Clinic defense: A prochoice band-aid

My clinic escort buddy Username Catbus recently posted reasons why clinic defense is a crummy volunteer gig, and why he does it anyway. His main points:

a) You have to listen to racist jerks yell babykiller epithets at you and patients. Further reading: Our local antis created a handy manual on how to harass women on the street who might be "abortion-minded"

b) It's boring and you risk sunburn/inclement weather/racist jerks

c) Clinic defense best suits volunteers with an even keeled temperament, so it's not for everyone, and

d) If you don't have an even keeled temperament, you're better off doing other prochoice work like lobbying or campaigning for progressive candidates, since clinic defense is just a band-aid for a bigger problem.

But we continue to volunteer because it is generally the most meaningful and rewarding reason to wake up at 7am on a Saturday. Really, clinic defense is my favorite volunteer activity and I encourage everyone who's pro-choice to try it. In addition to the general warm fuzzy feelings you get from volunteering, consider:

a) It's 8:30am. Sleepiness often trumps crankiness at antis.

b) You get to socialize with cool people you might not ordinarily meet. I've met prochoice bloggers, Hill staffers, dog walkers, federal contractors, college kids, and legendary local escort Phil. Far better than okcupid or networking happy hours.

c) You can have a really productive Saturday when you wake up early. Counterpoint: When you go out that evening, your friends will be perky and you will fall asleep in the bar, if you're me.

d) There's no minimum time commitment for volunteering with DC area clinics. Commitment-phobes welcome.

e) No papercuts.

f) It will make you even more pro-choice. Even if you just go to a short volunteer training, you'll feel smarter and angrier about clinic harassment.

If you are in the DC area and want to become a clinic escort, contact the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force. If you are elsewhere, join FMF's Adopt-a-Clinic campaign and email campusteam (at) feminist (dot) org for help finding a provider. Comment below and let us know how you're supporting your friendly local abortion provider!

Photo of crisis-pregnancy-center-mobile: j-No on Flickr

Feminist weekend - DC edition

Why yes, it is 100 degrees in the nation's capital. So take advantage of some feminist-friendly events this weekend that also feature air-conditioning.

Kelly Castillo's "Renaissance Reduxx" exhibition skewers traditional gender roles and the many personas modern women juggle. Free at Art Whino Gallery through July 5.

Thanks to Title IX, women are entitled to equal educational and athletic opportunities. What better way to celebrate our hard-earned rights than with a WNBA game - cheer for the Washington Mystics as they take on the Phoenix Mercury 4pm on Sunday at the Verizon Center.

Then toodle over to Dance Place for Word Dance Theater's performances of choreography by feminist and modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan. Tickets are $22 for the Saturday and Sunday evening productions.

Enjoy!

Photo: ellajphillips on Flickr

Call for volunteers - Girls Rock! DC

Need a feminist extracurricular this summer? Don't we all! An organization with which I volunteer needs feminist camp counselors, instrument instructors, and a whole bunch of volunteer needs - here's the info:

Call for volunteers!

Girls Rock! DC is a music education day camp for DC-area girls ages 8-18. Campers receive small group instruction on instruments, women in music, conflict resolution, & other skills girls need to rock! The girls form bands or DJ teams, collaborate to write an original song or set, & perform at the 9:30 Club.

Camp: Aug. 9-14, 2010
At The Kingsbury Center
5000 14th St. NW

Applications are due THIS WEDNESDAY 5/15. To learn more and apply, visit http://www.girlsrockdc.org/ . Email volunteer@girlsrockdc.org for more info.

Send in your volunteer application today - I submitted mine!

I update Twitter and Facebook for GR!DC, and worked the camper showcase at the 9:30 last year. Every so often, I still find myself humming some of the song lyrics the girls wrote: "Eat this, it's a pie in your face. Ha ha!" It was awesome.

Photo credit: Kim Swartz

Register now: NYFLC!

We can't wait to see your smiling feminist faces at our upcoming National Young Feminist Leadership Conference this March! We had a great time working on last year's conference, so join us again for the latest on feminist politics and activism! Network with top feminist leaders and hundreds of fab student organizers from all around the country. Tell them about all the great work you've done on campus... you know you want to...

TODAY is the last day for our early registration rate, so get a move on! Women already earn less than men do, so make those hard earned dollars go farther and save by registering for the conference today!

The early registration rate is only $15 per person through today, but goes up to $25/person after that. The rate for groups of 5 or more is $12 per person through today, and will go up to $20/person. Call us at 703-522-2214 to register your group!

Students from 33 campuses in 19 states have already registered. Folks from Maine, South Dakota, Colorado, Vancouver and beyond are already on board. So start your feminist fundraising and bring your feminist friends to the University of the District of Columbia on Mar. 20-22. Register online today or call the DC campus organizers at 703-522-2214 to get the group discount!

Greetings Feminists!

Hi y'all, I'm Mariel Kirschen, a new intern at the FMF DC office and would just like to introduce myself to all you readers out there in the blogging world. I'm brand new to blogging, so bear with me as I try to find my footing.

I'm a sophomore at American University here in DC studying Law and Society and Women and Gender Studies. I'm especially passionate about issues involving violence against women so you might find me posting a lot on related topics.

This internship is a great opportunity to take what I'm learning in the classroom and use it to take action against issues involving women in the real world.

I'm really excited for what I will learn and the experiences I will gain. Thanks for reading!

photo courtesy of nationscapital.com via flickr

Get on board for FMF's national conference!

Registration for FMF's 6th annual National Young Feminist Leadership Conference is now open! Join us March 20-22 to network and share feminist organizing strategies with hundreds of activists, including top feminist leaders in advocacy organizations, universities, public office, and more.

We’ll be focusing on domestic and global repro rights and health, anti-abortion harassment and violence, gender-based violence, the legislative process, and other critical topics at this 2-day conference. Then join us Monday 3/22 for our Congressional Day of Action and tell your members of Congress what issues are important to you!

Early bird registration for both the conference and day of action is only $15 through Feb. 1 so act fast! Group discounts are also available. Prices go up to $25/person after 2/1.

For more info, check out the conference site and Facebook event. The Facebook page also has a room and ride board if you want to save on travel and lodging costs. If you have any questions, email our DC campus organizers at campusteam (at) feminist (dot) org or call 703-522-2214.

What do we want? EQUALITY!

Hooray! The DC Council voted today to recognize same sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Washington DC is poised to join Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and Iowa in extending marriage rights to gay couples if the measure (PDF) passes. The bill, sponsored by openly gay Council Member David Catania, passed 11-2.

If DC Mayor Adrian Fenty signs the bill, as he has promised to, the US Congress has 30 days to amend or kill the bill, as DC cannot independently pass legislation. If Congress does not take any action on the bill, it will pass. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has vowed to fight the bill in Congress, while Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has said she will work to pass the bill.

This is a definite victory, but the fight is not yet over. Civil rights activists need to keep up the great work and keep advocating for equal rights for all citizens. Happy rabble-rousing!

DC Same-Sex Marriage Law, Just a Formality?

Currently being drafted in D.C Council's Committee on Public Safety is Bill 18-482. What is so special about that Bill (that causes me to jig in my seat) you might ask? It is a bill circulating that argues, "marriage equality already exists in the city, and a law legalizing it isn't much more than a formality" according to DCist.

The bill recognizes that NOWHERE in the constitution does it define marriage as a union only between a woman and man. It cites several other laws and initiatives that have been drafted and used in the DC area dating back from 1992 that worked to use gender neutral language, allowing more rights to same-sex couples. Having the right to marry is more than just a piece of paper binding two people together. Marriage constitutes federal benefits and protections, like estate taxes, hospital visitation, Medicaid and more. All of which are things civil unions and domestic partnerships cannot. The right to marry is simply granting people access to the same benefits and protections that other people already legally have.

The bill is expected to be marked up today and ready for a council vote on December 1st. Keep your fingers and toes crossed people, I know those of us at Feminist Majority Foundation sure are!

Picture Credit: o'holy sweet cakes on flickr.com

Stupak is Whack

30 feminists descended on Capitol Hill today to protest the Stupak amendment. I was one of them.

The rally, sponsored by NOW, drew feminists from groups like the Feminist Majority Foundation, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, and the National Women's Law Center.

We met in front of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, carrying signs that said "Keep Ur Stupak Off My Body," "Stupak is Whack!," and "Healthcare for All!" We were promptly greeted by Randall Terry of Operation Rescue and his anti-choice buddies. They followed us around, shouting "Abortion is murder!" through their megaphones.

Oddly enough, we got serenaded by Randall in a Grim Reaper costume. His lyrics bordered on sexual harassment and were pretty demeaning. "Don't worry ladies, I want all your children." "Girls, girls, keep abortion going." Oh well, religious nutjobs going out of their way to put you down is a sign that you're doing something right.

We did two laps around the office building before we were asked to leave by Capitol Police. You can only do so much with an impromptu protest and no permit.

I hope these protests pick up in size. We need our Congressfolk to kill this amendment!

CALLING ALL DC FEMINISTS: Rally Today in Support of Pro-Choice Health Care Reform!

-- Please Forward This Message Widely --

Dear NOW Members and pro-choice allies,

We MUST protect our rights! We NEED you on the streets! NOW! After a
backroom deal late Friday night, and a floor vote late Saturday night,
the House has accepted restrictions on abortion that go far beyond
the despicable Hyde Amendment, which has denied federal funding of abortion
since 1976. We must denounce the House's passage of the Stupak Amendment.

We can not allow the Senate to incorporate similar language in its own
bill.

For more information, please see the following statement from our President
Terry O Neill:
http://www.now.org/press/11-09/11-08.html

Please join together with NOW activists over the lunch hour tomorrow to make
sure our Senators know women are watching. We will rally on the sidewalks
for all women, because we have been left out of the House health care bill.

Date: Monday, November 9
Time: 12 p.m. (noon)
Location: Meet at the corner of Constitution and Delaware
Walking a loop around Russell, Dirksen and Hart Senate Office Buildings
Bring: Cameras, NOW Rounds (we will bring some for those who need them)
Homemade signs* (please remember to write on both sides of the signs)

We will bring additional signs for those who need them.

Thank you,
Erin
Erin Matson
Action Vice President
National Organization for Women
(202) 628-8669
www.now.org

Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project

I just read a great article on the DCist about the Young Women's Drumming Empowerment Project (YWDEP).

YWDEP is an awesome program that lets young women in DC schools express themselves through drumming and other forms of art. According to the YWDEP site, the project is a "summer-long program of weekly workshops led by local female artists in team building, African hand drumming, poetry, song writing, rhythms, theater/movement, performance technique and staging."

All I can say is that I'm really glad a project like this exists. Drumming is a field of self-expression that is far too often limited to men and it's great to see it opening up to young women. Also, I'm always for anything that lets people express themselves.

Here's a short documentary on YWDEP:

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/meigooni/

Show solidarity with Iranian people this weekend!

On July 25th, major human rights organizations are coordinating a Global Day of Action for Human Rights in Iran. This global event is so that people can show their solidarity and demand respect for the rights of Iranian people. It's time that the wishes and rights of the Iranian people are respected, and the government is able resolve issues without violence.

Events are being held in several major US cities:

-San Diego: July 24, 6-8pm at Balboa Park (1900 Park Blvd, San Diego)

-San Francsico: July 25, 12-4pm at City Hall

-Chicago: July 25, noon at Federal Plaza at Dearborn and Adams St.

-New York City: July 25, 12:30pm. There's a march starting at Times Square (41st and 7th Ave.)

-D.C.: July 25. At 4pm there's a demonstration at the UN office (corner of 18th and K). A march begins at 5:15 to the Constitutional Gardens. Then, there's a rally at the Gardens (19th and Constitution) with several notable speakers.

This looks like an amazing opportunity for us to show our support of the courageous Iranian women and men who have been fighting so hard for their rights. If you want more information, go to http://www.united4iran.org/.

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr/fhashemi

Students for DC Vote BBQ next weekend!

Check out this great event next weekend hosted by Students for DC Vote. Every year this group hosts a summer send-off barbeque for college students and recent grads. DC Vote was founded in 1998 to fight the lack of Congressional representation for DC residents. Nearly half a million people live in DC and aren't represented in the House or the Senate. This event is hosted yearly to raise awareness of this issue for DC residents and encourage advocacy.

The event is free, food will be served, and everyone who RSVPs gets some cool DC vote merchandise, snacks and supplies for school, and an advocacy toolkit. If you're interested (and you should be!) RSVP to jdonelan@dcvote.org

Photo courtesy KClvey of flickr

March to the Beat of your Own Drum--this summer in DC!

• WOMEN

• Empowerment

• Expression

• …Drumming

Combine the above elements in this summer’s the Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project's 8-week workshop beginning on July 8th. The workshop is called the Summer Enrichment Program and strives to increase participants' confidence, creativity, and expression.

Participants of this workshop won’t just be sitting around beating a conga, though. The rigorous schedule includes meditation, yoga, team-building, and healthy snacks/lunches provided by Whole Foods.

The conclusion of the workshop will feature a concert for the public in mid-September, showcasing the participants' hard work while celebrating their raw creativity.

Apply Now!

Free summer concerts in DC!

The Washingtonian has helpfully compiled a list of free music performances scheduled this summer. These are tough economic times, so anything free is music to my ears.

Most are outdoors and under-21 friendly, which is cool (and hot). Special shoutout to the Fort Reno summer series in Tenleytown, which took a hiatus last summer while arsenic was removed from the park. It's now arsenic-free, and as of Monday, will no longer be hipster-free.

But that's okay. I'm hoping to go next week, so let me know if you're down!

Newsday Tuesday: May 26 Edition

Another week of feminist news has gone by, so here's a quick week-in-review!

National:
The US Supreme Court ruled that maternity leave taken prior to the 1979 Pregnancy Discrimination Act does not have to be credited to pensions on a pregnancy discrimination case.

President Obama announced his nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States, replacing retiring Justice David Souter.

International:
The Nepalese Supreme Court ordered an expansion of access to abortion, particularly for poor women.

State by State:
A proposed anti-choice constitutional amendment in the state of Tennessee passed the state house of representatives, specifically stating that "nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion."

The State Assembly of California passed a broader state-level version of the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, expanding the statute of limitations on pay discrimination claims runs from the receipt of each discriminatory payment.

The Louisiana state House passed a health care "conscience" bill, allowing providers to withhold abortion, emergency contraception, and other services and medications on the basis of religious or moral objections.

In response to legislation earlier this month by the DC City Council enabling the District to recognize same sex marriages performed in other states, a bill was introduced to the US House of Representatives that would institute a Defense of Marriage Act for the District of Columbia defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

And the big news from California - the state's Supreme Court upheld the results of Proposition 8, an anti gay marriage ballot initiative which passed in November 2008.

Photo Credit: Official WhiteHouse Flickr Stream and Val protesting Prop 8 in DC last fall.

Friday feminist roundup

Hi feminists!

FMF is gearing up for our National Young Women's Leadership Conference next weekend, and things are looking good. The NYWLC will be March 21-22 at the University of the District of Columbia, followed by a congressional visit day on the 23rd.

Speakers include:
Hilda Solis, U.S. Secretary of Labor
Tina Tchen, White House Council on Women and Girls
Eleanor Smeal, Feminist Majority Foundation
Dolores Huerta, United Farm Workers
Lilly Ledbetter, U.S. Supreme Court petitioner
Reva Price, advisor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Shireen Mitchell, Digital Sisters/Sistas
Shelby Knox, The Education of Shelby Knox
and more!

430 people have already registered, and more are on the way. Learn more and register TODAY at http://www.feministcampus.org/leadership/.

We've been busy reaching out to students, staff, and faculty in the DC Metro area to encourage them to participate. This week, members of the campus team visited the University of the District of Columbia, George Washington University, and Trinity University, and contacted the Montgomery College Women's Studies program.

There is a lot of activism and leadership on these campuses, and on campuses throughout DC. We'll return to UDC next week to table and encourage the student body to get involved. They've been a great host, and we're looking forward to showcasing this campus to young feminists and seasoned leaders from all around the country.

Keep up the fabulous feminist work on your campuses and communities. Thanks and we hope to see you in DC for the conference!

sNOw Day like Today to Register!

The wintry east coast weather may be cold and snowy but there are still HOT DEALS for the National Young Women's Leadership Conference! Today's the last day to register for only $20 as individuals and $15/person for groups of 5+--you don't want to miss out!

To register, click here!

For more info, or to register your group of 5+, call the FMF campus team: Washington D.C. office at 1-866-444-FMLA (toll free), Los Angeles office at 1-866-471-FMLA.