Catholic clergy have been pretty tough on American nuns lately, accusing them of “radical feminism.” As Ms. reports in our brand-new issue, the Vatican has issued a doctrinal assessment criticizing the nuns for aiding the poor and needy instead of spreading anti-abortion and anti-gay doctrine. But the sisters have just met their harshest critic: Stephen […]
Author: Lauren Barbato
Lauren Barbato is a writer who enjoys focusing on the intersection of the arts and social justice. As a journalist, she has contributed to Ms., the Women's Media Center, IndieWire, MovieMaker Magazine and many others. She holds a B.F.A. degree in screenwriting from the University of Southern California. Follow her on Twitter @lauren_barbato.
Louisiana is Joining the 20-Week Abortion Ban Club
Update 6/12/12: Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the 20-week abortion ban into law Monday, June 11. On June 8, he also approved measures requiring a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, an audio of the fetus’ heartbeat to be played and for the procedure to be done by a physician. It’s June, and we know what […]
This Clinic Stays Open: Remembering Dr. Tiller
Three years ago today, the pro-choice movement lost one of its most fearless leaders. Dr. George Tiller, one of the few doctors in America performing late abortions, was killed while attending a Sunday morning service in his hometown church, just miles from the Wichita, Kan., medical clinic he operated for more than 30 years. Tiller […]
The “War on Unborn Girls” is Just More of the War on Women
Update 5/31/12: PRENDA was defeated in the House after failing to receive a two-thirds majority vote. The vote was 246-168 in favor, short of the 276 votes needed to pass. Lila Rose, the 23-year-old anti-choice crusader who devotes her waking hours to exposing the so-called “corruption” and “illegal activity” of abortion providers, has struck again. […]
In North Carolina, You’re Married or You’re Screwed
A marriage is now between one man, one woman and God Almighty in North Carolina. Following a vehement campaign fraught with religious zeal and bipartisan politics, North Carolina residents voted Tuesday in favor of Amendment One—which will change the state’s constitution to outlaw not just same-sex marriage, but all domestic unions. An unusually high number […]
5 Reasons To March for Women’s Rights Today!
“I find this onslaught of anti-women legislation repulsive,” says 23-year-old Amanda Velez. “These proposed laws condescend to a level where women are treated as something much less than human.” A resident of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Velez told me her feminist views are often met with hostility in her “typical Bible Belt” state. But today, she’ll know […]
Tennessee Rules that Embryos Can Be “Murdered”
In a 28-2 vote on Monday, the Tennessee state Senate passed a bill that criminalizes harming an embryo. The bill cleared the state House of Representatives by a large margin last week and is awaiting a signature from Gov. Bill Haslam, who has an anti-choice record. House Bill 3517 [PDF], the so-called “embryo bill,” allows […]
Medical Abortions No Longer an Option in Wisconsin Planned Parenthoods
Under increased anti-choice pressure from the state, Planned Parenthood has suspended all medical abortions at its Wisconsin clinics. The suspension comes two weeks after Gov. Scott Walker signed a law that levies felony charges at abortion doctors who fail to conform to the state’s newly installed guidelines. The guidelines require a woman seeking medical abortions […]
Personhood Act Aborted in Oklahoma Legislature
Anti-abortion extremists suffered a loss Thursday when SB 1433, the so-called Personhood Act, failed to gain any traction in the Oklahoma House. The House Republican Caucus voted to not advance the bill, which had already been approved by the state Senate. Before we begin celebrating this pro-choice victory, though, the Oklahoma House made it clear […]
Arizona Didn’t Redefine Pregnancy—But Six Other States Did
Life is not being redefined in Arizona. That’s contrary to the rumor that raced around the Internet last week after Gov. Jan Brewer signed an omnibus anti-abortion bill into law. The bill banned abortions 20 weeks after a pregnant woman’s last menstrual period (LMP), with the only exception being in a medical emergency. Upon hearing […]