National "Don't Be Fooled by Fake Clinics" Week of Action is Coming Up!

Hey feminists! It's time to start mobilizing. It's just one week until our, "Don't Be Fooled by Fake Clinics" National Week of Action, taking place the week leading up to April Fool's Day (March 28th to April 1st). What is a fake clinic and why should we expose it, you ask? Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are clinics that pose to be comprehensive women's health clinics. These "clinics" have an agenda to dissuade women from their options and restrict people from gaining access to contraceptives, abortions, and abortion referrals. This week of action leading up to April Fools Day is a way to raise awareness about deceptive clinics and promote action in your community. If your club/organization hasn't started organizing for next week, here are a few things to consider before planning events and actions:

• Read through our Action Kit to get started.
• Go to your campus health center, and see what health/women's clinics your school refers people to. Does your school promote CPCs?
• If there are fake clinics on your school's referral list, pressure them to pull misleading ads or post disclaimers about what services a clinic provides (and does not provide).
• Post educational flyers in your area to tell people what CPCs are (see our example here).
• Organize a SPEAK OUT and have students share their stories and opinions about CPCs. Your voice is powerful!
• Organize a photo campaign to and post your pictures on social media sites.
• Get in contact with your local school newspaper to advertise your action plans and cover what your club is doing.
• Circulate this petition to stop deceptive advertising and federal funding of fake women's health clinics.
• Host a screening of Let's Talk About Sex about sex education in the U.S.
• Host a screening of 12th & Delaware and use our videos as a starting point for discussion.

These are a few tips to help you get started before "Don't Be Fooled by Fake Clinics" week. If you need more action ideas, check out this link. Be sure to let us know what your club is up to by sending pictures and your action plans to campusteam@feminist.org!

NYC Passes Bill to Regulate Crisis Pregnancy Centers!

As part of a new national trend, states are attempting to expose the deception of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) and New York has taken the lead and passed a historic city ordinance (Bill 371) that will regulate fake clinics in being truthful on what types of services they do and do not provide. This news is a bright spot during these current chaotic times where women's access to comprehensive reproductive health services are being put on the chopping block.

It is shocking that CPCs overwhelm and outnumber comprehensive women's health clinics with a 3,500 CPCs listed nationwide. The New York City council stated that, "The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges that comprehensive prenatal care begin as soon as a woman decides to become pregnant. Similar to prenatal care, delayed access to abortion and emergency contraception poses a threat to public health. Delay in accessing abortion or emergency contraception creates increased health risks and financial burdens, and may eliminate a womens ability to obtain these services altogether, severely limiting her reproductive health options". The bill regulates CPCs by requiring them to:

• Disclose to a client that the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene encourages women to consult with a licensed medical provider.
• Disclose if there is no licensed medical provider on staff.
• Disclose if it does or does not provide referrals for abortion, emergency contraception, or prenatal care.
• Post disclosures at the entrance and waiting room (in both English and Spanish).
• Disclosures are required to be given over the phone.

New York is not the first state to pressure CPCs to provide honest and comprehensive health care, Maryland and Texas have passed similar bills to regulate CPCs. The state of Washington has also tried to pass a similar bill, the "Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act".

As people all over the country fight for reproductive rights and access to comprehensive women's health clinics, there is a presence of deceptive "clinics" that offer limited resources to those in need. Access to family planning and basic medical care has become a dire task with the presence of fake clinics. Crisis Pregnancy Center's (CPCs) are clinics that pose to be clinics under names like "Pregnancy Aid", "Open Door", and "Pregnancy Counseling Center". CPCs target young, poor, and minority women who have limited resources to family planning and contraceptives. These clinics use misleading advertisements to delay, persuade, and intimidate women from receiving the health care they need. Many of these clinics are affiliated with anti-choice organizations and do not perform abortions or give referrals to clinics that do. What's even more ridiculous is the fact that many of these "clinics" do not have staff that are medically trained-lacking licensed doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners.

The Feminist Majority Foundation has been a part of a large movement to stop CPCs from providing false and misleading information. Our Choices Campus Leadership Program has organized and mobilized with students all over the country to expose fake clinics and promote truth in advertising. This is a victory and stride towards reproductive rights.

If you want to expose fake clinics and give people access to comprehensive health care, please join the Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics and get involved in FMF's National "Don't Be Fooled by Fake Clinics" Week of Action happening the week leading up to April Fool's Day from March 28th- April 1st!

Some other ideas to take action on exposing CPCs:

• Make CPC exposure a priority in your campus feminist club.
• Talk to student government about promoting truth in advertising on campus.
• Go to the health center at your school to see what kinds of clinics they refer and find out if CPCs are on that list.
• Check out our action kit to find videos, petitions, flyers, and other great resources!
• Sign the petition to Stop funding for Fake Clinics and Abstinence-Only Education! Stop Deceptive Advertising Practices!

Most importantly, educate yourself on the issue and make sure that those around you know that the presence of these fake clinics pose serious risks and should not be relied on as primary healthcare. The best thing you can do as an activist is to be VOCAL on the issue and don't be afraid to get LOUD about it!

photo credit to: www.flickr.com/mysticchildz

A Step Closer to Regulating CPCs

At the end of last week, two bills were introduced to Washington State Legislature. These bills (Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act (SB 5274/HB 1366) both aim at regulating Crisis Pregnancy Centers/ Limited Service Pregnancy Centers throughout Washington. This is such an important step because Washington would be the first to have a state-wide ordinance that places several necessary regulations on these deceptive centers. Other cities, such as Austin, TX and Baltimore, MD, have put similar bills into effect but if Washington too passes these bills then hopefully similar legislation will garner more support--because regulating CPC's is way overdue.

CPC's need to be regulated because they go under the guise of a comprehensive women's health center as well as advertising under abortion and family planning services. This deception generally is aimed toward targeting minority women with no health care and very limited options for dealing with an unexpected or undesired pregnancy.

The Washington State bills propose that CPC's disclose that they do not provide abortions, comprehensive birth control, or referrals to other organizations. They would have to list this information on their website, at their main entry, and inside the building of the CPC. Also, they would have to verbally mention this information to anybody seeking their services whether it be in person, through the phone, or via email. With this legislation, Crisis Pregnancy Centers would not be able to disclose any health care information to another person or organization without written approval from the person receiving CPC services. Since CPC's have been known for withholding pregnancy test results until it is too late for an abortion to be preformed, Washington's bill is proposing that CPC's provide the results--written and in both English and the recipient's primary language--as soon as they are available.

As far as a federal legislation, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) has proposed the "Stop Deceptive Advertising in Women's Service Act" (SDAWS) which would put similar restrictions and rules on clinics who advertise under services they do not provide. So far, SDAWS has faced several petition to stop the act from going any further and has 11 cosponsers in the House.

We are very excited about this proposed legislation and we'll keep you updated on it's progress!

Photo courtesy of flickr.com/arimoore

NYC Council sets example with Fake Clinic legislation

Crisis Pregnancy Centers go to great lengths to making women think you are walking into an office where you can get medical advice from professionals, talk about all of your options when facing an unplanned pregnancy, perhaps even see a doctor. But that will not happen behind their doors.

Despite the fact that they appear to be very clinical. Despite the fact that they may be located near a comprehensive clinic, or in a medical complex, or that they may wear a lab coat.

That's why we started the Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics. That's why Austin, TX and Baltimore, MD have passed legislation requiring CPCs clearly post on their doors the services they do and do not provide. That's why NARAL NY has done extensive investigative work to provide a report in NYC that documents the deception and misinformation women are subject to in a fake clinic.

In October, New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Councilmember Jessica S. Lappin introduced a bill similar to those passed in Austin and Baltimore. In order to distinguish between comprehensive clinics, the bill defines CPCs as "limited-service centers" and would apply only to counseling centers that do not provide and/or refer for abortions or FDA-approved contraception. This disclosure would have to be provided on their door in English and Spanish. This bill is particularly strong because it goes even farther to require CPCs to include the same disclosure in their advertising.

If you're interested in helping to fight fake clinics on your campus or community, contact us at campusteam@feminist.org.

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

National Week of Action: Don't get Tricked by CPCs!

It's our CPC week of action! "Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated" starts today! What are you doing for it?

Crisis Pregnancy Centers pose as comprehensive women’s health clinics and advertise under “abortion” and “family planning” services, but do not offer abortion services, contraception, or referrals. Instead, they have an anti-choice agenda and tell women misinformation about the affects of abortion in attempts to dissuade women away from all of their choices.

Here are some cool ideas of how your campus group can get the word out and take action this week:

1. Host a Screening of 12th and Delaware or of FMF's two videos on the deception of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which can be found here, followed by a discussion.
2. Create education flyers and posters identifying comprehensive women's health clinics and warning people are fake clinics in your area. Here's a template from our action kit.
   
3. Talk to your Campus Health Center, and ask if they refer students to CPCs. Almost half of 4-year universities in the US do! If your Health Center on campus refers women to CPCs, make them stop, or in the very least have them put a disclaimer!
4. Hand out "Trick of Truth Treats" with candy and facts about CPCs. The truth is delicious!
   
5. Stage a protest at your nearest CPC, warning women about their deceptive practices. Or have a speak out/rally at your school!
   
6. Host a "haunted clinic" at your school. Instead of ghosts and ghouls, emulate what goes on inside a creepy CPC.
7. Photo campaign! Take pictures of people holding up signs with what they want to say about CPCs. Take photos and post them on campus, in a Facebook album, create a photo blog, or send it to your legislators!
8. Propose a "Truth in Advertising" disclaimer on campus if your campus health center refers to CPCs, or campus newspaper accepts ads from CPCs
9. Burma Shave Signs. These are consecutive signs posted one after another at a visible place on campus. Here is an example:

• You wouldn't want your dentist telling you that brushing your teeth will give you cavities.
• So why would you want (insert name of local CPC) saying that birth control is ineffective?
• or that abortion will give you breast cancer?
• or make you infertile?
• or make you more likely to commit suicide?
• Crisis Pregnancy Centers deceive women!

Have more ideas? We'd like to know what you are planning! Contact us at campusteam@feminist.org or call 866-444-3652 Happy exposing!

Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated!

As we get our costumes ready for Halloween, don't forget about what's really deceptive: Crisis Pregnancy Centers! Crisis Pregnancy Centers pose as comprehensive women’s health clinics and advertise under “abortion” and “family planning” services, but do not offer abortion services, contraception, or referrals. Instead, they have an anti-choice agenda and tell women misinformation about the affects of abortion in attempts to dissuade women away from all of their choices. We wanted to make sure that our campus groups plan ahead to participate in our National Week of Action, called "Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated," taking place the week leading up to Halloween, starting October 25th. Here are some cool ideas of how your campus group can get the word out and take action this Halloween:

1. Host a Screening of 12th and Delaware or of FMF's two videos on the deception of Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which can be found here, followed by a discussion.
2. Create education flyers and posters identifying comprehensive women's health clinics and warning people are fake clinics in your area. Here's a template from our action kit.
   
3. Talk to your Campus Health Center, and ask if they refer students to CPCs. Almost half of 4-year universities in the US do! If your Health Center on campus refers women to CPCs, make them stop, or in the very least have them put a disclaimer!
4. Hand out "Trick of Truth Treats" with candy and facts about CPCs. The truth is delicious!
   
5. Stage a protest at your nearest CPC, warning women about their deceptive practices. Or have a speak out/rally at your school!
   
6. Host a "haunted clinic" at your school. Instead of ghosts and ghouls, emulate what goes on inside a creepy CPC.
7. Photo campaign! Take pictures of people holding up signs with what they want to say about CPCs. Take photos and post them on campus, in a Facebook album, create a photo blog, or send it to your legislators!
8. Propose a "Truth in Advertising" disclaimer on campus if your campus health center refers to CPCs, or campus newspaper accepts ads from CPCs
9. Burma Shave Signs. These are consecutive signs posted one after another at a visible place on campus. Here is an example:

You wouldn't want your dentist telling you that brushing your teeth will give you cavities.
So why would you want (insert name of local CPC) saying that birth control is ineffective?
or that abortion will give you breast cancer?
or make you infertile?
or make you more likely to commit suicide?
Crisis Pregnancy Centers deceive women!

Have more ideas? We'd like to know what you are planning! Contact us at campusteam@feminist.org or call 866-444-3652 Happy exposing!

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

Hello Feminists!!!!!

Hello Feminists! My name is Laura Robles and this summer I will be a Choices Campus Intern for the Feminist Majority Foundation in Los Angeles! I am a senior at UCLA (will graduate this fall 2010) majoring in Political Science with a minor in Women's Studies, so the personal is very political for me! I am super excited to be here!

I grew up around strong super-women my whole life and I believe that women can change the world! I have a strong interest in protecting women's reproductive rights (specifically abortion) which are under attack at this present moment with the implementation of many restrictive policies and federal funding for CPCs (Crisis Pregnancy Centers). Women should have the protected right and access to safe and legal abortions.

I am a Chicana Feminist (see here and here) and I love to study women of color feminism! I analyze people and situations in regards to the concept of "Intersectionality" paying close attention to a person's race, gender, class, sexuality and how these factors intertwine. I am excited to be here this summer and contribute to this Blog (I have never Blogged before!!!)

New CPC Targets Jewish Women

Last week, Washington Jewish Week reported on the creation of In Shifra's Arms, a new crisis pregnancy center (CPC) targeting Jewish women.

I've spent the last two years at FMF organizing students to take part in our Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics. I've traveled the country and seen CPCs of all shapes and sizes, in office buildings and church basements, all close to college campuses and advertising the "choices" they offer. It's a promise on which they never deliver, because a CPC doesn't offer real choices. A CPC offers dangerously false information, condescension, and judgment. It offers short-term support for women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term, in the form of baby clothes, diapers, or parenting classes. But it does not offer the support and trust that women need when they are facing an unplanned pregnancy.

As a proud Jewish feminist, I'm really troubled to see a CPC targeting my community, claiming to be grounded in Jewish ideals. Judaism is actually a remarkably pro-choice and pro-women religion. I encourage you all to check out a great piece on this subject from the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. In the essay, Rabbi Raymond A. Zwerin and Rabbi Richard J. Shapiro conclude, "Whatever their opinions on abortion in any given situation, a vast majority of Jewish thinkers agree that decision-making with respect to abortion must be left in the hands of the woman involved, her husband, her physician, and her rabbi. Out of this context, in consonance with her Jewish heritage, she can make a decision as she is permitted to do by the United States Constitution. "

For a more detailed examination of In Shifra's Arms, check out my guestpost at the Jewish Women's Archive's blog Jewesses With Attitude. To take action against CPCs, check out our toolkit or email campusteam@feminist.org for more information.

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.

FEMMY for Cal Poly Pomona's Female Sexualty Society

The Femmy for Best Fight Against a CPC goes to the Female Sexuality Society at Cal Poly Pomona!!

After finding that Cal Poly Pomona was renting out office space to a Crisis Pregnancy Center located across the street from a student dorm, the Female Sexuality Society was determined to kick them off school property.

Led by Jackie Lara, the group began to make a plan of action to expose this fake clinic (misleadingly named "Women's Pregnancy Center"). They were going to find out what kind of information this CPC was telling people; bring attention to the CPC by informing the students about what a CPC is; and talk to the administration about shutting the CPC down, or in the very least have "truth in advertising" policy that required the CPC to provide disclaimers about the services they do not provide.

At a health fair in the dorms, Female Sexuality Society encountered a representative from the CPC on campus property. “[She told me] the ‘truth’ about abortion and the various complications which are ‘always’ associated with them,” Jackie said. They knew then that this was issue that affected the health and well-being of the students at Cal Poly Pomona.

After much hard work with tabling, informing students, getting coverage for their story on the Ms. Blog, Choices blog, and Change.org, and writing letters to the administration, the school finally listened. They said that they would not be renewing the CPCs lease next year. What a victory! Great work Jackie Lara and Cal Poly Pomona! You deserve your FEMMY!

This article was featured in our May 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.

Don’t Be Fooled by Fake Clinics Action Series: Proposing Truth in Advertising Policies on Campus

It is very important to establish "Truth in Advertising" policies on campus. The first questions are, does your health center refer students to CPCs and does your local CPC advertise on campus including in the newspaper? Propose that your Campus Health Center stop referring to CPCs. If they continue to do so,request placement of a disclaimer explaining that CPCs are limited-service facilities that do not offer services or referrals to abortions or birth control.

Do the same for advertisements on campus. If they advertise in the newspaper, talk to the editor get them to offer a disclaimer in the ads saying that CPCs do not offer services or referrals to abortion or birth control. Check out our "Establishing Truth in Advertising" Policies in our new CPC kit.

You should also talk to you Student Senate. Find a Pro-Choice member of the Student Government and ask to get a "Truth in Advertising" Resolution passed on campus! Check out the truth in advertising component in our CPC materials!

Photo courtesy of flickr.com/arimoore

Don't be Fooled by Fake Clinics Action Series: Photo Campaign

The National Day of Action to Expose Fake Clinics is quickly approaching! On April 1st, "Don't be Fooled by CPCs." What do YOU have planned?

An idea we have for you is to have a photo campaign!

Rally students together! Meet people who want to be involved when you are petitioning for CPCs. Come up with a prompt question that you want to ask everyone. Here are a few suggestions:

1. What do you expect from a women's health clinic?
2.What do you think about CPCs?
3.What services would you like to receive if you were faced with an unintended pregnancy?

Get people to write their answers on a piece of paper and have them tape it to a speech bubble that you've pre-made.

Take their picture!

These photos can be put into a slideshow, or a facebook or flickr album and share it with all of your supporters. Or you can print them out and create a photo collage or feminist quilt that can be displayed on campus or when you are tabling. Or you can also send them to your elected officials urging them to do something about the deceptive advertising practices of CPCs!

Check out the photo blog we at the West Coast office made!

What do you expect from your women's health clinic?

Create a Free Slideshow

Please share your submissions with us! Email them to campusteam@feminist.org.

What more great action ideas? Check out our "Don't be Fooled by CPCs" action series on this blog!

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.

Baltimore Passes First City Regulation of CPCs

On Monday, Baltimore became the first city in the country to require crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) to post signs disclosing that they do not offer referrals for or information about abortion and contraception. The Limited Service Pregnancy Center Disclaimers Bill passed by a 12-3 vote of the Baltimore City Council and will now move to the the desk of Mayor Sheila Dixon. WJZ reports that the Mayor is expected to sign the bill, and that it will go into effect 30 days after receiving her signature.

There are an estimated 4,000 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 and counseling. Some CPCs coerce and intimidate women out of considering abortion as an option, and prevent women from receiving neutral and comprehensive medical advice. Many disseminate false information about both abortion and contraception, and they are typically run by anti-abortion volunteers who are not licensed medical professionals.

City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake told the Baltimore Sun that the bill is a "step towards making sure that women have the information they need to make the right decision for their health and their future." Abortion rights activists celebrated the passage of the bill. "It's about time that we have truth in advertising regulations for these fake clinics which too often mislead women," said Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation.

Attention now turns to Montgomery County, MD, where a similar "truth in advertising" bill is being considered.

Image via Daniel Y. Go

Go Student Journalism!

As a PR intern, working on the Feminist Majority Foundations Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics, it’s always exciting to see a story about CPCs in a college paper. Not only does it assure me that all the calls I make bugging reporters and editors are not in vain, but the quality of some recent articles has really impressed me.

Being a recent graduate I remember the sleep-deprived days, permanently playing catch up with homework and revision all too well. When you’re a student, it seems, time is always your enemy, so the hours these reporters have put into their investigations deserves some recognition.

Take the recent article in MTSU’s The Sidelines for example; as well as investigating the campaigns website and asking me some great questions, reporter Rozalind Ruth took the time to interview the director of Mufreesboro Pregnancy Support Center, a nurse practitioner from MTSU’s Student Health Services and a community health educator from Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee.

I don’t know how many hours this added up to, but Ruth was clearly dedicated to an in depth study from all sides. After reading her article students would be in no doubt about the pro-life position of Mufreesboro Pregnancy Support Center and know where to go for unbiased advice.

Another great example was the article by Carly Tamborski in the University of Cincinnati’s News Record. She gives a detailed description of how to identify CPC and how to identify a genuine clinic.

Grace Pettygrove of the University of Oregon’s Daily Emerald compared claims about breast cancer risks made by the local CPC with those of the National Cancer Institute. She highlighted student activism against this CPC by interviewing the director of Students for Choice at UO.

Alissa Scheller also interviewed student activists and wrote her article in American’s the Eagle, after personally attending a panel discussion hosted by AU’s Students for Choice.

It’s great when reporters highlight the work of activists. It shows that those who believe in choice are not prepared to allow deception and misinformation to obstruct this right.

As can be expected these articles have provoked in a huge response with comments from all sides of the abortion debate. This is great, the longer an article is discussed; the more students will know that CPC’s are not what they claim to be.

Women who find themselves in a situation of an unintended pregnancy, will no doubt remember reporters who took time out of their busy schedules to make sure they’d know exactly where to go and who to trust.

As the nurse practitioner Ruth interviewed said “… a lot of organizations do have a bias, and that’s not really what our patients need–they need information… (so they can) make an educated decision that’s going to best fit their life.”

Exposing Fake Clinics Action Series: National Sex-Ed Call in Day

Have you heard of the Hatch Amendment??

It is a recent amendment to the health care reform bill passed by Senate Finance Committee that would reinstate $50 million/year to abstinence-only programs. GAHH!

I don't need to tell you that abstinence-only programs don't work. They do not lower the rates of unintended pregnancies or the spread of STIs including HIV. But I should tell you that this federal funding would also go to fund Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Let's not forget that this week is “Don’t Get Tricked, Get Treated” national week of action to expose “fake clinics.” I have a great action idea for you and everyone you know!

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28th is National Sex Ed Call-In Day. Please call your US Senators and let them know that reinstating $50 million to failed abstinence-only programs is unacceptable.

1. Call 1-800-423-5983 where you will be connected to the Capitol Switchboard

2. Tell them what state you are in and that you would like to speak to one of your Senators

3. Ask to speak to the lead aide on health and tell them why you think your senator needs to support comprehensive sex education and reject the Hatch Amendment that would reinstate $50 millions to abstinence-only education

4. Once you call one Senator, call the switchboard back and ask to be connected to your other State Senator.

5. When you are tabling and holding events this week for "Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated," have everyone you talk to take a second and do the same!

We have been making great progress at finally putting an end to abstinence-only education, and we must not let the Hatch Amendment undue our hard work!

On Wednesday October 28^th, call your Senators at 1-888-423-5983 and urge them to put a stop to the harmful Hatch Amendment and abstinence-only-before- marriage programs!

For more ideas on how to take action during "Don't Get Tricked, Get Treated," check out our action series