2 months ago
Personal Birth Control Story
I hate that this has to be in the news because we all know Limbaugh is an idiot and because I feel like it’s more than just about contraception. It’s about receiving good healthcare. But because I will be attending SXSW on Friday and my cycle has begun, I thought I’d speak on a real life-interrupter.
I suffer from endometriosis. I started my period when I was 10, I’m now 24. So you do the math on how long I’ve suffered from severe leg and back pain, vomiting, heavy bleeding, anemia and just a general sickness that usually lasts 3 days. Gross, right? Well, that’s my life. It’s hard to plan things, it was hard to attend school, and I still miss days from work. Luckily this time around I have female bosses so they’re more understanding than those I’ve had at past jobs. Nonetheless, I wish I was like most women whose symptoms are less awful. For awhile it was like that though. Because at age 18 I had health insurance and had a doctor prescribe me birth control which helps with the severe pain and heavy flow.
You have to of course find the one that works best for you and I guess I was still on this search for what was right for my body when I stopped having health insurance.
Today, I am on my parents’ insurance but I have yet to take advantage of getting back on the pill. A test run through various birth controls again could be costly for me especially for the lower level of insurance I receive. And I won’t be on my parents’ insurance for long.
There’s no real cure for endometriosis but there are methods that help. I just don’t have real access to that.
I think people look at this as women only wanting to have lots of sex without the risk. Get out of our bedrooms!, they’re yelling out. However there are serious health concerns that can be treated with the pill. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned down hangouts with friends, cancelled trips, or had to explain to a male boss why I can’t show up for work. I wish things were better for me. My sister, who’ll be 17 in April, suffers from it too. It’s no fun to go through it or to watch someone else have it. Today I feel fine with two Aleves in me. Tomorrow I don’t know. And Friday, well I may have to skip out on seeing one of my favorite bands in Austin. I won’t hold out hope for that yet. But I also hope that people really get that it’s bigger than personal beliefs; their own “righteousness” or their own pocketbooks (which it doesn’t really affect because it’s about personal insurance companies). This is my life and I’ve had to just cope for so long. It’d be nice to do more than just cope but to heal.
Just thought I’d share.
8 months ago
'...the crowd of Republicans who gathered at the Reagan Library last week to watch their presidential candidates debate actually applauded and cheered when a moderator noted that Texas had executed 234 inmates under Gov. Rick Perry, by far the most under any governor in modern times. Then came Mr. Perry’s blithe denial that he had ever struggled with a single one of those state killings. Texas has a “thoughtful, a very clear process,” he said, which ensures everyone a fair hearing, so there is no need to lose sleep over the possibility of executing an innocent person. It may not trouble Mr. Perry, but any clear-eyed observer would be shocked at the grim momentum of his state’s death machine, which stops for no suggestion of error.' «
(Source: thesmithian)
via thesmithian
9 months ago
Hillary Clinton On Politics & The Double Standard For Women | The Frisky (via thefrisky)
Umph
(via dominickbrady)
via artislovely
10 months ago
UniteHere makin’ it happen. So brave! (Taken with instagram)
EDIT: Well, geez, iPhone won’t let me put up caption or tags. So here’s the story: 21 July, there was a Rally for Justice on behalf of Hyatt workers across America. I think several cities held their own rallies. Here in San Antonio we gathered at the Grand Hyatt on Market Street to protest the abuse and exploitation of our housekeepers. There was a great turnout and, huge surprise, they took it to the next level by blocking off traffic on Market Street (rush hour, mind you). They held hands and sat right in the street for a good 10 minutes before being arrested. Two of my buddies were sitting there and I couldn’t be more proud of the stand they took. Hopefully, this will bring awareness to the plight that many hotel workers, especially housekeepers, are in. Did I mention it was a good 100 degrees? That asphalt was hot!
2 years ago
As I sat in a chair this morning getting my hair done, breaking news came over a soap opera the hairdresser had tune into. A plane was flown into an Austin office building. Turns out it was intentional. Throughout the day, shows were interrupted for updates on this terrible tragedy that did not have to happen. When I got home, I also read many blogs and comments about what happened from Austinites and people all over and what surprised me was that people were nodding their heads in agreement over Mr. Stack’s dissertation on why he did such a thing. I decided what was best was to read the letter he left myself and decide if he was preaching the truth.
After going through it, I find him to still be wrong. Yes, he’s right about how life is unfair but we’ve heard that time and time again. How can trite phrases and cliched situations make me feel anymore understanding about how the world works? On top of that, how does his selfish act even help the middle class he attempts to speak up for in the letter? And I find that most disturbing, that people can agree with what he said despite the fact that he’s selfish. Not just what he did but what he’s saying in that diatribe. Why is it so easy to relate to a man having a temper tantrum?
The biggest thing I wanted to address was what someone I follow on tumblr said which was “…no one DOES listen, no one DOES care…”. Is no one really listening or are people not speaking up and speaking loudly enough? I used to work at a hotel and I still help with Unite Here, a labor union. Hyatt Hotels has continually treated it’s workers badly and has made it extremely difficult to live whether its relation to health and physical, monetary, or just being able to have a life outside of work. And yes, for a while, it felt like no one was listening but people were. And we all felt the pain of one another. $10.25 an hour was an OK wage for me but after hearing the stories of many workers, I wanted to fight. Not for me, but for others! I didn’t say, “Oh, how unfair for the working class! Those poor souls being screwed by the government!” I got up, went to the marches, went to the meetings, sat in city council. I was present and I was a part of a collective who were passionate about getting things done and were done with whining about how unfair it all is. I’m not saying all people are cut out for activism but there’s always going to be something that will directly effect you and if it pisses you off enough, then you MUST do something. That something is not setting your home ablaze while your family is still inside and then taking your private plane and colliding into an office building filled with people who have nothing to do with you.
Mr. Stack is the real “thief” and the real “scumbag”. He is (was) no different than the government, corporations, and insurance companies he bothered to rail against this morning. How can anything he said in that suicide letter be right when he is clearly wrong? We see how being only for ourselves can only drive to some sort of madness and not get anything done. As Eugene Hütz would say, “There were never any good ol’ days. They are today. They are tomorrow.” There is nothing new under the sun, including ridiculous acts of so-called martyrdom. But there are always things you can do and things can get better. They may not ever go away but they’ll get cleaned up. I know that may not sound better than letting the world fall to pieces but, hell, who knows. By the end of this we might actually get it right.
2 years ago
Dear Ms. Harris:
Thank you for contacting me regarding Senate Amendment 2588 (S. Amdt. 2588) offered by Senator Al Franken to the Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (H.R. 3326). I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.
I strongly support the right of women to pursue their careers in a workplace environment free from fear and harassment, and I share your outrage and concern regarding the tragic story of Ms. Jamie Leigh Jones. However, S. Amdt. 2588 was not about Ms. Jones or her case, and I am disappointed that some have chosen to use this issue for political gain.
The Obama Administration opposed this amendment, and I was joined by 29 of my Senate colleagues in voting against its adoption. S. Amdt. 2588 would effectively bar all defense contractors and subcontractors from entering pre-dispute arbitration agreements with their employees to resolve any employment discrimination claims, and could require the DoD to cancel all existing contracts with arbitration clauses, renegotiate new contracts, and significantly impact crucial defense support infrastructure at a time of war.
S. Amdt. 2588 is not a narrow response to one case, but a major across-the-board overhaul of American employment arbitration law. Although Senator Franken shared the heartbreaking story of Ms. Jones when he spoke in support of his amendment, both the District Court and the Fifth Circuit Court of appeals held that Ms. Jones’s rape charges could not be submitted to arbitration under current law. Therefore, Ms. Jones still has the opportunity to pursue her claims in civil court—with or without the enactment of the provisions of S. Amdt. 2588. Quite simply, this amendment is not drafted to protect victims of sexual assault but instead aims to ban employment arbitration altogether—adversely affecting approximately 70,000 cases each year.
In the end, S. Amdt. 2588 would cost American businesses and workers significant time and money spent in drawn-out litigation. Arbitration was established as a means of reducing legal expenses and providing wronged parties quick and affordable justice. Repealing arbitration would benefit only trial lawyers. I believe that all Americans have the right to settle their disputes in fair, efficient arbitration rather than going through the costly and often lengthy litigation process
Finally, left-wing bloggers, personal injury lawyers, and demagogues have spread the charge that any senator who voted against S. Amdt. 2588 is “pro-rape.” This outrageous libel must not be tolerated. It is reprehensible that opponents of S. Amdt. 2588 are being characterized as supporters of rape. Such attacks only serve to harm civil political discourse and offend common decency.
I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov
Oh hay, finally an email from Senator Cornyn answering my question as to why he’d vote against Defense Appropriations amendment that would prohibit federal defense contractors like Halliburton/KBR from getting money “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.”
From this, I suppose Cornyn thinks I’m stupid or that the whole state of Texas, which he shamefully represents, are too.
Specifically, Sen. Franken’s amendment:
- Does not require contractors to change or modify existing employment contracts. It only bars funds to contractors who continue to use these mandatory arbitration clauses in their employment contracts.
- Narrowly targets the most egregious violations and applies to defense contracts, many of which are administered abroad, where women are the most vulnerable and least likely to have support resources. The amendment will apply to many contractors that have already demonstrated their incompetence in efficiently carrying out defense contracts, and have further demonstrated their unwillingness and their inability to protect women from sexual assault.
- Applies to claims arising out of sexual assault, like assault & battery (including rape), intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring, retention, and supervision, as well as Title VII civil rights claims, which were specifically designed to protect vulnerable groups in the workplace.
You can read the letter I sent to him here.
2 years ago
Wow, I missed last night’s Daily Show but this is the least funny segment he’s done. Not because it’s not good, but how sad it is. Here’s an actual thank you letter for Kay Bailey Hutchinson that I wrote. Not all Republicans are imbeciles.
I am writing a letter of thanks for being one of the four Republican women who voted for Senator Al Franken’s Defense Appropriations amendment that would prohibit federal defense contractors like Halliburton/KBR from getting money “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.”
I feel when we write our senators and those who hold office, it is often to complain or to call them out on how they handle issues. But in this case, you deserve my thanks for truly embracing bipartisanship to vote for a bill that is clearly the right thing to do.
This amendment was an important step in giving rights to rape victims and I am surprised and appalled by the thirty men who voted against it. All Republican. Please note that I am neither a Republican nor Democrat, just a 22 year old Black San Antonian who wants to see the right thing being done. Amongst those thirty men is John Cornyn. This is not someone I wish to represent Texas or my country if he cannot stand up for what is right. As someone who is serving with him, I hope you let him know (as I have) that although political views are different, morals should be intact.
I have not yet decided who I will vote for the upcoming 2010 governor elections. But know that if you continue to bring people together and show backbone as you have on this issue, I will keep you on that list of potential candidates. Again thank you.
Sincerely,
Miranda Rae
I actually ended up sending a letter to John Cornyn about the ridiculousness of all this. Who knows if he’ll answer as this is my first time writing a senator or any form of office. But I’m so tired of it. It’s hard to say you’re a political person because you just try to live life but you realize that so many things hit close to home in this life. You realize it’s on a much larger scale and you have to do something. I’m tired of being lumped into the rest of this Apathetic Generation. Aren’t you too?//
Dear Senator,
I am appalled that you joined 29 of your male Republican colleagues in voting against Senator Al Franken’s Defense Appropriations amendment that would prohibit federal defense contractors like Halliburton/KBR from getting money “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.”
Senator Franken’s floor speech referenced the story of Jamie Leigh Jones, who was gang-raped by her coworkers at Halliburton/KBR but was unable to bring charges in court because her employment contract stipulated sexual assault allegations could only be addressed in private.
This amendment was an important step in giving rights to rape victims — and I am appalled that you would oppose it. This is taking obstructionism too far.
I would love a logical answer as to why you felt the vote should go this way. As a native Texan & Southern woman, I am tired of being the brunt of many jokes. That this beautiful state and wonderful people in it are backwards or are not ready for progress. It is people like you who enforce this stereotype and keep us down in the gutter. But I want to make it very clear, if you think you represent me, you are very wrong. There are many people here in Texas who are rising up and will not stand for this or any kind of injustice. Speak up for us by listening to us. Political views may be different but morals should be the same across the board. It is shameful what you have done here. “Big Bad John” you are indeed.
Sincerely,
Miranda Rae
