feminist avengers

Utah Criminalizes MIscarriage??!!

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:40:00 +0000

(reposted from amplifyyourvoice.org)

Utah is not a state known for its legislative sanity. This, after all, is a state that recently made headlines for proposing to honor gun manufacturers on Martin Luther King Day and for considering the elimination of 12th grade to cut back on education spending.

Well, it just got a whole lot worse.

Utah just became the first state in the U.S. to criminalize miscarriage and punish women for having or seeking an illegal abortion. Utah's "Criminal Miscarriage" law:

* expands the definition of illegal abortion to include miscarriages
* removes immunity protections for women who have or seek illegal abortions
* treats women as presumptive criminals and leaves them open to criminal prosecution

But even among states that punish illegal abortions, this "Criminal Miscarriage" law is unique. It not only punishes individuals who perform illegal procedures; it punishes women.

I spoke with activists in Salt Lake City this morning to ask how to help out of state. They all made the exact same request: Tell everyone you know about this law.

National media attention and widespread public outcry are the only way to stop women and girls in Utah from being subjected to this unreasonable and dangerous "Criminal Miscarriage" law.

Tell someone about this law right now. Post this on Facebook. Tweet it. Forward it to five friends. And ask them all to do the same.

How Utah Defined Miscarriage as Criminal Homicide

Utah's "Criminal Miscarriage" law (H.B.12) makes simple changes to the state's definition of "abortion" and the section of the Utah Criminal Code governing "criminal homicide."

This law:

* defines legal abortion as a procedure "carried out by a physician or through a substance used under the direction of a physician." Anything else that terminates a pregnancy is now defined as illegal abortion - including miscarriages.

* states that "The killing or attempted killing of a live unborn child in a manner that is not abortion shall be punished as...criminal homicide." (emphasis mine)

* removes existing immunity from criminal prosecution for women "who seek to have or obtain an abortion" or "upon whom a partial birth abortion is performed."

* applies the legal standard of an "intentional, knowing or reckless act of the woman" as punishable as criminal homicide.

Translation: If a woman has a miscarriage but didn't know that she was pregnant, she cannot be charged with criminal homicide. So while this law does not criminalize all miscarriages, anything that could be defined as "knowing" or "reckless" would leave a woman at risk for criminal prosecution.

Think it couldn't possibly be that bad? The ACLU of Utah is pretty sure that it could. In their letter appealing to Utah Governor Gary Herbert to veto the bill (Spoiler: He won't!), the ACLU said:

Practically speaking however, this bill changes the presumption that abortions obtained in this state are legal. If this bill is signed into law, women in this state will essentially be in the uncomfortable and unfortunate position of having to prove that abortions they obtain (or miscarriages that they suffer) are not unlawful.

In fact, it's the "recklessness" standard that may pose the greatest threat. Again, from the ACLU:

A woman who fails to wear a seatbelt and is in a car accident could be charged with reckless homicide, should she miscarry. Likewise, a woman who has a substance abuse problem is likely to forego necessary prenatal care out of fear that she could be prosecuted for "knowing" or "reckless" homicide by continuing to use illegal substances while pregnant.

The problems don't stop there. Women in physically abusive relationships could be criminally liable for not leaving their partner, regardless of their ability to do so safely or securely. Women seeking lawful abortion may be guilty of criminal homicide if her physician failed to follow exact procedures set forth in the law.

For a law designed to discourage illegal abortion, Utah's "Criminal Miscarriage" law will only drive abortion further underground for those who cannot safely seek or afford legal medical abortion care.

I grew up in Salt Lake City, so it takes a lot for Utah to surprise me anymore. This time there aren't even words for my outrage.

Prosecuting women who seek or obtain abortions for criminal homicide won't make abortion go away - it will only make abortion dangerous and put women's lives at risk. This law was designed to punish women who would consider having an abortion. There is simply no other way to look at it.

Speak Out. Fight Back.

Utah's "Criminal Miscarriage" Law passed the Utah House and Senate by overwhelming majorities. Seriously overwhelming. The votes were 59-12 and 24-4, respectively, meaning that even if Gov. Herbert were to veto the bill (he won't) the legislature could easily override his veto.

Just in case that wasn't enough, the bill's authors included a provision that with 2/3 members already voting for the bill, the "Criminal Miscarriage" Law would go into effect even if Gov. Herbert doesn't sign the bill into law.

The Utah Planned Parenthood Action Council, the ACLU of Utah, and their allies have been fighting this fight every step of the way. They succeeded in getting the legislature to drop the much lower legal standard of "negligence," and in light of such overwhelming opposition that success is simply heroic.

So what do we do now?

Utah conservatives love to legislate their twisted version of morality -- but they hate it when the rest of the country calls them out on their bigotry. So that's exactly what we need to do.

More than anything, Utah wants to be liked. After decades being seen as a backwards, intolerant state, we desperately want to be accepted into the political and cultural mainstream. They hate it when the state itself becomes a national joke.

This is all about PR. The state legislature backed off their proposal to eliminate 12th grade when it was ridiculed in the national press. Dropping a year from high school led to "perception problems" -- because of The Onion! -- but national media has been silent when the state enacts one of the most dangerous abortion laws in U.S. history. That silence ends right now.

It's time for everyone to hear about Utah's "Criminal Miscarriage" law. The media must to cover it. We must to start conversations all across the country about what this means for women and girls in Utah - and what this precedent means if (or, more likely, when) other states follow suit. (A similar case in Iowa should be all the warning we need.)

So post this on Facebook. Tweet it. Forward it to five friends. And ask them all to do the same.

If we turn a blind eye towards Utah's "Criminal Miscarriage" law, their shame will belong to all of us.

A few words on the non-profit industrial complex

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:39:00 +0000

So like many activist-y types just trying to pay their bills, I work at shitty non-profit. That isn't to say that the services we provide aren't important or needed, but that somehow a bunch of neo-liberal capitalist assholes run the place, and as far as I'm concerned, seem hell bent on running that place into the ground. They talk down to the people they 'help', top-down manage in the most hierarchal fashion possible, and, just to top it all off, treat the employees below them like shit. I've really had it with my bosses complaining and complaining about the non-profit we all work at having no money, which I suppose would be how they would justify a recent action that occurred at work. When it came time for my annual raise, my bosses found it fit to give me a raise of .08 cents. I'm not complaining about this because the money is so damn important. I'm upset about this because the person who decided my work, which I've absolutely poured my heart into, was only worth .08 cents of raise, while this same person collects more than 100,000 dollars a year. On many weeks I work just a many hours as she does, but I still have to collect food stamps and work a second job just to get by. She drives a corvette to work. This is even more upsetting to me considering the radicals who started this program, in part to help people that are of low-income backgrounds, have had their efforts hi-jacked by capitalist assholes who re-create in the workplace the same structure that harms the people we are supposed to help. If we want true liberation we're going to have to create our own programs and systems of mutual aid, always aligning ourselves with those who have been marginalized by the capitalist patriarchy, not becoming it.

Operation Rescue

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:23:00 +0000

Anyone remember Operation Rescue? You know those crazy fucks that bombed abortion clinics and blocked and attacked womyn who tried to enter? Yeah, those assholes. Currently they need truck drivers in a few states for their anti-abortion vans. One of those states is Ohio. So if you want to have a little fun and fill up their voicemail,
you should. After making womyn's lives much harder, its only right we makes theirs a little bumpy...

The contact is Tara at (316)683-6790, ext. 151

Here's the site: http://www.operationrescue.org/archives/truth-truck-drivers-needed-now-in-four-states/

Introducing... Columbus Accountability Action Collective

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:06:00 +0000

African American men are ten times as likely to be incarcerated. Police periodically mishandle domestic violence calls. Women and men of color are routinely victimized be police and court "justice" systems because of their race or ethnicity.

Columbus needs an alternative to systems that have failed us time and time again, leaving women and survivors of abuse and assault trapped in dangerous situations, without justice, and abusers without rehabilitation.

The Community Accountability Action of Columbus Ohio is a new alternative to the prison industrial complex, who wishes to work to meet the needs of survivors in our community and ensure that rapists and abusers begin the process of changing abusive behavior and unlearning rape culture. We have modeled ourselves after collective movements across the United States such as Philly's Pissed/Philly Stands Up, Denver on Fire, and Incite! Women of Color Against Violence.

We are members of the Columbus community who are fed up with abuse and assault in our communities and will work to make our communities safe. We will do this by helping to meet the immediate needs of survivors and ensuring that abusers know that their behavior will not be tolerated, because in the end, the only that will stop violence is when our communities no longer tolerate it.

If you are in need of help or are interested in helping us out please contact us at caac@arawakcity.org and please see our website for more information http://www.caac-acity.webs.com

Urgent! Need Your Support Now Mother Jailed for Protecting Her Child

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:01:00 +0000

I am reaching out to organizations throughout Ohio and across the
nation whose focus is stopping rape and injustices to women who
protect their children was sex offenders to orchestrate a rally for
support of a young mother and child. The mother is currently jailed
(now for over 68 days) for protecting her child when the system
failed; physical and sexual abuse. She desperately needs your help and
support. Time is running out. If the child is found she will be turned
over to her father. Please see below and let me know if you can be of
assistance and/or know of others who can.

A young mother is currently in jail for protecting her 5 year old
daughter because the justice system won’t. Ms. Cherish Lewis was found
in contempt of court on July 24, 2009 by Domestic Relations Court
Judge Frederick Crow for not turning over her daughter to the child’s
father. Judge Crow ordered that Ms. Lewis remain in jail until she
turns over her child. Ms. Lewis is not telling anyone the location of
her child and has now been in the Scioto County Jail in Portsmouth
Ohio for over 67 days.

Brief History:

On November 2, 2007, after a visitation with her father, Stephen Rice,
for several months in Tampa Florida, the child was returned to her
mother. Upon return of the child at the court house the mother noticed
bruising on the child’s face, behind her ear, numerous bruises on her
back & buttocks, and finger print bruising on her wrist. The mother
immediately took her child to the emergency room. The child disclosed
that her father had hurt her with something red. The child then
disclosed sexual abuse. After further exam the child had an abscess on
her rectum, secretion from her rectum, and a swollen red vagina and
hand print bruising on her thighs according to testimony from the
detective and children’s services.

In February 2008, after reviewing medical reports, hearing testimony
from medical professionals, testimony from children’s services, and
testimony from law enforcement stating that the injuries were from
human contact and the child disclosing both physical and sexual abuse
the Domestic Relations Court, Judge Crow, granted Rice custody and
allowed Rice to take the child again for several months, this time to
Rice’s new residence in Oceanside California.

In June of 2008 the child was returned to her mother. This time upon
return the child complained that it burned when she peed. Ms. Lewis
immediately took her child to the doctor and the child again disclosed
sexual abuse and was sent to Children’s Hospital for evaluation. The
child stated that her father “rubs her privacies” and demonstrated how
it was done. Children’s Services substantiated sexual abuse naming the
father as the alleged perpetrator and recommended that the child be
separated from Rice until the investigation was concluded by law
enforcement. Children’s Services also recommended the father take a
lie detector test.

In addition, on May 15, 2007 Judge Crow heard testimony from Rice’s
mother stating that Rice had an attorney because of allegations of
sexually abusing another 4 year old child when he was a minor. The
sister of this child also testified that Rice had sexually abused her
little sister and told Judge Crow that Ms. Lewis’s daughter should not
be allowed to be alone with Rice. It appears from this testimony that
Rice may have pleaded guilty to these charges but we don’t know for
certain as of yet. Rice’s mother stated that the records were “sealed
or something and she thinks the matter was dropped” and Judge Crow
never asked Mr. Rice if he plead guilty or committed the act. Ms.
Lewis’s attorneys are working on a request to review the records.

On April 2009 the Court of Appeals overturned Judge Crow’s previous
custody order citing that the judge had abused his discretion in not
considering the weight of the evidence in determining the best
interest of the child. Some of this abuse of discretion included Judge
Crow’s findings that Ms. Lewis had Munchhausen’s Syndrome and Parental
Alienation Syndrome because she did not want the child to be with the
father. Judge Crow did not properly consider expert testimony that Ms.
Lewis did not have either Syndrome. The case was remanded back to
Judge Crow with instructions to rehear the case following the rules
set out in the Court of Appeals decision.

The case was scheduled to be heard July 24, 2009. About a week prior
to the July 24 hearing Ms. Lewis discovered that her own attorney had
represented Mr. Rice on the previous criminal allegation of sexually
abusing a 4 year old child about 8 years prior.

Ms. Lewis dismissed her attorney, filed a motion for continuance, and
requested time to find a new attorney. The judge did not allow Ms.
Lewis’s continuance until the end of the proceedings that day. Ms.
Lewis pleaded with the judge to review the medical evidence, expert
testimony, prior sexual abuse allegations, and substantiations from
Children’s Services. The judge did not do so and continued with
proceedings which ultimately resulted in the judge ordering that Mr.
Rice could have the child for 7 months of “Compensatory Parenting
Time” and ordered Ms. Lewis to produce the child to Mr. Rice that day.
Ms. Lewis, who had no advance notice whatsoever that she would be
ordered to produce her child in open court that day and told the judge
that she did not know where her daughter was.

The judge found Ms. Lewis in contempt and ordered her into custody
until she returns the child. Ms. Lewis is still in jail to this day.
It also appears that the judge did not hold a proper hearing when he
found Ms. Lewis in Contempt raising a serious loss of liberty issue.

There are four remarkable attorneys that are so outraged at the judges
actions that they have agreed to take the case pro-bono; Gregory
Barwell, Joel Wesp, Randi Ostry LeHoty, and Holly Regoli.

A Notice of Appeal and Motion for Bond to secure the release of Ms.
Lewis has been filed with the 4th District Court of Appeals and an
Affidavit for Disqualification of the judge has been filed with the
Ohio Supreme Court along with 113 pages of exhibits including court
transcripts, expert testimony, expert depositions, and a report from
Children’s Services substantiating that the child was sexually abused
naming Rice as the alleged perpetrator.

But…the wheels of justice are moving far too slow. The Motion for Bond
was filed August 11 with no comments on when they will rule on the
motion and Rice’s attorney has just filed a motion contra. A request
for expedited hearing has been filed but it appears that the court may
take another 30 days to rule. The Affidavit of Disqualification of
Judge Crow was filed with the Supreme Court of Ohio on August 12 and
Judge Crow just filed his Response on September 25.

The Justice League is following up with the criminal allegations of
physical and sexual abuse in Oceanside CA and Tampa Fl to ensure that
investigators have all of the medical evidence, expert testimony, and
substantiations from Children’s Services in Ohio and encourage them to
conduct a thorough investigation and encourage prosecution: for the
safety of this child and potential future child victims.

Feminism is Alive and Well in Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Seems feminist activism is hitting its stride in Ohio. Let's work backwards, rehashing the past couple of feminist months starting with the most recent actions I've been made aware of:

Sometime over the weekend (May 16 & 17), feminists and allies exposed two "Pregnancy Decision Health Centers" for what they are. At 5900 Cleveland Ave in Columbus:

And at 4111 W Broad Street:

These "Pregnancy Decision Health Centers" aren't about allowing women to make decisions about their pregnancy at all. They're about denying women choice. From the Feminist Women's Health Center:

"Most anti-abortion centers will not give out information by phone, they insist you come into their office. Women have reported waiting up to an hour for the results of a pregnancy test and being forced to watch anti-abortion videos while they wait surrounded by anti-abortion propaganda. Some women have then been denied the results of their pregnancy test when they say they want an abortion or that they need the test result to apply for medical assistance.

They show shocking and misleading films and pictures of mutilated fetuses and stillborn babies. They won't let women leave until the end of the video or until they have looked at all the anti-abortion information, even when the woman realizes she has made a mistake going there.

Women describe being harassed, intimidated, and given blatantly false information, or being forced to pray with the crisis pregnancy center's staff. They complain that their confidential information was used against them. In some cases, they were followed home, and mail and phone calls intruded into their homes.*"

*http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/fake.htm

On April 30th, 2009,
Feministe covered these clinics

Here are some real Women's Health Resources:

In Ohio, Women's Health Clinics providing all pregnancy care including abortion.

Complete Family Planning, Sexual, and Pregnancy Care, including abortion at
Planned Parenthood.

Pretty comprehensive information about abortion online:
http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/index.htm

On Friday the 15th, in Columbus, a group of activists got together and marched to raise awareness about violence against women. Most marchers marched along sidewalks, and bike supporters circled, blowing whistles. Along the way the marchers handed out literature with facts about the issue, and what folks can do in their own communities. A fight broke out at the end of the night when a bystander called a woman a faggot and attacked her physically. Protesters broke up the fight. Marchers interact with some bros: * Pictures provided by Annie*

On Thursady, May 14th, Take Back the Night was held by a student group at Ohio State University, Womyn and Allies Rising in Resistance. Hundreds of feminists and allies attended. The event included the speakers, tablers, a rally, a march, a speakout where survivors could share their experiences with violence, and the clothesline project allowing survivors of violence to create a t-shirt communicating their experiences or feelings surrounding their experience with violence. Here's the march:
And a shirt from the Clothesline Project:
Tucker Max appeared at OSU, protested by many feminists and allies, leading to continued pressure on Ohio State's campus to contribute money to helping survivors, since they spent an unnamed amount of money promoting rape culture with Tucker Max's appearance. OSU has refused to disclose the amount, even thought student dollars went to it, and other universities in Ohio maintain it must be disclosed as a Public Record. See one of our bloggers post about it here.
Sexual Assault Awareness month was kicked off April 1 with a controversial "Someone Was Raped Here" spraypaint campaign.

And a follow-up here.

Keep up the good work activists of all stripes! Feminist love and solidarity is with you!

Any hopes for what future actions will include? Share with us in the comments section.

OSU uses student activity money to pay a rapist to come to campu

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Monday night, Ohio State University's student activities board gave money to a self proclaimed asshole, Tucker Max, to come to campus and share his message with OSU students. For those of you unfamiliar with Tucker Max here are some quotes from him **trigger warning**

First, here's a tidbit from his rating system of women:

0-star (aka, Wildebeast): The lowest of the low... They should all be put to sleep. This is that loud, disgusting fat girl in the bar that smokes, orders complicated drinks and then spills them on everyone, and is generally just so annoying that you have to actively restrain yourself from kicking her in the crotch and stomping on her throat until she drowns on her own blood. There is no insult too mean or crude for her, and basic human rights do not apply to her.
...

This one girl, who was ugly and a bitch (thus, didn't have basic human rights) started doing one... when she was upside down, legs spread apart, I punched her right in the vagina. This caused her to violently spit up the beer she was trying to consume, and fall backwards into the two people holding her up, all of them splashing to the mud. I ran off, laughing so hysterically I couldn't breathe.
...
I was going to fuck her in the butt and film it without her consent

1) No consent = rape.

2) Punching a woman in the vagina = violence against women.

The really fucked up thing though is that he isn't the first straight, white, male asshole who has deemed a certain group of people to be unworthy of basic human rights and spout all sorts of hatred and even incite violence against this group, and he isn't alone. Hundreds and hundreds of supporters showed up to this event to OSU and cheered him on, laughed at his sexist bullshit, and taunted people who stood up and called Max out on his misogyny.

Oh but wait, Max let's us know that he "love[s] women." This is from his FAQ section:

Don't you think your page is very sexist/anti-women/misogynistic?
This always confuses me. For fucks sake, I originally put up a page dedicated to getting a date; how is that sexist? How in hell does that imply I hate women? I hate a lot of things, (stupid people and Duke basketball, for instance) but nowhere on that list is women. I LOVE women. Now, do I treat some women like shit? Yes, sometimes, but I treat EVERYONE like shit, not just women. Sexism is treating one sex differently from the other(s). I treat people as individuals.

Oh... there we go. That disclaimer makes all the misogyny magically unmisogynistic. Oh wait, no it doesn't. Tucker Max hates women. He may love *fucking* women, but that clearly does not extend to his even seeing women has human beings who are all deserving of his respect. Oh, but it's ok, cause he's a shit to men as well. This guy needs some male privilege 101 classes.

So now that you know a bit about the shithead... on to the protest:

When this guy came to OSU and a bunch of people who support basic human rights and fight patriarchal oppression showed up to let people know we are not going to welcome rapists in Columbus.

The Other Paper did a nice article about the event:

the Ohio Union Activities Board invited OSU students to a campus lecture hall Monday to “Join OUAB and Tucker Max to discover what college and life are really all about!”

Apparently some faculty adviser only skimmed the OUAB’s marketing for the author’s appearance—unless, of course, the university has suddenly and surprisingly begun to encourage the kind of drunken debauchery that Max makes his living portraying.

the Lantern said:

For the first 30-plus minutes of the event, Max was unable to begin his speech, as every time he tried to, a protester blew a whistle or sounded an air horn. Those who disrupted the event were promptly escorted out by security, to the jeers of the remaining audience. Occasionally, Max would even taunt the protester, much to the delight of his fans.

Meanwhile, the people in the lobby were shouting, "Shut it down! No rapist in our town!" blowing whistles, throwing confetti, and dancing in protest. At some point, police violence broke out against the protesters.

Here are some statements made by people who were there:

"I have a bruise on my arm that I believe is from being grabbed by the cops multiple times... I'm not sure who did this though. I was handled by different cops multiple times."

"I overheard one officer saying 'Once at a protest I shoved a girl down and slammed her head into the ground. I hope I do that again tonight because I have zero tolerance for these people.'"

"I saw one police officer shoving students without provocation back from the door. One woman was jostled into him and he shoved her chest/breasts back with the full force of his body and kept shoving her violently backward until two other cops touched him and told him to stop and that what he had been doing was too much. This protester is a very small person, especially in comparison to the cop, who was muscular and tall. He continued to be much rougher than necessary with protesters until the other cops sent him away.

He matches the description of the cop that other protesters heard telling a story about pushing a protester into the ground until her face bled and saying that he hoped he got to do that at the Tucker Max protest. I asked for his badge number and he refused to give it to me or locate it on his badge for me. I THINK his badge number is 234 but I'm unsure. He is tall, muscular, with buzzed blonde hair."

As UWIRE said, "After Max finished his speech, protesters sat in front of exit doors, forcing the audience to push their way out. Protesters then left the venue and marched to High Street."

But just cause the event is over, doesn't mean OUAB is off the hook. They used student money to bring a rapist to OSU and spread his message of hate and violence.

The Other Paper states:

Protesters, however, kept pushing for the details of Max’s speaking fee. They staged a sit-in Tuesday outside of the OUAB office, demanding that the same amount, or $15,000, be allocated for a campus sexual–violence victims’ fund and gender-sensitive programming.

According to OUAB’s president, this is exactly the sort of discussion the student group seeks to spark with its programming. “Ultimately, OUAB felt that this event provided an opportunity for learning and dialogue—one of our organization’s many responsibilities to OSU’s campus,” said Bockelman in her e-mail.

Learning and dialog?! I call your bullshit Bockelman.

OUAB fucked up: they brought a violent rapist to campus and gave him a space to spread his hate. And the worst part is that we, some of us survivors of sexual violence such as that which Tucker describes, had to help pay for him to do so.

To end this post on a positive note, here is an interview at Done Waiting of OSU student group Womyn and Allies Rising in Resistance (WARR) about Tucker Max, rape, Take Back the Night, and how OSU gives money to rapists rather than rape survivors.

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:11:00 +0000

Trigger Warning: Potential trigger for survivors at the end of paragraph one of release.

This just in from an OSU student group working to end violence against women.

Womyn and Allies Rising in Resistance, WARR
E-mail: warrosu@gmail.com
5/6/09

Ohio State to Violate Students’ Rights Using Student Funds
Women’s Group Demands Cancellation of Rape-Promoter Tucker Max

Sexual Assault Awareness Month has barely come to a close, and already The Ohio State University is choosing to create a hostile environment for women, violating its own non-discrimination policy as well as state and federal law. At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 11th in Hitchcock Hall, OSU will be sponsoring the rape-celebrating Tucker Max as a speaker, using OSU students’ dollars. From a Tucker Max story describing his several-week persistent coercion of a woman into anal sex, “I was going to **** her in the butt and film it without her consent.”*

WARR demands that Ohio State follow its non-discrimination policy as well as state and federal law and does not use the student activity fee to violate students’ rights.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact WARR at warrosu@gmail.com.

*http://www.tuckermax.com/archives/entries/date/tucker_tries_buttsex_hilarity_does_not_ensue.phtml#278

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:51:00 +0000

We got some great coverage over at the Other Paper for the reporting we did below on the Raped Here campaign.

They had a valid critique. We didn't promote what *you* can do to help or get involved! Or resources for survivors.

We have links along the side, but I'll add them here.

If you're a survivor, and you want an advocate, or someone to talk to, or have questions of any type, check out SARNCO's website. Or their helpline: (614) 267-7020

If you're a survivor, feminist, or feminist ally, and you want to share your story or have discussions about community safety, check out the safe space forum at:
http://www.youforum.cc/safespacecolumbus/

If you want to get active in the local feminist community, check out a meeting of WARR, Womyn and Allies Rising in Resistance. They meet Tuesdays on OSU's campus. They're planning a week of action against sexual assault.
They're also working on planning Take Back the Night.
And, they're working on a campaign to create a fund to help survivors pay for hospital costs.

E-mail them at warrosu@gmail.com

Also, please do check out our "Guide to Direct Action".

Let us know if you've got a group or a link you want included!

Someone Was Raped Here

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:40:00 +0000

People have long used physical markers to remember tragedies past, from crosses and flowers at the intersection of a tragic car crash,to memorials at sites of disasters and violent crimes, to the small engraved tiles on the sidewalks of Germany commemorating those taken to concentration camps, and those whose lives were taken there.

These serve as reminders of the people lost or injured, victims or survivors of violent tragedy. They also bring us face to face with the reality that there are those who commit these violent acts. There are people capable of acts of true violence, hate, and power.

In Columbus, OH, as part of the Sexual Assault Awareness month of April this morning, the crime of rape was marked in this way.

In front of private residences, across the campus of OSU, in public places, all across town.

Someone was raped here.

My Vagina Monologue

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:07:00 +0000

So, as usual, I would like to give a little bit of background as to what I am writing and why. A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with hpv, a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer. As a precaution to make sure this does not occur, I had to get this really awesome procedure called a colposcopy, where a nice little doctor scrapes out a piece of one's cervix to test it for cancer. Needless to say, I was quite overjoyed to be having the procedure done.

There was a small mishap at the doctor's office though, as my doctor failed to provide me with a female obgyn, and also thought it would be super neat to allow two young MALE medical students watch/help with the procedure. Moral of this story is: DOCTORS! LISTEN TO WOMYN WHEN THE SAY THEY NEED A FEMALE OBGYN. THERE IS PROBABLY A REASON WHY!!!!

Anyways, Let my vagina tell a story....

So I'm sitting in the doctor's office
Waiting to find out if I have cervical cancer
And three male doctors walk in.
One to explain the procedure
the other two to introduce themselves as medical students.
I'm not joking. I wish this wasn't real.
I think "Oh shit, I'm going to break down"
then my female nurse walks in to ask about my sexual history
by merely pointing at questions on a page,
cause, you know, sex is embarassing.
I guessed on the how many partners question
then I propped my legs up in those big warm stirrups
and the doctor said he was going to shove something in my vagina.
He did and I started to cry.
Everyone wanted to know if it hurt.
It did but that's not why I was crying.
I told the nurse I was being triggered
and everyone was like "What's that?"
and I shouted "THIS REMINDS ME OF BEING RAPED"
and the whole room was silent.
except the nurse saying "Oh My God"
way to calm me down asshole.
Then the doctor poured vinegar in my vagina and it burned.
You know, to see if I have irregular cell growth
and I just kept crying
but hey I don't have cervical cancer
just another traumatic experience.
Thank you western medicine.

Have we forgotten the bigger picture?

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:16:00 +0000

First I want to start off saying that I am very glad that Barack Obama won the election. I am extremely glad that this country has finally put aside its racism enough to elect a black president and seems to be to some extent, fed up with the way this country has been ran for the last eight years.

I am not glad that people are so blindly putting all of their faith into one man, who though he is black, is still playing a white man's game. A game that is so wildly sexist any woman who even came near where Obama is now, was shut out by either sexplioting them or calling them unsexy and 'manly'. This is a game that only the rich get to play. A game for chauvinist capitalists alone, founded completely on the hierarchal domination of others.

Did we forget somewhere along that way, that our grand savior does not even support gay marriage? (Though I am hardly calling gay marriage the path to liberation)

Did we forget that he is a supporter of free trade, which ravages the lives of women and men all over the world for capitalist benefit?

Did we forget that the grand promises that politicians often make us for healthcare, education, women's and environmental needs are rarely, rarely fulfilled, because to do so would undermind the needs of the ruling class?

As a radical, I do not wish to sit at a 'table' as I'll call it, that is founded on exploitation, slavery, and sexism. Putting a decent person at the table does not make it a non-corrupt table, it just corrupts its new guests.
As a radical, ignoring the issues that cause oppression-patriarchy and capitalism, and pushing a watered-down 'less harmful' version of these is not change and will never liberate people. I do not wish to sit at the 'table' and negotiate with capitalists, mysogynists, racists, bigots, or homophobes. Real change will not occur doing so, and is only a waste of energy.

Real change WILL occur when we finally grow the ovaries to smash the damn table and build one that is not contaminated with the above ailments. Sexism and all of the above are social diseases. A disease will not stop harming people by putting healthy people around it to 'contain it', it will only spread to them slowly but surely. Only the destruction of those social diseases will stop their harm.

Sure, its great we have a black president, but just cause he's black doesn't mean he's going to save the world. He is a capitalist after all. He just happens to have darker skin and kinder words.

Tempe 12: Misogynists who score a perfect 10, plus 2 for pretending to be empowering women

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:14:00 +0000

You ever have a class with a guy who won't stop degrading and belittling women? And you think to yourself, this guy's a perfect 10 on the misogy-meter. Then you start talking to him a little more... and you find out he thinks he respects women, and claims to be working to empower women through this magazine he makes. Hell yeah! Score plus 2 to the misogy-meter reading!! That's a misogynist piece of shit.

Meet David Freedman.

David Freedman is a real 12, he made a misogyny filled calendar, called Tempe 12, and is super proud. To quote their website, "Tempe12, started by David Freedman, is a swimsuit calendar that features the HOTTEST girls from the Pac-10 and Big Ten universities. When's the last time you had 12 girls in your bedroom?"

What? Women = objects? What?

But wait, they want you to know... they won't objectify just any hot girl:
"these girls are not just pretty faces on the wall. They are kind, intelligent, driven individuals with a bright future."

Ah yes... you clearly see women as real people. Thanks for clearing that up.

A while back, Freedman did and interview with the Oregon Daily Emerald:

Francis may do shady, hateful things to women... but from a business standpoint, he's awesome!! And that's all that really matters to us privileged white dudes anyway.

"We take pride in being sexy and classy," Freedman said. "It's a girl in a bikini. The same girls who get offended I am pretty sure wear a bikini when they go to the beach or a swimming pool. …People need to get over it."You putting women in bikini's and making them look like objects for men's sexual pleasure (while noting they have brains too... three cheers for you ya little budding feminist) is NOT AT ALL THE SAME as women choosing to go to the beach wearing a bikini. If you think it is, you're a moron.

"We aren't looking to put girls in a compromising position," he said. "It's not about objectifying women..."

OH! You're NOT objectifying women?! Phew. You should've stated that earlier, that would've saved us a lot of being degraded and sexually abused because of the way our society views women as objects, not as real people we need to respect, thanks, in part, to sexist bullshit like this "calendar" you're putting out.

"Everything that I produce I want to be able to show my grandmother and be proud of it."

Is that right? Well, where does your dear grandmother live?

If you would like to talk to David Freedman, his number is 480.829.9292 or 480.965.9311and his email is david@tempe12.com

Pro-Life, That's a lie, they don't care if women die!

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:43:00 +0000

For Choice: how to heap burning coals on thine enemy's head (anyone who gets the tie-in with the most recent post gets a cookie).

Stolen from a forward:

May I suggest the following fiendishly brilliant way to express your disgust at Sarah Palin's anti-choice attitude?

Make a $5 minimum donation to Planned Parenthood in Sarah Palin's name.

And here's the good part: when you make a donation to PP in her name, they'll send her a card telling her that the donation has been made in her honor.

Here's the link to the Planned Parenthood web site:
https://secure.ga0.org/02/pp10000_inhonor

You'll need to fill in the address to let PP know where to send the ' In Sarah Palin's honor' card. Use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters:

McCain for President/Sarah Palin
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington, VA 22202

Feel free to send this along to all your feminist friends and urge them to donate for choice.

Christian + Extremist = Christianist

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:09:00 +0000

A new word has been invented... and this time not by our dear president's misspeak. Click here for the full article at time.com

The number of Christians misrepresented by the Christian right is many.... They have no problem living next to an atheist or a gay couple or a single mother or people whose views on the meaning of life are utterly alien to them--and respecting their neighbors' choices. That doesn't threaten their faith. Sometimes the contrast helps them understand their own faith better.

...Also, faith for many of us is interwoven with doubt... That doubt means having great humility in the face of God and an enormous reluctance to impose one's beliefs, through civil law, on anyone else.

So let me suggest that we take back the word Christian while giving the religious right a new adjective: Christianist. Christianity, in this view, is simply a faith. Christianism is an ideology, politics, an ism. The distinction between Christian and Christianist echoes the distinction we make between Muslim and Islamist. Muslims are those who follow Islam. Islamists are those who want to wield Islam as a political force and conflate state and mosque. Not all Islamists are violent. Only a tiny few are terrorists.

Sounds like a great plan to me. I'm an Atheist, but there are some Christians out there who I really respect and admire, and I always hated how I couldn't clearly separate them out somehow when angrily ranting about these hateful Christianists. Well, now I can...

Christianists:

Believe the earth is 6,000 years old because they added up the ages of people in the Bible
Believe Jesus buried the dinosaur bones when he invented DNA
Hate homos... wait no... "hate the sin, love the sinner"
Judge others and condemn them to hell for breaking various laws in their religion
Think women should be baby making machines
Think they need to make laws to force everyone to follow the "rules" of their religion

Christians:

Follow Jesus' teachings
Trust science to come up with some plausible explanations for our existence
Love everyone regardless of religion, gender, sexuality, race, etc...
Want to learn more about people who are different them

The Media Hates Women: Vol. 1

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:09:00 +0000

When you go to DeclareYourself.com this image fills your browser window:

The caption says, "only you can silence yourself" and it's asking you to register to vote. Vomit. My first thought when I saw this (after I vomited) was: where do I UNregister to vote?! Then, talking to another radical feminist, I realized, if she were making a statement AGAINST this election and how women are treated... it's pretty fucking brilliant. All we need to do is relabel it!!

So it's contest time!! Who can come up with the best label for this picture? Here are some we came up with:

Don't bother to vote: this is how they'll listen to women's voices once the votes have been counted.

This is what they do to you when they think you're sexy. Try not to imagine what they do to women they hate.

Only you can silence yourself; obviously, I put the tape over my mouth first, then laid tape in strips on the ground, got naked, and rolled around, then I stood up turtle-style and applied eye liner using my feet while thinking, "Why didn't I do the make up before the tape??"

What are your relabeling ideas?

Rape is Not a Talking Point

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:51:00 +0000

Edit: I am all for an intelligent engaging conversation about violence against womyn and the elections. This was unclear, apparently. Here is an example of what that looks like: More Than Rape Kits. Alright, edit done.

When is the last time you heard the phrase rape kit used in the national media? Maybe in reference to a specific survivor, questioning whether her story was true. The last time I can remember is the Duke Lacrosse case. Maybe you can remember some more recent case.

But now, suddenly "Rape Kits" are a talking point for the presidential elections, and it is making me furious.

It is not okay to use rape kits as a talking point. This is not an "any publicity is good publicity" thing. This is not an "at least someone is talking about it" thing.

This is a "no one gives two shits about rape unless" thing. And in this case, the unless is "unless they're trying to highlight their (female) opponent's unfeminist track record to convince women not to vote for her."

Well, shut the fuck up you so-called progressives who are suddenly spam-emailing me because you know I care about rape and you found a candidate who doesn't have a good track record on the issue, because your candidates aren't exactly shining beacons of feminism, rolling up their sleeves and trying to end the rape and abuse of women at home and abroad.

It's hypocritical nonsense, and you're going to start ignoring rape, and questioning survivors and trumpeting rape myths all the fuck over the place as soon as this goddamn election is done. Because your end-goal is to get someone elected, not to end rape. The only fucking reason you're talking about it is because somehow "feminism" became an issue in this campaign, and you can't figure out how to get teh laydeez to vote for your candidate cause they is soooo crazy! But wait, I know what teh laydeez care about!! Rape and abortion!!

Let's suddenly care about that too! Until November 4th, and then survivors, you're on your own again. What is it you were wearing? How much had you had to drink? Was he drinking too? Did you know him before? Did you let him walk you home? Did you invite him into your house? What color is your skin again? Ok, and the color of his skin?

Wait, why are we, the tax-payers, paying for all these women's rape kits? Maybe we should only pay for the ones where she can prove it in a court of law!

New rule: if you didn't think about rape unless Kobe Bryant was accused of it before; if you flinched when I talked about my advocacy work for a little "too long;" if you told rape jokes; if you played 'devil's advocate' when we were talking about alcohol-related sexual assault; if you don't know what is actually in a rape kit; if any of these things are true and you bring up a vp candidate and rape kits to me: I reserve the right to deck you and you owe me a $1000 donation to a rape crisis center or battered womyn's shelter.

The future of activism.

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:21:00 +0000

Due to the recent vandalism of that church sign (for those who aren't up with the feminist blogging world, here's the original sign, and the vandalized sign) and the subsequent mixed feelings on feministing, I thought I'd do a little blog about my $0.02 concerning this action:

We can't do that. It's wrong.

IMHO, it is an outrage that someone would destroy another person's property. Not only does it make the homos look bad and make it seem like all homosexuals are destructive and disrespectful, it also hurts capitalism (:-O !!) because now these people have to spend time and/or money cleaning their sign. Tisk tisk angry radicals who did this.

Why can't we stop taking actions like this and admit that the future of activism is...

BLOGGING!! Seriously, think about it (let's make a list!!):

No more meeting with those crazy anarchist activists who want to destroy capitalism, patriarchy, and religion (and have tattoos concerning all of these things!!)
No more wasting time trying to get everyone to agree on what action to take. (a stupid thing they call concensus.)
No more doing illegal, harmful, destructive things that don't have any point anyway.
To blog, I don't even have to leave my house!!
Plus I can watch "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" and get my TV news fix while reading all the blog news and posting on my own!!
When I post online and tell all of the other feminists about my opinions, I'm creating REAL changes.
We can all communicate with each other through this series of blogs that we all have, and no one else reads them, so it's like this cool underground secret things (like the underground railroad or something - lolz!!)
If I (accidentally, of course, I don't see color or gender) say something kinda sexist, heteronormative, or racist... I can say someone hacked into my account! Problem solved! J/K. But for realz, you can all catch my mistake, we can talk about it, and I can better myself as a person without encountering a black/queer/female person and accidentally saying these offensive things to his/her gay/straight, black/white face. (Being pc all the time is hard! See how confusing that sentence looks now?! Another problem with radicals!)

What I think we all should have done concerning this ignorant pastor and his homo hating ways, is to write about it in our blogs. Maybe some people will read our blogs and be moved enough to send him an angry letter! That would surely do more to influence this man than when these extremists go and spray paint the sign. That's just going to make him feel justified in his speaking out against homosexuality.
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"In Extreme cases, when others refuse to acknowledge our needs or persist in doing unconscionable, harmful things, we intercede by whatever means are necessary-- not on behalf of Justice or revenge, but simply to represent our own interests." - fighting for our lives
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Ok, seriously now... I like blogging. Obviously, this is a blog. Blogging/Reading blogs is an improtant tool of communication, and it keeps me thinking about feminist issues in different ways.

But I do not think it is the "future of activism." It is worthy of it's critiques. Critiques suggesting it's an echo chamber, or a stand-in for activism, or preaching to the choir, etc.

I think a good point was made in the comments on the feministing post about the church vandalism (linked above).

A commenter says that we can't just blog about what conservatives are doing to make the news! We have to make the news!

I love activism because it (contrary to popular belief) produces real results!

As such, I'm going to give you a little direct activism tutorial so you can see what I mean. Instead of blogging today, take or plan an action!!

Is Ann Coulter for real??

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:25:00 +0000

... or is she a satirical commentary of crazy conservatives? Like Stephen Colbert, except really, truly trying to convince people she's serious.

I pose this question because, in a recent conversation with a friend of mine, I learned that she chooses to believe the latter... because it makes her feel less insane.

Let's explore this question. Here are some examples of Coulterisms taken from wikiquote:

They're [Democrats] always accusing us of repressing their speech. I say let's do it. Let's repress them. Frankly, I'm not a big fan of the First Amendment. * University of Florida speech; October 20, 2005

The ethic of conservation is the explicit abnegation of man's dominion over the Earth. The lower species are here for our use. God said so: Go forth, be fruitful, multiply, and rape the planet — it's yours. That's our job: drilling, mining and stripping. Sweaters are the anti-Biblical view. Big gas-guzzling cars with phones and CD players and wet bars — that's the Biblical view. * Oil Good; Democrats bad; October 12, 2000

I'd build a wall. In fact, I'd hire illegal immigrants to build the wall. And throw out the illegals who are here. [...] It's cheap labor. * Fox News; The O'Reilly Factor; Transcript via Media Matters; April 14, 2006

Then there are the 22 million Americans on food stamps. And of course there are the 39 million greedy geezers collecting Social Security. The greatest generation rewarded itself with a pretty big meal. * WorldNetDaily; December 10, 2003, "Vegan computer geeks for Dean

"Finally, all the candidates are willing to sell out any of these other issues in service of the one burning desire of all Democrats: abortion on demand. If they could just figure out a way to abort babies using solar power, that's all we'd ever hear about." * How to Talk to a Liberal (2004); ISBN 1400054184 p. 49

Ridiculous! Even if someone thought these things in the deepest darkest region of their mind, how could they ever say them out loud? I'm pretty sure my friend is right; she's an amazingly brilliant caricature of conservative right wing views. Imagine the commitment... her whole life is dedicated to making a spectacle of the right wing. Brilliant!!

G.A.Y. Sign outside Havens Corners

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:24:00 +0000

Looks like someone more loving and accepting than Reverend Dave Allison wanted to have a go at the church sign at Havens Corners Church. (Looks like they did it in a slightly more permanent way that the sign is used to.) I bet the people of Havens Corners are praying hard for the people who snuck a little bit of gayness into this message of God's love and adoration of all.

**edit** Apparently The Other Paper thinks we took credit for this action just because we sent them an email letting them know about it so they could do a follow up. And, I guess they think we're a "sinister group [who] used cans of spray paint to thoughtfully convey their side of the theological debate." Haha! **end edit**

Do You Understand Women? QUIZ!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:19:00 +0000

1. Why do women get all sensitive about rape?

2. Why do women dislike it when you speak over them in conversation?

3. Why don't women like it when you "compliment" their body on the street?

4. What should you do if you and your dick buddies are dominating the conversation?

5. If you are telling a joke and all the women in the room are covering their ears and humming, it means...

6. Is it inappropriate to use the word "pussy"?

7. What is wrong with "needing to score"?

8. What is the best thing to do if Take Back The Night is marching past your apartment and interrupting your beer bong?

9. You see a woman in nondescript loose-fitting jeans and t-shirt. She is...

10. What is a woman's ideal valentine's day gift?

SCORING

If you answered mostly A's..... You might believe women are people, too!
If you answered mostly B's..... You are an asshole.
If you answered mostly C's..... You are an asshole.
If you answered mostly D's..... You are an asshole.
If you answered mostly E's..... You are an asshole.

A "loving warning" from the Christians

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:15:00 +0000

I woke up this morning with a text message waiting for me on my phone. It said, "This is a real evangelical billboard-'i kissed a girl and i liked it and then i went to hell'"

My first thought was: I kissed a girl, her lips were sweet. She was just like kissing me - And, actually, that just echoed around in my head for a while. I was humming it as I was brushing my teeth...- I kissed a girl, won't change the world. But I'm so glad I kissed a girl.

Which naturally led to the thought that, all those men better revolutionize themselves or they'll see all their wives kissing Jill Sobule and me.

Anyway, once I was all dressed, breakfasted, and ready for the day, I googled... and pulled up the article from The Dispatch. Wherin Rev. Dave Allison says, "We meant that as a loving warning to teens.... The Scriptures tell us that you should not do what the song tells you to do. The Scriptures are not ambiguous on this issue." Yes, the Bible says something like, "Love your neighbor as yourself, all homos are going TO HELL!" I'm paraphrasing a little, but it's something close to that. I'm glad this reverend cares so much about the impressionable teens.

I know that if I were a teen who was being told homosexuality was wrong by churches and much of society, and was all confused because I kissed someone of the same sex... and like it. I would be so confused... until this sign!! That'd clear everything right up. It'd be such a weight off my chest! No more trying to figure out how I feel myself, the sign just answered all my homo questioning. I'd rush inside and be baptized in the name of their homo-hating god. Phew! The good Reverend would cure me of my homosexuality and I'd be another ex-gay success story. Another soul for Jesus! Hooray!!

This Shouldn't Even Be a Fight

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:38:00 +0000

(I wrote this awhile ago, but thought I'd repost it here.)

Warning: Proceed with caution, some content maybe triggering to survivors of sexual assault.

Tonight a friend and I went to see the film "After Stonewall" which essentially was about the gay liberation movement, as one may guess, after the stonewall riots. Don't get me wrong, the film was amazing and everything, but something about it really shook me. All the images of men and women fighting so hard, their entire lives, and for what? So they could simply be themselves, and live and love as they choose, without being fired, or harassed, or beaten or even killed. The film also chronicled the women's and lesbian movements that branched out from this movement. All along, all these people were asking for was to be treated like human beings. To not be abused, to not have to hide in fear of their neighbors, to be able to enjoy life.

What am I, and other women fighting for? We're fighting for rights over our own bodies. The right to walk the streets at night, or go to bars, or be drunk, or do anything really, without fear of rape or assault. We're fighting for the right to our own autonomy, for respect. We're fighting cause we're goddamn sick of men raping us. We're fighting cause somewhere along the way, someone else decided we were less than human and could be treated as such. And people call me a radical for believing this? What's so goddamn radical about treating people with love and respect? Huh!? Why am I the crazy one? Isn't it everyone else who is crazy for believing otherwise?

I guess what really shakes me about all of this is, well, this shouldn't even be a fight. We shouldn't have to fight for this. We shouldn't have to struggle our whole lives just to be treated like humans. But guess what? We do. We STILL have to fight a battle that never should have been a battle in the first place.

So I guess I'll keep fighting, cause anymore, its the only thing I really know how to do. It's not like we've really got a choice anyway.

"While there is a lower class, I am in it. While there is a criminal element, I am of it. While there is a soul in prison, I am not free."- Eugene Victor Debs

Disney's Dolls

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:24:00 +0000

While "stumbling" around the internet today, I came across this amazing article which quite beautifully analyzes Disney movies and their inherent sexism and racism.

"[Sleeping Beauty is] prototypical Disney. Young women are natural-born happy homemakers who lie in a state of suspended animation until a man gives them a life. Older women are the enemy, especially if they seek power. And the working class (hardworking, but dirty and uncivilized) are there to serve the rich and privileged, never questioning their subordinate position."

Kyle Payne, you are not special

noreply@blogger.com (Feminist Avengers) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Kyle Payne is a rapist asshole.

If you're not familiar with his sordid little story, he's a sexual predator posing as a feminist. He's been a sexual assault advocate. He's presented at anti-porn conferences, and blogged about social issues, and basically he was just a picture-perfect little protector and lover of the womyns.

There are lots of dramatic little details about just how feminist he pretended to be and just exactly which invasive acts he performed in a specific recent instance.

You can google it if you want to get sucked down into the depths of that drama, but I don't recommend it, because it all misses the point.

The blogosphere is up in arms in an "Oh how heinous! He was pretending to be a feminist!" kind of way. On and on they go, about this specific rapist and how exactly he should be behaving now and telling him to stop using the word feminist and blah blah fucking blah.

Look folks, let me tell you a little secret.

Rapists pretend to be, and are, lots of things.

Some of these things are:

Feminists
Progressives
Anti-racists
Queer activists
Cops
Pastors
Doctors
Fathers
Brothers
Uncles
Boyfriends
Cousins
Best friends
Sister's boyfriends
The guy that cleans the carpets at your office
The guy that sells hot dogs on the corner
The guy in the nice suit
The boy next door

(For a complete list of things a rapist can be, please see the dictionary for any word that could ever possibly be applied to a human being.)

KYLE PAYNE IS NOT SPECIAL.

He is not special.

He is a rapist.

The disguise he used was feminist. Maybe he thought he was feminist.

I don't know and I don't fucking care because the point here people, the point is, he is a sexual predator who made a choice in at least one instance that we know of to sexually assault a woman.

Just like millions of other men do every day. I mean, fuck, throw a rock, hit a rapist, right?

Now, if we could tell the rapists from all the other dudes (I assume there are some), then we could be all shocked and say, ooh, no, not the "feminist" one! But seriously, have we not yet learned the lesson that we can't tell them apart?

WE CAN'T TELL THEM APART!!

Whew. Problem solved.

Oh wait, shit. If we can't tell them apart, how the hell are we supposed to protect ourselves?

Here's where it gets good people. I've got the answer.

Now, I will fight the instinct to say trust no men. *Fighting*

Ok, that sufficiently squashed for the time being, I'll give you my solution.

We trust men.

That's right, trust them.

I mean, not automatically right, they've gotta earn your trust like everyone else, and maybe they've gotta work a little harder because of the hundreds of years of oppression or whatever, but if they get past all your barriers, then you trust them.

Revolutionary.

Now comes the solution.

We must, at any and all signs of boundary-pushing, boundary-crossing, manipulation, abuse, assault, rape, misogyny of any sort, be willing to suspend trust immediately and indefinitely!!

In self-defense we call it the "Oh shit!" moment.

Trigger warning for the following...skip the oh shit!s if you think ptsd might sneak up on you.

Oh shit! He's attacking me!
Oh shit! My best friend is on top of me!
Oh shit! I said no and he responded "but i'm really horny right now!"
Oh shit! I'm wasted and I can't even process what's happening but my pants are coming off!

And it's hard, so fucking hard, to get through that and move right on to "So now I'm going to kill this rapist-piece-of-shit because it's kill or be raped, and I know which one I would prefer."

Because five minutes ago you were buying that rapist piece of shit popcorn at Hard Candy.
Five minutes ago he was tucking you into bed.
Five minutes ago he was walking you home to protect you FROM rape.
Five minutes ago he was introducing you to his friend Jessica, who you've thought was cute for a long time.

But we've gotta try. We've gotta tell ourselves every day, no matter how counter-socialization it might feel, that we trust him again today, but only until.

And sometimes it will be impossible, because our brain in all it's valiant effort will try to protect us from the truth that the one we loved and trusted is a rapist. And we won't be able to process the new facts (not friend, not loved one, RAPIST) quickly enough to rip that piece of shit's balls off.

But we've gotta try.

But please, people, Kyle Payne is not special because he used the word feminist.

He's just your average rapist.