Hey APW,
I’m not going to sugar coat it: what a horrific week to be a person of reproductive age with a uterus. Fresh on the heels of Georgia’s law banning all abortions after six weeks (which might as well be a full abortion ban), and allowing women to be investigated for having a miscarriage—Alabama passed a total ban on abortions, with no exemptions for rape or incest. While the ACLU has moved to challenge these laws immediately, they are clearly designed to head straight to the Supreme Court, in an attempt to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Disturbingly enough, our ability to control our own bodies now hangs on Chef Justice John Roberts. We can only hope that his desire to uphold American’s faith in the court as a non-partisan institution will drive him to chip away at Roe incrementally, instead of wholesale. And that is little hope indeed.
In the meantime, while visions of The Handmaid’s Tale flash through my head, I’ve been trying to focus on what is in front of me right now. This week, we were lucky enough to help out at a photoshoot for my friend Liz, who’s launching a womxn-focused community project. (The picture above is Liz making Chelsea and I hold hands for a photo, and it amuses me greatly.) Being around communities of womxn always gives me a little more hope, and replenishes me in a way that allows me to take more action. So, I’m focusing on that right now, and trying to be grateful for each and every good thing, instead of focusing on what I fear is a wall of darkness in front of us.
And on a personal note, Refinery 29 is doing a series of articles for Jewish Heritage Month. I’m grateful for this, as one of many Jewish Women who have been pushing hard to have you #IncludeJewsInYourActivism. Their article on how Anti-Semitism is the oldest conspiracy in the world is a depressing but vitally important read.
And with that, the comments are open.
With Hope,
Meg
Further Reading on this horror show
How both sides are responding to the Alabama bill
What the anti-choice issue means to evangelicals, and—most terrifyingly—how this plays into 2020
More scary news featuring 2020 and the anti-choice movement
It’s time for men to speak out on this issue, loudly and clearly
This extreme bill may well upset more moderately minded (but equally anti-choice) conservatives’ plans
Where your donation money is going in Alabama
And a glimmer of hope from law professor Mary Ziegler, who argues this bill may be too extreme, even for some extremists
Living in Alabama is complicated
Abortion is still legal and safe in Alabama and Georgia
Around the Web with Jareesa
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Why a long-serving Republican lawmaker in Iowa is switching parties
Even Breadwinning Wives Don’t Get Equality at Home
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The New York Times Comments Section Breaks Out Into White Nonsense Over the Aperol Spritz
Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens reflects on the worst decision from his tenure on the bench
Elizabeth Warren is the one candidate actually outlining all of her policy ideas (and a lot of them are really good!)
WWYD: Our traditionally male company has an annual golf trip—but our new female employees don’t play
Kylie Jenner is now hawking a walnut face scrub… which is probably a bad idea
A delightful, joyful story of birth and the power of doulas
