Yes, this popular NARAL Pro-Choice CT event is coming to Hartford, CT on Sunday, February 15, 2009 from 11am- 1pm. Sponsors, Hosts and guests are invited to sample lovely dishes prepared by Pro-Choice men from the area.
This is an opportunity unlike any other. Not only do you get to mingle with your fellow Pro-choicers but you get to dig in to breakfast dishes prepared by the likes of the Attorney General, fellow legislators and other male supporters of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut!
Come and join us in celebrating our achievements of 2008 and goals of 2009 as we kick off our New Year, at the house of Thom Page and Karen Reich.
Can’t wait to see you there!
For further information or to RSVP, please contact NARAL Pro-Choice CT at 860-524-1086 or email us at info@pro-choicect.org
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Help or Harm?
Created by: Jillian
Connecticut State Representative Rowe of the 123rd district, one of Connecticut's most anti-choice legislators has introduced a bill with the stated purpose of "helping women make informed decisions about abortion". Why, then oh why, would his proposal to have women view an ultrasound photo of the fetus prior to the performance of an abortion be a requirement?
If Representative Rowe is really interested in "helping" women to make informed decisions...then why not offer them this as an option or better yet...provide our state's students with comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate sex education so that they can make informed decisions about their reproductive health which might prevent them from needing an abortion.
This legislation is an anti-choice tactic that has been tried in other states throughout the country. It's completely inappropriate and once again fails to acknowledge the underlying reasons why women seek abortions--unintended pregnancies. There is no need to waste time implementing greater restrictions on abortion when what we should be focusing on is prevention!
Connecticut State Representative Rowe of the 123rd district, one of Connecticut's most anti-choice legislators has introduced a bill with the stated purpose of "helping women make informed decisions about abortion". Why, then oh why, would his proposal to have women view an ultrasound photo of the fetus prior to the performance of an abortion be a requirement?
If Representative Rowe is really interested in "helping" women to make informed decisions...then why not offer them this as an option or better yet...provide our state's students with comprehensive, medically accurate and age appropriate sex education so that they can make informed decisions about their reproductive health which might prevent them from needing an abortion.
This legislation is an anti-choice tactic that has been tried in other states throughout the country. It's completely inappropriate and once again fails to acknowledge the underlying reasons why women seek abortions--unintended pregnancies. There is no need to waste time implementing greater restrictions on abortion when what we should be focusing on is prevention!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Roe v. Wade Day!
Today is the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. To commemorate the occasion, the Connecticut Coalition for Choice (CCC), which NARAL is a member of, held a press conference on the second floor of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. The theme of the event was to unite and look to the future of reproductive justice. Jillian Gilchrest, co-chair of the CCC, lead the event and introduced speakers.
The press conference had a myriad of speakers, including: a high school student discussing sex education and a college student discussing the birth control crisis across campuses; Members from NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; the Comptroller, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Pro-choice legislators also came to show their support. The presence of lawmakers at the conference proves Connecticut’s commitment to reproductive rights.
Speakers were looking for common ground to usher in a new era of reproductive choice. Gilchrest said: “The future of the reproductive choice movement is focused on prevention. Common amongst all of us, those for and those against abortion, is the desire to reduce unintended pregnancies, thereby reducing the need for abortion, and we can do that-- with better access to contraceptives and comprehensive, medically accurate, age appropriate sex education.”
The overall mood was very optimistic, especially due to President Obama’s inauguration two days earlier. Many speakers mentioned their hope that the new administration will work to undo the slashes that have weakened abortion and other reproductive rights in the past eight years. The worst is behind us as we look forward to reproductive justice gains in the next four years. Happy birthday Roe v. Wade!
The press conference had a myriad of speakers, including: a high school student discussing sex education and a college student discussing the birth control crisis across campuses; Members from NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice; the Comptroller, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Pro-choice legislators also came to show their support. The presence of lawmakers at the conference proves Connecticut’s commitment to reproductive rights.
Speakers were looking for common ground to usher in a new era of reproductive choice. Gilchrest said: “The future of the reproductive choice movement is focused on prevention. Common amongst all of us, those for and those against abortion, is the desire to reduce unintended pregnancies, thereby reducing the need for abortion, and we can do that-- with better access to contraceptives and comprehensive, medically accurate, age appropriate sex education.”
The overall mood was very optimistic, especially due to President Obama’s inauguration two days earlier. Many speakers mentioned their hope that the new administration will work to undo the slashes that have weakened abortion and other reproductive rights in the past eight years. The worst is behind us as we look forward to reproductive justice gains in the next four years. Happy birthday Roe v. Wade!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
CT Catholic Conference Holds Press Conference Day Before Roe v. Wade Day
The Connecticut Catholic Conference held a press conference today in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Its executive summary was titled a special report on "The State of Abortion in Connecticut 2000-2007". The report finds that the abortion rate in CT is increasing. The group's legislative recommendations include: increasing the age a minor must recieve counseling from 15 to 17, enacting an adult notification law for the state of CT, and modifying an existing law that health care workers must immediately notify the DCF when girls 12 years and younger are seeking an abortion.
The group tried forging a connection between notification laws and fewer sexual predators. Its logic was based off the idea that if a teen must notify her parents before an abortion, sexual predators are less likely to attack because they think they have a greater chance of getting caught. Of course, this logic is flawed: notification laws infringe on a teenager's right to have an abortion, regardless of what her parents think. Creating obstacles to abortion put our daughters (and other young people) in danger of not getting the medical care they have a right to.
NARAL supports comprehensive sex education as a way to decrease the number of potential unwanted pregnancies. The Catholic Conference questioned the effectiveness of sex education. It neither supported nor opposed the Act Concerning Healthy Teens, a comprehensive sex education bill that was introduced last year.
The press conference came a day before the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Tomorrow (1/22), the Connecticut Coalition for Choice will hold its own press conference in the legislative office building to commemerate the occassion and look ahead to future work in reproductive justice.
Watch for NARAL Pro-Choice CT on the Fox 5 10 o'clock news tonight, January 21.
The group tried forging a connection between notification laws and fewer sexual predators. Its logic was based off the idea that if a teen must notify her parents before an abortion, sexual predators are less likely to attack because they think they have a greater chance of getting caught. Of course, this logic is flawed: notification laws infringe on a teenager's right to have an abortion, regardless of what her parents think. Creating obstacles to abortion put our daughters (and other young people) in danger of not getting the medical care they have a right to.
NARAL supports comprehensive sex education as a way to decrease the number of potential unwanted pregnancies. The Catholic Conference questioned the effectiveness of sex education. It neither supported nor opposed the Act Concerning Healthy Teens, a comprehensive sex education bill that was introduced last year.
The press conference came a day before the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Tomorrow (1/22), the Connecticut Coalition for Choice will hold its own press conference in the legislative office building to commemerate the occassion and look ahead to future work in reproductive justice.
Watch for NARAL Pro-Choice CT on the Fox 5 10 o'clock news tonight, January 21.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Why We Fight
The "Conscience Rule," as described by Centinelle over the past week, was President Bush's parting gift to the right-wing faction in the Republican party. It was an attack on birth control, an attack on reproductive choice, and an insult to the American people. This legislation can only lead to the degradation of reproductive health care, particularly for poor and uninsured women.
Yesterday, Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of seven states, seeking a court order to block the new rule. We are reviving a strong pro-choice climate in Connecticut, illustrated by our state taking the lead in fighting this legislation. As our country ushers in a new pro-choice President, Connecticut needs to maintain a leadership role. It's easy to fall into complacency, but there is still work to be done. We deserve a collective high five, but the game's not over yet.
And on a lighter note, enjoy these letters of Presidential advice to Obama from a bunch of kids, as featured in the New York Times Opinion section today. They're priceless!
Yesterday, Connecticut's Attorney General Richard Blumenthal filed a lawsuit in federal court on behalf of seven states, seeking a court order to block the new rule. We are reviving a strong pro-choice climate in Connecticut, illustrated by our state taking the lead in fighting this legislation. As our country ushers in a new pro-choice President, Connecticut needs to maintain a leadership role. It's easy to fall into complacency, but there is still work to be done. We deserve a collective high five, but the game's not over yet.
And on a lighter note, enjoy these letters of Presidential advice to Obama from a bunch of kids, as featured in the New York Times Opinion section today. They're priceless!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Connecticut and Bush's New Rule
A Hartford Courant editorial reported that the Bush Administration cited a Connecticut law when proposing its new "Conscience Rule". The 2007 Connecticut law "requires hospitals to offer emergency contraception to rape victims." The Bush Administration opposes this law, as shown by the new rule released last december. The Courant pointed out one exception in the CT law that the administration failed to mention: "the law gives hospitals that object to it an out: they can use independent providers to administer contraception."
Friday, January 9, 2009
"Conscience" Rule
The "Conscience" Rule, announced in late december by the Department of Health and Human Services, is set to take affect in late January. The New York Times reports that: "The rule prohibits recipients of federal money from discriminating against doctors, nurses and health care aides who refuse to take part in procedures because of their convictions, and it bars hospitals, clinics, doctors’ office and pharmacies from forcing their employees to assist in programs and activities financed by the department." The new rule has serious implications for abortion, contraceptive, and other reproductive rights issues. If health care workers are allowed to let their religious ideas influence the type of medical care provided to patients, a woman's right to choose will be the first thing impacted.
Some organizations opposed to the rule include: The American Medical Association, The American Nurses Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Hospital Association, and The National Association of Chain Drugstores.
President-Elect Obama is expected to undo the "Conscience Rule", but it will take several months after he enters office.
Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/washington/19rule.html
Some organizations opposed to the rule include: The American Medical Association, The American Nurses Association, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Hospital Association, and The National Association of Chain Drugstores.
President-Elect Obama is expected to undo the "Conscience Rule", but it will take several months after he enters office.
Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/19/washington/19rule.html
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