Completely Unnecessary

At least one ward of the Mormon church is activating against Illinois’ HB 2234, which would provide civil unions in the state (h/t Paul). Such unions would be available to hetero and homosexual couples, ad would provide the same rights and responsibilities as marriage.

An email sent around to ward members encouraged them to call state legislators because the bill would, ‘create grounds for rewriting all social mores,’ amongst other evils.

The bill passed out of committee yesterday despite the church’s input.

As they recommend, however, it’s a good idea to call your legislators and express your support for HB 2234.

While you’re at it, also tell them to support HB 2354, the Reproductive Health and Access Act.

The bill mandates that state and sub-governmental agencies cannot deny women contraception or abortions before fetal viability (with an exception for the health of the mother); ensures funding for reproductive health for low-income/medicaid patients; and mandates that public schools provide medically-accurate comprehensive sex ed.

All lovely things.

You can find your state legislators here.

In national news, after Vitter’s amendment to block Title X money to Planned Parenthood, Sen. DeMint offered an amendment that would block a rule re-allowing pharmaceutical companies to provide low-cost birth control to universities and health clinics. DeMint complained it was an ‘earmark’, despite the fact that it offered no money from the federal government, just re-allowed companies to offer cheap bc at their own cost.

The Wicker amendment sought to limit US funding to the UN Population Fund, which provides family planning for women around the world. Republicans continue to argue that the UNPFA provides funds for coercive abortion in China, when even Bush’s own investigators found that it does no such thing. Wicker’s amendment was defeated.

Ugh.

I mean, yay, but ugh that we have to keep having these kind of debates over legal medications and family planning programs that reduce abortions. Hard to argue that pro-life Republicans are really interested in preventing abortions.

In international sad news that really has nothing to do with any of this, Zimbabwean PM Morgan Tsvangirai was injured and his wife killed in a car wreck today.

The truck driver that hit their car (in the middle of a convoy) said he fell asleep whilst driving.

The MDC will investigate independently, especially after their videographer, who rushed to the scene, was arrested and his camera confiscated.

My heart goes out to Tsvangiai, who continues to stand strong after a year of unbelievable tragedy.

Vaguely Related

• Zimbabwe Election Redux
• Today in Lady News

I am a dork because I get excited about pieces of legislation.

The Prevention First Act - introduced in both the US House (H.R.463) and Senate (S.21) - is giddily awesome and covers everything from emergency contraception and comprehensive sex ed to assistance for rape survivors and funds for positive life education.

Things like this are why I heart my Democratic Congress (today):

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any information concerning the use of a contraceptive provided through any federally funded sex education, family life education, abstinence education, comprehensive health education, or character education program shall be medically accurate and shall include health benefits and failure rates relating to the use of such contraceptive.

No more ‘condoms have tiny holes’ if you wants the federal dollars, friends.

Hospitals receiving federal funding would be required to provide free EC to victims of sexual assault as well as providing them with the medically accurate information that EC does not cause abortion.

Also:

Use of Funds- Funds received by an entity as a grant under this section shall be used for programs that–

`(1) replicate or substantially incorporate the elements of one or more teenage pregnancy prevention programs that have been proven (on the basis of rigorous scientific research) to delay sexual intercourse or sexual activity, increase condom or contraceptive use without increasing sexual activity, or reduce teenage pregnancy;
…
`(f) Relation to Abstinence-Only Programs- Funds under this section are not intended for use by abstinence-only education programs…

Which is redundant since abstinence-only programs are not scientifically shown to significantly delay sexual activity (much less to promote safe sexual activity), but I like to see Congress covering its bases.

What else? Ah yes, funding can go to a program that:

(1) is age-appropriate and medically accurate;

(2) does not teach or promote religion;

(3) teaches that abstinence is the only sure way to avoid pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases;

(4) stresses the value of abstinence while not ignoring those young people who have had or are having sexual intercourse;

(5) provides information about the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods as a means to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS;

(6) encourages family communication between parent and child about sexuality;

(7) teaches young people the skills to make responsible decisions about sexuality, including how to avoid unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances; and

(8) teaches young people how alcohol and drug use can effect responsible decision making.

States can also receive money for programs that teach positive male sexuality and preventative domestic/partner violence techniques, amongst other things.

I’m pretty much over the moon about these bills (before they are inevitably stripped of everything meaningful).

Have a gander at the House bill and the Senate bill.

If you like what you read, contact your Rep about H.R.463 and your Senators about S.21. Make sure to note that you are a constituent and specifically ask them to support the bill.

I’ve already called Burris and Durbin, though ‘The Honorable Vacancy - IL05‘ was not available. (Click the link; that was the actual output for my query.)

Links:
Louise Slaughter Seeking To Destroy America Through Accurate Sex Education [Jezebel]

Vaguely Related

• Today in Lady News
• Bush Administration Pushes Through New HHS Rule

Poor blog - left to the side when I have better things to do.

But! Since I’m in vague study mode, now seems a good time to run down random crap.

Firstly, Roland Burris. I keep hearing things from non-Illinois talking heads about how qualified he is, etc. I admit that Burris is probably the most qualified person that would accept an appointment from Blagojevich, but that does not make him qualified for the senate seat, per se.

Four times the voters of Illinois said, “Meh, no thanks,” to Roland Burris. And that was for city and state office. If he’s so keen to be the junior Senator from Illinois, why did he never throw his hat in the ring before now? [Ed.- Sorry, I meant except for early in his career (1984) when he was Comptroller.]

Perhaps a resigned recognition of his popularity amongst voters had something to do with it.

Anyway, looks like Reid’s going to back down. But I guarantee that Burris will lose yet another statewide primary in 2010 if he chooses to run again. (Though I sincerely doubt he has any interest in doing that.)

Teen pregnancies are up in 26 states (for those of you doing the math at home, that’s over half). Some people are laying the blame at the feet of the $178mil we spend on abstinence only education in our schools.

For shame, you uterus-coddling liberals.

And finally, the reason the Obama’s couldn’t move in early to Blair House is… John Howard!

Everyone’s favorite slumming-it-on-YouTube former PM will be in town to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Yes.

I nearly blogged about the medal the other day, but there was still a bit of spit up in my mouth. The combination of the medal plus the rejection of the Obamas earns my hair-trigger moral outrage.

Vaguely Related

• Support Smart Reproductive Health - Prevention First Act 2009
• Roland Burris - Ready to Serve in the Senate

Just finished watching the latest in the series of Palin/Couric interviews. You’d think at this point that Palin would just coldcock Couric anytime she saw her coming. But no.

Anyway, there was nonsense about gays (it’s a choice!), vague nonsense about feminism (everything’s equal!) and a fairly good explanation of her position on evolution in schools (she believes in creationism, but science is for science class - literally the best answer I’ve ever heard her give).

Things broke down a little bit during Couric’s question about Palin’s stance on emergency contraception (transcript from CBS):

Couric: Some people have credited the morning-after pill for decreasing the number of abortions. How do you feel about the morning-after pill?

Palin: Well, I am all for contraception. And I am all for preventative measures that are legal and save [sic - safe], and should be taken, but Katie, again, I am one to believe that life starts at the moment of conception. And I would like to see …

Couric: And so you don’t believe in the morning-after pill?

Palin: … I would like to see fewer and fewer abortions in this world. And again, I haven’t spoken with anyone who disagrees with my position on that.

Couric: I’m sorry, I just want to ask you again. Do you not support or do you condone or condemn the morning-after pill.

Palin: Personally, and this isn’t McCain-Palin policy …

Couric: No, that’s OK, I’m just asking you.

Palin: But personally, I would not choose to participate in that kind of contraception.

Okay, so what we have here is Palin not understanding how the morning-after pill (and contraception, more generally) works.

Like many forms of birth control, EC can either block ovulation or prevent fertilization - but it can also prevent implantation. If you believe life begins at conception, odds are that most forms of birth control - including EC - aren’t for you.

Not to mention that she’s ‘all for [contraception]‘, but ‘would not choose to participate’ in EC.

For the last time - EC is just a megahit of birth control.

If you’re pro-contraception, it makes no sense to be anti-EC. If you’re anti-EC, it doesn’t really cotton that you’re pro-contraception.

And finally, contraception is, of course, just about the easiest way to lower abortion rates.

Jezebel has the video embedded and more quotes from the interview.

Vaguely Related

• Missouri Lawmakers Focus on Plan B
• Bush Administration Pushes Through New HHS Rule

Dust off your virginity, and prepare to be creeped out all. over. again.

Besides the ostentatious religious displays and reliance on abstinence-only dogma, I could never really pinpoint what it was about purity balls that gave me such a massive wiggins.

Luckily, the NYT provided a picture gallery this year: aaand, it’s number 8 that provides the wig factor.

Let’s just run through the litany of terrifying quotes, shall we?

But after dessert, the 63 men stood and read aloud a covenant “before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity.”
…
“It inspires me to be spiritual and moral in turn. If I’m holding them to such high standards, you can be sure I won’t be cheating on their mother.”
…
“Something I need from dad is affirmation, being told I’m beautiful,” said Jordyn Wilson, 19, another daughter of Randy and Lisa. “If we don’t get it from home, we will go out to the culture and get it from them.”

Not content with making millions off taxpayers, abstinence groups are branching out:

The Abstinence Clearinghouse, an advocacy group, says it sells hundreds of purity ball kits annually to interested groups all over the country and abroad.

Luckily, study after study shows that these fine young ladies will almost assuredly be having sex within a couple of years (except hopefully for the two 9-year-olds one father saw fit to bring).

Granted, they probably won’t use condoms - since they’ve been told they don’t work - but at least they’ll have good relationships with their dads. Might help with the shotgun wedding part!

Links:
Dancing the Night Away, With a Higher Purpose [NYT]
Picture Gallery [NYT]

Vaguely Related

• Voyerism, Stealing from Gay Bashers, and Minors, oh my!!!
• Colorado Initiative Would Grant Personhood to Embryos

Hope it’s been worth it, right-wingers. I actually can’t state this better than the Orlando tv station that reported it, so I’m just going to quote it in full:

A recent survey that found some Florida teens believe drinking a cap of bleach will prevent HIV and a shot of Mountain Dew will stop pregnancy has prompted lawmakers to push for an overhaul of sex education in the state.

The survey showed that Florida teens also believe that smoking marijuana will prevent a person from getting pregnant.

State lawmakers said the myths are spreading because of Florida’s abstinence-only sex education, Local 6 reported.They are proposing a bill that would require a more comprehensive approach, the report said.It would still require teaching abstinence but students would also learn about condoms and other methods of birth control and disease prevention.The bill just passed its first vote in a committee, Local 6 reported.

I have nothing to add.

Link:
Survey: Fla. Teens Believe Drinking Bleach Will Prevent HIV [Local 6 - Orlando]

Vaguely Related

• January 7 Randoms
• Abstinence-only education, the choice of those with STIs

As if you needed one more reason not to sleep with teenagers. (For my part, I’m contractually obligated not to sleep with nearly 40 of them.)

Remember that stat that your doctor keeps telling you about how 80% of women get HPV by the time they’re 50?

You can add to that the fact that 25% of teenage girls now have an STI.

These numbers include unfortunately high rates of infection for African-American girls, at around 50%. Rates were obviously lower (because of basic math, not race) for whites and Latinas, but still hovering at an alarming 20%.

Unsurprisingly, HPV was the most common STI at 18%, followed by chlamydia at 4%. At least herpes wasn’t up there, as it sucks way worse than HPV or chlamydia.

Anyway, let this serve as a glowing testimonial to the joys of abstinence education, which is working amazingly to eradicate STIs, as these infection rates clearly display.

Vaguely Related

• Support Smart Reproductive Health - Prevention First Act 2009
• Abstinence-only education, the choice of those with STIs

I don’t know if I’ve made this point before, but abstinence-only sex ed is stupid as hell. Apparently, it’s also making Americans infectious as hell:

• 1 million new cases of chlamydia
• Gonorrhea rates are jumping, especially the ’superbug’ variety
• Syphilis is also on the rise, including, for the first time in 15 years, congenital syphilis

Awesome. Maybe it all just got through the tiny holes God puts in the condoms so you get the AIDS.

US sets record in sexual disease cases [Yahoo News]

Vaguely Related

• It’s Purity Ball Season!
• You there, quit it.

The Bush Administration would like you to know that having premarital sex renders you unable to succeed.

And here I thought it just sent you to Hell.

So, I’m back on the virginity bandwagon, people - three cheers for my third virginity!

Something tells me this one will be a success.

h/t SLOG

Vaguely Related

• You there, quit it.
• Privacy and Publicity at the GOP Convention

The Post reports that after years of downward trending, the rate of sexual activity amongst young people has reached a plateau. Since 2001, the number of teens having sex hasn’t changed much. What also happened that year?

The halt in the downward trend coincided with an increase in federal spending on programs focused exclusively on encouraging sexual abstinence until marriage, several experts noted.

So… it seems that abstinence-only ’sex ed’ not only ineffective at preventing more kids from having sex, but may have had a hand in arresting the already downward trend (there are some other factors like declining fear of AIDS that may also have played a role). Still, at best, abstinence-only ‘ed’ is doing little to stem the rush of teens to the bedroom. Clearly, this will send a message to abstinence-only ‘educators’ that their methods are not exactly working.

But abstinence proponents argue that, if anything, the data underscore the need for greater emphasis on encouraging youngsters to abstain from sex until marriage.

“We need to increase abstinence education and give more dollars to abstinence education. It is the healthiest program we have for young people,” said Leslee Unruh of the National Abstinence Clearinghouse.

Oh, there it is - ‘give more dollars’ - because millions upon millions aren’t enough (for instance, the $28 million additional funds approved by the House just last week (on top of the $176 million spent per year)).

I guess anything ‘works’ so long as the cow keeps giving up the milk. And isn’t that one of the core lessons of abstinence only ‘education’ - why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

I guess you could say, abstinence-only ‘educators’ are fucking America. And, given their views, they’re probably doing it without a condom.

Condoms have tiny holes that let the AIDS through, you know.

Vaguely Related

• You there, quit it.
• Voyerism, Stealing from Gay Bashers, and Minors, oh my!!!