An Evening With Bill Baird

Last night, being the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Rochester NOW sponsored an event with reproductive rights activist Bill Baird.

Bill Baird is the founder of the Pro-Choice League and was the defendant in the landmark Baird v. Eisenstadt case that established the right to birth control for unmarried people. Previously, birth control had only been ruled a right for married couples in Griswold v. Connecticut. The majority opinion in the case contains the famous and highly significant line: "If the right of privacy means anything, it is the right of the individual, married or single, to be free from unwarranted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the decision whether to bear or beget a child." The right to privacy cited in the decision was also referenced in Roe v. Wade itself, as well as the more recent case Lawrence v. Texas, which ruled laws prohibiting same-sex sexual activity unconstitutional.

At the event, Baird spoke extensively of his history in the reproductive rights movement, his relatively unknown status, and the controversy surrounding his name and actions. And he certainly is a compelling speaker, if one who enjoys going off on tangents.

Baird discussed the fact that he has been jailed 8 times in 5 different states for showing contraception to poor women, and how during his landmark Supreme Court case he was refused the help of other progressive and reproductive rights organizations at the time. It's an issue that still clearly upsets him. He reminded us that there was a time when sexual intercourse outside of marriage was illegal, and gave a vivid description of the moment when he decided to begin the work that would get him repeatedly arrested: when he saw a woman work into the hospital where he worked with a coat hanger hanging out of her uterus, and died in front of him -- all because, he said, she didn't have access to birth control to prevent that pregnancy. And he railed against men who believe that they have a right to tell women what to do with their own bodies, and the lives that such "arrogance" costs.

During one particularly compelling moment, he held up an old newspaper with the headline "Mother Begs for Birth Control" and asks the question "why should any woman have to beg for medical care?" The question particularly sticks in one's mind because with high costs and laws restricting access, it's hardly one that's irrelevant today. Baird's talk focused greatly on history, but contained a strong link to the present. The struggles we face now may not be as extreme as they once were, but they are ultimately the same struggles.

The School to Prison Pipeline and What It Means for Repro Justice

Yesterday, we co-sponsored Human Rights Day in Rochester to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The evening event included a potluck dinner, reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and a panel discussion on the "School to Prison Pipeline." The topic was coincidentally timely given the local buzz about a school safety issue at East High in Rochester and Superintendent Brizard's in-school suspension policy. The local chapter of the NYCLU (New York Civil Liberties Union) was one of the lead organizations planning Human Rights Day; they invited a NYCLU attorney that works on the School to Prison Pipeline to speak on the panel. This morning, I had an opportunity to have breakfast with her and learn more about the School to Prison Pipeline. According to the NYCLU website:

The School to Prison Pipeline is a nationwide system of local, state and federal education and public safety policies that pushes students out of school and into the criminal justice system. This system disproportionately targets youth of color and youth with disabilities. Inequities in areas such as school discipline, policing practices, high-stakes testing and the prison industry contribute to the pipeline.

So you may be scratching your head trying to figure out how this relates to the work of Planned Parenthood. The work of the NYCLU addresses many civil liberties issues, including access to reproductive health care, comprehensive sex education, and privacy rights. It's easy to connect those issues with the advocacy work of Planned Parenthood. However, the NYCLU also addresses advocacy issues like immigrants' rights, LGBT rights, police accountability and criminal justice reform, protecting protest, and national security. From a reproductive justice framework, all civil liberties issues intersect in some way with sexual and reproductive health and rights.

In the example of the School to Prison Pipeline, Planned Parenthood does have a vested interest in helping youth succeed in school and become empowered citizens. The solutions that the School to Prison Pipeline suggests to decrease drop-out rates and address violence in schools are similar to the initiatives that help teens prevent unintended pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STI's).

Some things that the School to Prison Pipeline suggests as possible solutions are peer mediation, conflict resolution, after school programs, truancy intervention, guidance counseling, mentoring, character education, teacher training on classroom management, and parental and community involvement initiatives. These programs would not only keep teens off the street, but would help them succeed in school and, if combined with comprehensive sexuality education, will also help teens prevent unintended pregnancy and STI's.

In fact, Planned Parenthood's teen programs in Syracuse and Rochester focus on engaging teens in peer education, community outreach, leadership development, and operating after school programs that provide a safe and supportive environment for teens. The School to Prison Pipeline also disproportionately affects teens of color and urban populations, demographic groups that we also know are disproportionately affected by unintended teen pregnancy and lack of access to reproductive health care. By working together with organizations like the NYCLU, we can achieve the PPRSR mission of helping people "lead a healthy and fulfilling life."

An Extemely Overdue Recap...Sex, Activism, and Shelby Knox!

So this recap is long overdue, as the event I'm about to share with you happened on September 27th. Yes, I know, it is clear that I am just trying to fill space and time, as Cara, our usual blogger goddess, is taking a break for a bit. But stay with me here! I did mean to post about this way back then. The event I'm referring to is the Stronger. Together. Conference, a regional conference we hosted to bring advocates from across Western, Central, and South Central NYS together to learn and share organizing skills and gear up for a really exciting fall! It was actually the same weekend that Cara went out in the field in South Dakota. So she was "boots on the ground" there and we were back home rallying our own troops for reproductive justice. The conference was co-sponsored with PP, PP-Southern Finger Lakes, PP-Mohawk Hudson, PP-Western NY, and Family Planning Advocates of NYS. Talk about community organizing!

Eighty people showed up for a jam-packed schedule including workshops with titles like “Lobbying your Legislators 101,” “The Personal is Political,” and “Religion, Morality & Reproductive Choice.” Guest presenters included the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley, Empire State Pride Agenda, Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, Family Planning Advocates of NYS, and speakers from all co-sponsoring Planned Parenthood affiliates.

One of the favorites from the first breakout session was “Talk Back,” an interactive messaging training that taught how to respond to tough questions in conversation with family, friends, colleagues, and peers. “Rallies, Protests, Rights, and Responsibilities” in the second breakout gave useful advice when attending or organizing a public visibility event about legalities and rights of advocates in public space. The third breakout was my favorite--the "Reproductive Justice for All" workshops. The three sessions offered adddressed the histroy of religion and choice, the connection between LGBT rights and reproductive rights, and the social implications of advanced reprogenetic technologies.

The highlight of the day for me, anyway, was our keynote speaker, Shelby Knox. You probably know Shelby from the documentary about her advocacy work in high school for comprehensive sex ed and LGBT rights, The Education of Shelby Knox. Shelby is older now and just as outspoken, smart, and cool. She travels the country as a nationally-known youth organizer and educatory, feminist activist, and blogger. Shelby spoke enthusiastically about the reproductive justice movement, her personal journey in becoming a feminist and an activist, and the vital role young adults have in building the reproductive justice movement.

As we now know, the Stronger. Together. Conference kicked off a very busy and extremely emotional fall for community organizers and advocates of reproductive justice. Many of the us took the skills we learned and used them to organize on college campuses and in our communities. Plans are already on the table to hold a similar event next year. If you weren't there this year, I really hope you'll join us in 2009.

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.

A Conversation on Women's Health

Last night PPRSR hosted an event in Rochester to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, which guaranteed the constitutional right to privacy in medical decisions, specifically abortion. We were lucky enough to have the First Lady of New York Silda Wall Spitzer attend and deliver a speech on her and the Governor's commitment to women's health. Over 150 people came and we received lots of local media coverage both in print and on television.

The event, "A Conversation About Women's Health" reflected on the impact of Roe, the importance of reproductive options and the newly introduced Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (RHAPPA). RHAPPA is an important law recently introduced by Governor Eliot Spitzer. If passed, it would update New York State laws to guarantee the right to reproductive choice regardless of Supreme Court Decisions that could weaken Roe. It also makes a bold statement that New York will always put women's health first.

Mrs. Spitzer received two standing ovations from the audience. In her speech, she explained that RHAPPA acknowledges that the decision to have an abortion, the decision to give birth, or any other medical decision "is one that should be made between a woman and her doctor, not judges, not legislators, not special interest groups, not you and not me." It was one of the most powerful statements of the evening, and shows that both Governor and Mrs. Spitzer understand what being pro-choice is really about. It's not about being "pro-abortion," but making sure that no one's personal views, even the views of those who are pro-choice, can interfere with the private medical decisions of others -- no matter what those decisions are.

Another speaker, the CEO and President of Family Planning Advocates of New York State, JoAnn Smith, made the case that women are excellent decision makers. Women, she said, make choices every day, including the decisions they shouldn't have to make, like choosing between paying the rent or taking a sick child to the doctor. If we can trust women with these decisions, how can we not trust them with their own medical care? Smith also explained that RHAPPA is about more than guaranteeing just one kind of reproductive choice -- the bill would secure the right to choose or refuse abortion and birth control.

Both Smith and Galen Sherwin from the New York Civil Liberties Union explained that New York abortion laws are still in the penal code instead of the health code, and most citizens have no idea! The state was one of the first to legalize abortion in 1970, three years before Roe vs. Wade was decided. Unfortunately, though, the abortion laws have not been updated since then and we rely on Roe to guarantee this right to medical privacy. New York stood up for women's health earlier than most states, and now it's time to stand up again!

Here's a picture of Mrs. Spitzer finishing her speech. Women's health makes us smile, too!



The event was co-sponsored by Family Planning Advocates of New York State, the Rochester Reproductive Rights Task Force, the Greater Rochester Chapter of the National Organization for Woman and the Genesee Valley Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. A big thank you to all of them -- we couldn't have it done alone!

And lastly, welcome to our new blog! We hope to have a lot of our own conversations about women's health here, so stay tuned.