Listen...as I've said numerous times, I'm not a generally cheery person. I don't walk around with a rain cloud over my head, but I do tend to be a smidge cynical and loads sarcastic. However there are a few pessimistic things that I have no time for. One of them emerged recently surrounding Wendy Davis' filibuster...I noticed a few people on Facebook and Twitter saying things like, "This doesn't even matter. Perry will just call a second session."
Cue head explosion.
Let me say first...while I was actively participating in the whole anti SB5 movement, I did mention a few times that Perry could very well call a second session (and of course he did). But I can't help but feel that my motivation in stating that is very different from the person tweeting it from their couch. My intention was to put out a reminder that the fight was long from over and that we'd have to keep at it no matter what setbacks might be in front of us. Can the same be said for someone who's not actively involved? To me it reads like a whole lot of, "Why do you even bother?"
I have such a problem with that mentality. There is little more than I can stand in life than a complacent attitude. If something matters to me, it's just not an option for me to sit at home, shrug, and go on watching Community on Netflix. I think if you want change, you must actively and intentionally seek and create it.
Besides...when people say "It doesn't even matter" my immediate knee jerk reaction is: how do you define "matter?" If your only measure of success is changing the laws, then yes, the reaction against the omnibus anti abortion law might not "matter" if it inevitably passes. But is that a fair measure of success? I measure success by the fact that there has been a ton of national attention drawn to this issue, it is exceedingly clear that the people do no support this legislation, and, personally, I did all I could to stand in opposition to this deeply problematic bill. I did my part. We tried.
That "matters."
I've also noticed that the people who say things like this are generally the kind who take some sick pleasure in raining on other's parades. If everyone loves a movie, they must be the ones who post how much they hated it. If everyone is embracing a fashion trend, they must be the ones to make sneering comments about it. And in the case of politics like this, they seem to not only take pleasure in shitting on the passion of the movement, but they also hold the erroneous belief that those of us who are engaged are only amped up because we don't know what they know. And that if they tell us, they are somehow educating us through their boarderline antagonistic Tweets and Facebook posts.
I know that this sad, cynical, complacent attitude is simply a reflection of something within them, so I try not to let it get to me. But what does worry me is that these toxic opinions will affect others, so that's why I'd just like to emphasize again that even if the omnibus anti abortion bill passes, what we have done here in Texas has mattered. We have made news and history. And for the reproductive rights movement overall, we will always face setbacks, but we simply can't be discouraged. There's too much at stake.
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Showing posts with label Summer 2013 at the Texas Capitol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer 2013 at the Texas Capitol. Show all posts
Friday, July 5, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Intersectionalism Has a Long Way to Go, Even on the Left
I promise, someday, I will write about something other than my experience standing in opposition to the omnibus anti-abortion legislation here in Texas. Someday, but not today.
Yesterday was another long day at the capitol. I worked from 9-2 and then assisted with whatever Planned Parenthood needed including managing lines and feeding volunteers from 2-midnight. If I may whine for a minute, my back has really taken a hit from being on my feet all day. It's started spasming, which is a new and scary thing.
Anyway, my experiences yesterday (and over the course of this process in general) have reminded me that feminism and progressive movements are still unfortunately far from inclusive. Here's a quick run down of several things I have noticed:
1) The main coalition of prochoice organizations has run off shirts that read, "Stand with Texas women." While this is better than the antis' condescending "Protect women," it is still cissexist and denies the reality that many people who do not identify as women need access to abortion. This exclusive phrasing of the entire campaign I'm sure has felt very disheartening to many who are not represented under the label "women." I think the organizations involved are wary of politicizing words like "choice" but "Texas stands for choice" would have been a better alternative, in my opinion. (Edited to add: It's also been pointed out to me that the "stand" verb is abelist, so I feel we must take that into consideration too.)
This concern is a big problem that I see with mainstream prochoice politics in general. For example, I saw a tweet going around the other day that said something to the effect of "This isn't just a reproductive issue, it's a women's issue." I believe the intent of this was to help people see how reproductive access is inherently tied into gender politics as a whole, but the reductionist language of "women" perpetrates trans* erasure. As Jane Doe, MD tweeted earlier today,
Too often words like "crazy" have become short hand for people who we disagree with or don't like. We see antis with signs that say incredibly offensive things, so the visceral reaction is to attack them back. But the result when the words we use have an ableish intent is that the non-neurotypical prochoicers who are all around us feel isolated from the movement.
And while we're talking about ableism, can we just stop for a minute and acknowledge that Wendy Davis wouldn't have even been able to filibuster last week if she was not physically able to stand for those 13 hours. Seriously. It's in the Texas law...a senator MUST stand to conduct a filibuster, regardless of their personal physical circumstances. Furthermore, I read that there were accessibility issues for the buildings and rooms involved, which presented real challenges to citizens participating in this process.
How messed up is that?
3) Tons of people feel the need to share their thoughts on the nature of the food donated, usually with the intent to fat shame and body and/or food police. So as a food passer-outer, I have a front row seat for all the weight/food related comments. Every 5th person makes some comment about how they "shouldn't take another cookie" or are "going to have to run an extra mile after this." Others bemoan that we need more "healthy" options or go with the whole, "well I guess I can be bad today" angle. As a happily fat person, who has learned to embrace who I am despite the chorus of "you're not good enoughs!" it is particularly frustrating to have so many people share their very personal food and health related values out loud over and over and over. The food that is provided by generous people from all over the country is to help sustain us as we engage with the political process. As such, it needs to be cost effective, easily available for delivery, and come in mass quantities.
That means that it's not going to work for everyone...and that's OK. What's not OK is sharing possibly triggering food/body thoughts with everyone else around the table.
As I've said before, I have been infinitely impressed with how diverse the people who have come together over this issue are. I've interacted with people of so many backgrounds, ages, and gender expressions, who hail from all over the state.
But if our movement is still marginalizing people, then we're doing it wrong.
I do not intend to needlessly criticize my fellow prochoicers who have been out there day after day...I admire our spirit and I'm proud to be a part of this. I just want us to be better, because the fact of the matter is that unless this movement addresses all of its own oppressive elements, it is inherently flawed and incomplete.
Please see the commenting policy before replying to this post.
Yesterday was another long day at the capitol. I worked from 9-2 and then assisted with whatever Planned Parenthood needed including managing lines and feeding volunteers from 2-midnight. If I may whine for a minute, my back has really taken a hit from being on my feet all day. It's started spasming, which is a new and scary thing.
Anyway, my experiences yesterday (and over the course of this process in general) have reminded me that feminism and progressive movements are still unfortunately far from inclusive. Here's a quick run down of several things I have noticed:
1) The main coalition of prochoice organizations has run off shirts that read, "Stand with Texas women." While this is better than the antis' condescending "Protect women," it is still cissexist and denies the reality that many people who do not identify as women need access to abortion. This exclusive phrasing of the entire campaign I'm sure has felt very disheartening to many who are not represented under the label "women." I think the organizations involved are wary of politicizing words like "choice" but "Texas stands for choice" would have been a better alternative, in my opinion. (Edited to add: It's also been pointed out to me that the "stand" verb is abelist, so I feel we must take that into consideration too.)
This concern is a big problem that I see with mainstream prochoice politics in general. For example, I saw a tweet going around the other day that said something to the effect of "This isn't just a reproductive issue, it's a women's issue." I believe the intent of this was to help people see how reproductive access is inherently tied into gender politics as a whole, but the reductionist language of "women" perpetrates trans* erasure. As Jane Doe, MD tweeted earlier today,
Trans* inclusiveness to me is inherent to feminism, bc biological determinism & essentialism is the unthinkable alternative...Feminism needs to not just be trans* inclusive, but explicitly advocate for trans* people. Otherwise we let gender based oppression prosper.2) So. Many. Ableist. Slurs. As someone who is handing out food, I occupy a space of special joy in many tired, frustrated prochoice activists' minds. As such, they come over to grab a bite and vent about what they're seeing and unfortunately, that frequently dissolves into calling antis every possible version of "crazy" they can think of. (One person even ranted to me about how "the other side is truly mental.") I try to mirror back non-stigmatizing language in regards to my own frustration with antis, but there's so little than I can do in these 20 second interactions to address the issue.
Too often words like "crazy" have become short hand for people who we disagree with or don't like. We see antis with signs that say incredibly offensive things, so the visceral reaction is to attack them back. But the result when the words we use have an ableish intent is that the non-neurotypical prochoicers who are all around us feel isolated from the movement.
And while we're talking about ableism, can we just stop for a minute and acknowledge that Wendy Davis wouldn't have even been able to filibuster last week if she was not physically able to stand for those 13 hours. Seriously. It's in the Texas law...a senator MUST stand to conduct a filibuster, regardless of their personal physical circumstances. Furthermore, I read that there were accessibility issues for the buildings and rooms involved, which presented real challenges to citizens participating in this process.
3) Tons of people feel the need to share their thoughts on the nature of the food donated, usually with the intent to fat shame and body and/or food police. So as a food passer-outer, I have a front row seat for all the weight/food related comments. Every 5th person makes some comment about how they "shouldn't take another cookie" or are "going to have to run an extra mile after this." Others bemoan that we need more "healthy" options or go with the whole, "well I guess I can be bad today" angle. As a happily fat person, who has learned to embrace who I am despite the chorus of "you're not good enoughs!" it is particularly frustrating to have so many people share their very personal food and health related values out loud over and over and over. The food that is provided by generous people from all over the country is to help sustain us as we engage with the political process. As such, it needs to be cost effective, easily available for delivery, and come in mass quantities.
That means that it's not going to work for everyone...and that's OK. What's not OK is sharing possibly triggering food/body thoughts with everyone else around the table.
As I've said before, I have been infinitely impressed with how diverse the people who have come together over this issue are. I've interacted with people of so many backgrounds, ages, and gender expressions, who hail from all over the state.
But if our movement is still marginalizing people, then we're doing it wrong.
I do not intend to needlessly criticize my fellow prochoicers who have been out there day after day...I admire our spirit and I'm proud to be a part of this. I just want us to be better, because the fact of the matter is that unless this movement addresses all of its own oppressive elements, it is inherently flawed and incomplete.
Please see the commenting policy before replying to this post.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
My In-Group Kerfuffle
I'm sure by now most of you have seen much more about the SB5 stuff and Wendy Davis, both of which have rightfully blown up the national (and international) media. Yesterday evening was a pretty amazing experience that I was so proud to be a part of, but I will spare you the details of the overall night. Needless to say, it was an important event, but one which is now behind us and we're got more work to do.
What I actually want to talk about is one appalling situation I encountered with another person who is in opposition to SB5. I've named it my "in-group kerfuffle."
What I actually want to talk about is one appalling situation I encountered with another person who is in opposition to SB5. I've named it my "in-group kerfuffle."
Monday, June 24, 2013
More Dispatches from the Front Lines of Choice
[Content note: rape]
So since I've last written, things are getting worse! As of right now, the House passed SB5, the 24 hour waiting period has been suspended for the senate, and it's hitting their floor. I wish I could get out there now, but I will have to wait until this evening. I'm trying to keep my chin up, but things aren't looking good. The idea was to delay this to the end of the special session Tuesday...just run the clock out, but Lieutenant Gov. Dewhurst has said Gov. Perry may just call another special session anyway. The fact of the matter is that the Republicans have the votes they need.
SIGH.
Anyway, all day yesterday I was at the capitol with over 1,000 other people in orange making our pro-choice presence known. I was passing out t-shirts with Planned Parenthood and helping to keep our overflow room (that I've dubbed the Prochoice Lair) clean and stocked with refreshments.
I was there when Representative Laubenberg made her now infamous comments. She said, "In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out." in an attempt to refute an amendment that would be added to the law with an exemption for rape victims. Clearly her claim is incredibly damaging and erroneous, but beyond that, it carries the extra horrible implications that "good girls" go and get a rape kit done when they are "really" raped.
I want to scream.
Please see the commenting policy before replying to this post.
So since I've last written, things are getting worse! As of right now, the House passed SB5, the 24 hour waiting period has been suspended for the senate, and it's hitting their floor. I wish I could get out there now, but I will have to wait until this evening. I'm trying to keep my chin up, but things aren't looking good. The idea was to delay this to the end of the special session Tuesday...just run the clock out, but Lieutenant Gov. Dewhurst has said Gov. Perry may just call another special session anyway. The fact of the matter is that the Republicans have the votes they need.
SIGH.
Anyway, all day yesterday I was at the capitol with over 1,000 other people in orange making our pro-choice presence known. I was passing out t-shirts with Planned Parenthood and helping to keep our overflow room (that I've dubbed the Prochoice Lair) clean and stocked with refreshments.
 |
| [Image text: from inside the Texas Capitol Rotunda looking up at the three levels of pro-choice protesters. What you can't see is the 200-ish people on the ground floor with me.] |
I was there when Representative Laubenberg made her now infamous comments. She said, "In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out." in an attempt to refute an amendment that would be added to the law with an exemption for rape victims. Clearly her claim is incredibly damaging and erroneous, but beyond that, it carries the extra horrible implications that "good girls" go and get a rape kit done when they are "really" raped.
I want to scream.
Please see the commenting policy before replying to this post.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Dispatches from the Front Lines of Choice
Have you heard about HB60/SO5 in Texas? It's an omnibus anti-abortion bill which would limit abortion to 20 weeks or before and close 42 of the state's currently safe, licensed clinics, leaving just 5 for a population of 26 million. Many people in rural areas would have to drive even further than they already are, including commutes up to 8 hours. Because there are already waiting periods on the books here, many people in rural areas would now need to be able to arrange travel, accommodations, child care, etc. for 3-4 day trips into the state's major metropolitan areas for abortion services. And that's only if the pregnancy is even discovered in time.
Choice is currently abysmal here, but this would be devastating, especially on poor, rural, people of color. It's the equivalent of having whole other-state-sized regions without clinics.
I've kept an eye out on the local coverage through the Lilith Fund, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood. There have been several protests and hearings already this week. Last night there was a people's filibuster scheduled for HB60, specifically. People began arriving at the capital at 1 pm. I had to work until 6, so I figured I'd just keep up to date on it all via Twitter. When I finally logged on around 8:30 pm, I realized that people were just beginning to make their testimonies. I was really pulled in by what I was reading and I knew I couldn't sit on my couch all night. I didn't want to testify, but I figured I could be there for support and help out in some way.
Fortunately, Mr. Nerdy Feminist was willing to drop me off and I was able to get in touch with my friend, who works in Planned Parenthood's community outreach department and would be there all night assisting testifiers. She told me that things would be going into the early morning and encouraged me to just come on down and jump in. Thankfully, I have a flexible job and was able to confirm that I could come in at 11 am today, so that I could at least catch a few hours of sleep.
When I got there around 9, I signed in as a non testifying witness in opposition to the bill. I helped my friend with a few tasks like getting email addresses, directing people to food, and answer questions the best I could. But mostly I listened to the people around me and offered my support.
It was an incredibly important, although tense, night. A vast majority of the approximately 700 people there were speaking in opposition to the bill. I was truly moved and humbled by the stories shared and I can't say enough how much I admire the many people who told their deeply personal stories to the committee.
I can't tell you how many times I had a lump in my throat.
Anti-choice committee chair Representative Byron Cook, did not handle things well. He was very short with prochoice speakers and cut things off a few times, calling the stories repetitive. Many people didn't get to speak at all. As has been widely reported, one woman, Lesli Simms (I know her!) pointed out in her testimony “Our words are not repetitive. Our government’s attacks on our choice, on our bodies, is repetitive.”
It's amazing how Representative Cook didn't seem to conclude that the testimony might be repetitive
because there is not wide spread support for this legislation. Did that get through to him?
All in all the filibuster was successful and things are being punted to the next stages without a vote for now. It's also likely that the horrible way that the hearing was run will raise "points of order" and there would have to be a second hearing. (I will admit that I still don't fully understand Texas political processes, but I'm trying to learn.)
I just hope we can continue to stall until the special session ends Tuesday, without this bill passing.
Last night I tweeted, "I swear I will lose my shit if this passes and I see coastal liberals making 'yuk yuk ass backwards TX' comments. We so showed up tonight. We're fighting and trying. DO NOT erase that fact later because you weren't paying attention." I SO stand by that sentiment this morning. Last night was hands down one of the most moving, important nights of my life. I heard directly from people of all backgrounds, colors, gender expressions, and ages---but who were all Texans, just how important choice is to them. I used to be a northerner who thought Texas was some conservative cesspool of a joke. (And I was in equally conservative Indiana, what was a thinking?!) But I have come to learn, first hand, how passionate the people here are about their rights.
Please: Do not dismiss that with thoughtless jokes, especially if you live in a state where choice is a given, and you've never stood in a crowded chamber for 14 hours waiting to beg a committee to trust you to make decisions about your own body.
I am so proud to have contributed to this effort in the very small way that I did. I'm so proud of the support that came from across the nation. (Pizzas from California, y'all!) I'm so proud of Representative Ferrar, the only friendly member of the committee, who stood up and apologized for the behavior of her cohorts, thanked us for being there after 4 am, and implored us to stay engaged and not be discouraged by the evening (we weren't!) I'm proud of Representative Howard who is not even on the committee, but stayed present until the very end, as a sign of her support and solidarity.
But mostly I'm proud of all the impassioned, brave Texans who stood up and told their stories. I'm so thankful for you, and just totally in awe.
No matter the outcome, this process was really important.
For more about the evening:
RH Reality Check
Think Progress
Update 1:30: Sad to report, HB60 just passed out of committee.
Please see the commenting policy before replying to this post.
Choice is currently abysmal here, but this would be devastating, especially on poor, rural, people of color. It's the equivalent of having whole other-state-sized regions without clinics.
I've kept an eye out on the local coverage through the Lilith Fund, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood. There have been several protests and hearings already this week. Last night there was a people's filibuster scheduled for HB60, specifically. People began arriving at the capital at 1 pm. I had to work until 6, so I figured I'd just keep up to date on it all via Twitter. When I finally logged on around 8:30 pm, I realized that people were just beginning to make their testimonies. I was really pulled in by what I was reading and I knew I couldn't sit on my couch all night. I didn't want to testify, but I figured I could be there for support and help out in some way.
Fortunately, Mr. Nerdy Feminist was willing to drop me off and I was able to get in touch with my friend, who works in Planned Parenthood's community outreach department and would be there all night assisting testifiers. She told me that things would be going into the early morning and encouraged me to just come on down and jump in. Thankfully, I have a flexible job and was able to confirm that I could come in at 11 am today, so that I could at least catch a few hours of sleep.
When I got there around 9, I signed in as a non testifying witness in opposition to the bill. I helped my friend with a few tasks like getting email addresses, directing people to food, and answer questions the best I could. But mostly I listened to the people around me and offered my support.
It was an incredibly important, although tense, night. A vast majority of the approximately 700 people there were speaking in opposition to the bill. I was truly moved and humbled by the stories shared and I can't say enough how much I admire the many people who told their deeply personal stories to the committee.
I can't tell you how many times I had a lump in my throat.
Anti-choice committee chair Representative Byron Cook, did not handle things well. He was very short with prochoice speakers and cut things off a few times, calling the stories repetitive. Many people didn't get to speak at all. As has been widely reported, one woman, Lesli Simms (I know her!) pointed out in her testimony “Our words are not repetitive. Our government’s attacks on our choice, on our bodies, is repetitive.”
It's amazing how Representative Cook didn't seem to conclude that the testimony might be repetitive
because there is not wide spread support for this legislation. Did that get through to him?
All in all the filibuster was successful and things are being punted to the next stages without a vote for now. It's also likely that the horrible way that the hearing was run will raise "points of order" and there would have to be a second hearing. (I will admit that I still don't fully understand Texas political processes, but I'm trying to learn.)
I just hope we can continue to stall until the special session ends Tuesday, without this bill passing.
Last night I tweeted, "I swear I will lose my shit if this passes and I see coastal liberals making 'yuk yuk ass backwards TX' comments. We so showed up tonight. We're fighting and trying. DO NOT erase that fact later because you weren't paying attention." I SO stand by that sentiment this morning. Last night was hands down one of the most moving, important nights of my life. I heard directly from people of all backgrounds, colors, gender expressions, and ages---but who were all Texans, just how important choice is to them. I used to be a northerner who thought Texas was some conservative cesspool of a joke. (And I was in equally conservative Indiana, what was a thinking?!) But I have come to learn, first hand, how passionate the people here are about their rights.
Please: Do not dismiss that with thoughtless jokes, especially if you live in a state where choice is a given, and you've never stood in a crowded chamber for 14 hours waiting to beg a committee to trust you to make decisions about your own body.
I am so proud to have contributed to this effort in the very small way that I did. I'm so proud of the support that came from across the nation. (Pizzas from California, y'all!) I'm so proud of Representative Ferrar, the only friendly member of the committee, who stood up and apologized for the behavior of her cohorts, thanked us for being there after 4 am, and implored us to stay engaged and not be discouraged by the evening (we weren't!) I'm proud of Representative Howard who is not even on the committee, but stayed present until the very end, as a sign of her support and solidarity.
But mostly I'm proud of all the impassioned, brave Texans who stood up and told their stories. I'm so thankful for you, and just totally in awe.
No matter the outcome, this process was really important.
For more about the evening:
RH Reality Check
Think Progress
Update 1:30: Sad to report, HB60 just passed out of committee.
Please see the commenting policy before replying to this post.
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