Already on Alert
It seems they can’t help themselves.
Despite assertions that jobs and the economy would be their top priority – Indiana legislators have already introduced a number of dangerous anti-women’s health bills.
Take a look at the legislation that’s been filed – just 8 days into the 2013 session!
SB101 (Banks, Kruse) – Written materials on abortions. Requires the state department of health to develop written materials to be provided to a pregnant woman setting forth specified information. Allows the state department to charge a provider who requests the materials the cost of printing and distributing the materials. Specifies information to be included in the written materials.
SB179 (Banks, Yoder) – Physical plant requirements for abortion clinics. For purposes of hospital licensure law, modifies the definition of “abortion clinic” to include an entity that provides abortion inducing drugs for the purpose of inducing an abortion. Sets forth certain safety and health requirements that an abortion clinic must meet. Specifies that existing licensed abortion clinics must meet the safety and health requirements. Requires the state department of health to inspect an abortion clinic at least one time per year.
SB183 (Banks, Kruse) – Sex selection and genetic abnormality abortion ban. Prohibits a person from performing an abortion if the person knows that the pregnant woman is seeking the abortion because of: (1) the sex of the fetus; or (2) a diagnosis or potential diagnosis of the fetus having Down syndrome or a genetic abnormality. Makes it a Class C felony if a person knowingly or intentionally commits a sex-selective abortion or an abortion conducted because of a diagnosis of Down syndrome or other genetic abnormality. Provides for civil relief.
SB335 (Kruse) – Insurance coverage of abortions. Prohibits a state employee health plan, an individual or group policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a group or individual contract with a health maintenance organization from including coverage for abortion unless the abortion is necessary to prevent a substantial permanent impairment of the life or physical health of the pregnant woman. Allows an insurer or health maintenance organization to offer a rider for abortion services if the insurer or health maintenance organization charges an additional premium for the rider.
SB371 (Holdman) – Abortion inducing drugs. Amends the definition of “abortion clinic” to include facilities that provide abortion inducing drugs. Specifies that only a physician who meets certain conditions may administer to a pregnant woman an abortion inducing drug, and sets forth the procedure the physician must follow. Requires a physician who learns of an adverse event following the use of an abortion inducing drug to report the adverse event to the Food and Drug Administration and the medical licensing board. Specifies that the reports of adverse events related to abortion inducing drugs and maintained by the medical licensing board are public records. Makes a violation concerning distribution of an abortion inducing drug and failure to report an adverse event a Class A misdemeanor.
As you would expect, our legislative team has been communicating and meeting regularly with members of the Indiana General Assembly, to talk about these bills. We’re keeping a close eye on the above list, and know that more troubling legislation may be on the horizon.
We’re also, of course, very aware of the man who was sworn in as our state’s 50th governor just yesterday. Gov. Mike Pence has said that jobs and education will be his main focus when he’s in the Statehouse, and we intend to hold him to that promise.
So, tell us, what do you foresee for the 2013 session? And don’t forget, you can always join us in our fight to protect our patients by becoming a part of the Advocates team!
When Women Vote, We ALL Win
We hope you enjoy the guest post below by the 51% Club.
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Did you know that around 250,000 women who voted in the 2008 Democratic Primary DIDN’T vote in the 2010 General Election? The 51% Club is an organization dedicated to getting Hoosier women back to the voting booth on November 6.
We want to hear from you. What happens in your life, in your family, in your community, in your state, and in your country, when 
women vote?
Send us a picture of yourself (like the one on the right) holding a sign saying what happens when women vote to 51percent@indems.org and we will post it on our website for you to share with your friends on your social networking sites.
Women around the state have already begun to participate in this effort. Check out their messages at www.whenwomenvote.com, join the movement, and pass it along!
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Love this idea as much as we do? Be sure to send our friends at the 51% Club a “when women vote” photo. And let us know in the comments section below what’s driving you to the polls this November.
Before You Vote, Learn About the Candidates
All the talk about Missouri Congressman Todd Akin over the last week drives home the point that we need to be very aware of who we’re voting for this November.
Women, in particular, have a lot at stake. In Indiana, for example, Mike “I’ll Shut Down the Federal Government Over Preventive Health Care for Low-Income Women” Pence is running for governor. He’s not alone, of course, in his extreme views on women’s issues. ”Personhood” is alive and well in other states.
On the day after Women’s Equality Day, we thought you’d enjoy the opinion piece below that outlines why women’s issues are important to the overall health of Indiana and its economy. A smart group of women got together to submit this to a number of Hoosier newspapers — and we couldn’t agree more with the sentiment.
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Women. We find new solutions to old problems. We care about children, education, health, fair pay and jobs with living wages; we care about Indiana’s future.
We are 51 percent of the population. When we vote, families and communities win. When we’re concerned, we go to work, and we change the world.
Today, on Women’s Equality Day, when we celebrate women’s right to vote, we’re concerned about the future of our state. The statistics on women, children, families and our state’s economy don’t look good. Consider this:
A recent Prudential Financial study showed that the majority of American women are now the breadwinners in their households. Yet in Indiana we still make only 74 cents compared to every dollar made by our white male counterparts. If we happen to be African-American, that’s only 62 cents and if we are Hispanic, 54 cents.
According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, one in five Hoosier children live in poverty, and in 2010 nearly half a million free and reduced-price school lunches were served in Indiana. We know that children who struggle with hunger are less prepared to enter school and children who don’t perform well in school are more likely to drop out. Teens who do not graduate from high school are three times more likely than college graduates to be unemployed and — even more sobering — teens who don’t complete high school are eight times more likely than high school graduates to end up in jail or prison. Completing fewer than 12 years of education is a strong predictor of repeated unplanned pregnancies, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Hoosier teenage girls have a birth rate significantly higher than the national average. For every 1,000 young women aged 15-19, there are approximately 44 births. We know that teen mothers are less likely to complete high school. Teen mothers are also at a greater risk of dependence on federal aid: approximately one-quarter of teen mothers go on welfare within three years of the child’s birth. We know that daughters of teen mothers are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves and sons of teen mothers are 13 percent more likely to be incarcerated.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, Indiana ranks 49th in the United States in terms of access to family planning services. We know that every $1 spent on family planning saves taxpayers $4 associated with the costs of unintended pregnancy that end up being paid for with public dollars.
Wage discrimination, policies and practices that discriminate, and lack of access to comprehensive sex education and contraceptives not only make Indiana less welcoming, they also contribute to the growing problem of poverty in our state.
We’ve heard that this fall’s elections are about jobs and the economy. On this day when we commemorate women’s right to vote, we remind our candidates for public office that “women’s issues” are not separate from jobs and the economy — they are the foundation for creating a strong, well prepared workforce and the key to a thriving economy. We want to elect leaders who will support what we know works:
• Jobs that provide Hoosier families with living wages.
• Equal pay practices for women and men who perform the same jobs.
• Access to comprehensive sex education so our young people know how to protect themselves against disease and unplanned pregnancies.
• Access to family planning services, including contraception, so that families have the tools to determine for themselves how best to grow and succeed.
This fall, we women must make our voices heard. We must examine our candidates’ positions and records. And we must vote for the ones who will stand with us to make Indiana a place where every individual has the opportunity to grow and prosper.
Robin Olds, State President
National Organization for Women
This letter also was signed by American Association of University Women State President Sharon Langlotz; Central Indiana Jobs with Justice Community Organizer Amy Shackelford; Indiana Federation of Business and Professional Women State President Theresa Adams; Indiana Federation of Democratic Women Statewide Coordinator Trish Whitcomb-Sipes; Indiana Religious Coalition in Support of Reproductive Justice Co-Presidents Sue Ellen Braunlin, M.D., and Carolyn Meagher; National Council of Jewish Women State Public Affairs Chair Robyn Pauker-Honig; and Planned Parenthood of Indiana President & CEO Betty Cockrum.
Back on Campus? Get Involved!
Following is a guest post from Mackenzie Szymanski, statewide advocacy coordinator for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana.
Summer may be over, but the War on Women isn’t. As we near the November election, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana is calling on all of its supporters to speak up, get active, and help us win this war!
What does this have to do with a college student? Right now, you may be taking that unpaid internship (wow, I’m sorry about that, but you won’t regret the experience) because the Pill is covered by your insurance. You may be on a bar crawl at 1 a.m. because you’ve practiced safer sex and don’t have to find a babysitter. You may be conscious of your health because a nurse recognized pre-cancerous cells during your cervical screening.
It’s hard to believe, but our right to these basic healthcare services is at risk.
We’re calling on you, college students, to get involved this semester. Here’s how:
- Join the Planned Parenthood Action Network (PPAN): All of Planned Parenthood’s advocates should subscribe to our Action Network to receive a calendar of events, political updates, and volunteer opportunities. It’s the easiest way to stay in the loop regarding all things Planned Parenthood, and we promise we won’t crowd your inbox! Sign up here.
- Table: set up shop at a health fair, concert, or campus event.
- Crowd canvassing: hang out in a public space with a Planned Parenthood petition.
- Condom crawls: pass out condoms to the public before/after a big event (like a bar crawl or concert).
- Petitions and letter-writing: legislators need to hear from their constituents about issues we care about.
- Voter registration/Get Out the Vote: help your peers register to vote and give them information about their polling locations.
Interested? Contact advocates@ppin.org and we can get started!
Is activism on your to-do list for school this year? Let us know below!
In the guest post below, Planned Parenthood of Indiana‘s (PPIN’s) new media and youth program specialist, Lizzy Bartelt, shares some helpful information about a form of contraception that may not be familiar to you. Lizzy is a member of PPIN’s Sara and Albert Reuben Partners in Health Education team. To learn more about our non-profit’s education efforts, please click here.
As a sexuality educator, my job is to help people learn how they can make sex safer. One barrier method that most people have never heard of is a dental dam.
What is a dental dam? It is a barrier that you can place between you and your partner during either cunnilingus (mouth-to-vulva, a.k.a. “eating out”) or anilingus (mouth-to-anus, a.k.a. “rimming”). This thin latex barrier (that can also be made of poly-urethane or nitrile) prevents fluids from being transmitted and makes sex safer for you and your partner.
Why is a dental dam so important? Did you know that as of 2011, the leading cause of mouth and throat cancer is sexually transmitted infections (STIs), specifically human papillomavirus (HPV)? For many years the leading cause of mouth and throat cancer was tobacco use, but no longer. Having unprotected oral sex can have severe consequences. Aside from HPV, most STIs can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex.
Are you afraid you won’t be able to find a dental dam? They are, indeed, difficult to track down and typically can only be purchased in specialty shops or online. Never fear, though! You can get them from many of your local PPIN health centers.
Lizzy Bartelt, new media and youth program specialist for PPIN
Remember: dental dams are not made for vaginal sex and will not protect you if used that way. They come in flavors and should be used once per sex act. Store them in a cool, dry place and make sure you check the expiration date. If you are using lubricant, ensure that it is water-based (i.e., K-Y Jelly, Astroglide, water or saliva).
If you’ve had unprotected sex, be it oral, anal, or vaginal, it is important to get yourself tested. Call 1-800-230-PLAN to schedule an appointment today!
More questions? Go to https://www.ppin.org/forms/askme.php.
So, did you know about the dental dam? Let us know in the Comments below, and be sure to pass this information along to your friends! Have a great weekend.
This year, Mother’s Day and Primary Election Day fall within a week of each other inIndiana.
Seems appropriate, because in 2012, moms have more reason than ever to keep a close eye on what’s happening in the Statehouse and inWashington,D.C.
One of our co-workers told a story this morning about how she was explaining to her 7-year-old daughter who she would be voting for today.
We Are Women Rally
The mom (who also has a 5-year-old son) told her daughter that one race, in particular, meant a lot to her, because their family lives in the district of the state senator who was behind the legislation to defund Planned Parenthood of Indiana (PPIN) in 2011.
She wanted her daughter to know that it was important to elect people who believed that women should make their own choices about their bodies and their families’ health care.
Now, this mom knew, of course, that her 1st grader probably didn’t understand what she was getting at (nor did she need to, at this age), but her story reflects what a lot of us are thinking these days.
Women’s rights are under attack. Nearly every TV ad Republicans have aired has highlighted their extreme anti-choice positions. Mitt Romney has said, “Planned Parenthood, we’re going to get rid of that.”
Yes, elections in 2012 are going to be crucial. And we can make a difference by getting involved, and simply voting.
Our Advocates team has been out and about and LOUD lately – with the We Are Women rally at the Statehouse and protests outside Republican fundraisers featuring Romney and the infamous Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who supported mandating transvaginal probes for women seeking abortions.
Thank you to all of you who have taken the time in recent weeks to show your love for Planned Parenthood and stand up for women’s rights. (Hard to believe we’re talking about this in 2012, isn’t it?!)
Even the rain couldn’t keep the ralliers away.
Now, returning to the subject of Mother’s Day. PPIN is offering free Pap tests at 19 of its health centers next week. Please be sure to tell your mom about it! Encourage her to do something for herself, for once.
Have you voted yet? What issues are driving you to the polls this year? Let us know in the Comments below.
Saturday Marks One-Year Anniversary of Pence Vote
Wow. Do you remember the “Pence Amendment?”
A year ago tomorrow, Congress, led by Indiana’s own Mike Pence, voted to bar Planned Parenthood from providing preventive health care through federal programs.
Fortunately, President Obama and a bipartisan Senate stood up for women’s health on April 14, 2011, and blocked the House of Representatives’ extreme proposal.
It’s frightening to think that if far-right members of Congress had gotten their way, millions of people would have lost access to preventive health care, including birth control, cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and annual exams at their preferred health care provider.
One positive thing that came from the Pence vote, though, was that supporters of quality health care for women became acutely aware of what some members of Congress were up to. They started paying close attention to what has turned out to be an ongoing assault on women’s rights.
If you’re among those who are now keeping track of who’s got our back this election year, be sure to check out Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s Women are Watching campaign. You’ll learn which elected officials and candidates stand for women’s health, and who needs to be held accountable for their actions.
We’re certain that Hoosiers will remember what Congressman Pence started a year ago, and they’ll take those memories to the voting booth in November. (Let’s not EVER forget that Mr. Pence is now running for our state’s governor!)
Congressman Pence shouldn’t be playing politics with women’s health. He should know that we are watching. And we’ll be voting.
