Why 2014 Could Be A Huge Turning Point For Reproductive Rights
“All Above All pushes back on the long-running urban legend that funding abortion coverage is some kind of political third rail,” Kierra Johnson, Choice USA’s executive director, explained in a statement about the coalition’s launch. “This campaign offers people a fresh approach to declare their support for bold action to change these policies.”
THE YEAR IN FEMINISM
The hilariously-titled “Bro-Choice” campaign launched, an effort by Choice USA to get men to be pro-choice advocates. While we applaud the idea of men supporting a woman’s right to choose, it attracted a lot of negative attention from the anti-choice hordes, for a writer’s tongue-in-cheek implication that men should support abortion rights because it will improve their sex lives.
Opinion: Millennial women are leaning in and stepping up
Journalist Gloria Steinem poses with Kierra Johnson at the Ms. Foundation’s Women of Vision 2013 Gala earlier this year. Johnson, the executive director of Choice USA, an abortion rights organization, has worked to mobilize youth around reproductive justice.
Scripps Chapter of Choice USA Launches Bro Choice Initiative Campaign to Include Male-Identified in Fight for Reproductive Justice
The members of the Bro Choice Initiative Campaign are inviting male-identified individuals of all ages and walks of life who are pro-choice to participate in the campaign. Elizabeth McElvein SC ‘14, vice president of Choice USA at Scripps, believes that the Bro Choice Initiative Campaign will help the community realize that reproductive justice involves people of all genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. “This is not just for wealthy, white, liberal women, it’s an intersectional issue. We’re seeking to engage male-identified individuals and we’re reaching out to them through this campaign,” McElvein said in an interview with TSL.
Playing Offense: Advocates Seek Legislation to Protect, Advance Reproductive Rights
All Above All leaders not only remain optimistic—they are bringing new energy to the effort. “Unfortunately there is a pattern in our movement that goes back decades of failing to address the needs of marginalized women, including low-income women and young women,” said Kierra Johnson, executive director of Choice USA. “This year we are hopeful that we can begin to change that pattern. Women of color, young women, reproductive justice and allied organizations are taking the lead, going deep and broad, using sophisticated communications, policy, and organizing strategies. There really isn’t any reason for the larger organizations not to join the effort, but we realize we are working to undo patterns of power that have been decades in the making.”
Tucson native lobbies against Employment Non-Discrimination Act’s religious exemption
As the Employment Non-Discrimination Act moves forward in the Senate, one Tucson native is working to limit what she and others call a too-broad religious exemption.
Students Advocate Against Cancer-Causing Chemicals in “Pink” Products
Choice U.S.A., the organization, set up a table in front of the Liberal Arts building 5 on Tuesday to gather signatures for a petition aimed to update the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976. Choice U.S.A. Director Jessica Ross said that the petition will be “hand delivered” to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) in the hope that she will support an upcoming bill aimed at placing stricter regulations on products containing cancer-causing chemicals. Although consumers are encouraged to buy pink or pink ribbon products to help the breast cancer cause, Ross said that many of these products have cancer-causing chemicals that actually contradict the fight for cancer. She referred to the companies that do this as “pinkwashers.”
Students Promote Choice
Roths and student Zoe Bartlett founded the local chapter, which has been temporarily administered through ESU Young Democrats. The first chapter meeting was held earlier this week, and the plan is to submit an application to Associated Student Government for formal recognition as a student organization. Garner had not been involved in Choice USA before the conference. “I wanted to attend the conference to learn more about Choice USA and to learn how to get a bit more involved than I was,” he said. The July national conference was devoted to several issues—sex education, abortion, consent, and advocacy. “I didn’t know how you could go to an office of legislators and talk to them,” Roths said. “They showed us the steps of how to do that. The last day we… Read more »
Meet The Activists Fighting To Restore Low-Income Women’s Access To Affordable Abortion
“All*Above All pushes back on the long-running urban legend that funding abortion coverage is some kind of political third rail,” Kierra Johnson, Choice USA’s executive director, explained in a recent statement about the coalition’s launch. “This campaign offers people a fresh approach to declare their support for bold action to change these policies.”
Millennials Are Fighting to Overturn the Hyde Amendment
Recently, Choice USA became part of a new campaign All* Above All, which is focused on getting young activists working to restore and sustain abortion coverage for low-income women and repeal the Hyde Amendment. Thousands of young people all over the country are making their voices heard. Apathetic? Self-centered? Hardly! All* Above All turns those stereotypes on their head. We are creating a platform for women to represent themselves, to show the diversity of the voices who support overturning harmful policies such as Hyde. We take ourselves seriously—and demand that we be taken seriously by the politicians we help elect. It’s noteworthy that the day after the Hyde anniversary, Obamacare enrollment begins. We—people of color and young people—worked especially hard to ensure Obamacare became a reality so that millions of… Read more »
