HHS & Libraries

[neadods]

My f-list exploded last night with the news that the Department of Health and Human Services is not only attempting to make it legal for care providers to refuse to provide care on the basis of their religious beliefs, but to also redefine most forms of contraception as abortion. I hope that the stink as this splatters across the web and print media will lead to a quick burial and mutters of "we were only thinking about it," just as with their previous attempt to rule all women to be treated as "pre-pregnant." (And if you want to read a rant on the subject, naamah_darling's is the best (and utterly NSFW) with a less profane follow up citing places where strongly worded outrage will do a little good.

There is going to have to be a Supreme Court case about personal rights (as in "your right to swing your fist ends at my nose and your religion doesn't trump my right to direct my wishes on health care.") And we need it soon.

But in a quieter way, sometimes the good guys win. Two library stories. In one, local members of a church group got their panties in a wad because the library computers can (and are used to) access Teen Planned Parenthood. (Among other complaints, sex ed is "pornography.") The library board voted unanimously to keep the site linked.

In the other, a librarian responds to the request to remove a children's book about gay marriage. Beautifully written anti-censorship piece, with a side order of "the Founding Fathers didn't found this country for the same reason your minister told you."

Comments

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I kid you not. The idea was that because women often don't know right away that they're pregnant and because there is such a difference to the fetus early in development, women should assume at all times that they're going to be knocked up and then their babies will come out just fine.

Surprisingly, half the population over the age of 12 was not thrilled at the notion of being considered such a conscientious mother 24/7/365. Especially the ones who didn't plan on being a mother at all.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I'm not exactly thrilled at the idea either!! What utter insanity!