AFY_Meghan's Amplify Diary

So Wait, How Can You Get AIDS?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:56:00 -0500

Reposted from Tell Them's Buzz blog by Aaron, part of the S.W.A.R.M. youth leadership council.

“So Wait, How Can You Get AIDS?”

I wish I could say that the person who asked me this question had been living under a rock for the better part of the last thirty years (which itself would be a feet since they are only 19), but no. This question was actually asked to me by someone who I consider to be a very intelligent individual, they were not taught it in school and they never had the opportunity to talk about it with their parents. I wish I could also say that this is the only person who has ever asked me this, yet sadly I have been asked this, and other questions, far to often by otherwise intellectual college aged individuals.

Before I go on, I would like to point out I do know that you cannot “get AIDS”: you catch the virus HIV and then this becomes AIDS. This is a fact I point out to the many of people who ask this question. Of course, they generally do not know there is a difference between the two, or they believe them to be two distinctly different things. How is that? Why is this? How is it that intelligent individuals do not know about diseases and complications that can affect their body? The answer is complex, yet actually very simple. We do not talk about them. In fact, we are ashamed to talk about them. We in South Carolina are afraid of sex.

When you think about it though, the fact we are afraid of sex in South Carolina is actually okay. After all, no one in this grand state is going to have sex until they have married their opposite sex partner (who is also a virgin!)in a lavish white wedding for the ages, and ride away onto years of blissful marriage where they will have 2.5 children. We don’t have underage moms. People with HIV/AIDS? Nope! STI’s? (not to be confused, as did one individual who will remain nameless, with STP’s, a rather delicious sandwich at a local sandwich shop here in Columbia, but I digress.). We actually live in a rather perfect state, it is all those other states, one would be led to believe “those yankee states”, that have the problems.

The fact is though, we have all of this in South Carolina. We have the nation's 3rd highest gonorrhea rate. We have the 9th highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. Over 7,000 people living with AIDS. Oh, and yeah, 53% of South Carolina high school students have reported having sex.* We however denying it, we do not talk about it. We do not allow our children the opportunity to learn about it, to make informed decisions. I recall one participant at a presentation who asked me, point blank, “Wait? Are you saying I can get HIV from swallowing?” It is not that this person is in anyway not intelligent, they are after all attending a University, it is that they are uniformed. They have never been made privy to this information.

In order make South Carolina a better place, for all people, we have to be open, we have to be honest. We have to admit we have sex. I have sex. My friends have sex. Obviously at some point at time my parents had sex. I’m betting at some point in time your parents had sex too. We need to be honest with ourselves. Our denial is not making things better, if a building is on fire denying it is on fire does not do anything. The same is true for sexual health education. We must make it available. By denying accurate, fact based sexual health education in schools we are denying the youth of this state, and the nation, the ability to make informed decisions. Not only that by not teaching it in schools, we are furthering the belief that it is a taboo topic. This denial creates shame. This shame prevents parents having discussions with their children and children having discussions with their parents. This then creates a generation who does not have access to factual based knowledge that can help them, advise them, and provide them factual information about what can, and what may, help them in making informed consensual decisions.

It’s time to wake up. It’s time to see that change needs to be made. We need to admit to ourselves, South Carolinians have sex.

State Wire: VA attorney general calls for LGBT discrimination...again

Mon, 02 May 2011 13:30:00 -0500

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli has been featured in this blog space before for his homophobic actions – most specifically, for calling on Virginia’s public colleges and universities to discriminate against LGBT students and professors. He has, unbelievably (or maybe believably?) done it again – this time calling on the social services board to discriminate against LGBT parents who want to adopt.

The Virginia Board of Social Services wanted to bar state-licensed adoption agencies from discriminating against potential adopters because of their sexual orientation. In the commonwealth, there are 1,300 children in foster care waiting to be adopted. And keep in mind that studies have shown there’s no link to sexual orientation and ability to raise children -- it’s the quality of the parent – not their gender – that matters.

Yet, Cuccinelli decided that he needed to insert himself into other families’ business and went to the Board of Social Services and to tell them they should discriminate from adopters based on sexual orientation. He hid behind the argument that Virginia shouldn’t prohibit agencies (many of which are private and faith-based) from discriminated based on sexual orientation because state and federal law do not offer such protection. So, this is the second time this year that Cuccinelli has made it a point to ask a Virginia entity to actively discriminate about LGBT people in the commonwealth.

Late in April, on the advice of Cuccinelli, the the Board of Social Services voted to strip protection for LGBT adopters from the proposed regulations. How shameful that in Virginia, Cuccinelli would rather see a child never go to a loving home at all than go to one with two dads or two moms. Cuccinelli thinks it’s part of his job to “hold up family values,” but this proves that he really only cares about one kind of family.

Calling South Carolina Youth Activists!

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:20:00 -0500

The Knowledge is Best youth council is now accepting applications for next school year! A project of Tell Them and Advocates for Youth, this youth council is composed of 10 awesome college and university students across the state, all working to promote comprehensive sex ed programs and policies.

Send you applications in now! Council members learn how to be fierce advocates, and also do fun and amazing things (letter writing parties over burritos; dance parties to raise awareness about SC's old sex ed law; etc). Check it out here! Deadline for applications is May 8th!

What's Next?

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:33:00 -0500

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Check out the new campaign from Massachussetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy: "What's Next?": www.massteenpregnancy.org/policy/whats-next. It's a tongue-in-cheek way to call Congress out for proposing cuts to programs like Title X and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative...

They also have a FB page—where, first up—they hoard condoms in a safe to prepare for the condom ban! :) http://www.facebook.com/MATeenPregnancy

State Wire: VA General Assembly votes to restrict access to 1st trimester abortion

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:54:00 -0500

Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed a last-minute bill (SB924) with an amendment redefining “hospital” to include “facilities in which five or more first-trimester abortions per month are performed.” This means the commonwealth’s Board of Health will now have to make first-trimester abortion providers conform to hospital regulations in order to stay open. That can include things like parking lot size, hallway width, and other non-medical building regulations that would effectively force providers who can’t pay for architectural updates to shut down.

Bills like this are know as targeted regulation on abortion providers, or TRAP, laws because they force only abortion providers -- and not, for example, a dentist’s office performing an outpatient surgery – to jump through additional regulatory hoops. Because it can cost up to $2 million to jump through these additional hoops (again, which only target abortion providers), clinics often have no choice but to stop operating.

Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw said it best – “If anybody thinks this debate is about women’s health, get a life. The only physician we have in this body has said what nonsense this is.” See NARAL Pro-Choice VA for more info on this TRAP bill, and to find out how your rep voted in VA.

In honor of Valentines Day, a love letter to this movement

Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:05:00 -0500

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’d like to pause and write a little love letter to the sexual and reproductive health and rights movement. We’re not always on the same page, and sometimes I am super frustrated by how things are moving (or not moving), but you rock, and I appreciate you.

I appreciate you because without you I’d feel pretty isolated and alone. It’s hard growing up in a conservative/ Southern/ religious/ anti-choice community, when you are struggling to formulate your own views and identity and you’re pretty sure that it doesn’t quite align with what everyone around you is doing. It wasn’t until I started college and became active in this movement that I met other people like me. Feeling a sense of community is true nourishment for the soul.

I appreciate you because you are making efforts to involve other young people in this work (despite what some organizations *ahem* may claim). You provide a space for awesome groups like Advocates, Choice USA, RCRC, and others to not just introduce young people to the SRHR movement, but to truly train them in the skills they’ll need to lobby their member of Congress, host a rally, or call into NPR and share a comment about abortion legislation. These youth-serving organizations engage young people in the process, and in turn, young people help to shape the SRHR movement as a whole.

I appreciate you because you value the intersection of many different movements and issues. I tried to explain this to someone outside of the SRHR movement the other day – many of us see this work as a continuum of issues, from housing rights to immigration to birth control pricing, etc. These separate issues don’t’ actually materialize in silos, so we shouldn’t face them that way either. Often we in the SRHR movement are competing for limited resources to do the work that we do, but it has been amazing seeing choice groups stepping up in support of the repeal of DADT, for example. Yes, we need to be specialized in order to become experts on our work, but I appreciate that many in the SRHR movement are passionate about and conscientious of other issues.

I appreciate you because before we met I didn’t realize that you could change culture and society through the kind of policy and program work that I do. It wasn’t until I was in my early 20s that it dawned on me that I could do SRHR work for a living. Before that, I thought the only way I could impact contraceptive access or the right to an abortion was by becoming a lawyer and litigating my way through life. Not so! For getting to do what I love while still allowing me to pay the bills (for the most part), I thank you, movement.

Yes – we have our differences and there remains much to be desired, but without you I would be pretty lost and the world would be a little further away from sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

And, just because this feminist is feeling the love (on a day when it would be much easier to be frustrated with the world), here's Rocky the dog with his love, a cuddly stuffed platypus:

My Experience as a Pro-Life Activist

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:06:00 -0500

Last week, tens of thousands of people participated in the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion rally in DC. Fifteen years ago, I marched with them as an anti-choice youth activist.

I was there as part of school-sponsored trip. My Catholic school bused us up, and we joined scores of other Catholic school kids on the march. I remember it being very cold, I remember listening to my 311 CD and hanging out with friends on the bus. What I don’t remember is thinking about was the morality of abortion. Because, I wasn’t marching against abortion rights. I was marching to get out of school for the day and sightsee in DC with my friends.

Looking back, I can’t believe I was there, but I also don’t think I ever really had a choice. It was something that all the Catholic school kids did. Which is why I find it hard to believe that, as the Catholic Sentinel has reported, thousands of young people gathered at a pre-March rally to “show their commitment to pro-life issues.” When you’re 13 and your teacher (who is also a nun) is asking if you want to attend an anti-abortion rally, you do what the rest of your friends do: you sign up.

I realized I was pro-choice pretty soon after I entered high school, when I actually sat down and thought about it why it's better for people to access to information and services in order to allow them to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Then I realized there are other people who share my same view about this, and even organizations like Advocates for Youth that actively promote sexual and reproductive health and rights! Some 15 years after marching in an anti-abortion rally, I have dedicated my life to defending sexual health and rights for all people, including the right to safe and legal abortion.

Pro-Choice Rally Day in Virginia on Thursday!!

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 10:52:00 -0500

Hi all - the Virginia Pro-Choice Coalition is sponsoring a pro-choice lobby day in Richmond, VA this Thursday, January 27th. Anti-choice legislators in Virginia are gearing up to repeal abortion access, contraceptive access, and sex education in the Commonwealth. We need people to come to Richmond and stand up for reproductive freedom!!

What: Virginia Pro-Choice Lobby Day
When: Thursday, January 27th
Where: Virginia General Assembly, 9th Street & Broad Street,
Time: 8am - 2pm

For more details and to register, check out the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia; www.ppaction.org/site/Calendar

State Wire: KY Senate Passes Abortion Ultrasound Bill

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 10:41:00 -0500

The Kentucky State Senate last week passed an ultrasound bill last week that is ridiculous, medically unnecessary, and downright insulting to women. Senate Bill 9 (passed 32-5) would require that a woman seeking an abortion in Kentucky wait 24 hours and also view an ultrasound of the fetus. If a woman chooses to avert her eyes from the ultrasound, a doctor would still have to describe the image to her.

Restrictions like this aren’t uncommon – in fact, 20 states either require that an ultrasound take place or be offered to a woman prior to the abortion procedure. What’s uncommon – and especially troubling – in this Kentucky bill is that women are required to view the ultrasound or to have a description given to them. Not only is it insulting to think that a woman doesn’t understand what the decision she’s just made, but it’s flat-out a medically unnecessary procedure. On top of all this, the bill requires a woman to wait 24 hours after a consult before having an abortion. Insulting- again – as though a woman doesn’t understand what she’s doing an needs the government to force her to think about it. This is devastating, as well, for women who can’t afford to take the time off again to go back to the clinic in 24 hours, can’t afford to hire child care for another day, or don’t have access to reliable transportation.

We’ve mentioned before that the anti-choice movement rolls out extremist anti-abortion legislation in states as testing grounds, then if it passes, models the same bills in other state legislatures. In Nebraska last year it was a restriction on later term abortion. If this ultrasound bill passes all the way through in Kentucky, the anti-choicers will be pushing this in other states this winter and spring.

State Wire: Abortion Legislation in the States

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:54:00 -0500

Here’s the scoop, folks – last year a number of major abortion restrictions were passed at the state level. The one that got the most attention, however, was the Nebraska law, passed in April. This law bans abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation with the exception of when the woman's life is endangered or her physical health is severely compromised.

It’s important to know about this law for a few reasons. First, it’s based on claims about the ability of a fetus to feel pain – a new sort of approach by the far right to use suspect science as the basis for policy. Second, it is likely that you’ll see a similar bill introduced in your state this year. This is because the anti-choice movement has a history of testing extreme legislation in one state, and if successful, using the bill as a model for legislation in other states.

Most states kick off their 2011 legislative session in early or mid-January. If you want to see when your state legislation starts up, check out this chart. If you want to learn more about major abortion legislation introduced last year, check out Guttmacher’s 2010 State Policy Review. And definitely sign up for Advocates’ Youth Activist Network so we can keep you informed if similar legislation is introduced in your state this year.

State Happenings Watch: Merrill, WI

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:18:00 -0500

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Good news out of Merrill, WI -- the school board has voted to adopt a comprehensive sex education curriculum for Human Growth and Development class! The decision passed six to two last week, and comes at the heels of both a petition by a group of parents against the changes and a failure by the local advisory committee to recommend a curriculum. In Wisconsin, Governor Doyle signed the Healthy Youth Act into law in February, requiring schools that choose to teach sex education to include information about both abstinence and contraception, and to make sure that instruction is age appropriate and medically accurate. Instruction must also include information on sexual assault, relationships, and parent-child communication.

While this kind of instruction seems like common sense to many of us, following the passage of the Healthy Youth Act, another county faced a roadblock towards implementation when Juneau WI District Attorney Scott Southworth claimed he would prosecute anyone teaching sex ed for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor." It is, of course, ridiculous that a teacher could be prosecuted for following the law, and the Governor clarified that this would not happen.

Congrats to advocates in Merrill for taking steps in the right direction!

South Carolina College Students: APPLY NOW to Join a New Advocacy Council!

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:41:00 -0500

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If you're a college or university student in South Carolina and you're interested in sexual health/ activism, apply now to be part of a newly formed statewide youth leadership council. The South Carolina Youth for Policy Change council is a project of Tell Them and Advocates for Youth, and its mission is to build the network of college and community advocates that support age appropriate, comprehensive sex education in South Carolina. You will work to raise awareness and constituent support in their community and schools about sexual health policies through grassroots organizing. You'll also be paid!

Again, click here to download the application!

Latest Anti-LGBT Cyberbully? N.C. State Rep. Larry Brown

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:16:00 -0500

Next month, Equality North Carolina will honor State House Speaker Joe Hackney for his leadership in enacting a new anti-bullying law that will protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in N.C. schools.

Upon learning of this via email, State Rep. Larry Brown decided to reply with a blatant display of homophobia. In an email to nearly 60 people, he blasted the “queers” and “fruitloops” who would be celebrating the new anti-bullying measure.

Tell Rep. Larry Brown to issue a public apology for his remarks. Click here to send an email to his office now!

It’s bad enough that Rep. Larry Brown voted against the School Violence Prevention Act. But, after the recent suicides of five teenagers around the country as a result of anti-gay bullying, it is horrifying that he would use homophobic language to insult LGBT North Carolinians.

9 in 10 LGBT students experience harassment in schools, and nearly 70% of LGBT teens report feeling unsafe because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. Rep. Brown’s actions send a chilling message to LGBT youth in North Carolina at a time when our elected leaders should instead be standing up to protect them.

Click here to email Rep. Brown TODAY. LGBT youth in North Carolina deserve an apology!

It's time to hold anti-gay officials accountable for their words and actions. Homphobia is NOT a North Carolina value.

Meghan Rapp
Senior State Strategies Program Manager
Advocates for Youth

P.S. House Speaker Joe Hackney is also being honored for helping to pass the Healthy Youth Act, a new law that will improve sex education for young people in North Carolina. For the past two years, the Teen Health Now, Advocates for Youth, and activists throughout the state have worked hard to make the Healthy Youth Act a reality.

This incident is a stark reminder of how far we still have to go to ensure a safe learning environment for all young people.

Why does this make me feel gross? A feminist question for Michele Bachmann

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:20:00 -0500

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Dear Michele Bachmann,

I know you are a political figure that gets a lot of attention. I know that, in the past, you have received a lot of heckling from, well, liberal people like me. I (we) tend to disagree with a lot of your politics, and think of you as being anti-feminist for making statements like school-based health clinics are actually “sex clinics” designed to funnel more 13 year olds to have abortion at Planned Parenthood without parental consent. Um, huh?

Anyways, I get that we don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues that are really important to me, but for some reason I felt especially icky seeing that you had your husband send an email out to supporters in effort to defend your honor. In response to an anti-Michele Bachmann event entitled “F--- Michele Bachmann” – which, I will grant you, is disrespectful and even vulgar – you had to have your husband take it to the internets in outrage? Why? You are a Member of Congress – an elected official serving in a high office within the federal government! You are a powerful person! It’s your name on that plaque outside your office on Capitol Hill! Why, oh why, did you feel it necessary to have your husband as messenger the minute the conversation changes to sex, and honor, and respect?

I think this leaves me feeling queasy in a totally different way than your regular politics. I think that despite promoting policies that were anti-woman, at least I knew that you are a powerful woman. So my question is, since when do powerful women trot out the Disney defense and have their male partners stick up for them when it has to do with sex/character? Just, ugh…Even from you, I expected more…

Live in Pennsylvania? Take Action for the Healthy Youth Act!

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:25:00 -0500

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It only takes a minute – if you live in Pennsylvania, we need your help to convince leaders in the PA House of Representatives to support the Healthy Youth Act! Click here to send an email to your rep, and to the House leaders who haven’t committed to call the bill to the floor for a vote (the only way it can move forward).

A little about the Healthy Youth Act (HB 1163) – it would create a minimum standard for sex education in PA public schools. This means that schools teaching HIV/AIDS education would also teach age-appropriate, scientifically accurate sex ed, including life-saving information about contraception.

PA residents – take a second now and send this alert to your representative and the House leadership. Let them know that you support sex ed and the Healthy Youth Act, and want to see this bill brought to the floor and pass!