Tales from the Road

The National Campus Organizers here at FMF have been traveling all over the country, firing up feminists in California, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Here are some reflections from our time on the road.

Tania and Patrice got in touch with their Southern roots and met with amazing activists in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Tania says,

"This October we traveled across Tennessee to support feminist activists at Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Tennessee and Rhodes College. At each school we found students eager to discuss ways to break through the stigma and stereotypes of feminism and create a dialogue where feminist activism is relevant and necessary. AT UT we walked to the crisis pregnancy center across the street from campus and were thrilled to see that it has moved!

"Students at APSU are already organizing to expose the dangers of fake clinics in their community after a representative from a nearby CPC spoke to students on campus. To combat the deception of CPCs, young activists at Rhodes are supporting their comprehensive clinics in Memphis as patient advocates. And in perhaps the largest group meeting we’ve ever attended, the wonderful Women in Action of MTSU spoke to a packed room of young students about upcoming events to address body image and violence against women on campus. "

Patrice writes,

"My fall travel to Mississippi has been my best organizing experience thus far! Campus Organizer, Tania Stewart and I visited with feminist student activists at University of Mississippi, Mississippi Valley State University, Millsaps College, and Jackson State University. Though these universities range greatly in their campus dynamics i.e. from liberal to conservative, public to private, majority to historically black, one thing is for certain, young feminists exist and are thriving in Mississippi! We’ve found at every campus students creating a space for more dialogues about the intersection of racial and gender discrimination and its pervasiveness in everyday living in Mississippi. Many students were especially eager to support and adopt the only comprehensive women’s reproductive health center in the entire state.

"At MVSU, located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta where poverty and unemployment is at its highest, former Bennett College FMLA leader now MVSU graduate student, Adrian Brooks, is ready to shake up the campus and dispel the myths about feminism and its relevancy to the African American community. At Jackson State University, we spoke to almost 200 male and female students who wanted to see more feminist action on campus. Many of them cared deeply about Mississippi’s teen pregnancy and STI rates and are advocating for comprehensive sex education and criminal justice reform. The Feminist Majority student group at Ole Miss has been strong and active since its inception. These feminist leaders have successfully helped in defeating the “personhood” initiative campaign last year and are continuing their work to address violence against women, body image and increasing membership. Mississippi feminists – YOU ROCK!!"

During Meghan's inaugural trip as a National Campus Organizer, she and Danielle faced some challenges on the road in Pennsylvania (bed bugs, parking tickets, and more!), but their fierce feminist selves would not be deterred! Says Danielle,

"There is some uncertainly in mainstream media about where the young feminists are. Well good news - I've found them! They're easy to find! By which I mean, you and I always knew where they are: on campus and mad as hell. Meghan and I had the privilege to spend a week visiting campus feminist groups in the Philly area.

"As we met dozens of passionate activists and professors at each college, I kept thinking of that tired cliché where young women are told we are disengaged, apolitical, and not as radical or enthusiastic about smashing patriarchy as our feminist role models have been. Several bloggers have responded that young feminists have moved online, but I’m not sure that’s the full truth either. Some FMLA leaders and feminists blog regularly, but I think more do not.

"Young feminists are even more active off-line, and we are everywhere – raising awareness at Bryn Mawr College about crisis pregnancy centers, talking about titties and breast health at West Chester University, loving our bodies at PSU Abington and Kutztown University, you name it and we're doing it. So I just wanted to thank all of you again, and everyone we met on the road, for your hard work making your campus, community, and world a safer and more equitable place for women and girls."

Emily and Tania had the pleasure of experiencing Northern New England in the fall, and were introduced to a remarkable feminist community in Maine and New Hampshire. Writes Emily,

"Neither Tania and I had ever spent quality time in New Hampshire or Maine before we headed north in October, and we weren't sure what to expect. The feminists we met are wonderful. At the University of Southern Maine, the Gender Studies Student Organization is rebuilding its presence on campus, tackling issues like reproductive choice, LGBT rights, and on-campus childcare. University of Maine is home to the Student Women's Association, who partner with their local comprehensive clinic and are planning a Pro-Choice Week on campus. Activists at Colby College and Bates College are countering the apathy and privilege they find on campus, and the VOX at University of Maine - Farmington has been collecting signatures for affordable birth control and the passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

"In New Hampshire, activists at Dartmouth College are working to stop sexual assault on campus. University of New Hampshire students organized a march to the polls on Election Day, and the activists of AWARE at Plymouth State University are doing amazing work despite limited funds and administrative support. Everywhere we traveled, we met folks committed to social justice and equality for all. Thank you for your hard work, and keep it up! We need you more than ever!"

Thank you all for an amazing semester. If you are interested in having the National Campus Organizers visit your school, contact us!

Image via the Library of Congress

This post is part of the November 2010 ezine. To subscribe to the monthly ezine, click here.

Get Out HER Vote: On the Road

FMF National Campus Organizers are currently traveling across the country to discuss the issues at stake in the upcoming election. We've prepared talking points about reproductive rights, marriage equality, the environment and pay equity. What we didn't expect was the biggest issue of all: no one knows when Election Day is! Clearly there is work to be done.

In last month's eZine, I discussed the many ways to Get Out HER Vote on your campus by utilizing the Feminist Majority Foundation's GOHV toolkit. With voter registration deadlines beginning this week in many states, the time to register to vote is now! After that critical paperwork is complete, the real work begins. With just four weeks until election day (which is November 2, 2010 by the way) now is the time to engage your campus around the issues we can impact with our votes this Fall!

Despite being a little uncertain on the exact date (again, that's TUESDAY, November 2) the issues that student activists care about are endless. We've heard from students who are frustrated by the lack of reproductive health care services on campus, pay day lending in their neighborhoods and crisis pregnancy centers that are located across the street from their campus. With your vote this November, ALL of these issues can be addressed.

By utilizing our GOHV toolkit, host a panel discussion to educate your campus on the issues that matter to you. Table in high traffic areas on campus to inform your peers about their rights when they go to the polls. Flyer your campus with posters of the nearest polling location and record public service announcements on your campus radio about the importance of youth participation in civic engagement. At the University of Tennessee there is a polling location on campus and at Millsaps College students can vote directly across the street. Organize a march to the polls on Election Day (that would be November 2, 2010) and let your voice be heard!

Contact your National Campus Organizer for more ideas on how to Get Out HER Vote on your campus today. We can send you brochures, buttons and stickers to help you spread the word that on this Election Day, November 2, 2010, we each must VOTE AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. Why? Because it does. Don't trust me? Listen to them and VOTE.

This blog post is part of the October eZine. To receive our monthly eZine, click here.

Interns Testify at the CA Commission on the Status of Women

Last Friday, the Feminist Majority Foundation Campus Interns went to the California Commission on the Status of Women's Public Hearing in Pasadena, California. It gave us a chance to voice our concerns to passionate women with political connections who will be able to make policy recommendations for administrative action on issues affecting women and girls in California. FMF concentrated their testimonies on urging the commission to oppose budget cuts to Family PACT and encourage California to adopt a Truth in Advertising Statute for Crisis Pregnancy Centers (or CPCs).

Eden: I focused my testimony on Family PACT,

urging the commission to oppose Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts on this family planning health program for uninsured residents. Family PACT gives uninsured Californians access to health care and birth control. It is funded by both the state and the federal government, and California only pays for ten percent of the entire program.

Furthermore, research shows that since Family PACT is able to prevent about 296,000 unintended pregnancies a year, it saves California more than $4 billion in medical and social service costs associated with unintended pregnancy each year. Therefore, for every dollar that the state invests in Family PACT, California saves $9.25. Thus, there is absolutely no reason to cut such a successful program that helps millions of California women, men, and adolescents every year.

Emily: A "Truth in Advertising Statute" would require CPCs to state that the facility does not provide services, information or referrals for abortion or comprehensive birth control. The cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Austin, Texas have enacted Truth in Advertising ordinances and we recommended that California become the first state to enact a Truth in Advertising Statute.

CPCs often target low-income women and college students, with the assumption that they are "high abortion risk," but they are actually high unintended pregnancy rates that could be lowered with access to comprehensive resources and education. CPCs are often advertised as "options counseling" or "abortion services" and are routinely listed on college health centers' referral lists. Congressional studies have shown that 87% of CPCs provide false or misleading information about abortion and birth control. The health of the women and girls who visit these clinics is at risk as many who enter the clinics are not aware that these are not medical facilities staffed by obgyns or nurse practitioners.

Angelica: I also spoke about getting California to become the first state to pass legislation that would require CPCs to post clear disclaimers that say they do not provide information, referrals, or services to do with birth-control or abortion. But I distinguished my argument by focusing on CPCs' target on areas they deem "high abortion risk", areas like my hometown.

When I searched for CPCs around my town, I found two within five blocks of each other on the same street, and two more within two miles. This was shocking to me. But then I realize that it made sense. I come from a conservative, mostly religious, low income town, with high unintended teen pregnancy rates; this is exactly what CPCs are looking for. CPCs can then become crucial centers for the community, sometimes being one of the few "resources" these women have.

By implementing legislation that calls for Truth in Advertising, these women become aware about the services that are not being provided to them, and can make educated decisions about their health.It is important for communities to have a voice in policy making and public hearings provide excellent opportunities to do so. We encourage you to actively follow and search for public hearings in your area. This was an excellent and inspiring event. We were all really empowered by our ability to make recommendations for California policy.

UPDATE: Crisis Pregnancy Centers v. City of Baltimore (and Women's Rights)

Know of crisis pregnancy centers in your neighborhood? Contact your National Campus Organizer at the Feminist Majority Foundation and find out how you can expose fake clinics in your community today!

Case Western FMLA changes mind, chooses life

Just kidding. The FMLA at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland is decidedly not pregnant. April Fool's!

We're encouraging feminist students groups to raise awareness about CPCs throughout April. So to commemorate April Fool's Day, CWRU FMLA distributed fliers on campus encouraging students facing unintended pregnancies not to be deceived anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers offering free health care. The FMLA suggested nearby comprehensive women's health clinics students could visit instead.

Check out the fliers they handed out, using tips FMF organizer Jacqueline posted:













and

Students who may be pregnant need to see professional health care providers, whether or not they plan to carry a pregnancy to term. CPCs just offer anti-abortion volunteers in lab coats waving an ultrasound wand at you and dispensing quack medical advice. Which would you choose?

Even worse, the thousands of CPCs across the country vastly outnumber real women's clinics, and they receive thousands of dollars in state and federal funding. College health centers include local crisis pregnancy center information in their pregnancy referrals.

If there are CPCs in your area and/or advertising on campus, check out FMF's Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics. It's easy to get on board, and you can contact an FMF campus organizer for more tips and suggestions. Our goal is to ensure women around the country know CPCs do not provide factual medical information, petition health centers to list CPCs as anti-abortion organizations in their referral resources, and to cut off government funding for these fake clinics.

To the Case FMLA and all the feminist groups working to expose fake clinics: keep up the great prochoice work and let us know how you're supporting comprehensive clinics!

This article was featured in our April 2010 monthly Choices eZine. Sign up for our alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest feminist news and to receive the monthly eZine!

Not an April Fools Joke: Lilith Fair to Give $$ to CPCs?

The woman-centric music tour, Lilith Fair, is making a comeback and this year, they are donating one dollar from every ticket sold in each of the tour's 36 stops to a women's charity in that city. Right on.

Once you become a fan on the tour's official facebook page, you can then vote for the local organization you'd like to see receive the dough.

But wait...WHY ARE CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS ON THE LIST?!?

Lilith Fair prides itself on being pro-choice and all for women's empowerment, so why would they include anti-choice centers that purposefully misinform women about abortion, birth control, and their pregnancy options, on the list of charities to donate to? A spokesperson for the tour claims that a simple online search for women's charities in the local areas turned the CPCs up, and they were added to the list without question or further investigation. Just goes to show you how deceptive these fake clinics really are!

Well, now the lack of attention on the part of the tour organizers is backfiring. Lilith fans are, not surprisingly, causing an uproar, both online and with questions for the tour's organizers. A facebook page called "Lilth Fair: No Money for Crisis Pregnancy Centers" already has over 985 fans.

Tour organizers have essentially stated that the CPCs will remain on the list and it will be up to local residents to vote and decide what they want their money going to. However, the tour founders (Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser and Marty Diamond) will make the final call between the top three charities in each city.

While I can't imagine the CPCs stand a chance at winning (though you never know - they do have an army of supporters behind them), the fact that the tour will not remove them from the list of possible charities is outrageous. Including these bogus centers that deceive and misinform women among the list of credible, honest and effective organizations that promote women's health and empowerment only serves to legitimize the fake clinics and give them credit where none is due.

The facebook page has a new update that makes it seem like the tour organizers may be realizing what a mess they've gotten themselves into and may be changing their stance, but we'll have to wait and see. We'll keep you updated!

And don't forget! April is the month to Expose Fake Clinics! CPCs often target college campuses with their deceptive advertisements and false information, so be sure to educate students on your campus about their harmful practices. Join the campaign!

Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics During the Month of April

The FMF's “Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Clinics” Day of Action is TOMORROW! But between spring break and spring fever, it's alright if you don't have an action planned - you can take action any time during the month of April!

With $250 million being funneled back into failed abstinence-only programs, we're sure to see MILLIONS of OUR TAX DOLLARS going to fuel fake clinics' false information and deceptive advertising.

It is crucial that you help get the word out about fake clinics near your campus. You can teach students the truth about the quacks at Crisis Pregnancy Centers by:

- Getting the word out with educational “Don’t Be Fooled” Facts, candy and condoms
- Having students sign our petition to stop deceptive advertising and funding for fake clinics
- Screening our investigative videos
- Proposing a "Truth in Advertising" disclaimer on campus if your campus health center refers to CPCs, or campus newspaper accepts ads from CPCs

Check out our “Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Clinics” Action Series for more ideas. Don’t let the quacks of fake clinics fool students on your campus!

Photo courtesy of flikr.com

In other news, SC still hates women

If you're tired of hearing me complain about South Carolina, join the club. I would welcome the chance to shower the Palmetto State with praise as a champion for women's rights and opportunity. Alas, SC has other plans. Even the good news seems to come with a price. For example, The SC House recently voted against a provision in the proposed state budget that would have ended health insurance abortion coverage for victims of rape or incest. You might think that such a ban would be a no-brainer but, with a margin of defeat by only three votes, it makes you wonder if SC legislators have a brain at all? Take these two little nuggets of oppression and ignorance from the SC General Assembly in just the past week:

Eliminating the state's entire HIV/AIDS budget: An estimated 14,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in South Carolina, ranked eighth in the nation in new AIDS cases. The proposed budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year would eliminate all money for the state's HIV/AIDS prevention and drug assistance programs. As The State paper reports, "The cut would mean the 2,055 people enrolled in the Drug Assistance Program would no longer get help in paying for their medication and could face dire health consequences." What dire health consequences you might ask? Death for starters.

24-Hour Waiting Periods and Referrals to Fake Clinics: This one is a double whammy. After much debate and many failed attempts, the SC Senate finally passed a bill that will require women seeking an abortion to wait 24 hours after receiving an ultrasound. Many states across the country have successfully passed similar legislation that adds an undue burden and expense to women seeking an abortion and speaks to the misguided notion that women take choice lightly and flippantly decide to terminate a pregnancy.

What's particularly egregious is the support of so-called crisis pregnancy centers (CPC). The waiting period begins after the patient receives information about the procedure or receives an ultrasound. If the patient elects to receive an ultrasound she is referred to a so-called crisis pregnancy resource center for an ultrasound.

This news is equally laughable and terrifying. These fake clinics are not staffed by medically trained professionals and employ delay tactics and intimidation to deceive women from receiving comprehensive medical care. A Congressional investigation of CPCs revealed that 87% provided false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion and grossly misrepresent the medical risk of abortion by telling women that having an abortion could increase the risk of breast cancer, result in sterility and lead to suicide and "post-abortion syndrome."

By passing legislation that not only supports these fake clinics but will now refer women to receive these "services," SC legislators are implicitly endorsing the deceitful tactics and lies of fake clinics and have turned their backs on the women of SC and scientifically proven strategies to reduce unwanted pregnancies.

Want a reason not to flee the state? The House must still vote on the 24-hour waiting period bill and the elimination of all HIV/AIDS funds is only in the proposed budget and still requires a vote, as well. Translation? There is still time to speak out against these measures. Call your representatives, write a letter to your local paper and organize your neighbors against these horrendous policies in Columbia. Speak out against the disproportionate affect that these policies will have on low-income residents and those who are underinsured or uninsured. You must stay, stand up and fight back! And if they still won't listen to us? Perhaps we'll just run for office ourselves.

April 1 is "Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics" National Day of Action! What are you doing?

This April Fools’ Day, join FMF and campuses across the nation as we expose something that’s no joke…FAKE CLINICS!

Thursday, April 1st, is the Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics’ “Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Clinics” Day of Action.

Teach students on your campus the truth about the quacks at Crisis Pregnancy Centers by:

- Getting the word out with educational “Don’t Be Fooled” Facts and candy
- Having students sign our petition to stop deceptive advertising and funding for fake clinics
- Screening our investigative videos
- Proposing a "Truth in Advertising" disclaimer on campus if your campus health center refers to CPCs, or campus newspaper accepts ads from CPCs

Check out our “Don’t Be Fooled By Fake Clinics” Action Series for more ideas. Don’t let the quacks of fake clinics fool students on your campus!

Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics Action Series: Burma Shave Signs

Need a clever and creative way to raise the visibility factor of your "Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics" Day of Action April 1? Well, we have a simple and fun solution for you! Create Burma Shave signs!

What in the world are Burma Shave signs, you ask? Well, back in the 50's the Burma shaving cream company launched an ad campaign that consisted of sequential roadside signs, each with a short slogan.

By the end of the sequence, the driver just NEEDED to buy shaving cream! Put this technique to use on campus and you'll have students banging down the door of your next meeting begging to join your campaign!

It's simple:

Get some poster boards, markers and tape.
Pick out a main walkway of campus where the signs will be highly visible and people will read the signs one after another.
Get the proper approval to post signs on campus.

Now for the slogans...We've come up with a few starter ideas for you, following what we like to call the "You wouldn't....so why..." pattern:

Sign 1: You wouldn't want your professor telling you the world is flat.

Sign 2: You wouldn't want your dentist telling you that toothpaste causes cavities.

Sign 3: You wouldn't want a firefighter telling you that a smoke detector won't save your life.

Sign 4: So WHY are FAKE CLINICS [or the name of your local fake clinic] telling women that abortion causes breast cancer, infertility and mental illness?

Sign 5: And WHY are FAKE CLINICS [or the name of your local fake clinic] telling women that condoms won't protect against STIs and HIV?

Sign 6: Don't let FAKE CLINICS [or the name of your local fake clinic] fool you! Join the [name of your club]'s Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics! Come to our meeting on [day] at [time] at [place] or email [contact] to find out how you can help!

These are just some examples of the types of "You Wouldn't..." sayings you could use. Feel free to customize these slogans to make them more relevant and in-tune with your particular campus, student body, and the local fake clinics. Need help with this idea? Contact your FMF Campus Organizer.

Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics Action Series: Educate Your Campus with "Don't Be Fooled" Facts

Fact: No one can resist free candy. So, this April Fools' Day, use this fact to your advantage and join our "Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics" Day of Action by passing out "Don't Be Fooled" Facts, tied to pieces of candy.

On slips of paper, write examples of the kinds of falsehoods that CPCs perpetuate, and then write the FACT to counter those false claims. Staple these to little pieces of candy. You can buy it in bulk and save money.

Here's an example of what your tag would look like:

CPCs say that abortion causes breast cancer. But don't be fooled!

FACT: Scientists disagree. Organizations such as the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and the American Cancer Society ALL say that no such link exists.

Don't be fooled by the [name of nearby fake clinic] at [location]. Instead, get comprehensive reproductive health care at [name of local comprehensive women's health clinic] at [location].

Or, here's another example.

CPCs say that abortion leads to mental illness. But don't be fooled!

FACT: An eleven-year longitudinal study of 13,000 women found that women who give birth have the same rate of need for psychological treatment as women who have abortions.

Don't be fooled by the [name of nearby fake clinic] at [location]. Instead, get comprehensive reproductive health care at [name of local comprehensive women's health clinic] at [location].


These little snapshots of fake clinic scare tactics will make students on your campus as angry as they make you, so ask them to join your campaign!

In addition to using chocolate to get the word out, you can also make handy (and informative!) table tents to place on all of the dining hall tables. The table tents should identify the CPCs near your campus and warn students about what types of so-called "services" they might receive there.

Grab some candy, paper and a stapler and get the word out!

PS - To identify your local fake clinic, visit www.optionline.org and punch in your zip code. (PLEASE NOTE: This is an anti-choice website with false and misleading information).

Don't Be Fooled By Fake Clinics Action Series: Hold a Film Screening

This April Fools' Day, make sure that women on your campus don't get fooled by fake clinics and put together a simple, yet informational event: a film screening and teach-in.

We have two videos on our website that would teach people who aren't already familiar with CPCs a lot about their deceptive practices. The first is called, "Our Reality: A Look at Crisis Pregnancy Centers" and the second is called, "Crisis Pregnancy Centers: A special Report" Both were produced by FMF in conjunction with Stuart Productions and featured on RH Reality Check.

1. Contact your Student Affairs or Student Activities office and see what the procedures are for screening a film for the public.

2. Reserve a space! Maybe it will be in a classroom, the women's resource center, or an auditorium. See what you need to do to hold the event in this space. Make sure there is a projector that you can hook up to your computer.

3. Make flyers and publicize the event. Make an eye-catching flyer announcing when and where the film screening will be. Post them on campus and hand them out when you are tabling. Make announcements in classrooms and ask professors if they will give their students extra credit for attending the screening.

4. Buy some yummy snacks! Popcorn, chips, licorice, ice cream, pizza. Go wild, budget permitting.

5. Screen the films and then hold a discussion about it. How do people feel about about what they have just seen? What are the inital thoughts? Make sure that you have brushed up on your facts so that you can field any questions. Do people want to take some action on the issue?

6. Formulate a plan. Whats next? Have the people at the screening get involved with the campaign to expose fake clinics. What actions do they want to do after seeing those films? Don't know where to start, check out the rest of our action series!

Our Reality: A Look at Crisis Pregnancy Centers from RH Reality Check on Vimeo.

Case in point: CPC resolution at U of Maryland

Anton Medvedev (far left, pun intended), a student government legislator at the University of Maryland College Park and former FMF intern, recently passed an SGA resolution requiring any crisis pregnancy centers advertising on campus to state they don't provide birth control or abortion.

This is a great example of how you can create a campus more hospitable to choice and women's rights. We encourage everyone fighting CPCs to keep up the great work - efforts like this are critical for sustaining a vocal pro-choice majority.

If you're concerned like we are about anti-abortion group targeting college campuses, work with your student senators to pass a bill like Anton's in the student government. The passage of this resolution also highlights the importance of having feminists in student government!

Below is the resolution, for your reading pleasure. If you're interested in introducing a similar bill on your campus or want to contact Anton, email us at campusteam@feminist.org.

---

A Resolution Regarding Crisis Pregnancy Centers Advertising on Campus

F 09-11-28B

1. Whereas the SGA advocates for the safety and well being of the student body; and,

2. WHEREAS, most CPCs in the United States are not medical clinics. They are primarily staffed by volunteers who have no medical training; and,

3. WHEREAS, females on our campus and in our community deserve neutral, comprehensive and accurate medical information about abortion and birth control; and,

4. WHEREAS, the University Health Center does not refer campus community members to “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” (CPCs) and only refers to legitimate clinics; and,

5. WHEREAS, the Diamondback newspaper displays advertisements for CPCs in print and online.

6. WHEREAS, these advertisements direct women to sources that may provide false information about birth control and abortion.

7. WHEREAS, CPCs, use deceptive names and locate near legitimate women’s health centers, in an attempt to intimidate and coerce females out of considering abortion as an option; and,

8. WHEREAS, Congressional Investigators found the vast majority of CPCs provide false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion and often grossly misrepresent and distort the medical risks of abortion, telling women that having an abortion could increase the risk of breast cancer, result in sterility, and lead to suicide and “post-abortion stress disorder” – a condition that is not recognized by the American Psychological Association or the American Psychiatric Association; and,

9. WHEREAS, Baltimore City requires CPCs to post signs disclosing that they do not offer referrals for or information about abortion and contraception; and,

10. WHEREAS, Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake considers this move a "step towards making sure that women have the information they need to make the right decision for their health and their future;" and,

11. WHEREAS, Montgomery County is currently considering a “truth in advertising” bill that would required CPCs to disclose their non-clinic and/or non-referral status;

12. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the SGA strongly recommends all current and future CPC advertisements distributed by the Diamondback and other sources to the campus community come with a disclosure warning about CPC’s non-clinic and/or non-referral status.

Sponsor: Anton Medvedev, Outlying Commuter
Co-sponsors:
Committee: Public Affairs

Vote: In Favor _____ Opposed _____ Abstentions _____

Therefore, the bill: PASSES FAILS


Speaker: ___________________________
Kelley Chubb


President: ___________________________
Steven Glickman

This article was featured in our March 2010 monthly Choices eZine. Sign up for our alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest feminist news and to receive the monthly eZine.

Victory! CPC Bill at UMD

Last week, the University of Maryland: College Park SGA passed a bill against advertising in Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). The bill went through several phases and is going to be used in a campaign to remove CPC advertisements from UMCP's campus.

CPCs have been a staple in the the campus newspaper's advertising. They have appeared both in the newspaper itself and, more frequently, online. An example of the online ad can be found here:

The first phase of the bill was the drafting of it. I initially submitted the Feminist Majority Foundation's version of the bill to the SGA, but it was rejected due to its ties to a specific campus community and for being too vague in general (A version of this bill can be found in the Expose Fake Clinics toolkit).

The second version of the bill used FMF's version as its foundation, but tied the CPC issue closer to the community and its needs. This is the bill that went to committee.

The final version of the bill that came out of committee was drastically different from the one that went in. First, it focused the bill primarily on the "false advertising" aspect of the CPCs and away from the pro-choice/anti-choice debate. The reason for doing this was so that the bill had a better chance of being passed and so that any anti-choice criticism could be dismissed. Second, the bill used softer language (recommending instead of demanding) and specifically targeted misleading CPC advertisements in our community. Third, since the committee didn't really see how the University President could advocate on the behalf of anti-CPC efforts, that section was removed.

The debate before the bill was voted on largely focused on the CPC's right to advertise in our community and the singling out of CPCs as pro-life organizations. The opposition argued that we were limiting the free speech of CPCs and that we unfairly targeted CPCs as non-clinic/non-referral sites. The affirmative responded by stating that we were not limiting free speech as the CPC's speech fell under a different category of speech that was separate from the individual one. We likened the bill to a "truth in advertising" effort and compared it to the warnings on a package of cigarettes. We responded to the non-clinic/non-referral claim by saying we were against non-clinic pro-choice places as well, but the fact that this was a non-issue made us decide on CPCs.

Anton was a FMF intern in Fall 2009 and is a junior at the University of Maryland - College Park.

How to get "truth in advertising" legislation passed in your city

Many campuses across the country have done an amazing job getting the word out about "fake clinics," or so called Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). Raising awareness is key in ensuring that no person enters a CPC without knowing the services that they do and DO NOT provide. Recently, the city of Baltimore set a new precedent in tackling the deceptive practices of CPCs.

A couple of months ago, Baltimore, MD became the first city to pass a city ordinance that required CPCs in the city post disclaimers saying that their facility does not provide or make referrals for abortions or birth control services. This is a huge victory in the fight for choice and the quest for comprehensive women's health services. Many other cities are already introducing similar bills to their city council.

As a new component to our Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics, we want to encourage our campus groups to follow suit by working to get this type of legislation passed in your city. It may seem daunting, but if you follow these simple steps, you too can get a bill that demands "truth in advertising" from CPCs passed in your community.

1. Know the Facts

• First, you need to know the facts about the CPCs near your campus and around your community. Where is the nearest Crisis Pregnancy Center from your campus? Does your Campus Health Center refer women seeking reproductive services to CPCs? If so, get them to stop, or in the very least, make them include a disclaimer in their referral. What deceptive practices do the CPCs in your area use? What do they say about abortion and birth control? Do your research!

2. Contact your Campus Organizer

• Contact your campus organizer! We have many resources that will be helpful to you in this process, including the text of the Baltimore legislation, studies about CPCs, and studies disproving the misinformation CPCs say about the dangers of abortion. We can offer you guidance and connect you with the right resources.

3. Collaborate with other Pro-Choice Organizations, Gain Support Through your Community and Generate Publicity

• Building coalitions with other pro-choice organizations will be extremely helpful. You should look into getting in contact with someone from Planned Parenthood or NARAL, in addition to us at the Feminist Majority Foundation. Also look into local pro-choice orgs in your area. Remember, there are power in numbers!
• Get support for your bill by getting the word out to your campus and community. Print flyers, make announcements in classrooms, get newspapers and other news outlets to cover the story. Make sure people who are about this issue know what's going on. As a collective voice, rally in support of the bill
  

4. Identify a Pro-Choice Member of your City Council

• Find someone of your City Council that you think would be interested in helping with this type of legislation. Arrange a meeting with them.

5. Present the Facts & Make your Case

• Meet with your City Council Member or a member of their staff. Present the facts and signatures from our petition that you have gathered. Let them know the risks that CPCs pose, their threat to your campus, and their deceptive practices. Show them a copy of the Baltimore ordinance and ask your city council representative to sponsor similar legislation. Use this language from the Baltimore ordinance as a guide to create a law requiring a limited-service pregnancy center (or CPC) to clearly provide its clients and potential clients with a statement that their center does not provide or make referral to abortion or birth control services

6. Attend Hearings and Show Support until the Ordinance Passes

• Monitor the progress of your proposal. Follow up, and attend any hearings regarding possible legislation. Continue to show your support and commitment to “truth in advertising” until an ordinance is passed. Mobilize your campus and community supporters to do the same.

It's as easy as that! Be sure the check out our resources pages for all the info you'll need to get you started on this. And be sure to check out our CPC action kit for a handout outlining the points I've just elaborated on.

Join the National grassroots effort to pass laws that would require "truth in advertising" for your city's CPCs!!!

This article was featured in our January 2010 monthly Choices eZine. Sign up for our alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest feminist news and to receive the monthly eZine.

Stony Brook FMLA Takes Action on Anti-abortion Misinformation!

As you may have read in Tania's earlier post, the anti-choice organization, Human Life Alliance, has taken to purchasing ad space for full-page inserts overflowing with false, misleading, anti-abortion misinformation in college newspapers! The sickening trend was written about by Robin Marty here on RH Reality Check.

When Meghan Shalvoy, President of the Stony Brook Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance (FMLA), saw one of these bogus inserts in her school paper, she took action!

Meghan has been circulating fact sheets with medically accurate information, gathering petitions and writing op-eds for campus publications. Now her activities have been featured on RH Reality Check !

Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) and anti-abortion organizations like Human Life Alliance are constantly targeting women on college campuses with their false information. To learn how you can take action on your campus, read Meghan's story and join the FMF's Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics.

I Spy A CPC

The Feminist Majority Foundation's Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics has targeted misleading advertisements in college newspapers throughout the year. Many of you are no stranger to "Pregnant? Scared? Need Help?" ads in your newspaper and have taken your school paper to task for advertising for fake clinics that lie to women about their reproductive health.

It seems that small quarter ads of false and misleading information just won't do anymore. In the first of what will surely be an enlightening/infuriating series from Robin Marty at RH Reality Check, we learn that anti's have now taken to FULL PAGE INSERTS!

Truth in Advertising? Not From Human Life Alliance | RHRealityCheck.org

So what do you do after you've burned this 12 PAGE rag? Take this issue to the people and form a coalition to demand that your Student Government sign on to a resolution to keep your campus health center and your campus newspapers free of CPCs!

Photo credit: DRB62 from Flickr

Baltimore Cracking Down on CPCs

The Baltimore City Council passed the second reading of a bill Monday that would require crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to disclose that they do not provide information or referrals for abortion or birth control. The bill passed on a 12 to 3 vote after an amendment that would have also required disclaimers to be posted by abortion clinics was rejected, reported the Baltimore Sun. A third vote is required before the bill is submitted to the city's mayor for approval.

Currently, there are an estimated 2,593 CPCs nationwide, most of which are affiliated with one or more national umbrella organizations. CPCs pose as legitimate health centers and offer "free" pregnancy tests. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and prevent women from receiving neutral and comprehensive medical advice. They are typically run by anti-abortion volunteers who are not licensed medical professionals.

The bill was drafted as a result of a number of complaints voiced during a public hearing on the subject. City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said, "I'm not interested in harassment -- not interested in there being an aura of burden on these centers. All I'm interested in is making sure when a women comes in, when she's in crisis, that she knows what she's getting when she walks in," according to WBAL TV Baltimore.

This legislation is the first in the country developed to create a standard requirement for information disclosure. Currently, the Montgomery County, Maryland, City Council is considering similar legislation.

Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated - A Musical Interlude!

The east coast campus organizers are really excited about the Exposing Fake Clinics Week of Action VIDEO CONTEST! So, we decided to compose a little ditty and put together a video - we can't wait to see what you've come up with!

Check out our amusing attempt below:


They’re creepy and they’re kooky, CPCs are spooky
They’re all together ooky, they lie to you and me

Their clinic’s a museum, where women go to see em
They really make you scream, they lie to you and me

But we believe in choices, so raise up your voices
You need to come and join us, we’re exposing CPCs

Happy Halloween from the Feminist Majority Foundation!

Click here to send an e-card to your friends about CPCs!

Click here for information about our video contest!

Exposing Face Clinics: WEEK OF ACTION

It's Day 2 of the Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics' Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated Week of Action, and there's still time to get involved!

Teach students on your campus the truth about creepy Crisis Pregnancy Centers by:

• Getting the word out with "Trick or Truth Treats".
• Screening our investigative videos.
• Having students sign our petition to stop deceptive advertising and federal funding of fake clinics.
• Creating a Haunted Clinic on your campus to show how scary fake facilities really are.
• Participating in the Video Contest to Expose Fake Clinics on Your Campus! Click here for guidelines. Get creative and submit your video!
• Check out our Action Series for more ideas. Submit pictures and reports of your campus group's efforts this week and you could be featured here on the blog or in an upcoming eZine.

Don't let the ghouls and goblins of fake clinics deceive students on your campus! Join FMF and campuses across the nation as we expose something REALLY frightening…FAKE CLINICS!

image credit: sticviews.com on flickr