Justice for Regina

I’m addicted to the Tudors. Love it. Love Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Do not love King Henry VIII. Nor do I love the incredible misogyny of the era. I mean, Anne Boleyn was hardly a saint, but even after all of her scheming I could not help but bristle at the injustice of her being blamed for failing to “produce a male heir…” or for her multiple miscarriages.

“What,” both her father and husband rail at her, “did you do to lose that baby?” Thankfully we don’t live in the 1500s…

Oh. Wait. What was that?

Well, turns out that a woman can -- in this decade -- be tried and convicted of homicide after suffering a stillbirth. Look no further than Regina McKnight.

Eight years ago, Ms.McKnight was arrested in South Carolina several months after suffering a stillbirth on the grounds that her cocaine use caused the loss. And -- despite no scientific or medical evidence that this claim was true, despite no arrest history, despite the prosecutors’ agreement that she had no intention of harming the fetus or losing the pregnancy – Ms. McKnight was convicted and sentenced to twenty years in prison.

For nearly a decade now, National Advocates for Pregnant Women (NAPW) and the Drug Policy Alliance have been working on this case. After losing a challenge on the constitutionality of prosecuting stillbirths under homicide statutes (!), her lawyers raised the question of whether Ms. McKnight received a fair trial. Ultimately the Court concluded that Ms. McKnight's counsel was "ineffective in her preparation of McKnight's defense through expert testimony and cross-examination."

So – after this woman spent eight years in prison -- a unanimous South Carolina Supreme Court finally reversed the homicide conviction. (Ms. McKnight will not, however, be released immediately because the State can petition for consideration and ultimately re-try her.)

I am extremely happy that Ms. McKnight’s conviction was overturned. Yet, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that she was prosecuted in the first place. I’m used to science being treated… ahem… carelessly (anyone remember the “controversy” over Emergency Contraception?) but despite the extremely problematic federal “Unborn Victims of Violence Act," ( as well as similar state laws), I’m still not -- and will probably never be -- used to homicide being applied to a fetus.

Unfortunately, what prosecutions and laws like these do – in addition to disincentivising drug-addicted mothers from seeking help – is grant independent personhood to a fetus, a very dangerous precedent with implications for women and mothers everywhere. (Note that the court’s opinion in this case makes clear that cocaine use is “no more harmful to a fetus than nicotine use, poor nutrition, lack of prenatal care” and other conditions.)

Thankfully, Ms. McKnight had committed, compassionate attorneys on her side who recognized the injustice of her situation as well as a Court that ultimately listened to an aspect of reason.

If only Ms. Boleyn had similar counsel, perhaps she might have survived her own days at Court.

Taking some license....

Ok, this is not strictly (or even remotely) reproductive health, but I'm the blog author so I get to write about what I want.

And quite honestly the only thing I can really think about right now is the humanitarian catastrophe going on in Myanmar. For those who aren't following, after a devastating cyclone that left upwards of 20,000 people dead (6 days ago), the government has refused to accept and/or held up international relief aid. They finally agreed to accept food shipments from the UN only to confiscate the packages, causing the UN to halt shipments. They have also refused AID from the United States.

Meanwhile, an additional 75,000 men, women and children are dying/predicted to die. And this is not even to mention the disease that will be spread by decomposing bodies, many of which are in the water supply.

How a government can sit back and let its people die is beyond comprehension. As is the frustration by our inability to do anything to help.

Manhattan Mini Storage "hearts" Planned Parenthood

Following on the heels of its provocative and much talked about pro-choice billboard, Manhattan Mini Storage has officially made Planned Parenthood of New York City a beneficiary of their work.

As part of their new "Save more than your stuff..." campaign, Manhattan Mini Storage has committed to donating a total of $200,000 to 5 Manhattan based charities - including Planned Parenthood of New York City -- over the next 6 months.

"This exciting initiative gives New Yorkers the opportunity to fund the city's leading reproductive health care organization - without spending an extra dime! We thank Manhattan Mini Storage for including us in this campaign, said Joan Malin, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City.

When new customers rent space, they will be given a choice of 5 organizations to whom the company will donate money.

Umm... I take that back

Seems I jumped the gun a bit the other day when I commented upon "parents these days." If only the most traumatic thing a parent could do to their child would be to have plastic surgery. Today I read what I think may be the most horrible story of parental brutality that I have ever encountered in my life.

A man imprisoned his daughter in the cellar for 24 years, raping her throughout and fathering at least six children with her. Three of those children, ranging from 5-19 years old, he kept imprisoned as well. Another three, he raised upstairs with his wife (who right now seems not to have know about the rape and imprisonment).

This defies understanding. Not much else to say.

My heart goes out out to the woman and her children.

Parents these days!

When I was a little kid, I'd watch the Miss America pageant in amazement that my mother wasn't on there. She was so much prettier than all the contestants. When she would diet to lose those "five pounds" I was mystified; she was perfect and beautiful the way she was.

Turns out not everyone feels that way. And, as luck would have it, there's a forthcoming kids' book by Dr. Michael Salzhauer "My Beautiful Mommy," which aims to explain to children why their mom is getting plastic surgery. Quote from the book review: "It features a perky mother explaining to her child why she's having cosmetic surgery (a nose job and tummy tuck). Naturally, it has a happy ending: mommy winds up "even more" beautiful than before, and her daughter is thrilled."

Wow. If that's not a... disgusting message to send your children, I'm not entirely sure what is. If an adult wants to have plastic surgery, so be it. But isn't there something to be said for teaching our kids that people are beautiful as they are, as opposed to needing to be fixed, tightened or straightened? (Not to mention the sub-message in this story that mommy is being fixed because her tummy is flabby from giving birth!)

Dr. Michael, what does YOUR mom think of your book?

Kids these days!

We hear it all the time: "where are all the young women? Young women just don't care about reproductive rights."

Well, in case Planned Parenthood's thousands of young activists don't convince you thats untrue, check out Third Wave Foundation's Week of Reproductive Justice. Starting tomorrow, April 16, youth across the nation will launch thefirst National Week of Action for Reproductive Justice! Members of the Reproductive Justice Network, a national coalition supported by Third Wave Foundation, will be hosting a variety of activities – from trainings, to speak outs, to advocacy days – to reach other youth, service providers, and policy makers about reproductive justice. Events are going on in Colorado, Pittsburgh, Miami and elsewhere.

For more information or to contribute to Third Wave, click here!

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Happy Anniversary!

Tonight, Planned Parenthood of New York City is celebrating the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the anniversary of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther Jr. Details below:

PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NEW YORK CITY AND HANSON PLACE CENTRAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HONOR ROE V. WADE, REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

For the Sake of Our Families: A Convocation on Reproductive Health

WHO: Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC) and Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church

WHAT: Celebrate the 35^th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and honor the memory and work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Speakers include:

· The Reverend Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister, Emeritus, The Riverside Church & President, Healing of the Nations Foundation

· State Assembly member Hakeem Jeffries (A.D. 57)

· State Senator Velmanette Montgomery (S.D. 18)

· The Reverend Patrick Perrin, Senior Minister, Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church

· The Reverend Charles Straut. Chair, Planned Parenthood of New York City Religious Leaders Task Force

· The Reverend Donna Schaper, Senior Minister, Judson Memorial Church

· Joan Malin, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of NYC

· Two spoken word performances by PPNYC Brooklyn Teen Advocates

WHEN: January 16, 2008, 6-8 pm

WHERE: Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church

144 St. Felix Street at Hanson Place

Brooklyn, New York

WHY: This joining of the secular and the religious demonstrates that Planned Parenthood and Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church share common core values that are embodied in the work being honored this night. The organizations share the belief that each individual matters -- that every person has value regardless of gender and race and, even more than that, that our diversity adds to the larger community. Both the Roe decision and Reverend King's work called upon the United States government to uphold our individual integrity and our basic human rights, the very best of our country's values.

It is especially fitting that this event takes place in Brooklyn, a borough that represents the very best of community and the values that we are affirming: compassion and understanding in the context of equality and justice for all. There is no equality or justice if we do not support and love one another and respect each of us as moral agents. That respect and understanding allows us to support each woman in deciding whether or not to bear a child, regardless of her race, economic standing, age or reason. And that respect and understanding enables us to advocate for the essential services and elements of daily life that are necessary for raising a family and being a productive member of our community.

That woman thing...

What an interesting few days it's been... There's probably no real reason to re-invent the wheel, so rather than dissect the "Hillary: did she or did she not cry and does that matter" question myself, I offer up the following menu for your reading pleasure:

Gloria Steinem's pretty fantastic "Women Are Never Front-runners" OpEd in the NYT

Maureen Dowd's pretty annoying "Can Hillary Cry Her Way Back to the White House" column in the NYT.

Rebecca Traister's pretty thought-provoking "The witch ain't dead and Chris Matthews is a ding-dong" commentary on Salon.com

John Podhoretz's surprisingly interesting NY Post (NY POST?!) column, "Hillary Beats the Media."

ALSO, keep an eye on feministing's regularly updated, "24-Hour Hillary Sexism Watch"

Back...

I had taken a too long break from blogging, I admit it. But my friends over at feministing, broadsheet and jezebel seemed to have a pretty good handle on stuff. I am, however, pulled out of my slumber by none other than Rush Limbaugh and what has to be one of the most misogynistic questions I've come across in quite some time.

"Does," he asked in reference to Hillary Clinton, "our looks obsessed culture want to stare at an aging woman?"

Unfortunately for this blog, that question has actually rendered me almost speechless. I'm forced to wonder what exactly Rush would want our "looks-obsessed culture" to do with aging women? I would also argue that the issue to be addressed is not an aging woman per se, but rather the "looks obsessed culture."

And, if I may add, what is Rush Limbaugh still doing on the air? Didn't he have some sort of illegal drug activity going on? Or am I confusing him with another judgmental conservative commentator who hates women?