Voices for Reproductive Justice GYT Pub Crawl

Voices for Reproductive Justice hosted our first social event last night! The Get Yourself Tested Pub Crawl consisted of food, drinks, condoms, and spreading the word on getting yourself tested. We had tons of fun, and sincerely appreciate everyone's participation! 

Haley making SWAG BAGS before the event.

SWAG BAG (minus the condoms we passed out)! 

me, Dru, Haley: before the event... I get too excited sometimes.

Pizza from East Side Pies- delish.

Lots of Healthy Sexuality Peer Educators, Texas Freedom Networkers, Public Health students, and Social Work students in this group!

Walking to Rio Rita

Hanging out at Rio Rita

Rio Rita made VRJ a special ginger cocktail called "The Second Thought"- YUM!

Social Workers! Alexa, me, Haley, Candace

VRJ Exec Board: Liz, Haley, me, Megan

Special thanks to MEGAN for getting Rio Rita, Cheer Up Charlies, and Volstead on board. We couldn't have done it without you!

Be on the look out for more VRJ events in the near future!

Before you go...

THE WAR ON WOMEN RALLY IS UPON US! IT'S TODAY AT 4PM ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CAPITOL. GET OFF THE INTERNET; I'LL MEET YOU IN THE STREET!

Rally Info

White House Young America Series Releases Update!

Today I got an update e-mail from the White House Young America Series. Below are some pictures, a recap video, and the entire flickr set. Check out my original blog post about this event here.

Check out the 6 minute recap video here.

Check out the flickr set here.

Letter, UT AACC, Condom Couture, STI Testing, GYT Pub Crawl

Letter from Cecile Richards


So, this is probably the coolest thing that has happened to me so far in my life. IT IS A SIGNED LETTER FROM CECILE RICHARDS! HOLY SHIT! It took me awhile to receive it because it got mailed to Liz's house. Anyway, I was pretty stoked.

African American Culture Committee (AACC)


I met someone named Iriel from AACC when VRJ was tabling on West Mall last Tuesday. She was pubbing for a lecture by Brian White titled "Navigating the Business of Success: How to Build a Career of Value," and somehow we got to talking about VRJ tabling at the event. Iriel invited me to the AACC meeting to further discuss the opportunity and register their committee members to vote.

On Wednesday at 5pm in SAC 2.120 I did just that! Unfortunately VRJ will not be able to table at the event, but I registered two people to vote and am considering myself a new member of their student org. THE MEETING WAS SO FUN. Let's go together next Wednesday.

AACC Presents: "Navigating the Business of Success: How to Build a Career of Value"
AACC Facebook Group
AACC Twitter


Condom Couture


After the AACC meeting (we're going next week, right?) I went to FACE AIDS: Condom Couture.

VRJ tabling: me, Megan

Dominique from C.A.R.E Program doing a female condom demo.

These aren't all of the models (dangit) but here are the ones I got a picture of.

1st place!

STI Testing


On Thursday, HSPEs helped host the free STI testing at UT. If you didn't get tested last Thursday, there is still time! Come to the SSB Glen Maloney Room on Thursday, April 26 from 10am-4pm. IT'S FREE, Y'ALL.

Healthyhorns Facebook

Voices for Reproductive Justice GYT Pub Crawl


Come hang out with VRJ this Friday night from 8pm-11pm. We will be passing out condoms and literature on getting tested, and drinking. I don't know what else someone could ask for in a Friday night, for real. (Must be 21+ to attend.)

RSVP HERE!

Updated Post on Andrew Bernstein (barf) Lecture


Megan wrote a great recap on the Andrew Bernstein lecture that the Objectivism Society hosted on April 11.

Check it out here.




War on Women Rally


Alright, so the time has finally come for the War on Women Rally. Here is a little feminist tune to set the tone. (Thousands of people will be at this rally... you really must come.)

"GET OFF THE INTERNET; I'LL MEET YOU IN THE STREET!"

GYT PUB CRAWL WITH VOICES FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE!

More bars may be added. Must be 21+ to attend.

Tell us if you're attending here.

White House Young America Series

White House Young America Series

KRLU Studio 6A, where the White House Summit took place

Meg and me at the summit

I applied and was accepted to be an audience member of the White House Young America Series. The WHYAS is occurring at seventeen colleges across the nation. 

The first segment of the event consisted of several TED style talks, and they were FANTASTIC. We have so many talented students at UT. And honestly, the most impressive part to me was that all of these students were from different colleges, but they were talking about social justice issues: sustainability, education, the achievement gap, and immigration to name a few.

After these talks, we were invited to the stage to announce topics we would like to talk about in a two and a half hour break out session. After about ten people, I didn't hear reproductive justice issues, so Megan and I decided I needed to go up there (plus, chance to plug Voices for Reproductive Justice!). Texas Freedom Network asked for a group about sex ed, and then the last group asked for was health care. We decided to make one large group together. (Other groups that convened were on topics such as entrepreneurship, poverty, education, access to healthy food/community gardens, fine arts, and sensible drug policy.)

I always enjoy conversation about reproductive health/justice, but in retrospect I wish I would have engaged with some other groups where I could have learned more. However, I came out of this healthy discussion with a couple of points I would like to stress.

1. I think it is dangerous to shift the debate of accessible, affordable birth control strictly to female ailments like unbearable cramps, ovarian cysts, and infertility treatment. While birth control can be used as treatment for the aforementioned medical reasons, why can't we just want it because IT PREVENTS PREGNANCY? Women like myself don't need birth control for any medical reason except to prevent pregnancy. Why should I be marginalized because I am making a responsible and reasonable choice to control my fertility?

2. I also think it is dangerous to shift the debate of birth control to reducing the number of abortions. This was brought up as an "argument to appeal to our opponents." This argument further stigmatizes abortion. All of the birth control in the world won't eliminate the need for SAFE LEGAL ABORTION. Condoms break, and contraceptives fail. (The pill's effectiveness is at 99.7%, meaning that 3 in every 1000 women will become pregnant even if she uses her birth control consistently and correctly.) In this same vein, I heard some of my peers say no one is pro-abortion. Um, this girl right here is. GOOD WOMEN HAVE ABORTIONS. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE MARGINALIZED.

And on that note:

Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser

I HIT $500 IN DONATIONS TO HELP FUND ABORTIONS IN TEXAS! You still have time to donate to help Texas women. Please consider making a donation. DONATE HERE.

Here's a little more about Lilith - the fund has been around for 10 years.  Its first challenge was to raise $10,000 to begin assisting low-income folks with abortion funding.  Last year, Lilith gave away $80,000 to over 1,000 patients - so the average grant is around $75.  Once clients have an appointment with a clinic and know how much money they need, they call the hotline.  A volunteer responds to their call, provides financial counseling, and ultimately determines the amount of money they can grant to the client.  They work with clinics across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, as far north as Killeen and south into the RGV.  The TEA Fund is Lilith's "sister" fund for North Texas. 

Other Links

Ashley Judd's feminist essay

"Like" UT Voices for Reproductive Justice

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Check out the We Are Women March website.

Follow me on Twitter

Public Health Week, Empowerment Week, Take Back the Night, FD of the Year, VRJ Update, White House Forum, Lilith Fund

Public Health Week

me, Liz

Voices for Reproductive Justice helped table on Monday for Public Health Week. Several organizations tabled at this event. Students were to receive information from five tables of their choice and have representatives from those tables sign off. Then they got to make their own free t-shirt. Liz tabled for most of this, but it was a lot of fun for the short time I was able to help!

Don't worry if you didn't get to see this sweet birth control poster in person; VRJ will be toting it around whenever we table.

Social Work Council's 2nd Annual Empowerment Week


Social Work Council's 2nd Annual Empowerment Week was a huge success! We scheduled Gregory Plaza for four hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, but we handed out all of our goodies in just two hours each day.

Ana, Meredith, me, Angelica, Haley, and Krista on Day 1

Special thanks to Denise for painting our a-frame! I am bummed I didn't get a picture of Denise and Augie tabling on Day 2, but THANK YOU!

And another special thanks to ResistAttack for donating pepper spray, C.A.R.E program for donating female condoms and dental dams, Planned Parenthood/Voices for Reproductive Justice for donating male condoms, UT's Alcohol and Drug Peer Educators for handing out t-shirts and literature on knowing your limit, and UT's Senate of College Councils for funding our t-shirts. 

I can't wait to put this event on next year. Thank you Social Work Council for donating your time and for all of your hard work.

Take Back the Night


I attended my first Take Back the Night on Tuesday. What a powerful experience. Voices Against Violence did a great job coordinating this event. I don't think I would do the event any justice by recapping it in a blog. All I can do is highly encourage you to attend next year.

Angelica, Ruth, Krista, me, and Haley

UT's Senate Financial Director of the Year


Well, the second Senate General Assembly I miss all year, and I am awarded Financial Director of the Year! I really did not think there was a shot in hell I would be nominated by my fellow FD's for this honorable award. When I knew I couldn't attend, I sent Bhargav (the Senate FD) an e-mail asking him to congratulate the winner. The next morning I received this e-mail:

SO STOKED. I went to pick up my award on Friday. 

me, Bhargav

Thank you Bhargav and Carisa for not only giving me a certificate, but a special inspirational photo that I can keep forever. 

Voices for Reproductive Justice


Voices for Reproductive Justice will be tabling on Gregory Plaza this Tuesday, April 10th. Please drop by  for free condom goodie bags, to register to vote, and/or to sign up for our org!

VRJ is also in the works of setting up a pub crawl for the end of April. We will be promoting free STI testing taking place at Planned Parenthood clinics on April 30th.


White House Forum


I received another exciting piece of news this week: I was accepted to the White House Young American Series hosted at UT this Tuesday, April 10th! If you didn't apply but are interested, the event will be live streaming. I don't believe the link has been released yet, but I will post it here as soon as I find out.

Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser


If you've been following my blog, you know my original goal for this fundraiser was $100. But with your help, I've raised $486!!! Please help me hit the $500 mark- I only need $14 more! DONATE HERE.

Here's a little more about Lilith - the fund has been around for 10 years.  Its first challenge was to raise $10,000 to begin assisting low-income folks with abortion funding.  Last year, Lilith gave away $80,000 to over 1,000 patients - so the average grant is around $75.  Once clients have an appointment with a clinic and know how much money they need, they call the hotline.  A volunteer responds to their call, provides financial counseling, and ultimately determines the amount of money they can grant to the client.  They work with clinics across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, as far north as Killeen and south into the RGV.  The TEA Fund is Lilith's "sister" fund for North Texas. 


Other Links

"Like" UT Social Work Council

"Like" UT Voices for Reproductive Justice

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Check out the We Are Women March website.

Follow me on Twitter

SOCIAL WORK COUNCIL'S EMPOWERMENT WEEK!

I've been working tirelessly along with my peers to bring UT a great Social Work Council Empowerment Week!

Join us on Gregory Plaza Tuesday, April 3rd, and Wednesday, April 4th from 10am-2pm for Empowerment Week. Both days will include the same events. This year, SWC's Empowerment Week focuses on Safety: Personal, Sexual, and Alcohol. Free t-shirts at the event! Personal Safety: ResistAttack has donated 100 pepper sprays that we will be giving out for free. Around 90% of sexual assaults occur between people that know each other. Although pepper spray cannot change the intent of an attacker, it is our hope that carrying this bottle will empower you. Being attacked is NEVER your fault. To speak with someone about relationship violence, sexual violence, or stalking anonymously, call UT 24-hour Telephone Counseling at 512-471-2255 or go to the Counseling and Mental Health Center on the 5th floor of the Student Services Building (SSB). If we are out of pepper spray when you drop by, please visit our personal fundraising page through ResistAttack to purchase your own. 25% of the proceeds will go towards Social Work Council's mission to empower UT students. If you don't want to purchase anything, you can still make a donation by clicking the "Donate" button. Sexual Safety: UT's Voices for Reproductive Justice teams up with SWC to hand out condom goodie bags. Special thanks to C.A.R.E. Program for donating female condoms and dental dams! Come out to learn more about how female condoms can work for you and your partner.

Learn more about female condoms by watching this video!

Alcohol Safety: UT's Alcohol and Drug Peer Educators join us on April 3rd to distribute free t-shirts and literature on knowing your limit. The literature will be available both days.

Special thanks to UT Senate of College Councils.

Other Links

"Like" UT Social Work Council

"Like" UT Voices for Reproductive Justice

"Like" ResistAttack


"Like" UT HealthyHorns

"Like" UT Senate of College Councils


Follow me on Twitter

How Condoms Are Made!

Other Links

Tell HHS: Support Birth Control With No Co-Pays For Every Woman. Sign the petition!

Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Check out the We Are Women March website.

Apply for the White House Young America Series hosted by UT on April 10th. Submissions are due March 30th.

Please "Like" the Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook page!

Follow me on Twitter!

Wendy Davis, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Nancy Keenan, and Articles I'm Reading

Wendy Davis' Office Gets Fire Bombed

On Tuesday, six Molotov cocktails were thrown at Texas State Senator Wendy Davis' office. Thankfully, no one was hurt. While no motive has yet been established, Senator Davis has been in the public eye supporting Planned Parenthood and the Women's Health Program.

Rachel Maddow Interviews Wendy Davis

CW33: Ft. Worth Police Arrest Suspect in the Firebombing Attack of Senator Wendy Davis' Office

Brief history on anti-choice violence.

Check out Keep Your Boehner Out of My Uterus Tumblr for more info. (This is just a great blog in general for reproductive health issues throughout our nation.)

Senator Hutchison Supports the Medicaid Women's Health Program


I often get automated response e-mail from Senator Hutchison's office in response to petitions that say something along the lines of... "I do everything I can to support life and this doesn't do that," etc. So, hearing Senator Hutchison support Planned Parenthood as a provider for the Medicaid Women's Health Program was exhilarating. Someone with political will in Texas understands that the WHP in no way funds abortions! (Everyone is aware that to qualify for WHP you have to be between the ages of 18-44 and NOT PREGNANT, right?) See below!

CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE take 2 minutes out of your life to call Rick Perry's Opinion Hotline at 1-800-252-9600. Don't know what to say? I made a little script for my call that I'm happy to share.

Governor Perry,

My name is ___________ and I'm from ___________, Texas. I am calling in regards to the defunding of the Medicaid Women's Health Program. Texas is about to reject 35 million dollars in federal funds for preventative care because YOU don't want Planned Parenthood to receive any money. Medicaid law requires that patients have the right to choose their provider. We both know that Texas does not have the 35 million to cover the lost federal funds like you have promised. It is also evident that Medicaid providers can not handle the influx of 44% of the program's patients that will lose access when Planned Parenthood is excluded. Please reconsider your decision to defund the Women's Health Program.



Nancy Keenan (President of NARAL) Talks With Jennifer Granholm on "The War Room"

Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon

Like what I'm doing and want to support? Please consider making a donation to my Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser. By raising money, I am filling a vital health care gap by helping women pay for abortion care, emergency contraception, options counseling, child care during abortion procedures, and transportation costs to clinics. I'm supporting our community members when they need me the most.

Here's a little more about Lilith - the fund has been around for 10 years.  Its first challenge was to raise $10,000 to begin assisting low-income folks with abortion funding.  Last year, Lilith gave away $80,000 to over 1,000 patients - so the average grant is around $75.  Once clients have an appointment with a clinic and know how much money they need, they call the hotline.  A volunteer responds to their call, provides financial counseling, and ultimately determines the amount of money they can grant to the client.  They work with clinics across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, as far north as Killeen and south into the RGV.  The TEA Fund is Lilith's "sister" fund for North Texas.  

My goal as of now is $100, but I'd love to blow that out of the water. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

Other Links

Tell HHS: Support Birth Control With No Co-Pays For Every Woman. Sign the petition!

Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Check out the We Are Women March website.

Apply for the White House Young America Series hosted by UT on April 10th. Submissions are due March 30th.

Blacksnob: No Apologies: On the Killing of Trayvon Martin and Being "Good"

NPR: What Your Gyno Doesn't Know About Your Sex Life, But Should

Amy Johnson: My Problem with Purity Balls

Please "Like" the Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook page!

Follow me on Twitter!

Doonesbury Comics, Rick Perry, and Fundraising

Doonesbury Comic Strips

GOP War on Women

CALL TO ACTION
PLEASE take 2 minutes out of your life to call Rick Perry's Opinion Hotline at 1-800-252-9600. Don't know what to say? I made a little script for my call that I'm happy to share.

Governor Perry,

My name is ___________ and I'm from ___________, Texas. I am calling in regards to the defunding of the Medicaid Women's Health Program. Texas is about to reject 35 million dollars in federal funds for preventative care because YOU don't want Planned Parenthood to receive any money. Medicaid law requires that patients have the right to choose their provider. We both know that Texas does not have the 35 million to cover the lost federal funds like you have promised. It is also evident that Medicaid providers can not handle the influx of 44% of the program's patients that will lose access when Planned Parenthood is excluded. Please reconsider your decision to defund the Women's Health Program.

Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon

Like what I'm doing and want to support? Please consider making a donation to my Lilith Fund Bowl-a-Thon Fundraiser. By raising money, I am filling a vital health care gap by helping women pay for abortion care, emergency contraception, options counseling, child care during abortion procedures, and transportation costs to clinics. I'm supporting our community members when they need me the most.

Here's a little more about Lilith - the fund has been around for 10 years.  Its first challenge was to raise $10,000 to begin assisting low-income folks with abortion funding.  Last year, Lilith gave away $80,000 to over 1,000 patients - so the average grant is around $75.  Once clients have an appointment with a clinic and know how much money they need, they call the hotline.  A volunteer responds to their call, provides financial counseling, and ultimately determines the amount of money they can grant to the client.  They work with clinics across Texas from El Paso to Beaumont, as far north as Killeen and south into the RGV.  The TEA Fund is Lilith's "sister" fund for North Texas.  

My goal as of now is $100, but I'd love to blow that out of the water. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION! 

Other Links

Tell Governor Perry: Don't Mess with Texas Women. Sign the petition!

RSVP to the War on Women Rally April 28th at the Capitol.

Check out the We Are Women March website.

Jezebel: Idaho Bill Requires Women to Go to CPCs Before Getting Abortions

Texas Observer: The Right Not to Know

Joyce Arthur: The Only Moral Abortion is My Abortion

Jezebel: Single Women Are Becoming the Evangelicals of the Democratic Party

Ashley Judd on Family Planning and Contraception 

Learn more about Rick Santorum's views via Huffington Post.

Please "Like" the Voices for Reproductive Justice Facebook page!

Follow me on Twitter!