Celebrating Small Victories

As you know, feminists across the country took action on Monday, April 13, as part of the National Crisis Pregnancy Center Protest Day.  For some, the day included protesting outside of fake clinics; for others, tabling and flyering on campus.

One exciting story from Cal State Long Beach...

When members of the  "Feminist Organization Reclaiming Consciousness and Equality" (FORCE) found out anti-choice protesters were planning to be on campus on April 13 (giant posters and all), they gathered as many people as possible and held an improptu fake clinic counter-protest near by.  As FORCE gathered more and more support from the student body, the anti-choice group eventually got the message that their lies weren't needed and hit the road!

Three cheers to FORCE for making their voice heard--loud and clear!

Do you have a story you wish to share?  Email campusteam@feminist.org!

Why I Protest Fake Clinics

I recently received an email from a woman asking, "why anyone would want to get rid of crisis pregnancy centers that help young women make an informed decision regarding an unplanned pregnancy?"  Unlike many of the emails FMF receives--often illogical rants opposed to full  reproductive health and rights for women--this sender was polite, curteous, and seemed to genuinely want to understand my perspective.  (Wow!?!)

After I had responded, I realized that it is important to share my voice--both for me and the feminist community as a whole.  So, here's what I wrote...  

Dear Ms. ___________,

Thank you for your email and your interest in open dialogue.  To answer your question, I fully believe a woman should have the right to choose if/how she will proceed with an unwanted/unintended pregnancy. 

I view Crisis Pregnancy Centers as a direct threat to women’s lives because many centers misinform women and keep them from gaining a comprehensive understanding of both their legal and medical options.  From brochures dissuading the use of contraception, to medically inaccurate materials attempting to link breast cancer with certain forms of oral contraception; to anti-abortion centers listing their information under “abortion services” in the yellow pages – these centers are deceptive and risk the health and well-being of the women who seek their services.

The Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics, as part of the Feminist Majority Foundation, seeks to guarantee all women a comprehensive understanding of any pregnancy, intended or unintended, and to encourage women to make the best decision for their well-being.    

Sincerely,

Wendy Matheny
Campus Program Director
Feminist Majority Foundation

What do you think?  How would you respond?  

For more information on the Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics, click here.

National Crisis Pregnancy Center Protest Day!

Today is FMF's National Crisis Pregnancy Center Protest Day!

Take action and join hundreds of students across the country to educate your campus and community about these fake clinics.

Legitimate health clinics give women comprehensive information about their full range of options when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, including information about contraception and abortion. CPCs are not staffed by medical professionals, and they do not give women medically-accurate facts about abortion and family planning.

This is a travesty. Women deserve real medical and prenatal care, not coercive, misleading health information. Furthermore, CPCs target vulnerable women, particularly low-income women and women of color. They target college-age women, advertising on campus and establishing offices near colleges.

To make things worse, crisis pregnancy centers receive million of dollars in state and federal funding. This money would be much better spent on legitimate medical clinics that make women's health a priority, particularly during this recession.

There's a lot of work to be done, but you can help women in your community. Contact your elected officials to ensure they know CPCs aren't real clinics, and spread the word on and off-campus! For more ways to get involved, check out our recently-updated materials for the Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics: http://www.feministcampus.org/act/cpc/default.asp

We'd love to hear about the work you do around this critical issue. Drop us a line and share photos at campusteam@feminist.org! If you have any questions, contact the DC office at 1-866-444-FMLA, or the LA office at 1-866-471-FMLA.

Good luck, and keep working for women's health and equality!

April 13th is National Fake Clinic Protest Day! Stand Up and Speak Out!

April 13th is the National Crisis Pregnancy Center Protest Day! Join thousands of feminist students across the nation in the effort to expose fake clinics and demand an end to abstinence-only federal funding! To join the efforts on your campus, contact your Campus Organizer.

CAUTION! Criss Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) pose as comprehensive women's health clinics, position themselves near college campuses, and lure young women in with promises of free pregnancy tests. But beware; CPCs do not offer or provide referrals for birth control or abortion services. In fact, they often use misinformation and lies to deceive women and promote an abstinence-only agenda.

The FMF conducted a nationwide survey of college campus health centers and found that 48% of respondents refer students facing unintended pregnancies to fake clinics! Does yours?

Furthermore, CPCs are receiving MILLIONS of dollars in federal abstinence-only education funding. Study after study has proven that abstinence-only programs simply don't work. With STI rates among college students on the rise, we can't put up with this abstinence-only nonsense any longer!

Fake clinics are a clear and present threat to the health of young women. Stand up, speak out and take action on April 13th!

What you can do:

• PROTEST in front of your local CPC! Warn women that it is not a comprehensive and neutral medical facility.
  
• Collect SIGNATURES to de-fund fake clinics and demand an end to abstinence-only funding.
  
• TABLE, FLYER and CHALK the campus.
  
• Hold a RALLY, SPEAK OUT or TEACH-IN.
• WRITE a letter to the editor of your campus newspaper, exposing fake clinics.
  

For more information on fake clinics near your campus, for ways to take action, or to join a campaign on your campus, contact your Campus Organizer or call 1-866-471-FMLA (West Coast) or 1-866-444-FMLA (East Coast).