Let us *not* be doing this dumb shit.

[featherynscale]

The Bush administration, not content to deny family-planning assistance to women in other countries, appear to be taking a swing at access to contraception here in the US. For double bonus points, they're doing it in a sneaky, underhanded way, equating contraception with abortion in the Department of Health and Human Services rulebook, rather than trying to ban the pill outright.

Now, I don't have to tell you how fucked up this is, do I? How restricting access to contraception increases the number of abortions, and, quite aside from that, rolls back women's rights as human beings by decades? No, I didn't think so. Normally we don't talk politics here, but kids, I get a little upset when people with lower IQs and less general competence than my humble self tell me I'm just a walking incubator, not a real person, or that only the people built on the penis-having chassis are allowed to have sex without being punished for it. So there we are.

What can we do? Probably not much. I signed a petition addressed to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, but that office is not famous for responding to public pressure. I'll be writing a personal letter later on today to same Secretary, and also to anybody I have the vaguest feeling might represent me in the legislature. I'm telling you lot. I'll also be going back to making a small, but regular donation to Planned Parenthood. I encourage you to take similar steps.

And furthermore, I'm gonna reiterate my #1 rule in this matter: Just Say No to Sex With Pro-Lifers. "Aw, honey, you're against contraception? Well, I guess I won't be screwing you until I feel like having a baby, then. Sorry about that."

Comments

Disturbing snippet from article

[lilia-blackbear.livejournal.com]

In fact, the draft rule could void laws in 27 states that require insurance companies to provide birth control coverage for women requesting it. The rule also could counter laws in 14 states requiring that rape victims receive counseling and access to emergency, day-after contraceptives.

So, 23 states say it's okay for insurance companies to refuse birth control for women requesting it??? And 36 states do not require counseling and access to the day-after pill for rape victims???

Bluh.

Re: Disturbing snippet from article

[featherynscale.livejournal.com]

Fuck, in South Dakota, they would prefer if you would just do the right thing and marry your rapist if you get pregnant from rape.