Each week, I’ll be posting a list of the most news-worthy and/or inspirational, informative, well-written, thought-provoking, and/or unique posts of the week. While every post and every contributor is valuable to our community, these are the blogs that I feel are must-reads.

(Again, sorry this is a day late. I had a busy Father's Day!)

June 13- June 19

Gov. Crist Vetoes Florida’s “Forced Ultrasound” Anti-abortion Bill- by AFY_Nikki

Why I chose this post:

Most of the time when we write about anti-abortion bills on this site, it’s bad news. But, alas! This time, the bill was vetoed by Florida’s Governor Crist. This doesn’t happen that often, so let’s enjoy it while it lasts.

FDA retains gay blood ban- by AFY_Viviana

Why I chose this post:

Last week,drs0043 told us that the FDA was looking into ending the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. Now, Viviana gives us the unfortunate update. The part that pisses me off the most…

 FDA policy allows heterosexual men and women who have had sexual contact  with an HIV-positive partner to give blood after a one-year deferral period.

This ban is perpetuating a damaging stereotype. If the government can discriminate against a man just for being gay or bisexual, then they’re saying it’s okay for citizens to discriminate against them as well, because they “might be a threat/risk.” It is things like this that keep homophobia alive and well in this country.

Get Active: Anti-Choice “Freedom Rides” Set to Begin this Summer- by AFY Julia

Why I chose this post:

 An anti choice group led by Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King  Jr., is planning to embark on a new kind of ‘freedom rides’ that seek to limit a  woman’s right to choose.

 Specifically targeting the black community, she proclaims that abortion is a “tool  of genocide against …black people.”

If we don’t raise our voices to speak out against actions such as this, then the only rhetoric people will hear is that belonging to groups that oppose what we believe in. We have to join the fight because if we don’t, our rights will be further compromised. If you live in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, or DC, you can take direct action against these “freedom rides.”

The Power of Our Jiggle: Jiggly Boo Dance Crew- by Media_Justice

Why I chose this post:

Bianca writes about her amazing experience with the Jiggly Boo Dance Crew, whose aim/goal was:

 Within this framework, Jiggly Boo Dance Crew (founded by Alice Fu and Kantara  Souffrant) will run a series of workshops which will culminate in a performance.  These workshops will create a space in which other self-identified female “fat”  dancers, movers, and performers, can dialogue about the following questions:  What is a "fat dancing body"? How are fat bodies read, understood, felt  (emotively and viscerally) and represented? What does it mean to identify oneself  as a “fat dancing body” and what are the political implications of identifying  oneself as such?

She speaks passionately about how fulfilling and rewarding the experience was for her, and says:

 I share my time with my Jiggly Boos because I think we are media makers. We are  using our bodies in ways we have been told we should not. In ways that we are  told nobody wants to see; that challenges and redefines movement, as we know it  today in this country. There are multiple ways of creating media and being media  makers.

Urban Outfitters promotes unhealthy body image with “Eat Less” shirt- by dandaman007

Why I chose this post:

When Dan saw a group of protestors outside his local mall, he wanted to find out why. What he found was that the popular clothing store Urban Outfitters had been selling a shirt that said “Eat Less.”

 This T-shirt, which has been removed from the Urban Outfitters website, is  promoting a message that young women are only attractive if they are super thin,  and that they should eat less to fit this unrealistic model of body size.

Thank you to everyone who posted a blog this week! You are part of what makes this community great!

~ Samantha