please visit www.ywtf.org

Happy Friday Video--Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Standing up for Reproductive Rights

2009-05-08T13:03:00.002-04:00

Why a blog?

2009-05-08T00:09:00.005-04:00

Since 1991, H*yas for Choice, Georgetown University's pro-choice, pro-reproductive rights group, has been working to keep H*yas safe and informed.

Our mission:

1. To provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information to the university community.

2. To provide condoms or comparable birth control to the university community free of charge.

3. To demand a university policy that protects the sexual and reproductive health of all university community members.

4. To establish a safe environment within Georgetown to discuss pro-choice options while respecting a plurality of opinions.

5. To provide educational programs and events that raise the university community's awareness about local and global issues affecting choice.

6. To work with Georgetown to educate individuals to make safe and informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive lives.

To fulfill our mission, we bring you the H*yas for Choice blog, a place for information, education, and community building. This blog will feature posts by board members of H*yas for Choice about choice, reproductive rights, sexual health, and related issues. We will also post board meeting minutes and information about upcoming events to keep everyone informed of what we're planning. We invite you to get involved by joining the board, tabling, being a condom rep, or flyering.

H*yas for Choice invites anyone to comment and engage in discussion on this blog. However, comments of a hateful or attacking nature will not be tolerated. We want this to be a safe space to discuss issues of choice, reproductive rights, and sexual health.

H*ya Saxa!

Heather Brock, President