Reminder: Check out our new blog!

Just a reminder: If you're not reading our new blog, UnratedUnfitered.com you should be! A few things you may have missed:

• A Weekly News roundup


• These condoms are decorated with the faces of dictators


• PPNYC called on the New York State Senate to make womens' health a priority and get back to work!


• And this weekend is the 40th anniversary of Pride. We're marching in the parade, and you should join us!

We're Moving!

Hey Kids!

We've finally decided that we've been using a .blogspot address for too long. Over the next few weeks we'll be rolling out our new blog, with its very own URL: UnratedUnfiltered.com. But for now we wanted to give you all a sneak peak at the new design. Check it out!



Pretty right? Stay tuned!

What the Internet Thinks: Condoms Good, Birth Control Bad, and Abortion is a Tricky Issue

A friend of mine sent me a link to the web site What Does The Internet Think? which, according to the description, uses search engine results to get a general sense if the Internet is positive, negative or neutral on any given topic.

So of course what's the first thing I do? Search for reproductive-health related topics, duh.

So what does the Internet think?

Well, for some reason it hates birth control.


But it looooooves condoms.


The birth control pill stikes out too, for some reason (although as soon as you don't put it in quotes the popularity shoots up. A commentary on the Internet's favor for birth and pills, perhaps?)

But! Ladies, there's hope. The Internet loves IUDs!

And finally, of course, abortion. I dreaded the search, but surprisingly?

Just like the rest of America, when it comes to abortion, the Internet isn't quite sure.

Obviously, this is just for fun, and no real measure of public opinion etc. I'd be fascinated to know just how they get their results. What do you think? Acurate? Could anything be throwing the results off?

Should Sex Ed Always Be Sex-Positive?

A friend sent me this link to a new Sex Ed web site called Sex.Really., sponsored by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Unlike some other sex ed web sites, it's geared towards women in their 20's, and is designed to

"provide food for thought, and for discussion. Sort of like a sex site for the brain..."

I love the idea of the site in theory – yes, people of all ages need sex education, especially those in their 20s and 30s (and even 40s, 50s and 60s) who are making up the 'rules' as they go. But most of the content seems to revolve around the work of author Laura Sessions Stepp. And as a post over at Jezebel so aptly describes, that means:

In the system of sexuality that Sessions Stepp seems to favor — the slow, steady, codified "running of the bases" within a relationship — women are always the sexual gatekeepers. This stance neatly sidesteps any notion of men's responsibility for, well, anything. In Sessions Stepp's view, women trade sex begrudgingly in return for access to the socially-protected role of "girlfriend" and the supposed privileges that come with it.

Putting aside Sessions Step's assumption that all sex is between men and women, or how ridiculous it is to task young women with protecting their chastity, exactly why can this approach be so harmful?

For that I turned to my friend Jessica* who has just started dating casually after getting out of a four-year relationship. When I showed her the site, she told me this:

It was weird for me at first to have sex with someone I wasn't in a relationship with, and I kind of freaked out and thought I was doing something wrong. But then I realized that "I feel like I'm doing something wrong" thing wasn't coming from me, it was coming from my fear of being judged by other folks.

For me I couldn't make sex contingent upon a relationship because I wasn't ready to get into a new relationship. But I did want to have sex.

It's weird, it probably would have been more unhealthy for me to force a relationship in order to have sex. But I think [Laure Sessions Step] would think that having a relationship was more healthy.

And she's not my only friend who's had this reaction, especially after getting out of a relationship.

I agree that it's good for sex ed to be holistic, and to talk about the emotional consequences of the decisions we make -- Planned Parenthood of New York City uses a model of sex ed that talks about body image, relationships and everything else in between. And I also agree that navigating just what kind of sexual relationship (no strings attached, long term relationship) you're comfortable entering into can be really tricky.

But sites like Sex.Really., with their warnings about the negative consequences of hook ups, don't do much to help the matter. And perpetuating the assumption that women always want an emotional commitment and men never do can't be good for either gender.

But maybe I'm erring on the side of being too anything-goes sex-positive. What do you think? Is there value in what Laura Sessions Step has been producing for the site?

* Yes, names have been changed to protect the newly-singe

Weekly News!

Here's what you might have, but shouldn't have, missed in the news last week:

• Joan Malin, CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City, is quoted in the New York Times on the Clinic Access Bill.



• The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC, highlights Planned Parenthood’s preventive health care to 3 million women.



• Julie Rovner, NPR, has an excellent segment piece on All Things Considered about why NPR no longer uses the phrase “late-term abortion” and instead refers to these procedures as "late abortion" or "abortion later in pregnancy."



• Rozalyn Farmer Love, a medical student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, has a powerful OpEd in the Washington Post



• Cecile Richards, president of PPFA, is interviewed on AP Radio about speaking at Dr. Tiller’s memorial in Washington DC, hosted by RCRC. The American Prospect also reports on the memorial.

What did you read?

Do you listen to your friends when it comes to birth control?

Check out this hilarious new video from Sarah Haskins, all about Lady Friends!



Sarah's stuff is hilarious, and this one is sure no exception. But it got me thinking -- as much as the advertising industry may try and unrealistically use the concept of a woman and her friends sharing information (hello granny panties!), that idea doesn't come from nowhere. I often turn to some of my best friends for information on doctors, relationships and, of course, birth control.

But am I alone in this? What about all of you? Who would you turn to first, your friends, a web site, or a doctor for advice on birth control and protection?

PS - read more about the Top Ten Contraception Myths and how to find the best birth control for you.

What you might have missed in the news last week:

There's been a ton of media coverage, both local and national, on all things repro rights. Here's what happened last wee:

• The New York Times has a piece on the Clinic Access Bill with a great quote from PPNYC's President Joan Malin.



• El Diaro has a great editorial on the Dr. Tiller murder.



• Chelsea News Now covered the vigil for Dr. George Tiller.

Additionally, there have been many, many moving articles, commentary, blogs regarding the tragic murder of Dr. Tiller. Here are a few from across the country worth reading.

• The whole site I Am Dr. Tiller



• NYT's amazing blog: Dr. Tiller’s important job



• Huffington Post: Why I Wear the Penny: A Planned Parenthood Clinic Escort's Reaction to the Tiller Murder



• Kansas City Star: Tiller defined by those he helped



• USA Today editorial: Our view on death in Wichita: Activists mount militant assault on abortion rights



• Washington Post editorial: Clinics in the Cross Hairs

What else did you read?

Jonas Brothers' Mom on Safe [non]Sex

Not that I'm a huge fan, but I couldn't help but pay attention when I saw that according to People Magazine the Jonas Brothers' mom is speaking out about the boys' sexuality:

"They are men. They have desires. They have testosterone," she says. "If they make a mistake, I'm not going to hate them."
...
As for the purity rings Kevin, 21, Joe, 19, and Nick, 16, all wear, [the Jonas Brothers' mom] Denise says it was a private decision that's gotten some unwanted attention.

"They've been criticized for proclaiming things they never proclaimed," she says. "And what's the criticism? They don't want to go out there giving everyone an STD? What's so terrible about that?"

On the one hand, this kind of open, non-judgmental attitude coming from a parent is one of the best things a kid (both boys and girls!) can have when navigating the sometimes rocky waters of sex and sexuality. On the other hand, I kind of wish she'd focus less on testosterone and more on ways of preventing STDs other than just the brothers' purity rings.

Which brings us to the real question: given that Joe Jonas wears a purity ring, should we be reading more into the fact he's just dressed up and danced to Beyonce's song "Single Ladies" (chorus: 'if you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it')?

Personal Stories

In the wake of Dr. Tiller's assassination, I've been hearing a lot of questions about what it means to get an abortion in the late second or third trimester of your pregnancy, and why women would seek them.

To anyone who hasn't had to think about this issue before, or who's only heard about it from anti-choice groups' rhetoric, the question makes sense. Jodi Jacobson has a great piece up at RH Reality Check about the specifics of the procedure -- namely that they constitute about 0.2% of all abortion procedures conducted in the U.S., that they're severely restricted by law under Roe v. Wade and are performed when the continuation of the pregnancy poses serious risks to the woman's life or health and could cause irreparable harm to the woman.

The heartbreaking part is that often times the women who elect to have this procedure done do so under dire circumstances, with pregnancies that were wanted yet for the woman's own safety simply cannot continue. And to that effect, I thought it would be worth sharing some of their stories.

• Gretchen Voss has a powerful first person story in the Boston Globe which won a Maggie. Her piece also appeared in Marie Claire.




• The site A Hearbreaking Choice has a collection of personal stories posted by women who traveled to Kansas to see Dr. Tiller.



• Self Magazine has a great piece on the tragic pregnancies at the center of late-term abortion debate.



• MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has an amazing piece on 'Who is Dr. Tiller'


And these two powerful editorials are also worth a read:



• USA Today editorial: Our view on death in Wichita: Activists mount militant assault on abortion rights



• Washington Post editorial: Clinics in the Cross Hairs

Footage from the vigil yesterday

Thanks to everyone who came out, and to Courtney at Feministing for posting.

Vigil Tonight

Please join PPNYC along with NARAL NY, The NYCLU, NYAAF, and PRCH this evening for a special:

VIGIL TO HONOR DR. GEORGE TILLER

Monday, June 1st, 6 pm


Union Square, New York City


Accessible by the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R trains

Many of you have read in the news about the tragic murder of Dr. George Tiller yesterday in Kansas. I am writing to share my deep, personal sadness that is shared not only in Kansas, but throughout the entire Planned Parenthood family.

Dr. Tiller was a hero, a man who had deep compassion for his work and his patients. PPNYC had referred patients to his practice over the years and was always gratified by his care and compassion. A couple years ago, Dr. Tiller came to speak at PPNYC and shared his experiences and passion for his work with our clinical staff. He was a true inspiration to us all.


Tonight , Monday June 1st at 6pm, we will gather in Union Square with our friends, colleagues and supporters to honor the life of this courageous man who dedicated his life to serving women when they were in need.

Please join us to remember Dr. Tiller and to stand in solidarity with those who work every day to ensure that women and their families have access to the care they need even in the face of violence and intimidation.

Recommended Reading

If you're like me, you might be having a hard time wrapping your head around the horrific murder of Dr. George Tiller. We'll be holding a vigil later tonight (details coming shortly) but in the meantime here are some of the pieces I've been reading to try and understand this gut-wrenching tragedy:

• The fabulous Michelle Golderg on the history of violence and right-wing extremism.




• Christina Page on whether this murder is a foreshadowing.




• The great blog Amplify has a heartening statement from the National Network of Abortion Funds on how they won't be backing down from their work.




• Shannon Moore has a good piece on Christian Fundamentalist Terrorism.




• Jill Filipovic on who killed Dr. Tiller.




• And Feministing is keeping a list of vigils around the country.

So tell us, what have you been reading? What have you found helpful?

The horrific tragedy in Kansas

I'm sure most of you have heard by now about the tragic murder of Dr. George Tiller yesterday in Kansas.

Planned Parenthood of New York City's official statement is below:

We at Planned Parenthood are deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends and to all of us who hold Dr Tiller in such high regard and know the value of his commitment and work.

George Tiller was truly an American hero.

He provided critical reproductive health care services to women facing some of the most difficult medical circumstances. He was continually harassed by abortion opponents for much of his career - his clinic was burned down, he was previously shot in both arms by a health center protestor, and he was continually targeted for investigation only to be acquitted by a jury just a few months ago. None of this stopped George Tiller from his commitment to providing women and their families with compassionate care that others were unwilling to offer.

Several years ago, after anti-abortion protesters marched outside the same church where he was killed Sunday, Dr Tiller explained his commitment to providing abortion care for women. "Make no mistake, this battle is about self-determination by women of the direction and course of their lives and their family’s lives. Abortion is about women’s hopes and dreams. Abortion is a matter of survival for women."

We have referred patients to Dr Tiller’s practice over the years and were always deeply impressed and gratified by his care and compassion. A couple years ago, Dr. Tiller came to speak at PPNYC and shared his experiences and passion for his work with our clinical staff. He brought a deep understanding of patients needs and set the bar high for quality care, compassion and understanding. Patients that went to Dr Tiller were very often difficult cases and many had no other place to turn.

His death is an enormous loss for the patients who relied upon him, his dedicated staff, the medical community and for women and their families across America.

But our work continues, the medical providers and clinical staff at Planned Parenthood rededicate our efforts to serve the women and families of New York – we do this in Dr. Tiller’s memory.

Last Week's News

Good Morning! In case you missed them, here is a quick roundup of last week's news:

• Planned Parenthood's CEO Joan Malin had a great Letter to the Editor in the New York Times.




• Planned Parenthood's Haydee Morales had a column in El Diario about Teen Pregnancy rates in the Latina community.




• NBC’s Today Show highlights Planned Parenthood’s online tools, My Method and The Check.




• The Washington Post reports that the White House delivered strong assurances that Judge Sotomayor agrees with President Obama’s belief in constitutional protections for a woman’s right to abortion,




• Pollster.com offers more insight into the recent Gallup poll on abortion.

Your Non-Repro Health News

Happy Friday! As the week winds down, here are a few not-quite-repro-health-related stories of note:

• "Helloooo, this is Dr. Maya Angelou calling. Tell me something: Would you deny your son or your daughter the ecstasy of finding someone to love?" These are some robo-calls I actually wish I was getting.


• I personally have always been a horrible speller. But that doesn't stop me from loving the story about this thirteen year-old girl winning the spelling bee.


• There's a great roundup of Judge Sotomayor's Opinions over at RH Reality Check.


• And finally, most of you must have heard the sad news that the CA Supreme Courtupheld Proposition 8. Below is a small collection of some of the protests that happened all over the country as a result.

So tell me all. What will you be up to this weekend?

Protesters gather in the castro district in San Francisco. Via Capt' Tim..

Protest in Dupont Circle, DC. Photo via M Hoek.

Protest in Atlanta, GA. Photo via Melissa Terry.

I'm in Love with This New H&M Campaign

Cheap-chic retailer H&M has collaborated with Designers Against AIDS to launch the second annual Fashion Against AIDS collection, with twenty five percent of the sales prices going to HIV/AIDS awareness projects.

Cyndi Lauper (pictured), Yoko Ono, Dita Von Teese, N.E.R.D., Moby, and Katy Perry are among the stars who're collaborating on the effort; personally, I'm most in love with their safe sex message.

Check out more images from the collection here.

We Have A Reader Diary!

Anyone who isn't reading the great reproductive health news site RH Reality Check already should hop on over there. They are the best resource out there for the latest news and opinion from reproductive health sources all over the world.

But, if you really needed another reason to visit the site, well we've got one. Come visit us! Yes, that's right: this week PPNYC will be starting on a new Reader Diary discussing many of the same questions we raise here -- only in greater detail. So come check us out!

Photo thanks to Cecilia Levy.

The problem with labels

Two weeks ago Ross Douthat wrote a piece about Obama's approach to the so-called culture wars. Well today, Planned Parenthood of New York City has a letter in the New York Times in response.

The best part is where Joan Malin says:

When we let politics get in the way of providing the best medical care possible for America’s women and families, everyone loses.

When women are no longer able to make the best medical decision for themselves, their families and their situations, both sides — right and left — suffer.

This isn’t about “choice”; it’s about respecting and affirming a woman’s decision no matter what it may be.

It’s time to stop making women and their families casualties of an ideological war.

Personally this letter really resonated with me. I've gotten so frustrated, especially over the past eight years, as I've watched what I consider to be the most intimate and personal decision I'll make in my life -- whether and when to have a baby -- become some abstract political rallying cry. Of course these issues are so important, but as each "side" in this argument has gotten more and more heated, I've felt more and more alienated. Shouldn't our priority ultimately be the health and safety of women, men and families, regardless of a political philosophy? And shouldn't doctors and women be the ones making intimate and personal medical decisions, instead of having them debated, poked and prodded at on a national political stage?

But I'm curious -- what do you think? Do you agree with the letter? Disagree with it? Have you gotten at all frustrated with the national debate?

Summer Love: Are We As Seasonal As The Rest of the Animal Kingdom?

A friend sent me this post over at Glamour magazine today, and it got me thinking. With the unofficial kickoff to summer upon us, how *do* you feel about summer romance? Animals definitely have seasonal mating periods, and hormones may rule women's attraction levels throughout the month, but do us humans ever have our romances dictated by the season?

Unfortunately I've got nothing to offer you but speculation since, aside from one study done about fifteen years ago, I haven't been able to find any credible evidence tying human sexuality to various seasons.

I do intend to keep looking, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear how you feel! Is there one season that gets you more than the rest? Summer? Spring, with the flowers in bloom? Winter with cold weather and fireplaces? I personally love fall, both because it's got some of the nicest weather in New York, and it's my birthday season.

Plus, I can't help but share this video. Enjoy, and have a good holiday!

Have a good weekend!

I'm not sure how it is for everyone else around the country, but here in New York it really is starting to feel like Summer. So I thought I'd share this great picture of two Dragonflies -- just a reminder that yes, even insects have to think about reproductive health too. So tell me, what do you have planned this weekend? Anything fun for Memorial Day? Will you be enjoying the weather outside? Or taking a trip? Have fun!

(photo via Dadida)