In the Sometimes Good News Comes in Tiny Increments But It’s Still Good News Department (aka: The Department of SGNCITIBISGN):
1) Judge blocks Kan. law stripping Planned Parenthood of fed. funding, says law unlikely to last
An incredulous federal judge on Monday rejected the state’s claim that a new Kansas statute that denied Planned Parenthood federal funding did not target the group, ruling that the law unconstitutionally intended to punish Planned Parenthood for advocating for abortion rights and would likely be overturned.
(My favorite word here is mos def “incredulous.”)
2) Insurers must cover birth control with no copays
Health insurance plans must cover birth control as preventive care for women, with no copays, the Obama administration said Monday in a decision with far-reaching implications for health care as well as social mores.
The requirement is part of a broad expansion of coverage for women’s preventive care under President Barack Obama’s health care law. Also to be covered without copays are breast pumps for nursing mothers, an annual “well-woman” physical, screening for the virus that causes cervical cancer and for diabetes during pregnancy, counseling on domestic violence, and other services.
3) New Law [in State of New York] Ensures Domestic Batterers Can’t Legally Buy Guns
“We have seen too often the tragic consequences of domestic violence. This new law provides further safeguards to keep firearms away from those with violent records,” [Gov.] Cuomo said.
“New York state must stand strong against domestic violence by protecting victims and making sure those convicted of such crimes cannot inflict further damage.”
4) Married lesbian couple rescues 40 kids during Norway shooting rampage
“We were eating. Then shooting and then the awful screaming. We saw how the young people ran in panic into the lake,” says Dale to HS in an interview.
The couple immediately took action and pushed the boat into Lake Tyrifjorden.
Dalen and Hansen drove the boat to the island, picked up from the water victims in shock in, the young and wounded, and transported them to the opposite shore to the mainland. Between runs they saw that the bullets had hit the right side of the boat.
Since there were so many and not all fit at once aboard, they returned to the island four times.
They were able to rescue 40 young people from the clutches of the killer.
Kickass lesbian heroes. ‘Nuff said.
Number 2 isn’t incremental. Once the regulations take full effect, free birth control for every woman in America will be as big a deal as the invention of the pill and Roe vs. Wade.
In addition it’s a killer wedge issue for us. The next president would have the ability to eliminate it with the stroke of a pen, so there will be enormous pressure from the anti-choicers for the Republican candidates to vow to strike that rule down. But once you give voters free stuff, you can never take it away without a huge fight.
Another plus, it’s been hard to convince people that the anti-choice movement is really about restricting women’s sexual autonomy, and that birth control itself is at risk. Once a Republican presidential candidate is on record saying he’ll take away free birth control to appease his party’s base, it will become real for a lot of women. Any congressional candidate who runs on repealing Obamacare would open him- or herself up to the same attack.
2) Does anyone have knowledge as to whether insurers must cover birth control for non-contraceptive purposes without copays? I realize there’s all kinds of privilege tied up in me being concerned about me being concerned about my generic-tier copay, but — When I have my doubts about how well these pills are doing their off-label job, it’s sometimes more health-conscious for me to find other uses for that money.
Well, I for one would like to see birth control available OTC, including RU 486 — but you’re right. It’s a pretty huge thing.
Greg, it’s not free birth control for *every* woman in America. It’s free birth control for every *insured* woman in America. It’s still a big, awesome thing, but there are a hell of a lot of uninsured women out there who are still out of luck.
It’s also only for women with insurance plans that aren’t grandfathered. While that number will decline over time, not every woman with insurance will be able to get free birth control come 2013. One article says that only 34 million women between age 18 and 65 will be covered initially.
“Kickass lesbian heroes.”
I loved this story. They are truly inspirational.
Re: birth control…
What a strange society we live in – a big deal to provide women (who already have health insurance) with no cost birth control.
And still some people will fight it as though someone else has the right to monitor women’s reproductive choices. And we give these people a legitimate voice in other people’s sexuality because of religion.
Something really fucked up about that.
Women are already aware that restricting birth control is effectively denying them sexual autonomy. Believe me, it’s already real for the vast majority of women in this country. I’m not following your logic which says first you must give it to them, then threaten to take it away, so that they’ll know they’re getting screwed.
It’s not really free either – you must be covered by insurance. And, still, some insurance won’t cover it right away. That’s not free. The former is a benefit and the latter is just plain sad.
Women choosing when and if they practice birth control is a basic human right – not a political platform.
A commenter at Sadly, No! made a good point about that lesbian couple: In situations like this, it’s often a liberal, leftist Godless type who performs a heroic rescue, while the heat-packing macho conservative types are nowhere to be found.
I entirely agree about the Incredulous Federal Judge. One does not see such every day; it takes a bit of doing.
It will eventually be free for everyone. Once health care reform kicks in, practically everyone will have health insurance, and most plans get renewed often enough that it will apply to upwards of 95% of women in a few years.
Had to share the following video. Thanks to Planned Parenthood for their celebration of health insurance covered birth control.
I don’t have internet access at home and I tend to have three day periods where I miss the live-ness aspect of new posts and dialogues on Feministe since I clicked a link to “find” it more than a month and less than three months ago.
So I’ve been scrolling throug all these thoughts (of bloggers and posters of comments) and emotions, seeing what has gone on since last week, and I got to this post.
I went to church on Sunday where we had a discussion and the leader asked us to recall something recent that had occurred in the world in the past two weeks that filled us with happiness. When it was my turn to speak, I told her I could only think of Norway. I could think of nothing positive. I got to “kickass lesbian heroes” and I was just ready to start bawling, it made me so happy. I am in a public library, so I guess I’m cis-”manning up.” Just a sniffle and some quiet tears. Happy!