Tag Archives: Rape

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Redefining rape? a repost and reminder


when you vote! #VoteBlueToSaveYourRights

Dear MoveOn member,

Think “no” means “no”?

Well, 173 members of Congress don’t.

A far-reaching anti-choice bill, introduced by Republican Chris Smith and supported by 173 members of the House, includes a provision that could redefine rape and set women’s rights back by decades.1

Right now, federal dollars can’t be used for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman’s life is in danger.

But according to the New York Times, the Smith bill would narrow that use to “cases of ‘forcible’ rape but not statutory or coerced rape.”2 This could mean cases where women are “drugged or given excessive amounts of alcohol, rapes of women with limited mental capacity, and many date rapes” would no longer count as rape.3

As far too many women know, bruises and broken bones do not define rape—a lack of consent does. The Smith bill is scary. And with 173 supporters it already has a frightening chance of passage—unless the public speaks up right away with an outcry that can’t be ignored.

Can you sign the petition to Congress today, demanding they oppose the sexist, anti-choice Smith bill? >> http://pol.moveon.org

Federal funds are already severely restricted when it comes to reproductive rights and women’s health care, a situation that ends up hurting lower-income women in particular, who tend to use federally-funded services more often than wealthy women. The last thing we ought to be doing is legislating to make these laws more stringent.

In addition, the Smith bill is full of dangerous anti-choice provisions as well as the rape redefinition. Called “Stupak on Steroids” by NARAL Pro-Choice America in reference to Rep. Bart Stupak‘s failed attempt to push stringent restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion during the health care debate, it would “force millions of American families to pay more taxes if their health plan covers abortion care, jeopardizing abortion coverage in the private market.”4

The Smith bill is just the first of many attacks on women’s rights to come in the new GOP-controlled House.5 If it moves forward, it would set an incredibly dangerous precedent for GOP action in the House for the next two years.

Can you sign the petition asking Congress to denounce the Smith bill to redefine rape?

http://pol.moveon.org

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Eli, Milan, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “The House GOP’s Plan to Redefine Rape,” Mother Jones, January 28, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205936&id=25965-9640874-dbC4j7x&t=5

“Stupak on Steroids,” The Hill, January 25, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205938&id=25965-9640874-dbC4j7x&t=6

2. “The Two Abortion Wars: A Highly Intrusive Federal Bill,” New York Times, January 29, 2011

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/opinion/30sun1.html

3. “The House GOP’s Plan to Redefine Rape,” Mother Jones, January 28, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205936&id=25965-9640874-dbC4j7x&t=7

“Stupak on Steroids,” The Hill, January 25, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205938&id=25965-9640874-dbC4j7x&t=8

5. Ibid.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Back to the back alley? In Memory of Women’s Rights taken and a reminder

1 Comment

The Post below originated in 2011, it’s tough to say, but Republicans back then actually walked this “redefining Rape” Bill, but the Republicans of today, conservatives in SCOTUS have jumped their lanes from being the highest court in the land supposedly providing checks and balances to telling Society what they can and cannot do! Instead, they have taken away the Rights of Voters, POC, Blacks, and Women without so much as a blink of how their rulings impact the Nation, thus tossing it into chaos … is that their job? How many feel less safe since trump packed the Court with his Justices while the elder conservatives took a deep dive into behavior that probably needs an Ethics investigation, but conservatives seem to have tossed out their Oaths! SCOTUS should be on the side of Checks and Balances, but America is far from that perfect Union when all we see is a chaotic attempt at forcing folks to live an extremely conservative lifestyle… 

Rape has increased since the conservatives in SCOTUS and Congress decided Women basically had no Reproductive Rights 

Big news: Thanks in part to you and the 581,053 others who signed the “Redefining Rape?” petition, the Republicans are back-pedaling from their attempt to redefine rape.1 Your support made a real difference.protectwomen'shc

But this legislation is still terrible for women. Rep. Carolyn Maloney called it “the deepest attack on a woman’s right to choose in my lifetime.”2 Expert Jessica Arons said it would “accomplish the unstated end of making abortion as difficult to obtain as possible without actually criminalizing it.”3Womenshc

Among other things, the bill would effectively prevent women from using their own money to purchase insurance that includes abortion coverage in the new insurance exchanges. Experts warn this could lead to insurance companies dropping abortion coverage entirely.4aroomofmenscrewswomen

And it’s only one part of the Republicans’ attack on women’s health. A second bill would allow hospitals to let a pregnant woman die rather than perform the abortion that would save her life.5It’s reprehensible. We can’t let the GOP force women back into the back alley. You stood up against the disgusting “forcible rape” provision—now can you stand together to tell Congress to oppose these attacks on women’s right to choose by signing the petition below?Womenrpreexistingcon

http://pol.moveon.org/wontgoback/?id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=3 The petition says: “Stop the GOP war on women’s health. Please oppose the bills that would restrict abortion coverage and erode a keepabortionlegalwoman’s right to choose.”

On Tuesday, local MoveOn members in “We Won’t Go Back to the Back Alley” T-shirts will deliver your petitions during a hearing on Capitol Hill. Anti-choice activists are sure to be out in full force at the hearing, so we need a huge stack of names to show Congress and the news media that voters won’t stand for this attack.

These GOP bills are a full-throated attack on women’s reproductive freedoms. Their legislation would:6

Effectively ban abortion coverage in the new health insurance exchanges even if people pay for coverage with their own money.

Impose tax penalties on small businesses that pay for health plans that cover abortion and people who pay for abortion care.

Force the District of Columbia to impose all of the above laws, instead of letting the city decide its own laws.

Permanently ban abortion care for women insured by the government.

And a recently added provision is perhaps the most disgusting: allowing hospitals to deny a woman a life-saving abortion. If this bill passes, hospitals will be allowed to turn away a woman seeking an abortion, even if she’ll die without it—a major change from current law.7

Will you sign the petition today and stand up for a woman’s right to choose?

Don’t let the GOP send us back to the back alley. Sign the petition and share with your friends today:

http://pol.moveon.org/wontgoback/?id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Eli, Milan, Carrie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “House Republicans drop controversial ‘forcible rape’ language,” CNN, February 3, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205960&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=5

2. “Democratic Reps. Unimpressed With New House Abortion Bill,” Talking Points Memo, February 3, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205966&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=6

3. “Extreme Abortion Coverage Ban Introduced,” Center for American Progress, January 20, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205961&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=7

4. “An Analysis of the Implications of the Stupak/Pitts Amendment for Coverage of Medically Indicated Abortions,” The George Washington University Medical Center, School of Public Health & Health Services, November 16, 2009

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205972&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=8  (PDF)    

“Study: Stupak Amendment Will Eliminate Abortion Coverage ‘Over Time For All Women,'” Tal king Points Memo, November 18, 2009

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205973&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=9

“A Quick Note on the ‘No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,'” Mother Jones, January 20, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205975&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=10 

“Extreme Abortion Coverage Ban Introduced,” Center for American Progress, January 20, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205961&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=11 

5. “New GOP Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Let Women Die Instead Of Having An Abortion,” Talking Points Memo, February 4, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205974&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=12

6. “Extreme Abortion Coverage Ban Introduced,” Center for American Progress, January 20, 2011

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=205961&id=26019-17809870-opCKlFx&t=13

7. “New GOP Bill Would Allow Hospitals To Let Women Die Instead Of Having An Abortion,” Talking Points Memo, February 4, 2011

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/new-gop-law-would-allow-hospitals-to-let-women-die-instead-of-having-an-abortion.php.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

11 yr old to police: rape is a crime


Kaia* was eleven years old when she was assaulted and raped on the way to school. A teacher took her to the hospital, but the police demanded bribes for even taking down a statement.
So Kaia did something incredibly brave. She sued the police for failing to protect her. What’s even more incredible is what happened next.
In Kenya where Kaia lives, a woman or girl is raped every 30 minutes. Police there routinely turn a blind eye, further isolating terrified young survivors and reinforcing the notion that rape is ok.
Kaia and ten other young survivors challenged that. On the day of the case, ignoring threats to their safety and a blockade from court security, they marched from their shelter to the courthouse, chanting “Haki yangu” — Kiswahili for “I demand my rights.” And then the judge issued his ruling: The girls had won!
The amazing advocates and human rights lawyers that worked with Kaia are ready to bring similar lawsuits against police forces across Africa and beyond, but they need funding to do it. We won’t process pledges  until we reach our goal, but if just 30,000 of us pledge a small amount now, we can repeat this game-changing victory in other countries, remind police that rape is a crime, and take a powerful step forward against the global war on wom

When Kaia’s story began, she looked set to become just another of the countless victims of child rape ignored by the police. But Kenyan child rights advocate Mercy Chidi and Canadian human rights lawyer Fiona Sampson joined forces to challenge this injustice in the courts.
The plan was hatched in Kenya by a group of colleagues from Canada,  Kenya, Malawi and Ghana — it seemed like a long shot to sue the police  force for failing to act, but they stuck with it and took risks… and  made legal history. The work has just begun: like any win, it takes  time, effort and money to make sure the ruling sticks, and to use it as a springboard to wipe out violence against women.
If we raise enough, here’s how we could turn a huge victory for Kenya into a win for countries across Africa and even the rest of  the world:

  • help fund more cases like this, across Africa and around the world
  • use hard-hitting campaign strategies to make sure these groundbreaking judgments are enforced
  • push for massive, effective public education campaigns that strike at the root of sexual violence and help erase it for good
  • respond to more campaign opportunities like this case — with super smart strategies that turn the tide in the war on women.

As citizens, we often appeal to political leaders and other officials to get serious about protecting women’s rights. It’s important to keep doing that, but when they fail to hear their consciences, we need to appeal to their interests, and take them to court. That sends a powerful message: not only that there are new consequences for their crimes, but that the era of unchallenged misogyny in the culture of our societies is coming to end.
With hope,
Ricken, Maria Paz, Emma, Oli, Nick, Allison, Luca and the rest of the Avaaz team
* Kaia is a pseudonym, but her story is real. She is not pictured here.

PS – To pledge an amount other than the ones listed above, click here.
MORE INFORMATION:
In Kenya, a Victory for girls and rights (The New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/opinion/global/in-kenya-a-victory-for-girls-and-rights.html Canadians force Kenyan police to answer for ‘inexcusably’ neglecting reports of sexual abuse against girls (National Post) http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/31/kenyan-police-forced-to-answer-for-neglecting-reports-of-sexual-abuse/ Chance meeting led to justice for rape victims (Toronto Star) http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2013/06/13/chance_meeting_led_to_justice_for_rape_victims_porter.html African women the worst off – report (iOl News) http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/african-women-the-worst-off-report-1.1537277#.UcqVaOthpFR Africa: Violence Against Women Is Epidemic (AllAfrica) http://allafrica.com/stories/201307160410.html India’s Rape Crisis Undermines the Country (The Daily Beast) http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/07/india-s-rape-crisis-undermines-the-country.html Malawi country report (UNICEF) http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/malawi.html

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Steve King Has : “Never Heard” of Pregnancy from Statutory Rape … unreal and a reminder


Steve King Has “Never Heard” Of Pregnancy From Statutory Rape

Steve King Has “Never Heard” Of Pregnancy From Statutory Rape

Well, if the Todd Akin mess has shown anything, it’s that any talk of abortion restrictions being passed in the name of “protecting” or “helping” women is just that.

There is nothing helpful about forced pregnancy and birth, yet that is the precise position of the Republican party. And as if Akin’s statements that rape exceptions are not needed in abortion bans because women don’t get pregnant in the case of “legitimate” rape weren’t bad enough, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) made the case that Republicans don’t believe statutory rape is legitimate rape.

As Talking Points Memo reports, King told an Iowa reporter he’s never heard of a child getting pregnant from statutory rape or incest.

“Well I just haven’t heard of that being a circumstance that’s been brought to me in any personal way,” King told KMEG-TV Monday, “and I’d be open to discussion about that subject matter.”

By Akin’s logic, a logic shared by Mike Huckabee, Steve King, Ron Paul and countless others in the Republican party, this lack of evidence of conception means that an exception to an abortion ban in the cases of statutory rape are not needed.

A 1996 report by the Guttmacher Institute found that at least half of all babies born to minor women are fathered by adult men.

That, by definition, is childbirth as a result of statutory rape. But most importantly is the big picture here. These are not isolated, unhinged comments by the fringe of the Republican party. This is their platform.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rape Insurance?


By 

GOP War on Women, Michigan Edition

After the 2010 elections swept Republicans into power in legislatures across the country, they set about passing an unprecedented number of restrictions — 135 in 2011 and 2012 and 84 more so far this year — on abortion rights.

Michigan has been no exception. A year ago, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed one of the nation’s most extreme anti-abortion laws.

Now lawmakers have used a quirk in Michigan law to push through a bill mandating rape insurance. Yes, you read that right: rape insurance.

ThinkProgress’ Tara Culp-Ressler explains:

On Wednesday evening, both chambers of the Michigan legislature approved a measure that will require women to purchase an additional insurance rider if they want abortion coverage, even in cases when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest. It will take effect 90 days after lawmakers adjourn, making Michigan the ninth state to restrict coverage of abortion on the private insurance market — an increasingly popular method of imposing barriers to the procedure.

Opponents decried the legislation as a “rape insurance” bill, pointing out that victims of sexual assault would be forced to pay out-of-pocket for an abortion procedure unless they had thought ahead and purchased a separate rider. In the lead-up to the vote, State Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer (D) called the bill “one of the most misogynistic proposals” that has ever been up for debate in the legislature, adding that forcing women to consider purchasing extra insurance in case they’re raped in the future is “truly despicable.”

And Republicans endorsed the measure even after their own colleagues shared their personal stories of sexual assault and miscarriage. Last year, two female Michigan state representatives were temporarily banned from speaking on the Michigan House floor after they dared speak the word “vagina” during the debate on a different draconian anti-abortion bill.

Snyder had vetoed the bill last year but it will become law this year without his signature because “citizen-initiated” bills (bills advanced following a signature gathering drive) approved by the legislature don’t require his approval. The legislature could have disapproved, in which case the measure would’ve been put before Michigan voters in 2014. Instead, they endorsed the offensive and cruel notion of rape insurance.

Harsh anti-abortion measures like this are just one example of a nationwide campaign by right-wing activists to impose their own theological doctrines onto others using public policy.

BOTTOM LINE: If Republicans don’t want to be accused of waging a war on women, they should stop passing bill after bill that attack women and their families.