Words of Choice: Up the Creativity

New Jersey Students Define Reproductive Freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Words of Choice appeared recently at Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey. As students took their seats in the auditorium, we ask them to fill out cards, sharing their meaning of Reproductive Freedom.

It takes a little bit of courage for people to write down their thoughts, but scores did, and our cast -- Leah Jacobs, Carl H. Jaynes, and Claudia Schneider -- joined by Cara May of the Ramapo Women's Center, read the cards back to the audience after the performance. You know, for the most part, people have a pretty good idea about freedom, and reproduction, and reproductive freedom.

Uncensored, here is what the students or community members wrote:

Reproductive freedom means the ability to reproduce or not at my choosing.

Ability to have children or to choose not to.

Reproductive freedom gives men the ability to enjoy having an intimate relationship without the fear of an unwanted pregnancy.

Reproductive freedom means -- the choice to reproduce or not.

Reproductive Freedom: Doing anything you want with whomever you want in the name of love.

Reproductive Freedom: The freedom to choose between abortion, adoption or keeping a baby when a woman is pregnant.

Having complete freedom over your body to make a choice.

Reproductive freedom is having the right and ability to make choices regarding your body.

What Reproductive Freedom Means to Me? My CHOICE.

Reproductive freedom means respecting everyone's right to their bodies!

Reproductive Freedom means -- A man/woman can choose whether or when to reproduce.

The freedom to reproduce with whomever or however you want.

Common sense.

Reproductive Freedom, Everyone male or female has the choice if he or she wants to have a child if it is biological or not. They have just as equal a right to decide not to reproduce as they do if they want to.

Reproductive Freedom. YOUR choice.

What is reproductive freedom? The ability & right to make informed healthy decisions about the path you want to take in your life.

Bodily autonomy -- trusting people know what's best for themselves.

Reproductive Freedom -- being able to choose when, where, and how to reproduce without restriction.

Reproductive Freedom means -- a man or woman has the choice to have a child or act the way they want towards their sexuality.

The freedom that someone has to make decisions about their body.

Reproductive Freedom -- to be able to exercise your sexual right ... and what not ... I hope to learn more about it here! (smiley face)

Reproductive Freedom -- Dear US Gov't: Keep YOUR hands off MY BODY.

(Drawings): Man, women, flag, heart with a patch.

Reproductive Freedom: An individual's power to determine/define the means of reproduction (along the entirely of the biological process) within a specific culture.

Reproductive Freedom means -- choose when you want.

Reproductive Freedom: the option and RIGHT to have agency over one's own body!

Reproductive Freedom -- the decision being up to me and me alone (not government)

Reproductive Freedom -- It is the women's choice what she wants to do with her body and babies. As long as she doesn't murder the baby after it's born -- that is when its murder. But if she can't take care of the baby then it's her choice to abort it or put it up for adoption, but she should probably be on birth control in the first place. (heart symbol)

Reproductive Freedom means:
Choice
change
decisions
Individually

Reproductive Freedom -- The ability to decide who you have sex with.

The ability to choose freely amongst your reproductive options.

Reproductive Freedom -- the choice of changing, nothing, or doing whatever you want.

Reproductive Freedom = the freedom and choice to change your sex, gender and orientation.

Reproductive Freedom -- I have no idea what reproductive freedom means. No Idea.

Unrestricted access to contraception and resources regarding reproduction and pregnancy.

Reproductive Freedom -- Freedom to do what one deems appropriate to do regarding sex + pregnancy.

Reproductive Freedom -- To be able to mate with anyone you want with no limitation.

Reproductive Freedom -- Is not an elective!

This is a great exercise, and Words of Choice has published some of our favorite creativity exercises on our website -- look here for the Words of Choice Activities Guide.

How can we get past the political debate? Creativity works!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Photo from rally in NYC 2011.

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

Our History: How the "Roe" Decision Looked, Sounded and Felt

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:50:00 +0000

History has some of the best resources! Words of Choice, in live performance, recounts some of the words of Justice Harry Blackmun, the author of the decision in Roe v. Wade that prohibited states from making abortion completely illegal.

Justice Blackmun said, for example, "Few decisions are more personal and intimate, more properly private or more basic to individual dignity and autonomy than a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy." And "Roe v. Wade was a step that had to be taken as we go down the road toward the full emancipation of women."(This selection, Letters to Justice Blackmun, can be heard on Jan 18 2012 archives of WBAI radio, Joy of Resistance with Fran Luck. Access ends approx. April 15, 2012.)

So it's particularly interesting, historically, to see how Roe was reported at the time. As the decision was handed down, the United Press International wire service wrote (special thanks for copy to David Dismore):

A Supreme Court decision that allows abortions on demand in early stages of pregnancy is being applauded by women's rights advocates but criticized by Roman Catholic churchmen as a "tragedy" and "catastrophe" for the nation.

By a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court Monday struck down state laws that prohibit abortions during the first three months of pregnancy. That decision, the court ruled, is up to the woman and her physician.

During the second three months, or until a fetus has reached a stage of "viability" - when it could be born and live - the state may regulate but not forbid an abortion. The decision allows states to regulate the conditions of abortion, such as who may perform them and what kinds of facilities should be required.

After this "viability" stage - reached at 6 or 7 months - a state may forbid abortions except "when it is necessary to preserve the health or life of the mother."

The majority ruling, by Justice Harry A. Blackmun, held that rights of personal property under the 14th Amendment are "broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy."

The decision will sharply alter the application of antiabortion laws in 46 states. It held unconstitutional - as applied - a Texas law limiting abortions to cases where the mother's life was at stake and a Georgia law allowing three grounds for abortion, one of them cases of rape. Twenty-nine
other states have laws similar to Texas,' and 15 others have laws similar to Georgia's.

Rep. Bella Abzug, D.-N.Y., said, "This is an historic and giant step toward the recognition of the rights of women to control their own bodies and to have abortions by choice under the constitutional right to privacy...."

And, on CBS Evening News, the story became a nearly five minute clip with multiple reporters -- and none other than the dean of television journalism, Walter Cronkike, announcing the decision as his lead story.

"Good evening, in a landmark ruling the Supreme Court today legalized abortions. The majority in cases from Texas and Georgia said that the decision to end a pregnancy during the first three months belongs to the woman and her doctor, not the government. Thus, the anti-abortion laws of 46 states were rendered unconstitutional." The actual clip, first posted by RHReality Check, is below, and on YouTube.

Finally, you can listen to the oral arguments of the lawyers appearing before Supreme Court online at "Oyez". And you can read the full opinion by Justice Blackmun online on Oyez or other sites,such as Justica. And, it's equally important to remember that another pivotal abortion case was issued at the same time -- Doe v. Bolton -- and that can be read online at the Legal Information Institute site.

These resources fill in critical pieces about the law and the quite thoughtful and philosophical decision in Roe, and are rich resources for scores of prochoice projects.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, screen shot of CBS evening news; video from You Tube.

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

Marching Online for Women's Lives: Trust Women! Jan 20-27

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:32:00 +0000

From January 20 to 27, Words of Choice is joining in the first-ever Trust Women Week, a virtual march for women’s lives and rights.

This innovative and collaborative online campaign is designed to encourage people to speak out for women’s rights. Nearly 70 organizations across the country are working with MoveOn.org and the Silver Ribbon Campaign of San Francisco, which developed the concept.

The online participants are aiming to let legislators know that reproductive freedom, reproductive justice and reproductive rights are at the top of our agenda, and they want legislators to listen up.

Join Words of Choice on this virtual “march” by clicking here. It takes less than a minute! After you vote on a message, you will see a map showing what others around the country are doing, and how many have signed on! By agreement with MoveOn, no personal information is collected or kept about the "marchers."

Messages from “virtual marchers” will be delivered directly to members of Congress, governors and state legislators to impress upon them that Americans trust women to make their own decisions about their bodies and their lives. The campaign hopes to gather one million participants.

Each person who signs on, gets to pick her own message from a list:

“I trust women and I vote;”
“Reproductive rights are human rights;”
“Keep abortion safe and legal, affordable and accessible;”
“Stand up and be counted for reproductive justice;”
“We are the 99%. Fix the economy, and stop the war on women;”
"Contraception IS Prevention."

Trust Women Week, January 20-27, overlaps the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on January 22, the 1973 decision that of the U.S. Supreme Court that said states could not make abortion illegal under all circumstances and that abortion is a personal decision for women, protected from government interference under the Ninth Amendment.

Words of Choice II performs "Letters to Justice Blackmun" -- Justice Harry Blackmun was the author of the Roe v. Wade opinion. The Supreme Court has received more mail about Roe than any other opinion of the court. The anniversary of Roe is a time when Words of Choice, along with many reproductive freedom fighters, can reaffirm our commitment reproductive justice for all.

Join Words of Choice on the Virtual March by clicking here. Invite your friends to join, too!

The Twitter hashtag for the campaign is #TrustWmn.
Find Words of Choice on Twitter: @ChoiceTheater.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: online map page from Trust Women Week Virtual March!

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

Buffalo's Brazen-Faced Varlets Step Out With "Words of Choice," Jan 20-21-22

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:49:00 +0000

After a year of planning, Brazen-Faced Varlets opens Words of Choice in Buffalo this weekend, just in time for the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Under the direction of Kelly M. Beuth, this Buffalo group is performing our Frontlines version of Words of Choice -- our core first collection that toured so successfully. The show features a cast of 11!-- Brittany Kucala, Diane DiBernardo, Wendy Hall, Theresa DiMuro Wilber, James Steiner, Paul McGinnis, Kate Olena, Jennifer Arroyo, Jennifer Gembka, Amelia Scinta, Amy Wrzos.

And the group describes the performance in this way: "Featuring recently migrated activist videos and performances."

This definitely is the place to be in Buffalo this weekend! AND, there's more to cheer about. The production was made possible by The Pro-Choice Foundation of Western New York, with support from Buffalo Womenservices. A portion of proceeds will benefit Planned Parenthood of Western New York.

Please spread the word with anyone you know in the Buffalo area!

More information on the Words of Choice website; on Buffalo.com; on Facebook; on the site of the performance venueHallwells.

Download your own flyer, here, and Spread the Word!

PERFORMANCE DETAILS

January 20, 21 and 22, 2012
7:30 pm
Buffalo, New York

Words of Choice
as published in Frontlines
Produced and performed by
The Brazen-Faced Varlets of Buffalo
Directed by Kelly M. Beuth
at
Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center
341 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York

Tickets $12, available only at the door
Production made possible by The Pro-Choice Foundation of Western New York, with support from Buffalo Womenservices. A portion of proceeds will benefit Planned Parenthood of Western New York.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Poster for Brazen-Faced Varlets, Words of Choice, Buffalo

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

SF Banners Have Reproductive Freedom Flying High!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:08:00 +0000

Banners flying on the streets of San Francisco are the opening salvo in a major upsurge of reproductive justice activity, including an online campaign -- a "virtual march" -- to activate people in support of reproductive freedom.

The giant banners by the Silver Ribbon Campaign are flying high on light poles on San Francisco streets -- just like the popular public messages that tell you that it's Fleet Week or the Strawberry Festival or Our Sports Team RahRah. These messages are sleek and clean in design, and wonderfully creative.

Four banner designs have a giant silver ribbon that says 'Trust Women' and an affirming blue background with sunray lines billowing out; another four have individuals designs from partner organizations. See photos of them here or on a slider at the bottom of this story.

The text below varies ... and that's were some of the most exciting messages come in. The messages:

Her Decision, Her Health

U.S.Out of My Utuerus
Fix the Economy, Support My Autonomy
Reproductive Rights are Human Rights
San Francisco is Pro-Choice

and these "partner" banners:

Catholics for Choice
Legal Abortion is a Human Right; United Nations-BACORR
Freedom, Privacy, Choice - NARAL California
San Francisco Support Planned Parenthood Shasta/Pacific
We Trust Black Women, Do You? - Sistersong

A virtual online campaign will allow people across the country to share in sending out the message. From January 20-27, MoveOn.org will host an online campaign called Trust Women Week to collect a million signatures to members of Congress, governors and state legislators. More than 50 organizations are participating, and Words of Choice, which has signed on and will have its own connecting link. The week is tied to the 39th anniversary of the U.S.Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade.

The Silver Ribbon Campaign is also selling pins, keychains, and other items, engraved with "Trust Women," to support the work. They can be purchased online.

Update Jan 17, 2012: Heard this sad news from San Fran -- about half of the the 75 banners have been ripped down. Whatever happened to freedom of expression, like the antis are always claiming as they scream at and harass women outside clinics?

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Silver Banner Campaign banner flying in San Francisco

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

ABORTION: Theater Feature Looks at Words of Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 02:25:00 +0000

On The Issues Magazine, a feminist online publication, released a special Winter 2012 edition on ABORTION with a wealth of articles about reproductive justice (who says there is nothing new on the topic!) including one by Alexis Greene, on Words of Choice.

Under the heading, The Power of Theater: "Words of Choice" Touches Hearts, Greene reviews the story of Words of Choice -- how it began, where it's been. But with a long and strong background in theater, she also looks at how it fits into the "theater scene." A couple of excerpts:

"The beauty of Words of Choice is that it arouses fierce responses: emotions, memories, thoughts about oneself and one's own experience. Abortion is not an easy choice for many women, and even when it is the only possible choice, it can be accompanied by a gamut of reactions. My own included fear, relief and sadness.

"That Words of Choice affects audiences deeply is doubtless why performances continue to be held, at colleges, conventions and festivals, or in communities where the local clinics are determined, in the face of physical threats, to keep providing abortion. ...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Theater is supposed to be able to sway hearts and minds, or at least stir things up. That's what we who study theater and fall in love with it are taught from Intro to Theater on up. That's what the Marxist German dramatist Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) preached and Vaclav Havel (1936-2011), the dissident playwright who became the first president of post-Communist Czechoslovakia, practiced.

"In fact, the majority of plays and productions do not send audiences to the front lines. Most don't even try to.

"But if theater has any purpose other than entertainment, it's to show new ways of seeing, to confront us with truths that make us think in new directions and even change our behavior.

"That is what Words of Choice attempts as it journeys around the country. This play is the responsible, thinking person's antidote to the propaganda performances of anti-abortionists waving posters of fetuses. Whether Words of Choice affected the South Dakota vote or not, presenting it there was a political act, and the play's content undoubtedly affected members of the audience."

The full article is here.

Other selections in the online magazine discuss Faith Pennick's film, Silent Choices; Susan Davis' novel, Love Means Second Chances; Merle Hoffman's new memoir, Intimate Wars, Jennifer Baumgardner's film, I Had An Abortion, and book recommendations from the staff of The Feminist Press. In addition, there is a wildly spicy satire by Susie Day, a beautiful selection of poetry from Sarah Browning with works by poets Judith Arcana, Sonya Renee Taylor, Johnna Schmidt, Melissa Tuckey, and Katherine Anderson Howell. And there is art by Ursula O'Farrell, Lisa Link, Heather Keith Freeman, Susan Bee, Barbara Schaefer and several others.

So get a jump on the annual Roe v. Wade reading -- it's 39 years this year! But who's counting.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured: Screen shot, On The Issues Magazine, Winter 2012

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

UK Has A Better Idea: Free EC & Animated YouTube!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 16:47:00 +0000

Britain has a great idea! Two, actually. Emergency Contraception is available for free! Yes, at any drugstore. That's one idea. (That's a product called Plan B in the U.S.)

Second, the Brits want women to know about it and where to get it when they need it. So the town of Bristol, said to be kinda hip, got film animator Ian Ball to make a short 1 minute animated, humorous, music-rap video, available on YouTube, letting women know about Emergency Contraception and where to get it after a sexual encounter if they want to prevent a pregnancy. "It features a character called Penelope who wakes up to find somebody else in her bed. Worried that she might be pregnant, the character heads to the hospital for the morning-after pill," wrote the Bristol Evening Post.

Here's the clip:

This video, which repeats the refrain "Penelope Has a Problem" is called "Penelope's Poor Choice" by the animator ... not because Penelope is making a poor choice in GETTING Emergency Contraception, but because she bypasses a pharmacy where it is FREE, and heads instead to a hospital!

Bristol's director of public health told the newspaper: "It is important that young people know where to go for emergency contraception. Going to your local pharmacy, GP surgery or walk-in centre will save them up to a four-hour wait." In other words, public leaders want to HELP women prevent unplanning pregnancies ... which is how it should be.

Too bad the animator can't do something about America's Poor Choice -- which was seen in December 2011 when the government refused to upgrade access to Emergency Contraception and declined to make it readily available in a pharmacy (for pay!) because some Right-wing nuts oppose women's reproductive control. The Secretary of the HHS rejected rejected the sensible recommendation of by a scientific panel that EC be sold on the shelves and ordered that it be available only "behind the counter" by asking a pharmacist (psst ... can I tell you a secret ... had sex last night with, well, never might with whom, but let's say, no way to pregnancy, so, so, so, can you get out some Plan B?) and that teens 17 and under to have a prescription (hey! she needs it fast, within 72 hours!)

So America can take a few lessons from the British. One is do the right thing an make Emergency Contraception fully available.

And the other -- do something hot, hip, creative, like Ian Ball!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Above: Video by Ian Ball on YouTube

"Like" us on Facebook here. Subscribe in a reader

Afro Jazz Video Sells the Female Condom in Cameroon

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:36:00 +0000

An upbeat music video about the virtues the female condom from Cameroon earns five stars for providing classy support for this underutilized safe-sex product.

A prior blog on this site described how YouTube has become a rich repository of "how to" videos about the female condom.

But none comes close to matching the high-quality and exciting energy of this 4:25 minute video, Je prends les choses en main, which roughly translates to "I take things in my own hands." Sung in French, English subtitles on this online version offer translations. The video, sponsored in part by the government, promotes a female condom product, Protectiv.

To an Afro-jazz beat, 18 national celebrities --equal parts men and women of varying ages -- participate. Featured is famous jazz musician Manu Dibango, but other fascinating African personalities appear, as well --Lady Ponce, Fally Ipupa, Nono, Flavie, Majoie Aiy, Michele Nogoumon, Anne Marie Nzio, and others.

The video starts with the lines: "You want to play the game with your guy; he doesn't have a condom; Put on the female condom; ... It's cool, cool, cool."

Other lines say "it puts women at the steering wheel of their health," and "no one is obliged to use one kind of condom," "with the female condom, women have a chance to choose," and "do not allow others to decide your future," and "play safe, it's no joke," and "it makes no noise, you can insert it eight hours before intercourse: it's GOOD". Midway, a sexy male jazz voice repeats "insert it/insert it/insert it," and another male participant says, "Female condom, I LOVE IT."

And while sky-high HIV rates may have propelled interest in the female condom, the video does not limit its marketing to a red-ribbon campaign. one line in the video says it protects against "HIV, STDs and unwanted pregnancy."

Aside from selling the female condom as a sexy, safe and completely acceptable option, the video is plain fun. A shorter version (but without English subtitles) is here. The video aired on three television channels in Cameroon and the song was played on radio, as well.

The "Je prends" campaign was sponsored by four international organizations and developed specifically as a social marketing campaign, as explained by the organization, SUPPORT:

It aims to scale up female condom social marketing activities in Cameroon. Key aspects of the project include: advocacy, engaging the media and enhancing interpersonal communications to promote the use of female condoms.

Apparently, it works. According to one health advocate, more than three-quarters of a million female condoms were sold in a year. Africa has sent more than one great idea to the world, and it would be grand if U.S. organizations took heed!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Screen shot from Cameroon's "Je prends" video

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

Laughing at SIRI's Abortion Gaffes

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:55:00 +0000

First there was the mild shock, and then there was the AWE-ful fun! SIRI, the new Apple iPhone4 personal assistant app that gives answers to every question, couldn't tell up from down when asked for an abortion clinic. But it's the humorous response of Happyplace.com that really got creative.

The back story. The Abortioneers first reported it. SIRI, when asked about where to find an abortion clinic, got all tongue-tied. As one commenter on the site reported, these were SIRI's responses to: "I am pregnant and do not want to be. Where can I go to get an abortion?"

“I’m really sorry about this, but I can’t take any requests right now. Please try again in a little while.”

“Sorry, [my name], I can’t look for places in Tanzania.”

“I don’t see any abortion clinics. Sorry about that.”

All manner of bloggers and writers got on the case, and tested asking SIRI about abortion, birth control, Planned Parenthood. Same lame replies. It was odd, writers noted, and some expressed flat-out outrage.

And then came a reply from an unknown writer in a post at Happyplace.com titled, "SIRI now trying way too hard to help people get abortions."

The tongue-in-cheek poster wrote: "It was reported that Siri, the usually servile and open-minded iPhone 4S assistant, was acting a little cagey when it came to helping users get abortions.... Well we downloaded the newest iPhone update and after running a few tests, it seems like Siri is maybe trying a little too hard to make good."

And the Happyplace poster followed with six hilarious pretend responses (see picture) by SIRI created into phone graphics. (Hat tip, Deanna Zandt.)

One sample parody:

Phone Owner: What's the weather like today?
SIRI: It's mild. High of 57 degrees. Perfect abortion weather.
Phone Owner: I don't want to get an abortion, Siri.
SIRI: That is your choice, and I support it.
SIRI: But are you really sure you want to bring a child into such a messed-up world?

With everything that is, indeed, wrong with the world and the unremitting attacks on abortion, a little parody goes a long way. Thanks for the laugh, Anon Happyplace poster!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Screen shot of SIRI parody post at Happyplace.com

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

More Arts News: Profile of Heather Ault

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:53:00 +0000

Heather Ault, a visual artist who has been featured on this blog more than once (see Visual Artist Has Designs on Birth Control), is the subject of a major profile by Eleanor Bader in On The Issues Magazine. Ault has created posters illustrating the history of birth control and abortion over the centuries, and Bader describes how Ault came to focus on this work.

Some selections from the story:

"I'd assumed that prior to the Roe decision in 1973, there was just illegal abortion, that women had never been at the center of any reproductive practice. As I dug," [Ault]continues, "I found a lot of information, along with illustrations, about birth control and abortifacient products going very far back in American, and world, history. I was shocked to see these practices, some advertised on the back covers of women's magazines throughout the 1800s and others dating as far back as the ancient Egyptians."

Since that first foray, Ault has created 50 brightly colored posters, all of which seek to educate viewers about timeworn efforts to control reproduction. Called 4000 Years for Choice, the posters introduce a raft of little-known information. For example, did you know that in 1500 BCE, the Egyptians used a contraceptive plug made from an acacia plant, honey, and lint? Or that ancient Roman physicians wrote about using wild cucumbers to end unwanted pregnancies? Or that, throughout the 1960s, Californian Patricia Maginnis stood on San Francisco street corners and handed out information on how to obtain safe, affordable, albeit illegal, abortions? Ault's paean to Maginnis — a bright red likeness on a peach background — calls her the "first abortion rights activist in history" and lauds her1961 creation of the Society for Humane Abortion.

"We use terms like fight, defend, and struggle and use the coat hanger as our symbol. I think we can use something better than the metal hanger, which suggests death and desperation, not empowerment. Once I got back to Illinois, I redesigned my posters so there's one large word on each one — words like affirm, cherish, discover, love, unite — to note our history and invoke victory. I also use bright, lollypop colors so that the posters are cheerful and inviting."

"I believe art has the ability to encapsulate consciousness-raising ideas in formats that are widely accessible," she adds.

Read more at On The Issues Magazine.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, screen shot from 4000 Years for Choice by Heather Ault.

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

Opportunities: Send MookyChick Choice in Haikus, Poems, Lit

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:48:00 +0000

They're calling it Feminist Flash Fiction -- a contest for writers who know how to do it in brief. Here is a great little creative opportunity to spread some prochoice words, some positive thoughts about abortion, contraception, reproductive freedom and justice! And to win a little prize along the way, too.

The Feminist Flash Fiction is sponsored by MookyChick, a British-based web space and fun-loving feminist site for "alternative" women. As it explains on its site, "Mookychick is the indie bible for babes with attitude." The word "mooky," it says, means: kooky, cool, intelligent, funny, alternative, leftfield, stylish, irreverent, inspired, adventurous.

Its first feminist fiction contest promises to be kooky, cool and inspired, too. People are invited to submit a 200 word haiku (three lines with first and third lines of five syllables and the middle line of seven syllables), poem, or piece of flash fiction by November 30, 2011. There are a couple more details to contend with -- before submitting, you need to post the writing your own blog, Tumblr or website. Below the entry, you must copy and paste the following bolded text: "This is an entry for the Mookychick blogging competition, FEMINIST FLASH FICTION 2011. Enter now." And "FEMINIST FLASH FICTION 2011. Enter now." needs to link to this URL: http://bit.ly/femflash

With this step, you email competitions@mookychick.co.uk with your entry. the email subject header should say: FEMINIST FLASH 2011. The email should include two things: the URL where your entry is posted and your name.

Those selected from prizes can win one hundred pounds (or equivalent dollars), a one-year digital subscription to Bust Magazine, publication on the MookyChick site. Runners-up will also be published on this site, and the top couple get get a bit of cash, too.

Sounds like a fine opportunity to send out some pro-choice vibes into the blogosphere, and a new and different way of organizing an online campaign to spread the word far and wide. Mookychick says its "keywords" are "information, playfulness, opinion, action and generosity of spirit," so the really generous of spirit can use spread around a little playful reproductive justice. Haiku to you!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Above: MookyChick graphic for its Feminist Flash Fiction contest

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

Texas Artists & Others: Submit, Display, Help Abortion Fund!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:30:00 +0000

The Texas Abortion Access Fund has a great idea. The fund, known as TEA, is exhibiting and selling the works of women artists to benefit its services -- helping low-income women in the North Texas area with funding for abortion services.

Working From Yourself, For Everybody Else: An Exhibition of Women Artists will be open from December 10, 2011 to January 8, 2012. Works will be shown in Dallas at Smoke & Mirrors Art Gallery and Info Shop, 1920 N Haskell Ave.

TEA says: "We are seeking works of art from women artists in the area in an effort to empower your vision to create meaningful pieces of self-expression that reflect your current reality."

To be considered, interested artists must submit works by November 26, 2011 and complete an application form. Women who are interested in participating in the show (TEA is careful to say in "donating your talent") are asked to email smokeandmirrorsdallas@gmail.com with a picture of the piece or pieces to be submitted. The subject line must include “TEA Fund”. The organizers note that not all submissions will be chosen for display, and submitters agree that all proceeds from the sale of artwork will go to benefit the Texas Equal Access Fund.

Like other Abortion Access Funds, the Texas Equal Access Fund describes its mission as helping women with a demonstrated need to pay for their abortions. "Many women in North Texas who would choose abortion are unable to because of financial hardship, social pressure, or a lack of local providers," TEA notes on its website.

The Texas Abortion Access Fun believes that the right to reproductive choice is denied when women are unable to access abortion services. Restrictions on abortion access and funding are discriminatory because they especially burden poor women, young women, women of color, and rural women. We oppose all efforts to restrict abortion rights and are committed to fighting for access to abortion for all women. We believe that abortion is a fundamental feature of women’s health care, and that it is the responsibility of government to fund abortions for low-income women. However, in the absence of government funding, we believe it is our duty to act now to support women who want abortions and cannot afford them.

The fund also collects and posts on its site handwritten notes from clients. One, for example, says "The fund helped me get an abortion which led me to get out of an abusive relationship. I couldn't have done it without the fund's help."

TEA is now giving artists a wonderful opportunity to have a gallery show AND support a powerful and important cause at the same time! Spread the word!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Client Stories from Texas Abortion Access Fund Website, teafund.org.

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

To Mississippi: "No on 26" Video Rejects Phony "Personhood" Measure

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 01:13:00 +0000

Mississippi, like other states before it, is being plagued with a vote on a ridiculous "Personhood" amendment that would give constitutional rights to a fertilized egg inside a woman's uterus.

Yes, that's right. Birth control, abortion, in vitro fertilization -- all could be considered murder if the people of the state were hoodwinked into supporting Initiative 26. It deserves a BIG NO, and that's the point of a 4.26 minute video released on YouTube by "Parents Against MS 26." The vote is November 8, 2011.

The beautiful idea in this video is its portraits of the women who will be harmed by the legislation -- picturing them as young girls, and then as teens, young women, and on. Each has a reason for opposing Initiative 26, and holds up a sign at the end to that effect. The real joy, however, is how it gives a three-dimensional view of the women with the wordless pictures of them, and the fascination of watching each woman mature in photos before our eyes. The tag line and title say "Trust Families," but the reality that comes through is "Trust Women" -- and this is who they are.

As a text accompanying it says, "We’re real Mississippi mothers, and these are our real experiences. These are our families, and these are our stories, and these are our reasons for voting NO. We ask that you join us in voting NO ON 26 on November 8."

Women's stories are also posted online.

This devious personhood measure -- which the anti-choice sponsors describe as against "abortion and cloning" (absurd!) -- has been rejected in several other states, either by legislatures or at the ballot box -- in South Dakota, in Colorado, elsewhere. And it has been rejected for very good reasons -- it could ban abortion and birth control.

It's so extreme that even the Episcopal Bishop on Mississippi opposes it, issuing a statement that said,

"The legal nightmares arising from this legislation are also very real. The word 'person' is used over 9,400 times in the Mississippi Annotated Code and the implications for mass confusion and decades of legal challenges over every use of the term are staggering.

For their own reasons, Roman Catholic bishops in several states, including Mississippi, have said they could not support this particular legislation."

Watch this video for its educational value, its quiet artistry, and, most importantly, SHARE IT and the link -- http://youtu.be/r_Cfi8cf9co -- with any voter in Mississippi. Ask Mississippi to stand up to those who attempt to pervert the system to take away the rights of good women, good men and good families with trash-can laws like the personhood amendment.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Above: Trust Families video

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

Graphic Journalist Susie Cagle Shows Crisis Pregancy Center Hypocrisy: Cutting Through Muck With Drawings & Text

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 03:28:00 +0000

California-based graphic journalist Susie Cagle has done a tremendous job of showing the truth about Crisis Pregnancy Centers in a 17-page online journal, called "What Every Woman Should Know."

The full piece is carried in On The Issues Magazine in its edition on "Activism." One page, for example, says, "It may have some of the trappings, but First Resort is not a doctor's office...It is at the quiet front of the war on women's health as part of a huge and growing network of faith-based anti-abortion 'crisis pregnancy centers' that hand out more misleading health info than Planned Parenthood does condoms."

Cagle manages to consolidate and illustrate wide-ranging and up-to-the-minute information about abortion, politics, and the anti-abortion outposts. She says that she first encountered a Crisis Pregnancy Center when seeking an abortion in New York four years ago. To create her graphic journalism piece, she visited nine crisis pregnancy centers in the Bay Area, presenting herself as a patient. She settled on illustrating three run by "First Resort" to explain the nefariousness of the crisis pregnancy movement, especially in a generally pro-choice community like San Francisco-Oakland.

Others have written about crisis pregnancy centers, including an excellent article just appearing in the New York Times by Katie Stack . And the group CPC Watch, does important regular posting on crisis pregnancy lies, plans counter actions, and sells cool items online. But it's Cagle who has managed to capture the entirety of the experience and the problem through concentrated creativity in words and graphics. Her final product is specifically designed for online publication, and should be tagged by every pro-choice site.

Her conclusion is worth understanding, too. In a blog post, she notes that the people at the centers were kind and seemed to be understanding, even as they handed out reams of false information.

"I think some people expected this story to reveal some sort of gory, appalling details, the blood beneath the floorboards. For me, this version of reality is much more scary -- false information delivered with a smile, affirmations of choice that hide aspirations to dissuade, prevent and sabotage."

Great great work by Cagle. If you only have time to read ONE thing on crisis pregnancy centers, this should be it! Send it to roommates, students, those who are likely to be ensnared. And if you want to learn graphic artistry, Cagle is the model for you.

Cagle, also the founder of Graphic Journos, can be found via her website, This Is What Concerns Me.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, screen shot, 'What Every Woman Should Know' by Susie Cagle

"Like" us on Facebook here.

Subscribe in a reader

Learn Online From Premier Filmmaker on Abortion Rights: Dorothy Fadiman, Oct 5

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:47:00 +0000

For filmmakers interested in reproductive rights, there is no better person to turn to that Fadiman. That's Dorothy Fadiman. And now there is a chance for people from all over the country to do that -- an online webinar that Fadiman will lead on October 5, 2011 at 9 pm Eastern time, 6 pm Pacific time.

The course is called Producing with Passion: Creating Media that Reflects your Vision.

Dorothy Fadiman has made, count them, four films about reproductive justice. She understood early -- before almost anyone was thinking about it -- the importance of capturing the history and dynamics of reproductive rights issues on film. Anyone who wants archival footage will turn to her and her company, Concentric Media.

Words of Choice has written in the past about Fadiman's great work -- such as this blog, Fadiman is first in film on abortion. Her "Power of Choice" trilogy plus one is an amazing resource, and she has made much of it available on line for free -- in English and Spanish. A Facebook page for the "Choice" project keeps people regularly updated on developments on reproductive justice, too.

Fadiman has gone on to make many other films with important content. Stealing America,Vote by Vote is another -- and she also makes it available for free online viewing.

She has also co-authored a book, Producing With Passion. Covered in the book are inspirational and practical tips, such as: Locating a truly original vision already living inside you; Creating a blueprint for your film; Focusing your intention throughout all phases of production and more.

The upcoming online course from the Michael Wiese Film School in California, is described this way:

Dorothy Fadiman will support you in manifesting your own intention from the initial spark of an idea through completion and outreach. Her course affirms the fact that impactful independent filmmaking requires balancing your personal visions with skillful means in handling the challenges of production. Based on 35 years of experience, she will help you identify and tackle the barriers to realizing your intention which you are likely to encounter. Through the course, Dorothy will highlight specific points with illustrative clips from her films.

If you have a passion for reproductive justice and women's rights, and you have an idea that you might want to make a film -- take this course. It's only $60, and you couldn't spend your money better. Read more about it HERE.

Please 'Like' Words of Choice at our (new) Facebook PAGE.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: A cover from the Power of Choice film series by Dorothy Fadiman

Subscribe in a reader

Post 'em, Toast 'em: Guerrilla Girls on Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:39:00 +0000

An announcement by Guerrilla Girls On Tour that its poster portfolio is available for purchase, along with poster downloads for free, gives a good opportunity to share the fine work of this creative troupe -- especially since it is not only feminist, but steps up for pro-choice issues, too, as the poster to the right clearly shows.

(Once when Words of Choice went on tour during the election season, Guerrilla Girls On Tour emailed a wonderfully upbeat note with some download handouts, "You Have the Power to Choose: VOTE!" Just the right thing in a moment of harried travel!)

Guerrilla Girls On Tour, as it explains on its website, is "an anonymous touring theatre company of 26 women trained in a variety of comedic theatre techniques who develop unique and outrageous activist plays, performance art and street theatre. We have presented over 200 performances and workshops around the world addressing reproductive rights, war, sex trafficking, hunger, herstory/history/hirstory and violence against women."

With the motto, "Changing the World One Sexist City at A Time," the group undertakes bookings at colleges and elsewhere, where it presents its signature shows. Members use the names of deceased theatre artists -- Aphra Behn is one, Lorraine Hansberry is another -- and wear half-face masks that look a little, well, gorillalike. In fact, you can download a mask for free here.

The Guerrilla Girls on Tour group was formed in 2001 by former members of Guerrilla Girls, a group of women's art activists who began challenging sexism in the visual arts, starting in 1985. The original Guerrilla Girls became known for sharp graphics and the use of wit and irony to jab at the male-dominated art world. Some of its work is even on display at the Museum of Modern Art in NY (2nd floor), and its origins are described in the Lynn Hershman Leeman film Women, Art, Revolution(also highly recommended!)

Guerrilla Girls on Tour has taken up the gauntlet in the theatre world -- challenging theatres to open their doors to artists of color and women (only about 20 percent of new plays produced are by women, if you can believe that!) The group also uses the medium of theatre to raise awareness about societal misogyny through performances and workshops.

Now, Guerrilla Girls on Tour is making available Limited Edition Portfolios of its first 16 posters under the title, "Monkey Business, The First 10 Years." Some can be seen here and others here or maybe here. To find out more about the Portfolio, email: posters(at)ggontour.com.

Upcoming on the Guerrilla Girls On Tour schedule, October 24-29, 2011 at Rollins College with Feminists Are Funny, part of the Winter Park Institute; November 4-30 with Man As Object: Reversing the Gaze at the SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street, San Francisco; November 9 & 10, 2011, at the College of Staten Island, NY with Feminists are Funny, and a poster making workshop; and January 12, 2012,at CERES Gallery in NY, 547 West 27th Street, with a Meet the Artist lecture at 6:30 pm. Click on calendar here.

Where else to find Guerrilla Girls On Tour:
Facebook: GuerrillaGirlsOT
Tumblr: GuerrillaGirlsOnTour
YouTube:In Hungary
Audio Clip: GGOT Song
Photos:Galleries
Twitter: GuerrillaGsOT
My Space:guerrillagirlsontour
Website: www.guerrillagirlsontour.com

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Screen Shot from Guerrilla Girls On Tour Campaign Email

Subscribe in a reader

Hyde Amendment Is For the Birds: Help With Art!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 03:50:00 +0000

The Hyde Amendment has always been one of the ugly markers of the attack on abortion rights. The first abortion restriction introduced in Congress after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade , the Hyde Amendment sought to slice off a significant segment of the population from access to abortion services.

It did this by preventing federal government funds from paying for the costs of abortions. Suddenly, the women who needed help the most -- those in economically strapped situations -- could get not get aid for abortion services, even when all of their other medical needs (like pregnancy!) were covered. It was a sharp turn in abortion access that continues to this day -- 35 years later. More information about the Hyde Amendment is on the site of the Coalition to Repeal Hyde sponsored by the National Network of Abortion Funds.

The Repeal Hyde project is aiming to raise public attention about the disasterous effects of the Hyde Amendment and to build support for repeal. And now it has developed the ingenious Repeal Hyde Art Project -- and any individual or group can participate.

It's easy, it's accessible, and it's a great way to share information about the wreck known as the Hyde Amendment. And it's art!

Here's the essence of the project. People from all over are asked to make birds, not unlike the one pictured above, and send them to the Repeal Hyde Art Project in Cambridge, MA. All of the birds will be collected and developed into an art installation. The installation, at a location to be announced, is planned for September 30, 2011, so those birds should get in the mail by September 24 or thereabouts.

Templates to make the birds are available at a Flickr site. Cut out the design, or use it as a template for another bird. Or you can make your own bird, too. Throw in some extra creativity -- or colored paper and inks, or textured paper (hmm, some interesting-looking wrapping paper comes to mind, or some of those fancy bags lying around from clothing stores! Or maybe the fronts of old greeting cards, or some pages or covers from magazines, newspapers, photos, cereal boxes! Tampon boxes and a couple of EPT wrappers might be especially inticing. How about the print out of that women's studies term paper? You get the idea. All in all, a great way to recycle!)

Then, write your own message on the bird about why you think the Hyde Amendment should be repealed. Perfect activity for a group, a meeting, a dinner get-together!

And voila! Send your birds to the Repeal Hyde Art Project by Sept. 24.

Repeal Hyde Art Project
P.O. Box 380192
Cambridge, MA 02238

For more information about the project, email: repeal.hyde.art.project@gmail.com

Can't wait to see the photos of all of our Repeal Hyde birds combined! Let Congress know that Hyde is for the birds.

UPDATE: See submissions here. (Hope ours are posted ... although we're theater people not visual artists, they come with a song!)

~~Please "Like" Words of Choice at our new Facebook Page!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, one of the Repeal Hyde Art Project template bird

> Subscribe in a reader

Monday's Child: Eleven Laborious Years of Love by Jodi Leib, Guest Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:35:00 +0000

by Jodi Leib

When I hear it took someone five years to write a screenplay, I think to myself, “That’s it?” After all, I’m going on eleven years! How immature their script must be.

I wrote the first screenplay draft of Monday’s Child in November of 2000 in about two weeks. The story came quickly to me, first as a mind map of characters in relation to one another, and then as a complex, holistic story of a community affected by legislation attempting to overturn Roe v. Wade. After eleven years, it is the same story about complicated pregnancies, but the story has evolved with the times to touch a deeper level of realism than what was once only a dystopian “what if” story.

From the moment I started, the characters spoke to me loudly and passionately. I stayed up day after day, night after night writing the first draft as if to capture the moment before the vision disappeared. The characters seemed so excited to be alive, desperately clinging to my creative spirit as if I were the key to their freedom from their parallel universe into ours. My characters and I – we have a relationship, and they are as real as any I have in the tangible world. I absolutely love each and every one of them.

In the eleven years I have been writing Monday’s Child, I have grown in my own perspective on reproductive health. There is so much more information on the web today than there was when I started, and the politics are growing progressively more extreme. I feel like I’ve gone to medical and law school just through my research. I’ve become more compassionate for women who have had complicated pregnancies and I’m so grateful for all the stories people share online. It’s almost as if a new kind of research was born from the web – research based on personal experience. It is incredible to read seemingly infinite stories by women who have beaten the odds and had babies even at great risk – as well as women who’ve died trying. Their stories tell more about our health than any medical journal or research study ever could.

Throughout the writing process, I have delved more intricately into the lives of certain characters and had to cut some of my favorites. I’ve analyzed the story endlessly and written it over and over again in sometimes extremely unorthodox ways. I’ve written each character’s complete story separately as if to create individual threads of storylines that could be shot as individual short films. I’ve strung them all together to create a whopping 250+ page script. Probably the most "Jodi Leib" thing I’ve done is write the entire screenplay backwards. I figured if I started writing the ending first while I was of fresh mind, it wouldn’t be boring. I did this at a time when every time I got to the final scenes I just wanted to rush through them so I could be finished, but that wasn’t doing the work justice enough.

Another novel technique I used along the way is to abandon writing altogether. Instead of being a “writer” and typing each scene as it came to me from my brain through my fingertips, I dictated the entire story into the computer, talking every line out loud as a “storyteller,” literally. I believe telling the story aloud gave the screenplay a new layer of human dimension that it didn’t have when it was just written out. It also made for a great start to a chapter book.

I am truly glad it has taken me so long to write this screenplay. Every day I evolve as a woman, I evolve as a writer. And every day I stay committed to giving these characters their voice, I stay passionately committed to America’s right to choose.

As I finish the final draft of the screenplay before going into the casting stage, I look to you, the audience, for support. When I started writing Monday’s Child audiences were only needed to show up at the theater to buy tickets. Today, your participation is an integral part of the filmmaking process before and after making the movie. I cannot make this film successful without you.

You choose what films you want made every time you “like” something on Facebook, tweet about it, give a donation, forward an email, tell your friends about it or wear a t-shirt, wristband, or tote bag, drink from a branded (and sustainable) water bottle -- (Monday's Child has these things, too!)

With every tax-deductible donation you make to Monday’s Child, you are producing the film – please help Monday’s Child become a reality – a film for the people by the people.
If you donate today at http://www.mondayschild.info/, you'll receive a free gift when you do.

"Monday's Child" is a feature film about a reproductive health provider and the challenges she faces in providing quality care to a community of women facing complicated pregnancies. This fictional story explores many aspects of reproductive health including the medical, legal, and personal conflicts that affect women as they strive to make healthy choices for themselves and their families. "Monday's Child" is the heroic journey of a physician's courage to risk it all to help women in need.

Jodi Leib is an artist and filmmaker. See a previous blog by Jodi on Art and Choice here.

Monday's Child: http://www.mondayschild.info/
Facebook: Monday's Child Facebook
About Jodi: Films here.
Contact Jodi here: jodi@mondayschild.info

Pictured above: Monday's Child logo Subscribe in a reader

Pennsylvania Has Had Enough! Video & More

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 17:14:00 +0000

A sweet little video from reproductive rights advocates in Pennsylvania has a simple message to state legislators to stop attacking reproductive freedom. It's all contained in a short YouTube video, We've Had Enough, embedded below.

As explained on an accompanying website sponsored by Pennsylvanians for Choice and Raising Women's Voices, "Join us in telling the PA Legislature to STOP the attacks on women's health in Pennsylvania! Help us fight these dangerous bills and join us in declaring that...WE'VE HAD ENOUGH!" The website also says:
"In the first six months of 2011, Pennsylvania lawmakers spent 30% of their days at the Capitol working to restrict access to safe, legal abortion.

The short 1.39 minute video uses the handy technique of picturing people holding signs that say 'I've Had Enough' or 'We've Had Enough.'

Occasionally someone voices these words, as well. The video starts with a man saying that he thinks his 8-year-old daughter should consider going to college out-of-state because we've had enough of state legislators underminding access to healthcare. "Being a woman is not a pre-existing condition," he says. A woman soon echoes him, "I've had enough of politicians telling me what to do with my body." About 20 people are shown with signs, to the accompanying music of State Shirt. (No info on who created the video, but there should be.)

The site also encourages people to join a Rally in Harrisburg on September 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Or, it and an accompanying Twitter feed (#wevehadenough) urge people to take action by sending in their own photo with a 'We've Had Enough' sign. Several from the video are posted on a Facebook page. The website has downloads of signs, or encourages handmade ones. The pictures can be sent to: wevehadenoughcamp@gmail.com.

Another good effort to use multimedia to build a campaign site. We're with you, Pennsylvanians for Choice!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured: Video: We've Had Enough

Subscribe in a reader

Summer of Celebration: We Say, Thank You, Doctors!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Words of Choice joined prochoice activists in a Celebration of Choice in Germantown and Gaithersburg, Maryland during the week of July 31 to August 8, 2011.

Activists from local communities, DC, 18 states and even Canada came together to visibly show their support for abortion provider Dr. LeRoy Carhart, who was been targeted by the anti-abortion harassment group of Operation Rescue. And people from everywhere sent their positive messages and goodwill to Dr. Carhart, and to doctors across the country who provide abortion.

After a performance in Gaithersburg on July 31, we distributed slips of colored paper and asked people to send their personal statements -- things that they wanted Dr. Carhart to know. And since we perform, among other selections, riveting stories from the book, This Common Secret, by Dr. Susan Wicklund in Montana, people were invited to send her messages, as well.

It's always amazing what powerful words people tap when given a pen and a piece of paper and an opportunity to speak their minds. Here is what they said:

Dear Dr. Carhart: You are my hero for all you do for women and those in their lives. I send you and your staff all the goodness that love & compassion can offer. K.R.

Doctors: We must keep your skills & devotion alive; please pass it on. Women depend on this knowledge to survive. Thank you so much.

Dr. Carhart: When I learned you’d opened a clinic in Germantown, I was so proud you’d chosen Montgomery County for your practice. I’m deeply grateful for the sacrifices you and your family have made to ensure women have access to later term abortions. Sincerely, A.C.

Thank you Dr. Carhart – it’s not fair that you have to risk your life to save others. Thank you — We love you!!

Doctors like you have played a very important role. Thank you, A.K., Montreal

I am writing you at the end of Day One of clinic defense and the Walk for Choice. I am proud to have been one of 220 people who marched in 97 degree heat to protect choice. I love you and your family, and I would risk a bullet for you anywhere, anytime – because you are a Hero for saving women’s Lives. H.H., Los Angeles

The work you do is honorable, necessary and appreciated. Helping give women a voice through choice is my life goal and it is an honor to be able to support you and your work. Thank you for being steadfast.

Thank you for asking us to be here to celebrate choice. This is an experience that I will take with me for my whole life, proudly. Signed in solidarity.

Abortion doctors are the biggest heroes. I’ve recently discovered that I may consider following a similar career path.

We love you, take inspiration from you, and pledge to do everything necessary to bring about a world where people like you are celebrated society- & worldwide – NOT terrorized.

Dr. Carhart, Thank you for not giving in to the undoubtedly intense pressure. I hope we can help you in a small way.

Dr. Wicklund – you are amazing and a great hear for what you do. Thank You!!! We love you!

Thank you. I admire your courage, your generosity & compassion.

To both Dr. Carhart and Dr. Wicklund. Thank you for helping women to be able to live the lives each chose for herself. You are both heroes, and you have my profound gratitude.

And those weren't the only messages. Heather Ault, visual artist who designed the project 4000YearsforChoice.com, created a series of classy banners, using text collected in a survey of independent abortion providers and clinic workers from the Abortion Care Network. (Pictured.)

Their messages:

Abortion providers save women's lives.

Health, dignity, justice.

I don't regret my abortion.

Destigmatize abortion. 1 in 3 women in your community has one.

Abortion is healthcare. Healthcare is a right.

Good women have abortions.

Trust women.

Do you have something you want Dr. Carhart or an abortion provider to know? You can send them to us at wordsofchoice@mindspring.com, or send by Twitter to @choicetheater. Read tweets at #carhart #drcarhart #summerofchoice #summeroftrust.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Picture from Heather Ault

Subscribe in a reader

Peaceful and Creative: Pro Choice Activists Draw the Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Summer of Choice & Summer of Trust kick off on Sunday, July 31, as prochoice supporters provide a peaceful response to the ugly anti-abortion harassers descending on Dr. LeRoy Carhart in Germantown, Maryland.

The Washington Post published an article about Dr. Carhart earlier this week. The Summer of Choice site features a video in which he invites participants to Germantown.

Words of Choice will honor the prochoice activists with a performance on Sunday, July 31, at 5 pm, at the Marriott Courtyard Gaithersburg at Washingtonian Center, 204 Boardwalk Place, in Gaithersburg MD 20878. See more information here and flyers here. Performers include Carl H. Jaynes, Stacey Linnartz and Krystel Lucas, under the direction of Francesca Mantani Arkus. Visual artist Heather Ault of 4000 Years for Choice, will show her art at the space, and we will be joined in discussion with FemiSisters, Maryland activsts Neda Bolourian and Lily Bolourian. (Tickets are $10 and all funds will go to support the Abortion Access Fund, which helps economically disadvantaged women.)

Others are doing amazing and wonderful work to support Dr. Carhart, including the grassroots activists of SummerofTrust.com, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, The Feminist Majority, National Organization of Women, The World Can't Wait, and many many donors, sponsors and walkers. A Walk for Choice (short walk, about a mile) will take place on Sunday, July 31 at 1 pm, at the Germantown clinic, again, supporting the Abortion Access Fund.

While lots of people are doing lots of things, the creativity of the New York Coalition for Abortion Clinic Defense is a special pleasure. Groups met over two weekends, as they often do, to protect a clinic in the Bronx, but also spent time making and preparing signs in support of Dr. Carhart and the activities in Maryland. They posted pictures on Facebook page, and are taking them on down to Maryland. They are beautiful -- one is pictured above. And it's such a simple thing that makes an amazing difference -- a hand-made sign, personal contribution, ingenuity, action, creativity.

Others are making banners and others are just bringing themselves -- from more than a dozen states, including California, Kansas, South Dakota.

Why all this activity? It's in response to Operation Rescue, the Troy Newman branch, which is located in Kansas and, since Dr. Tiller was murdered, has decided to target Dr. Carhart for their hate mongering fests. They call this "Summer of Mercy 2.0". Kari Ann Rinker of Kansas NOW wrote a great article about her response to their obnoxious behavior.

All through the week from July 31 through August 8, prochoice supporters will stand with Dr. Carhart and his amazing clinic staff. The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice will sponsor peaceful presence training, beginning on Sunday, July 31. Each day, prochoice activists will stand outside the clinic to show their support and show that women's rights won't be defeated by hate mongers.

Read more about the Words of Choice performance on Culture ID.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Sign by New York Coalition for Abortion Clinic Defense

Subscribe in a reader

Blog Carnival for Contraception: Speak Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:19:00 +0000

Have something to say about birth control? The National Women's Law Center and Planned Parenthood are co-hosting a BLOG CARNIVAL on July 21, 2011.

Go here to participate.

What's there to say? Well, a lot it turns out since a key organization recommended that birth control be exempted from co-payments under Department of Health and Human Services rules for new health insurance plans. Birth control was deemed to be a "preventive service" and that allows the co-payment to be eliminated!

The opinion of the Institute of Medicine, described here by the Guttmacher Institute, is an essential step to helping women control their decisions to bear children without going broke. The Insitute said that the services are important so that “women can better avoid unwanted pregnancies and space their pregnancies to promote optimal birth outcomes.”

But, as those who engage in pro-choice work know, that doesn't seal the deal. Anti-choice activists want to make birth control as difficult as possible (because, of course, they say it encourages women to have sex!)

So joining the Blog Carnival is one way to draw attention to this important decision, to keep up the incentive and motivation for birth control coverage, and to speak up and speak out!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Poster for Blog Carnival, July 21, 2011

Subscribe in a reader

Video by Dr. Carhart Calls for Peaceful Pro-Choice Presence

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 04:37:00 +0000

Dr. LeRoy Carhart speaks personally and directly to the pro-choice community on a new video posted on YouTube, as he invites pro-choice Americans to join him in Germantown, Maryland (Montgomery County) for the Summer of Choice, a peaceful presence to counter anti-abortion zealots who are targeting him and women's rights to reproductive freedom and autonomy.

The activities will run from July 31 to August 6, Dr. Carhart explains, with a March for Choice on July 31, 2011 at 1 pm. The march will help raise funds for the Abortion Access Fund, Inc., which provides assistance to disadvantaged women.

Dr. Carhart provides abortions in some of the most difficult circumstances and has twice been the plaintiff on reproductive rights cases that were heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. In the 2.24 minute video, he says:

Hello. I’m Dr Carhart and I want to invite all of your to join us for a summer celebration of choice. This will take place in Germantown Maryland from the 31st of July until the 6th of August. We hope to have a peaceful presence as large as you can imagine. We want everyone to come. We need to show our representatives in Congress that the pro-choice message is the message of the American people; that the majority of Americans are pro-choice. And that prochoice Americans vote. ...I especially want to invite everyone to attend our kickoff walk. This will be on Sunday, July 31 starting at 1 pm.

Dr. Carhart introduces a new website, www.SummerOfChoice.com, which also has the video. Information on the walk will be posted there, he says, and "also we will be posting many other events during this week."

UPDATE: Words of Choice will perform to support Summer of Choice activities on July 31 at 5 pm in Gaithersburg, MD. See www.wordsofchoice.org for details, directions and tickets.

Dr. Carhart also lends his support to the grassroots pro-choice organizers at Summer of Trust, which is organizing activists to support Dr. Carhart's efforts.

Here is the direct link for the video for posting on your site: http://youtu.be/5eP5EHjN2Js

Also see: Summer of Trust & Choice: Support Dr. Carhart!Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured: Dr. Carhart, Summer of Choice video, www.summerofchoice.com

Subscribe in a reader

Summer of Trust & Choice: Support Dr. Carhart!

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:54:00 +0000

Anti-abortion zealots are trying to harass Dr. Leroy Carhart this summer at a new medical home in Germantown, Maryland.

But, never fear, pro-choice activists are replying in style with the Summer of Trust and Summer of Choice. Supporters of Dr. Carhart will gather in Maryland in late July and early August (UPDATE: including a live performance of Words of Choice on July 31 at 5 pm in Gaithersburg following the 'Walk for Choice." See website.)

Already, activists have opened a Facebook page for Summer of Trust. And a Facebook event page here. And a website for Summer of Trust.

The website explains:

KEEP ABORTION SAFE AND LEGAL

Against the backdrop of a wave of anti-abortion legislative assaults, Operation Rescue has announced plans for a “Summer of Mercy 2.0″ targeting the brave and outspoken Dr. LeRoy Carhart in Germantown, MD, July 31-August 6. Operation Rescue is the same organization that hounded Dr. George Tiller in Wichita, KS, for years (until he was assassinated by one of their associates in May ’09). Their original “Summer of Mercy” in 1991 shut down access to the Dr. Tiller’s clinic for six weeks and resulted in 3,400 arrests, they are invoking this alarming history again in their “Summer of Mercy 2.o” event.

Pro-choice and peace activist, and pro-choice organizations and are joining together to mount a serious and determined showing of public support for Dr. Carhart and the Germantown, MD, clinic, and the legal right to choice.

Dr. Carhart has gone to exhaustive lengths to provide abortions, even in the most difficult cases, and to fill the shoes of his good friend and pro-choice hero, Dr. George Tiller, who was murdered by an anti-abortion criminal in 2009.

Dr. Carhart's motto: "Caring for women for more than twenty years with KINDNESS, COURTESY, JUSTICE, LOVE and RESPECT." To provide care to more women, Dr. Carhart has extended his Nebraska practice to Maryland, where anti-abortion harassers plan to stage the summer events.

Dr. Carhart described his commitment to helping women shortly after Dr. Tiller was murdered on the Rachel Maddow show in 2009. When Dr. Carhart was harassed then, buoyant and creative pro-choice activists provided a powerful presence to support his work, coming out, traveling and showing up in Nebraska. Now, they pro-choice activists are calling for a supportive, peaceful presence for Dr. Carhart in Maryland.

Last week, the National Organization of Women (NOW) passed a resolution in support of Dr. Carhart. Metro Baltimore Abortion Rights Coalition has posted others videos and stories about and by Dr. Carhart.

Pro-choice activists will be encouraged to help raise money to support a local abortion fund that can help disadvantaged women with the costs of their abortion care. Plan to come to Germantown, Maryland this summer!

Follow these sites for details as they develop.

More INFO
Website: www.summeroftrust.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/SummerOfTrust
Facebook Events Page: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188846774499445
Twitter: @summeroftrust
Twitter hashtag: #summeroftrust
Email: summeroftrust@gmail.com
Tumblr: http://summeroftrust.tumblr.com/
LA Fundraiser July 17, 3pm, Revolution Books, 5726 Hollywood Blvd. (&Wilton), 90028, 323.463.3500, revolutionbooksLA@gmail.com
NEW July 7:
Summer of Choice, Dr. Carhart site - www.summerofchoice.com,
Video by Dr. Carhart - YouTube -- http://youtu.be/5eP5EHjN2Js
Follow up Blog: Dr. Carhart calls for peaceful presence - http://bit.ly/qdy1B7

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, from Summer of Trust Facebook

Subscribe in a reader

My Health Matters: NOW NYC Video Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Cindy Cooper) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:21:00 +0000

NOW New York City is pushing back on attacks on reproductive rights at the federal and state levels through a video campaign, asking women and men to upload videos with the theme "My Health Matters" to show on a YouTube site, MyHealthMattersNOW.

On the video below, Sonia Ossorio, executive director of NOW-NYC, explains the backgound of the project, and asks: "Why does your freedom of choice matter? Why does your health matter?"

A half-dozen do-it-yourself videos have been uploaded in which people explain their concerns or those of others in their lives.

NOW NYC explains: "The My Health Matters campaign highlights why your health deserves to be protected and not denied. Federal legislation is threatening women's access to vital health care, including an unprecedented attempt to restrict abortion. The pro-choice movement mobilized to save the family planning program and funding for Planned Parenthood in the 2011 budget, in a momentous victory. However, the Republicans are gearing up for more cuts in 2012."

NOW NYC details anti-choice proposals that on the horizon, including ones to cut Medicaid family planning funds; end Title X family planning and the women's health services; ban abortion coverage in health insurance exchanges, and give religious hospitals the right to reject the emergency needs of women.

Joining the campaign with a cell phone video is pretty easy! Videos of 1-3 minutes in length are welcome. The NOW-NYC website gives specific directions on its website: at this location. It says:

Why does your freedom of choice matter? Why does your health matter? If you can, include the state where you live and the phrase "My Health Matters" at the end of your video.

Help NOW-NYC put women's pro-choice health concerns at the top of the agenda by sharing your video story.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Shown above, video from NOW-NYC "MyHealthMatters"

Subscribe in a reader