Reproductive Freedom Blog Posts

Promoting the Sexual Health of Youth

suzanne_ito — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:25:00 -0500

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the most comprehensive treaty on children's rights. The convention has been ratified by nearly every country in the world, except for the United States. The convention would fill current gaps in U.S. laws, and provide all children in America with the same robust protections that children in 193 countries are already entitled to.

"No One Should Go Through What I Went Through"

suzanne_ito — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:30:00 -0500

That’s what Bethany Cajúne told me the first time we spoke about her experience in Montana’s Lake County Detention Facility. “No one should go through what I went through.” We filed a case earlier today to make sure that Bethany’s desire to protect other women becomes a reality.

Tell the Senate to Protect Abortion Care

suzanne_ito — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:22:00 -0500

Are you angry yet? You should be. As you’ve probably heard by now, on November 7, the House passed its health care reform bill. The problem? It also passed an onerous amendment sponsored by Reps. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) and Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) that prohibits anyone who participates in the health insurance Exchange and receives federal subsidies from purchasing a plan that covers abortion except in the case of rape or incest or to save the woman’s life.

Will Health Care Reform Protect Your Reproductive Rights?

suzanne_ito — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:19:00 -0500

Well, many of us thought this day would never come: the House of Representatives is finally prepared to vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act. It's hard to understate the historic nature of this particular vote.

A Promising First Step in Protecting Illinois Teenagers' Health and Safety

suzanne_ito — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:30:00 -0500

In a legal challenge brought by the ACLU, an Illinois state court yesterday issued an emergency order blocking a law that prevents teens from having an abortion unless they notify a parent or go to court. This victory ensures that teens throughout Illinois will continue to be safe and able to obtain the care that they need.

Ending the Inhumane Practice of Shackling Prisoners During Childbirth

Jessica Monaco — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:10:00 -0400

(Originally posted on Daily Kos.)

When Did Pregnant Women Lose the Ability to Make Decisions for Themselves?

suzanne_ito — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

In March, a Florida judge virtually imprisoned a pregnant woman at a hospital in order to force her to stay on bed rest and to undergo any and all medical treatments deemed necessary to save her fetus.

Texas's Rx for Women in Need of Prenatal Care and Drug Treatment? Nueces County Jail

Fleming Terrell — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:24:00 -0400

Yesterday the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heard oral argument in a case challenging the discriminatory punishment and incarceration of a pregnant woman, Amber Lovill, who violated the terms of her probation when she tested positive for drugs. Attorneys for both sides agreed that they would not have found themselves before Texas' highest court for criminal appeals had a probation officer not commented on Ms. Lovill's pregnancy in explaining why the State jailed her in 2007. But the fact is, the probation officer did identify Ms.

Let's Do Some Math, Sheriff Joe

suzanne_ito — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:26:00 -0400

(Also posted on Daily Kos.)

Mississippi Officials Need a Civics Lesson on Constitution Day

suzanne_ito — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:15:00 -0400

In my recent blog post about the ACLU’s lawsuit against the State of Mississippi for promoting religion in a state-sponsored and state-funded event, I pondered whether Mississippi thinks the Constitution doesn’t apply to them. Apparently, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant doesn’t think it does.

Early this week, the lieutenant governor commented on the ACLU’s case, saying: