PPWP has been working on a new video to support our efforts on winning comprehensive sex education in PA public schools. We have been asking supporters to tell us their first memory/misconception/funny mishap relating to sex on video so we can splice them up and make an informative short film about the importance of age appropriate sex education. Here is a little sample we gathered from supporters at last week's Gallery Crawl:
We are completely enjoying this process, not only because some of the stories are riotous, but because we LOVE talking to people about why they support the work we do at PPWP.
If you'd like to submit a video, email me at rcavanaugh@ppwp.org! We would love to hear from you!
29 January 2010
26 January 2010
Jay Smooth is the coolest!
I have a long standing feminist crush on Jay Smooth. This video only fuels the fire.
Tell the Center for Reproductive Rights where your tax dollars shouldn't be going here.
Tell the Center for Reproductive Rights where your tax dollars shouldn't be going here.
20 January 2010
Roe v. Wade: 37 years and counting!
Just a quick reminder! Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania will be celebrating the 37th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade this Friday in our downtown office. This Friday is also the Cultural Trust's Gallery Crawl so we will be opening our doors with the many galleries in our neighborhood with an exhibition of protest photos of various women's rights issues. From suffrage to health care reform, women have been tireless in their efforts for equality. We hope you will join us for this retrospective of all we have accomplished!We will also be setting up a mini-studio to record visitors feeling of Roe v. Wade and reproductive rights. Feel free to stop by, make a video, and enjoy a glass of wine with us!
Friday, January 22, 2010
5:30 - 7:30
933 Liberty Avenue
19 January 2010
Who owns your body?
This Thursday, PPWP will be participating in an excellent panel sponsored by the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Titled "Who Owns Your Body?", the talk will cover an array of issues but the main thrust (and why I'm so excited about it) will be about reframing where we secure the right to make decisions about our bodies.
As I am sure many of you know, the right to privacy is the constitutional right where we are guaranteed reproductive rights. The right to access contraception (in and out of marriage), the right to abortion, the right to privacy in the bedroom, are all found within the catchall "right to privacy".
Though we hold the right to privacy dear, it has not upheld its end of the love.
Over and over again, women are denied the right to make decisions about there body through caveats and loopholes in the right to privacy. This talk, or workshop really, will talk about OTHER places we can secure the rights we deserve.
Luckily, La'Tasha Mayes of New Voices Pittsburgh will be giving the workshop with me. La'Tasha is a pro at frameworks for understanding Reproductive Justice as not only an extension of Reproductive Rights but its own separate set of issues to be grappled with. When formulating the direction of this workshop we both agreed that SOLUTIONS is where it is at. So, hop on the bus and come to "Who Owns Your Body?" Thursday night. Its your ideas that we are looking for. Its your ideas that will secure our rights.
Here are the details:
"Who Owns Your Body?"
Thursday, January 21, 2010 7 -8:30
CMU, Porter Hall - Room 125C
100 Frew Street at Schenley Drive
Be sure to check out the ACLU Pittsburgh web page for a few readings to prepare you for the workshop!
Think you know 'Who Owns Your Body?' Concerned about reproductive freedom? Want to learn more about reproductive rights in Pennsylvania and what that means for your body? Mark your calendar for Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 and head on over to Porter Hall, Room 125C at 7pm for a lively and informative discussion with Rebecca Cavanaugh, Vice President for Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and La'Tasha D. Mayes, Executive Director of New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice. Don't forget to check out our website (www.aclupa.org) for more information and bring a friend!
As I am sure many of you know, the right to privacy is the constitutional right where we are guaranteed reproductive rights. The right to access contraception (in and out of marriage), the right to abortion, the right to privacy in the bedroom, are all found within the catchall "right to privacy".
Though we hold the right to privacy dear, it has not upheld its end of the love.
Over and over again, women are denied the right to make decisions about there body through caveats and loopholes in the right to privacy. This talk, or workshop really, will talk about OTHER places we can secure the rights we deserve.
Luckily, La'Tasha Mayes of New Voices Pittsburgh will be giving the workshop with me. La'Tasha is a pro at frameworks for understanding Reproductive Justice as not only an extension of Reproductive Rights but its own separate set of issues to be grappled with. When formulating the direction of this workshop we both agreed that SOLUTIONS is where it is at. So, hop on the bus and come to "Who Owns Your Body?" Thursday night. Its your ideas that we are looking for. Its your ideas that will secure our rights.
Here are the details:
"Who Owns Your Body?"
Thursday, January 21, 2010 7 -8:30
CMU, Porter Hall - Room 125C
100 Frew Street at Schenley Drive
Be sure to check out the ACLU Pittsburgh web page for a few readings to prepare you for the workshop!
Think you know 'Who Owns Your Body?' Concerned about reproductive freedom? Want to learn more about reproductive rights in Pennsylvania and what that means for your body? Mark your calendar for Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010 and head on over to Porter Hall, Room 125C at 7pm for a lively and informative discussion with Rebecca Cavanaugh, Vice President for Public Affairs at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and La'Tasha D. Mayes, Executive Director of New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice. Don't forget to check out our website (www.aclupa.org) for more information and bring a friend!
17 December 2009
Annnnddd...we're back!
To everyone who reads our little blog, we are so sorry for the absence recently! We had a crazy week a little while ago that left us tapped for energy and ideas. It is a lame excuse, we know it, we apologize. Truly, we are recommitted to bringing you the whats what of western Pennsylvania reproductive health news. In January, we will have great reporting from a new super secret contributor to boot! Exciting stuff.
For now, here is an excellent and incredibly funny video from Nellie McKay. I saw it this morning on Feministing.com and had to share. Back before I joined up with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, I worked for a small nonprofit in D.C. called FAIRFund.org. Nellie was on our board. We worked on ending human trafficking in the U.S. and Eastern Europe. It was an honor to have her on our team. So, without further jabbering...
Ladies and Gentlemen...NELLIE MCKAY!
For now, here is an excellent and incredibly funny video from Nellie McKay. I saw it this morning on Feministing.com and had to share. Back before I joined up with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, I worked for a small nonprofit in D.C. called FAIRFund.org. Nellie was on our board. We worked on ending human trafficking in the U.S. and Eastern Europe. It was an honor to have her on our team. So, without further jabbering...
Ladies and Gentlemen...NELLIE MCKAY!
20 November 2009
Road Trip!
As many of you know Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, in coalition with many local organizations, is planning a trip to Washington DC on December 2nd. We need to bring thousands of supporters from across the country to the nation's capital to show the overwhelming support for women's health! To do this, we need your help.
Join us in Washington, DC on Wednesday December 2nd for a day of lobbying and visibility to pass a health care reform bill that protects women and comprehensive reproductive health services. The tentative agenda is as follows:
6 a.m.: Leave Pittsburgh. We will be renting passenger vans and providing breakfast to those joining us. If anyone remembers the ride to March for Women's Lives a few years back, the ride down is fun and inspiring! There is nothing like rejuvenating our resolve with like minded supporters. We will also host a mini-briefing once the coffee kicks in :)
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Lobby with members of house. We will be asking for meetings with Congressman Doyle and Altmire. We will make additional meetings based on the constituents that participate in the event. If you are a constituent of a different congressperson, please let me know! We are happy (excited, even) to make additional meetings.
12 p.m to 2 p.m.: Coalition press conference in Upper Senate Park with Members of Congress where we will present the petition signatures we have collected against Stupak-Pitts language in the health care bill. If you would like to sign the online petition visit http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/healthreform/index.htm. If you would like a hard copy of the petition, contact me and I will send it right over to you.
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Additional meetings with members of the house and visits to Senators Specter and Casey.
4 p.m to 8 p.m.: Drive back to Pittsburgh
Our strategy at these meetings is to educate and persuade our representatives to oppose Stupak-Pitts language in the final health care reform bill. This is a challenging but rewarding task. One I am sure we are up to.
For more information on the Stupak-Pitts amendment please visit http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/. Please forward this email to your networks. The broader our range of support, the more successful we will prove to be.
Join us in Washington, DC on Wednesday December 2nd for a day of lobbying and visibility to pass a health care reform bill that protects women and comprehensive reproductive health services. The tentative agenda is as follows:
6 a.m.: Leave Pittsburgh. We will be renting passenger vans and providing breakfast to those joining us. If anyone remembers the ride to March for Women's Lives a few years back, the ride down is fun and inspiring! There is nothing like rejuvenating our resolve with like minded supporters. We will also host a mini-briefing once the coffee kicks in :)
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Lobby with members of house. We will be asking for meetings with Congressman Doyle and Altmire. We will make additional meetings based on the constituents that participate in the event. If you are a constituent of a different congressperson, please let me know! We are happy (excited, even) to make additional meetings.
12 p.m to 2 p.m.: Coalition press conference in Upper Senate Park with Members of Congress where we will present the petition signatures we have collected against Stupak-Pitts language in the health care bill. If you would like to sign the online petition visit http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/healthreform/index.htm. If you would like a hard copy of the petition, contact me and I will send it right over to you.
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Additional meetings with members of the house and visits to Senators Specter and Casey.
4 p.m to 8 p.m.: Drive back to Pittsburgh
Our strategy at these meetings is to educate and persuade our representatives to oppose Stupak-Pitts language in the final health care reform bill. This is a challenging but rewarding task. One I am sure we are up to.
For more information on the Stupak-Pitts amendment please visit http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/. Please forward this email to your networks. The broader our range of support, the more successful we will prove to be.
10 November 2009
Aftermath of the Stupak Attack
So, let's start by calling it what it is. Saying that what Rep. Bart Stupak attached to the health care reform bill was an 'amendment' is misleading. He did not just propose amending the bill, he dramatically reduced the impact of the bill for a certain class of Americans. As is typical, the ladies got the shaft. Let's agree right now not call it the "Stupak Amendment" and go with the "Stupak Attack". I think that more accurately names the atrocity that he delivered to American women on Saturday night.
Now that we have that out of the way, on to the impact of the Stupak Attack on women's health care. Primarily, the attack violates one of the underlying principle of health care reform. That no one will lose the benefits they currently have. The truth is that under the attack, millions of women would lose the private coverage for abortion services that they already have and millions more would be prohibited from buying it even with their own money if the insurance carrier is part of the new exchange. Charming.
The Stupak Attack prohibits any coverage of abortion in the public option AND prohibits anyone receiving an federal subsidy from purchasing a health insurance plan that includes abortion services. It also prohibits private health insurance plans from offering through the exchange a plan that includes abortion coverage to both subsidized and unsubsidized individuals. The only way to get around this hoopla is to purchase a separate 'abortion rider' which not only does NOT EXIST in the world of health insurance but is completely contrary to the nature of abortion procedures. Women do not plan for an unplanned pregnancy. I hate to say it but...duh.
Realistically, the actual effect of the Stupak Attack is to ban abortion coverage across the entire exchange, for women with both subsidized and unsubsidized coverage. Current restrictions on access to abortion under the Hyde Amendment (also due for a re-naming) would expand to include women considered to be middle class. So basically, unless you have your own private emergency abortion services fund or are wealth to begin with, you are out of luck.
Obviously, we are feeling pretty darn bitter about the way this went down. We do still have some hope to spread around. The senate has yet to release their version of the bill. Here in PA, that means a lot. We have an ex-republican pro-choice Senator and an anti-choice Democrat. Call them both! Call them now! If you have a personal story about abortion coverage, write it down and send it to them. Write a letter to the editor calling out the representatives who decided a handful of Catholic bishops are more valuable then 50% of the population. Call those guys too. Let them hear your disgust, your anger, and your disappointment. And right before you hang up the phone, let them know that if you can't count on them then they certainly can't count on you.
Now that we have that out of the way, on to the impact of the Stupak Attack on women's health care. Primarily, the attack violates one of the underlying principle of health care reform. That no one will lose the benefits they currently have. The truth is that under the attack, millions of women would lose the private coverage for abortion services that they already have and millions more would be prohibited from buying it even with their own money if the insurance carrier is part of the new exchange. Charming.
The Stupak Attack prohibits any coverage of abortion in the public option AND prohibits anyone receiving an federal subsidy from purchasing a health insurance plan that includes abortion services. It also prohibits private health insurance plans from offering through the exchange a plan that includes abortion coverage to both subsidized and unsubsidized individuals. The only way to get around this hoopla is to purchase a separate 'abortion rider' which not only does NOT EXIST in the world of health insurance but is completely contrary to the nature of abortion procedures. Women do not plan for an unplanned pregnancy. I hate to say it but...duh.
Realistically, the actual effect of the Stupak Attack is to ban abortion coverage across the entire exchange, for women with both subsidized and unsubsidized coverage. Current restrictions on access to abortion under the Hyde Amendment (also due for a re-naming) would expand to include women considered to be middle class. So basically, unless you have your own private emergency abortion services fund or are wealth to begin with, you are out of luck.
Obviously, we are feeling pretty darn bitter about the way this went down. We do still have some hope to spread around. The senate has yet to release their version of the bill. Here in PA, that means a lot. We have an ex-republican pro-choice Senator and an anti-choice Democrat. Call them both! Call them now! If you have a personal story about abortion coverage, write it down and send it to them. Write a letter to the editor calling out the representatives who decided a handful of Catholic bishops are more valuable then 50% of the population. Call those guys too. Let them hear your disgust, your anger, and your disappointment. And right before you hang up the phone, let them know that if you can't count on them then they certainly can't count on you.
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