Be a Man -- Self Exam

Check out this funny video that raises awareness about testicular cancer (somewhat Not Safe For Work):



8,000 men will be diagnosed with testicular cancer this year -- and if caught early, it's one of the most curable forms of cancer. It's also the most common cancer in men aged 15-40. That's why self exams are so important. Just like women should regularly check their breasts for lumps, men should be checking their testicles!

Pass the video along, and for more funny videos with an important message about testicular cancer, check out Carpe Testes.

It's Called Reality

You know what really annoys me about modern anti-choice rhetoric? It’s not the elevation of fetus over woman; it’s not the desire to push ‘sex-for-procreation-only’ ideals on a society that clearly doesn’t want them; it’s not the thinly veiled fear of female sexuality; it’s not even the terrifying idea that a bunch of people that I’ve never met want to dictate my sexuality and reproduction and, hence, my life. All those things really get my goat, yes. But the thing that annoys me most is the odd, but very loud implication that abortion didn’t exist before 1973. As if Roe v. Wade invented abortion.

Along those lines, anti-choicers often say that they want to “end abortion.” When I hear this, I think, “wow, they’re going to pour money into medically accurate, judgment-free, sex education and all contraceptives will be available at no cost.” Unfortunately, anti-choicers elect to ignore the myriad causes of unplanned pregnancy and reasons why women choose abortion. Therefore, their version of “abortion-free” is different from those of us who choose to live in reality. And reality is harsh, sometimes.

The reality is that abortion has existed ever since the first women in various societies figured out it could be done. Ever since it was a possibility, women have sought abortion as a means of family planning, health management and self-determination. Abortion is not always a traumatic experience. While it would be a wonderful world if abortion was never needed, the truth is that, when given the option to control their fertility, most women will take it. And for some women, that control includes abortion.

Abortion will always exist, will always be needed. There will always be fetuses with abnormalities that cannot support life outside the womb. There will always be parents who decide that they cannot raise a child with severe challenges. Human fallibility will always interfere with birth control’s proven track record. There will always be people who just don’t want children. There will always be families who decide “no more children” for an unending variety of reasons. All of these factors, and so many others, too numerous to list, mean that abortion will always exist and always be necessary.

Let’s agree to do away with the aspiration to an “abortion-free” state, country or society. Instead, let’s agree to do everything in our power to reduce the need for it. Let’s make sure that everyone has education about, and access to, all forms of birth control. Let’s make sure that people who want to parent, have the financial and societal resources to do so. Let’s make sure that women who face the awful prospect of terminating wanted pregnancies, have the safest possible procedures available to them. Let’s make sure that all women have access to the best possible medical care if they decide to terminate a pregnancy for any reason. Let’s make sure that, as much as humanly possible, abortion is chosen freely and not due to financial strain, un-addressed health issues or as a result of ignorance. Because abortion exists and always will, we need to ensure that it is accessed safely and of the freest will possible.

And that sounds like a great reality to me.

New Blogger in Your Midst

Hello, all! My name is Ali and I will be posting here, starting next week. I’d like to thank the wonderful Cara, KaeLyn, and Erin for this opportunity. You guys rock and roll!

A little about me:

I’m 33 and live in Rochester, NY. I’ve been volunteering with Planned Parenthood for about two years. In 2006 and 2007, I helped staff their information table at the NY State Fair; I’ve also assisted with staffing the 2007 Regional Vox conference and the 2008 V-Day production of The Vagina Monologues.

This is my first time blogging, so I’m very excited! To explain a bit about what inspired me to action (and at the risk of committing literary tackiness and laziness) I’d like to heavily quote myself. From a “Why I Volunteer” piece that I wrote for Planned Parenthood’s fall, 2007 Informed Choice newsletter:

I was born in 1974, one year after Roe V. Wade. I was raised pro-choice by a pro-choice mother. For the majority of my life, abortion rights were assumed. […] Reproductive rights didn’t need to be talked about, they didn’t need to be fought for, they just. . .were.

For 31 years, I coasted along, secure in my assumption of basic human rights. Sure, every now and then some anti-choice activity or political move would make the news, but I wasn’t worried. I admit it; I was complacent.

In early 2006, I received my wakeup call. I stumbled across an online article about a proposed abortion ban in South Dakota. I literally couldn’t believe what I was reading. [...] When I finished the article, I came to the gut-churning realization that the legislature of South Dakota was, in fact, proposing a bill that would ban all abortions, with only one exception for the life of the mother.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I had a difficult time processing the fact that, in this country, in 2006, a law so extreme and barbaric was being seriously considered. After I pulled myself together, I did some searching online for more information on the bill and surrounding issues. My search led me to many political and feminist blogs.

I was consumed by the information I found. Article after article detailed the assault being made on reproductive rights all across the country. I was sickened and terrified. Slowly but surely, I realized that the rights and freedoms I had always taken for granted were being seriously threatened. I realized that there is indeed a need to think about reproductive rights. To talk about them. To fight for them.

And that pretty much brings us up to speed. I hope that some of you will be inspired to talk and fight, as well.

Anti-Choice Pharmacies Refuse Basic Health Services

The Washington Post reports that there are a small but growing number of pharmacies that are marketing themselves as "pro-life." What does that mean? It means that these pharmacies do not carry any form of contraception -- including birth control pills, emergency contraception and condoms. Birth control is a fundamental aspect of health care for those engaging in heterosexual sex and not currently wanting to become pregnant, which means that very large numbers of people need it. And yet, the owners of these pharmacies seem willing to turn a blind eye.

"The United States was founded on the idea that people act on their conscience -- that they have a sense of right and wrong and do what they think is right and moral," said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel at the Thomas More Society, a Chicago public-interest law firm that is defending a pharmacist who was fined and reprimanded for refusing to fill prescriptions for birth control pills. "Every pharmacist has the right to do the same thing," Brejcha said.

[. . .]

The pharmacies are emerging at a time when a variety of health-care workers are refusing to perform medical procedures they find objectionable. Fertility doctors have refused to inseminate gay women. Ambulance drivers have refused to transport patients for abortions. Anesthesiologists have refused to assist in sterilizations.

The problem is that, as covered before, access to reproductive health care is an important social service. America was founded on the principle that people should follow their consciences, indeed -- but not that people should enforce their own morality on others.

Why do these pharmacists oppose contraception? After all, birth control prevents women from having unwanted pregnancies and considering abortions. Their problem is the same as the one they have with emergency contraception -- they falsely believe that it causes abortions. No amount of explaining that pregnancy does not begin until a fertilized egg has implanted will change their minds -- nor will the fact that there is no evidence of birth control pills preventing fertilized eggs from implanting! Radical anti-choicers have even launched a campaign called The Pill Kills, and last weekend held the Protest the Pill Day '08: The Pill Kills Babies.

But clearly, the "pro-life" pharmacy movement has nothing to do with saving the lives of fertilized eggs or babies -- after all, condoms have nothing to do with either. The pharmacies are proud to not carry the most effective tool available for preventing HIV and other harmful STDs -- seemingly not very pro-life at all. One would almost conclude that they are opposed to sexual activity entirely, except that the pharmacies seem to have no problem selling Viagra.

Some critics question how such pharmacies justify carrying drugs, such as Viagra, for male reproductive issues, but not those for women.

"Why do you care about the sexual health of men but not women?" asked Anita L. Nelson, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "If he gets his Viagra, why can't she get her contraception?"

The DMC Pharmacy opening in August marks an expansion by Divine Mercy Care in Fairfax, a nonprofit health-care organization that adheres to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The group runs the Tepeyac Family Center, an obstetrics-gynecology practice in Fairfax that offers "natural family planning" instead of contraceptives, sterilization or abortion.

"We're trying not to leave our faith at the door," said John Bruchalski, who chairs the group's board of directors, noting that one of the organization's major goals is helping needy, uninsured patients obtain health care. "We're trying to create an environment where belief and professionalism come together."

But these doctors and pharmacies aren't leaving their beliefs at the door -- they're just building their own doors to hide behind. Everyone has a right to their own beliefs regarding sexual activity and contraception. It's true that some people do not believe in sex outside of marriage or any fertility control method beyond natural family planning. That's fine for those who make that choice. The problem is that most people do not make this choice and are having their health put at risk for someone else's religious beliefs.

Even worse, they're being misleading and not warning patrons of their practices in advance.

"Rape victims could end up in a pharmacy not understanding this pharmacy will not meet their needs," Greenberger said. "We've seen an alarming development of pharmacists over the last several years refusing to fill prescriptions, and sometimes even taking the prescription from the woman and refusing to give it back to her so she can fill it in another pharmacy."

Pharmacists at eight pro-life drugstores contacted by The Washington Post said they would not actively interfere with a woman trying to fill a prescription elsewhere, but none posts signs announcing restrictions or offers to help women get what they need elsewhere.

"If I don't believe something is right, the last thing I want to do is refer to someone else," said Michael G. Koelzer, who owns Kay Pharmacy in Grand Rapids, Mich. "It's up to that person to be able to find it."

Semler, at DMC Pharmacy, said he does not feel that will be an impediment.

"We just say there are other pharmacies in the area they can go to," he said, noting that the Kmart across the parking lot has a pharmacy and that there are several other national chains nearby. "We're not threatening anybody. We're just trying to serve a niche market of like-minded individuals."

One would think would that if they're trying to serve a small group of consumers, they would want to market to them. Instead, they're hiding the true nature of their businesses until after a person has been refused the reproductive health care they need. That's not "pro-life," but it is sneaky and anti-choice.

And what if more and more of these pharmacies keep popping up -- especially in rural areas with few alternative options? It may sound unlikely, but many people thought that reproductive health advocates were crying wolf when warning that anti-choice groups were trying to prevent access to contraception. And here we are, with anti-choice drugstores popping up in our communities. Legislators need to find a way to put an end to this nonsense is now, before even more lives are affected.

LGBT Pride Month

June is LGBT Pride Month!

LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender individuals, and Pride Month is a time to reflect on the history of the LGBT rights movement. It's also an opportunity for those in the community to come together to reflect on progress, discuss challenges and celebrate in a safe and accepting atmosphere.

Why should those who believe in reproductive rights care about LGBT equality? Causes in Common, a group that allies LGBT rights advocates and reproductive rights advocates, notes that there are several connections between the two causes. The movements absolutely benefit from each others successes. For example, the availability of birth control helped to normalize sexual activity for purposes of pleasure rather than procreation – and therefore helped to normalize sexual activity between women and between men. The desire of some right-wing forces to control sexuality also affects LGBT individuals as much as it affects heterosexual women who need access to birth control and abortion.

Additionally, it's important to note that LGBT sexual rights and the right to an abortion are based off of the same legal principle: that of privacy. In 2003, astonishingly late, the Supreme Court decided in the landmark Lawrence vs. Texas case that same-sex sexual relations could not be criminalized. The ruling relied heavily on the principle of reproductive and sexual privacy found in the decision in Roe vs. Wade.

When looked at in that light, it's hard to see how the two movements could not be connected. Forming alliances is in each other's and our own best interests!

For more education on LGBT social issues and sexual health, check out our MySpace page, where we'll be discussing the theme all month!

Ellen Fairchild

Ellen Fairchild died on May 24th at the age of 95. Fairchild was a former director of Planned Parenthood Syracuse, which eventually became Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region — us.

But Fairchild wasn't just an organizational leader who will be missed. She was responsible for opening the nation’s first legal abortion clinic -- boldly enough, within hours abortion becoming legal in New York State in 1970.

Ellen Fairchild, who oversaw Syracuse’s Planned Parenthood when it opened the nation’s first legal abortion clinic in 1970, died Saturday at age 95.

“She exemplified the traits of leadership, community spirit, energy, dedication and perseverance in her efforts to ensure that every child was wanted and loved,” said Betty DeFazio, speaking for Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region.

Fairchild was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Robert D. Fairchild, a Syracuse surgeon. She is survived by the couple’s five children. Funeral arrangements are private.

Fairchild directed Syracuse’s Planned Parenthood from 1966 to 1978. An award in Fairchild’s name recognizes Planned Parenthood employees, volunteers, donors or supporters.

She previously taught at Syracuse University, where she earned a doctorate in educational psychology. She also was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

A statement from PPRSR added:

In 1968, Dr. Fairchild established the “Sex Education Center” at Planned Parenthood in Syracuse complete with a meeting room and library of resources because she understood that people needed information and knowledge to make responsible decisions. In the 1970 annual report, she noted that the number of contraception patients had doubled that year. This was partially attributed to the increased education programming offered.

She supported the Planned Parenthood Board of Directors’ action to adopt the “Freedom of Choice” statement in January 1970 which said, “We believe that while all people should recognize the great responsibility they assume when they become parents, no one should be forced to use contraception or undergo sterilization or abortion.” That same belief still guides the organization today.

Dr. Fairchild recognized that men needed to be involved in prevention of unintended pregnancy with their partners. As a result, Planned Parenthood of Syracuse introduced vasectomy services upon receipt of approval from the NYS Health Department in April 1971. Later, as others in the community expanded availability of sterilization services, continuation of the service was not required.

Her legacy lives on. On March 4, 2002, a premiere showing of the fifth version of “Hope Is Not A Method” (originally produced in under her leadership in 1971) demonstrated the film’s reputation among health teachers and staff at family planning clinics as being the classic film for teenagers and young adults on the subject of contraception. It remains an important family planning educational tool for teens across the country.

Fairchild leaves behind an important legacy that should be valued by anyone who believes in reproductive rights. She was a crusader for women and a strong believer that families are most healthy when they are planned, when children are wanted, and when women have the ability to make their own reproductive choices. These are principles that still drive PPRSR's work today.

You can make a donation in Ellen Fairchild's memory to Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region.

The Truth About The Reproductive Health Act

The New York Civil Liberties Union just released this video about the New York Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act. The Reproductive Health Act would strengthen current state laws regarding abortion and contraception access, as well as guarantee the right to have or refuse an abortion regardless of future Supreme Court rulings regarding Roe vs. Wade.

New Yorkers may have noticed a lot of misinformation being spread by anti-choice groups who want to see the legislation fail. The bill's opponents are working hard, so that means supporters have to give it their all too. The video debunks many of the common myths, so pass it along and help to get the truth out there!



For more details on the legislation, check out NARAL's comprehensive page on the bill.