Recently in Events Category

On Wednesday the Planned Parenthood of NYC Action Fund hosted a panel that brought together three awesome New York feminists: Feministing's own Jessica Valenti, Lynn Harris of Salon's Broadsheet, and former Planned Parenthood Federation president Gloria Feldt .

The discussion roamed from women in the comedy world to Abby Johnson , the Planned Parenthood director turned anti-choice activist, to the weaknesses of the term "pro-choice" in the rhetorical battle over abortion rights. But the conversation centered on the speakers' relationship to feminism--how they came to identify as feminists, how it is has influenced their lives at various stages, and how we can get more young people to embrace the label.

I was especially fascinated to hear about their paths to feminism. Both Jessica and Lynn said their first moments of feminist awareness came at a young age--in 3rd grade--before they had the language to give a name to their sense of injustice. For Lynn it was listening to her gym teacher explain to the class how to do "push-ups" and "girl push-ups." For Jessica it was when the boys on her team told her to pretend to be sick when it was her turn at bat in a class softball game. Yet, despite growing up in feminist-minded families--Jessica even attended pro-choice protests with her mom as a kid--both said it wasn't until they were young adults--going off to college, taking their first Women's Studies courses--that they came to identify with feminism on a personal level.

Gloria's path to feminism, on the other hand, was a bit different. A self-described "desperate housewife in Texas," who had three children by the time she was 20, Gloria said the invention of the birth control pill literally saved her life. Eventually she discovered a new magazine called Ms., sought out the NOW chapter in her small-town community, and never looked back. For her--coming to feminism in that way, in that time period--the personal was political and vice versa from the very beginning.

As a woman in my early 20s, I identify with Jessica and Lynn's path--and I'd wager a lot of younger feminists have had a similar journey. Growing up in a family and community in which a belief in gender equality was kind of taken for granted, I certainly signed onto the political goals of feminism long before I came to appreciate feminism on a personal level. I believed in it--in a kind of abstract way--before I really felt it. And it was only when I started to make the link between how I felt and what I believed--between the personal and the political--and realized that feminism really does provide a lens through which to look at the entire world, that I came to identify as a feminist.

How about you? What was your path? When did you start to really feel the power of feminism?

Crossposted at the NOW-NYS Young Feminist Task Force blog .

Hi guys, This Wednesday the Planned Parenthood of New York City Activist Council is putting on a pretty cool event: a pannel discussion with Jessica Valenti , Lynn Harris and Gloria Feldt on their relationship with feminism. We'll be talking about what feminism means to us, how our outlooks have changed over the years and what we've found the most rewarding & challenging.

In addition, the PPNYC Action Fund 's political team will be discussing New York City's recent elections: who won, what their politics are, and what this means for women in New York City moving forward.

So check it out ! The event will be at The Tank, is only $15, and includes a happy hour and mingling, and the whole shebang is a fundraiser for the PPNYC Action Fund .

Get your tickets before they sell out! It should be a great evening!

Well, it's been a little over a year now that the Toujours Rebelles conference occurred in downtown Montreal (see here for more info).  Chapters of young feminists now exist across Canada and I am pleased to say that in Montreal a meeting is to occur to organize the Montreal chapter :

The 5th of November at 6:00 pm in restaurant Le Commensale, 1720 St-Denis street !

A meeting of the Montreal regional council of young Rebelles feminists

For more information on the Rebelles movement see : http://www.rebelles.org/en/node or email us at rebellesmontreal@gmail.com or come visit us on facebook at Collectif régional montréalais rebELLEs.

Cross-posted from my (rather young) blog at:

On Saturday I attended 'Feminism in London 09 '. The day was a mixed experience, but two sessions I attended stood out as excellent and made a deep impact on me: the anti-porn slideshow 'It's easy out here for a pimp', and the panel discussion 'What's wrong with prostitution?'

The most inspiring and encouraging element of both these sessions was the clear indication they gave that when I object to pornography or to prostitution, I am not being a prude or a killjoy, and I am far from alone among feminists. The anti-porn slideshow included an examination of the type of advice teenage girls are given when they write, confused and upset, to agony aunts about their boyfriends' use of porn. They are almost invariably told that watching porn is a harmless, natural, normal pastime for males, and that if they want to keep their man, or any man, they had better shut up, stop nagging and get used to it. To me it has seemed for a while that those who object to porn are characterised as dysfunctional, and it can therefore be very difficult even to begin a debate. Furthermore, where both porn and prostitution are concerned, I've sometimes found that my distaste is so deep and emotional that it can be hard to put forward my position without resorting to angry, frustrated spluttering that gets me nowhere. Just as I did when recently I read Clare Short's (1991) book Dear Clare...this is what women feel about Page 3 , I felt a huge sense of relief to find that others are passionate about this issue too, and at having the space to begin thinking about it more clearly. To say it was empowering almost sounds like a cliché these days, but there's no other word for it.

The Arab Feminism(s): A Critical Perspective conference opened this week at the American University of Beirut.

I've been blogging and tweeting regularly about it. It's a very challenging space for us (younger more radical) feminists to be in. At times it is exhilarating and at times depressing. But what is for sure that it is a great opportunity for us to look at histories and currencies of Arab feminism. In the very least, it helps us understand why we are in such a backwards situation today.

So I thought I'd give you all a heads up.

Nadz

On September 25th - 27th, roughly 70 teenage girls from Northern Arizona will gather on Mingus Mountain to talk about feminism, sexism, future dreams, leadership, global citizenship, rape culture, and all kinds of light-hearted things like, how to change the oil in your car, creative expression through art, activism, song writing, and journaling.  Throughout the weekend over 20 workshops will be offered on the topics mentioned above, a film festival of written and directed women's films will show on Saturday Night, along with an outrageous dance party, a fire circle, and of course s'mores.  The WEB Conference is run entirely by young women in Prescott, AZ who volunteer their time to be counselors and workshop presenters.  If you are interested in volunteering over the weekend, attending the conference, or learning about how you can offer one in your local town, please call Courtney at 928-350-1007.  Thanks!

Hello, Feministing-ers! 

I've been a bit absent from the community blog for a few weeks, so lots of catching up to do.  I'm just popping in because I'm thrilled to say that I got a scholarship to the Women & Power conference, and I'm wondering if anyone else is going that I can look for?  It would be great to meet some Feministing folks there.  I'm going on my own and don't know of anyone else going, but I figured either way I'd meet some awesome people and have a good time.

Join Frances and Jen as we plan the organizational direction of Savvy Sex! We plan to discuss future events and political actions that are inline with our mission as well as our communications, fundraising, sponsorship and recruitment plans. We'd love your input! This is a wonderful chance to help guide the direction of the group and plan events, or to just sit back and drink wine with like minded people.

Please send us your contact info (cell) upon RSVPing as we'll send you ours so that we can make sure no one gets left out.

There is a $2.00 charge to cover Meetup costs.

We hope to see you there! Please contact us at SavvySex@ymail.com or on our meetup site with any questions you may have. For location, date and time details, please visit our site. Thanks!

*Savvy Sex is a new-wave organization devoted to the promotion of healthy attitudes and politics regarding gender identity, sexual orientation and sexuality.

I attended a luncheon event put on by womenwinning today and got to hear some great words from MN Senator Amy Klobuchar and other amazing women. Gloria Steinem was the keynote speaker and I wanted to share some of what she had to say and see what you all thought. She talked about a number of things that I have seen discussed here on Feministing. Here are some highlights:

As children many of us were young and rebellious. As we grew, we tended to fit into the "mold" of girlhood until later in our lives when the rebelliousness comes back. Though many try to convince us that there is no need for any sort of women's or feminist movement, there totally is.

Our society is pretty convinced that women can do what men do, but we have to work on convincing people that men can do what women do as well, such as helping out with housework and childcare, among other things.

Those who claim that there is not discrimination may have simply accepted the status quo or are not exposed to the realities of others' lives.

Caregiving is important and should be compensated somehow. It makes up 30% of productive work in the U.S. and it's about time people got recognized for it.


Continue reading Womenwinning luncheon featuring Gloria Steinem.
Posted by wazzi0024 - June 15, 2009, at 04:32PM | in Events

Paradigm Shift NYC’s Feminist Community Proudly Presents:
FREE PARTY/ OPEN MIC
Celebrating Blog & Paradigm Shift TV Launch & LGBT Pride!
Bloggers & Videos Wanted!
http://www.ParadigmShiftNYC.com

RSVP on MEET UP:
http://www.meetup.com/feminism-paradigmshiftnyc-com/calendar/10381128/

When: THIS WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2009
Time: 7:00 PM

Where: In the heart of the Feminist District!
People Lounge, 163 Allen Street, NYC
(Between Stanton and Rivington, F or V Train to 2nd Ave)
HopStop.com Directions:
http://www.hopstop.com/route?zip2=10002&address2=163+ALLEN+ST&mode=s

Cost: FREE!

Featured Performers:
- Rickie of Twilight of the Idle
www.myspace.com/twilightoftheidle

- Valerie Eskridge
www.myspace.com/ValerieEskridgeMusic

- Jennifer Friedman
www.jennfriedman.com

- Inky Glass, Singer and poet
www.reverbnation.com/inkyglass

- Phoenix, Poet

ALL WELCOME to CELEBRATE & PARTICIPATE!!!

GUEST BLOGGERS WANTED!
Content can be:
your personal story
editorials
interviews
reviews
poetry
creative non fiction
fiction
ideas welcome!

Email post to:
Blog@paradigmshiftnyc.com

SHORT VIDEOS WANTED (up to 10 min)
Original content can be related to:
your POV, feminism, women’s issues, LGBT issues, your activism or
work, your passions, your performances, music videos, ideas welcome!

Post private video to YouTube and send a link to:
ssmith@paradigmshiftnyc.com
or
email video to above address

Just a heads up that Gloria Steinem will be speaking at a luncheon on Monday, June 15 in Minneapolis, MN. Ticket sales were done at 5 PM today, but I'll be there taking some notes and will hopefully post about it after the event on Monday. It's an event put on by womenwinning, which is an organization in MN that helps get pro-choice women elected. Here is a link to their website if anyone is interested: www.womenwinning.org

There is going to be a candlelight vigil to Honor and Celebrate Dr. George Tiller on Wednesday June 17th 7:30-9:30pm at the University of Michigan Central Campus Diag

Please contact nfpjennifer@yahoo.com for more information.

Dr. George Tiller, a Kansas abortion provider, was brutally murdered Sunday morning in his church. His murder was the result of years of escalating violence that included a clinic bombing and an attempt on his life. Yet, the threats and harassment did not deter Dr. Tiller from his commitment to women and reproductive health care.

Dr. Tiller was one of few late-term abortion providers in the country. Women came to him when their pregnancies posed life-threatening complications or the fetus had severe fetal abnormalities. He helped women with compassion and grace, not judgment.

His loss is devastating, but the hope of our vigil is to give people a chance to heal, mourn his loss, and begin to create a dialogue about how we can work towards the root of unintended pregnancy and abortion. I hope that you can join us!

Details
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009
Time: 7-8pm
Location: First Unitarian Church, 1000 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA

If you're in the Milwaukee area or love Julia Serano so much that you are willing to drive to Milwaukee, WI, please feel free to come to her speaking event at Marquette University (I know, props to the Jesuit uni for putting this through!). 

With all the recent trans discussion here on Feministing, I thought people might be interested in Julia's appearance

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009

Time:7PM

Location:

The event is being sponsored by the student feminist group (Empowerment), the Gay Straight Alliance, and Marquette University Student Government. 

Please come and support this awesome, FREE, event!

Brooklyn Museum celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art
Feminism Now: New Feminist Art Scholarship
Saturday, March 28, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor

Highlighting the work of emerging scholars, including graduate and postgraduate students, Feminism Now presents groundbreaking contemporary research reflecting new directions and perspectives in feminist scholarship on a wide range of feminist issues and topics.

Q. What is HERstory week?
A. HERstory week is a week of original events brought to you by the TCU Women's Network. These events signify the past, present, and future of women's history, rights, and issues.

Q. Who are we?
A. We are students of Texas Christian University (TCU) who strongly believe in raising awareness and promoting women's rights and issues. And we are not afraid of taking a stand for the rights of women everywhere!

Q. What are the schedule of events?
A. MONDAY (March 23) "Faith and Feminism", a panel discussion on feminism and religion/spirituality.
Location: Clinkscale in the BLUU
Time: 4:30-5:30

TUESDAY (March 24)- Movie Night! A screening of the 2003 film "Mona Lisa Smile"
Location: Moudy 141 N.
Time: 7 pm-9pm

WEDNESDAY (March 25)-"Gender and Satire: Friends or Enemies?" A discussion of how gender in satire can be used as a positive and negative weapon...complete with a "Simpsons" episode and SNL commercials!
Location: Reed 101
Time: 7 pm-9pm

THURSDAY (March 26)- Women and Sports
Location: TBA
Date: TBA

FRIDAY (MARCH 27)- "Check for Lumps not Humps!" session. We will be hosting a session on how to conduct a correct self-examination.
Location: In front of the library steps
Time: 12pm- 2pm

As mothers, caretakers, workers, community members and activists, we have many stories of illness, unemployment, marginalization, anxiety, and vulnerability.  We often hear many of these stories and perspectives on Feministing.com. Now is a crucial moment in the political mobilization for a new health care system – and women’s voices on the grassroots level are critical. We have too much important experience to share, we cannot stay silent.

While some pundits speculated during the election season that, come the new administration, the “health care issue” would fall by the wayside in the midst of more pressing economic concerns, President Obama has made it clear that our health care is not something we can afford to put off any longer.  On March 4, the President hosted a White House Forum on Health Reform where he remarked that the present day effort to reform the health care system is distinctly different from any in the past in that “this time the call for reform is coming from the bottom up.”

I work at Raising Women’s Voices, a national initiative that engages a broad array of women’s health advocates in local, state, and national reform discussions to ensure that women’s concerns are addressed at every stage of these efforts. And we’re hosting an event to make sure that the country hears our voices.

Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need is staging a SpeakOut on the evening of April 1, in New York City, where women’s perspectives about their health care needs and those of their families will be powerfully articulated, genuinely considered and incorporated into health care reform plans.

As an intern in women’s health advocacy, it is encouraging to hear the President of the United States say these words; to know that he and his administration are tuned into the discussions being generated on the grassroots level across the country.  This is critical to any hope of constructing a truly inclusive health care system, given the individualized medical and insurance concerns that afflict many of our communities.

The current system is riddled with disparities in every conceivable form, too many of which have been invisible to the national eye and fallen on the deaf ears of policymakers for far too long.  Tens of millions of Americans struggle to live under a health care system that reinforces broader social and economic inequalities on the basis of race, gender, sexuality, citizenship, and more.  These disparities are propagated by a system that neglects to properly train health care providers in culturally sensitive ways; enables insurance companies to discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions, such as C-sections and breast cancer; allows for ideologically-based distinctions between what type of care is considered eligible for coverage and what is not, such as medical expenses related to gender transitioning; disproportionately punishes women who are more likely than men to have part-time jobs or work in industries that do not provide employer-based coverage; and the list goes on.

There is unquantifiable value in blogging about our anger and frustrations with a government that thinks certain people’s health concerns are more valid than others and seems more interested in protecting the interests of insurance companies than its own people.  We also need to share our own stories.  If we don’t speak our stories, then policy-makers and administration officials won’t know that we care about getting health care reform that truly meets our needs!

We want to hear from women of all ages and from all backgrounds about your experiences with the health care system.  Many women tend to minimize their experiences; they feel their stories are not “harrowing enough,” that they were not “sick enough,” or that they have not “suffered enough” to warrant speaking out.  But the Raising Women’s Voices initiative seeks to give a platform to all women who feel the coverage or treatment they received was less than adequate, and who demand better health care for themselves, their families, and their communities.

If you would consider sharing your story at the SpeakOut, please reach out to us by calling 212-870-2010 or emailing info@raisingwomensvoices.net

Our voices will be heard on Wednesday, April 1, at the Interchurch Center (475 Riverside Drive) in New York City. Come and join us!

Women & Power: Connecting Across the Generations 

From now until the conference, this space will explore:

• How can we build bridges across the generations that inspire and empower women to change the world?

Visit our website for detailed information on the conference.

Check back often to see new posts and new opportunities to be involved.

Lately all my sentences are punctuated with exclamation points, and I can only assume it is a direct affect of Feministing's own, Jessica Valenti's upcoming lecture at Bryn Mawr College! (there I go again)

Jessica will be speaking at the college this Thursday, March 19th at 7:30 PM in Dalton Hall 300. Bryn Mawr is located about 30 minuted from center city Philadelphia (right off the SEPTA R5) - Dalton Hall is on the corner of Merion Avenue and New Gulph Road, and room 300 is on the top floor. The lecture is free and open to Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges. The college has granted permission to not be so exclusive (woo!) and open the event (free of charge) to the Feministing community - please come! The event has been posted on the Feministing calendar for 7pm - never hurts to get there early!

Jessica's the lecture will cover her work online, young feminism, and her most recent book, The Purity Myth!

Monday, 23 March 2009 - 4 PM to 8:30 PM

Butler University, Reilly Room of Atherton Union - 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN

Women's Fest '09 is a fundraiser for The Julian Center, a domestic violence shelter - an evening of live music (performances from local female emcees Mz Fe and Ms Stress, plus Butler students), food, activities, prizes, and glory for women in music.

Guests will find an array of delicious food to munch while touring our activities - add to the community painting, sound off to sexist celebs, test your knowledge of women's history, learn how you can volunteer with local non-profits who need your help, and enter to win fantastic prizes.

ADMISSION:
$5 general; $3 with Butler ID; or waived with the donation of a hygiene or food item. All proceeds benefit the Julian Center. This event is open to the public.

Questions? Email ktruman@butler.edu or bhanseng@butler.edu.

A shout out to anyone in the Pioneer Valley/5 College Area!

No, it isn't Ryan Sorba this time, but it is someone equally abhorrent, who you've probably never heard of. His name is Don Feder, and he is against hate crime legislation. Here are some choice quotes from his website:

Single mothers – Otherwise known as child abusers.

Same-sex unions – A euphemism for homosexual marriage, otherwise known as state-sanctioned sodomy.

Homeless -...At least two-thirds of the habitation-deprived (reputed victims of a heartless, capitalistic society) are chronic alcoholics, addicts, mentally ill, or a combination thereof. The majority of the homeless with children are – come on, you can guess – single mothers.

So, if you protested Ryan Sorba (or wish you had), go protest this clown at 7:00 at Cape Cod Lounge. Admission is free if you want to protest inside.

Here's more information on Feder and the event.

Cross-posted at FSU .

Demia: Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance is proud to present Women's Fest '09.

This event benefits the Julian Center, a local domestic violence shelter. WF '09 features live music from local female musicians, free food, games, prizes, and an informal volunteer drive.

Admission: $5 general; $3 with Butler ID; waived with donation of a personal care item or food product.

when: Monday, March 23, 4pm to 8:30pm

where: Butler University, Atherton Union, Reilly Room. 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46208

Dear all,

I'm participating in a panel with the topic of "Different Views of Iran and Iranian Women: Beyond Stereotypes" today (March 2nd) at 3 pm in Los Angeles. I will be speaking about the Iranian feminist movement and especially the One Million Signatures Campaign.

The event is being held at the Oviatt Library in California State University Northridge. Feel free to drop in if you were interested. 

Last week I attended a freelance writer’s panel hosted by Feministing’s Courtney Martin. I’m a little late in posting on it, but I promised on my Feminist code of honor. I have always considered myself a writer, but in the two years since I graduated with a (expensive) BA in English, my decisions have led me into a totally unrelated field. And I’m miserable (my boss is also a totally bigoted, misogynistic, racist tool, but that’s another post). My job is a special kind of torture, so when I saw Courtney’s post I knew it was the perfect time to do something physical with my Feministing-addiction rather than let my work-life continue to send me into fits of nervous prostration.

So my partner and a friend of ours- all of us self-described writers- filed into the 92Y in Tribeca, an awesome new community center that offers a ton of workshops and artsy events that immediately spoke to my soul. The panelists featured were several young NY writers, Kimmi Auerback , Kate Torgovnick , Theo Ganji , Joie Jager-Hyman , and of course, Courtney Martin. They are all part of a writers group that meets every other week for 3 hours of wine, food, and critique- my kind of party. Job-woes had me desperate for answers, and the panel provided. It was like waking up. My pen couldn’t keep up with my ears. When Courtney listed feminist publications that pay, I was inviting some serious carpal tunnel. The information provided, in between laughs and useful anecdotes, was both supplementary and eye-opening.

So I found this great website in support of Obama's plan to "Renew America."

There were several events planned to honor Martin Luther King Day. I was able to participate in the MLK food drive, and was quite pleased at the generosity of my friends/co-workers/neighbors.

I had initially wanted to sign up to read to homeless children at a shelter, or volunteer at a shelter for the "Retired" Greyhounds, whom are no longer forced to race due to the prevailing vote to cease dog racing (yay!) this past election.

I was not able to take part in these activities due to the fact that the maximum volunteer capacity filled up quite quickly! What a refreshing feeling to know that so many people care, (although I love dogs and reading to children, oh well, next time...).

I wanted to share this website with you all. It's super easy to sign up for and you will not be bombarded with spam or other such nonsense. All it really asks for is your name, email and zip code. It is then up to you to browse events in your area in which you can sign up to volunteer for.

I plan on visiting this site frequently. You should too!

If you are in D.C. today (Monday, January 5) and want to start 2009 off on the right (feminist) foot, join the members of YWTF and celebrate the launch of Stand Up for DC Women!, a project that aims to raise awareness about injustices in the treatment of sexual assault victims by law enforcement and health care institutions in D.C., educate the community on the rights of sexual assault victims, and ensure that all victims of sexual assault receive adequate care through D.C. hospitals and law enforcement agencies.

When: Monday, January 5, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: The CommonWealth Pub
Street: 1400 Irving Street, NW (Columbia Heights Metro)
City/Town: Washington, DC

Each year, an estimated 1,735 women living in DC will be raped. Eighty-four percent of all sexual assaults go unreported and a common barrier for not reporting is fear. YWTF believes that when more women are educated on the rights of sexual assault victims, there will be an increase in reporting.

Reminder - Los Angeles Feministing Reader Holiday Happy Hour at the cozy Redwood Bar tonight, 7-10 pm. Drop in and take a break from holiday stresses!

All are welcome - come party, network, and celebrate the holidays with Feministing readers from LA!

If you're on Facebook, more details here. Or see Vanessa's post on the main page here. Thanks to Vanessa for being a huge help, and to fellow reader Mahlena-Rae Johnson in LA for helping to organize.

**ping us in the comments if you're an LA reader!

NARAL Pro-Choice New York is throwing a party in your honor as a thank you for all your hard work this election season. Together, we secured a democratic majority in the New York senate and elected a pro-choice president. Now it's time to party!

Come together with fellow pro-choicers for a night of open mic, food, games and prizes.
We encourage new faces to join in on the party.

Please bring something to share: a food dish, song, friend or willingness to get on stage and tell your story. It's your choice!

Thursday December 4th, 6-9pm
the cell theatre 338 W.23rd St. NYC between 8th & 9th
Take the 1, C, or E to the 23rd St. stop or the M23

RSVP to Lalena Howard at 646-520-3506 or lhoward@prochoiceny.org with your name, phone number and what you plan to bring.

im trying to gauge the interest in a happy hour in the dallas/fort worth area.  i cant be the only reader in the not on the east coast.  im in west fort worth so im partial to doing it in fort worth, but whatever's clever.

i would also like a child/mother-friendly venue if there are women unable to find child-care or have nurslings.  friday night or the weekend is also preferable.

any takers?

Tonight, H*yas for Choice (the unofficial pro-choice group of students at Georgetown University) will have a fundraiser/bar night:

Rhino Bar
$20 Open Bar
9pm - midnight
3295 M St NW
Washington, DC 20007

Facebook Event

I know it's short notice, but if anyone in the DC area can come, we'd appreciate it!

As a Pro-Choice group at a Jesuit institution, H*yas for Choice does not receive any funding from the university. We are also the only source of condoms within 6 blocks of our campus and rely entirely upon donations to provide this resource. This event is a fundraiser to help us make sure that we can continue to provide condoms and comprehensive sexual education on our campus. H*yas for Choice runs into many bureaucratic issues trying to provide this as we are only allowed to operate in "free speech zones" on campus and are not even afforded the "privilege" of using the university name (hence the asterisk).

So, if you're in the DC area and want to support free access to condoms and sex ed on a college campus in need (or just want to hang out with some awesome, pro-choice, feminist college students) please come by!

For more information about the history of H*yas for Choice please visit our website.

Purity balls. Abstinence-only sex education. The global gag rule. In a political environment in which sex and the prevention of pregnancy and STIs are dirty topics of discussion, younger women are faced with extreme challenges as they seek credible facts about sexuality and sexual health. Christina Page’s How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America: Freedom, Politics , and the War on Sex reveals that the anti-abortion, anti-sex crusaders are damaging not only our access to family planning tools and health information, but preventing our access to the basic American rights of independence, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness.

Join YWTF-NYC as we discuss the book with the author, Christina Page. Bring your questions and concerns to the table in an open conversation about health, women’s rights, and politics.

Date & Time: Monday, November 17, 7 PM
Location: NARAL Pro-Choice New York

Please RSVP.

Younger Women's Taskforce--NYC Metro Chapter YWTF-NYC), the foremost organization on New York City's women in their 20s and 30s , empowers younger women in the New York metro area politically, professionally, and personally by building a grassroots community that allows a space for younger women to learn about and take leadership on issues that matter most to them.

Twin Cities feminists:

The Center on Women and Public Policy at the Humphrey Institute for Public Affairs (301 19th Ave. South) would like to invite local pro-choice feminists to a small, informal lunch on Tuesday, October 28th with Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America. YOU MUST RSVP. Please see below for further details. For more information about the Center, please go here.

Join us for lunch with
Nancy Keenan, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America
 
Tuesday, October 28
Noon
Room 180, Humphrey Center

 
Nancy Keenan began her tenure as president of NARAL Pro-Choice America in December 2004. Committed to working on behalf of America's pro-choice majority, Nancy took the reins of the organization pledging to protect and defend the American values of freedom and privacy.

A successful elected official in her native state of Montana, Nancy applied her experiences as a candidate in overseeing NARAL Pro-Choice America's political program in the 2006 midterm elections, which helped fuel the gain of 23 pro-choice seats in the U.S. House and three in the U.S. Senate. The organization also worked with state-based leaders to defeat three anti-choice ballot measures, including the repeal of an abortion ban in South Dakota that was designed as a direct threat to Roe v. Wade .

RSVP:  Sue Finnegan 

Meet at NARAL Pro-Choice New York offices

470 Park Ave. South , 7th Floor

Buses leave at 7:30 am.  We will be back around 7pm

Take a ride on the pro-choice bus with us to Pennsylvania. W e will go door to door and turn out the pro-choice vote for Barack Obama and local pro-choice candidates !

Wednesday, October 15th

Hofstra University

Congregate at 7:00 pm at the “Freedom of Speech” area at Hagadorn Hall Lot for rally.  Lot is at corner of Uniondale Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike. I <3 Pro-Choice New York T-shirts, signs, and buttons will be provided!

We will move to the Monroe Lecture Center at 8:00 to watch the simulcast of the debate

VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE PRINT YOUR PASS TO GET IN TO WATCH SIMULCAST OF DEBATE HERE

The debate will end at 10:30 pm

For directions to Hofstra by car and public transportation, please click here.

See complete schedule below

6:30-9:00 pm

NARAL offices 470 Park Ave. South, 7th Floor

Join us after work and make calls to thousands of voters right here from NYC! We will call New Yorkers and voters in swing states to make sure we elect pro-choice candidates to all levels of government.  Training, materials, and pizza provided!

** Phone Bank schedule - 10/16, 10/20, 10/22, 10/23, 10/27, 10/29, 10/30, 11/1, 11/2, 11/3**

Join NARAL Pro-Choice New York's president, advocates, and Rochester's pro-choice community in a night of celebrating pro-choice candidate for the State Senate, Rick Dollinger.

NARAL Pro-Choice New York's President, Kelli Conlin is speaking.  You don't want to miss this one!

RSVP to Lalena at lhoward@prochoiceny.org.

Tuesday, October 7th
7:00 pm
The Village Gate
274 North Goodman St.
Rochester, NY

Hi Everyone!

For anyone who is going to be in New York City during the month of October, there is an interesting and mostly unknown piece of feminist history on display down at the Metropolitan Playhouse, in the form of the 1913 play Nowadays by George Middleton.

Middleton (1880-19670), in addition to being a popular director and playwright, was an ardent feminist and prominent supporter of women's suffrage. He and his wife, actress and activist Flora "Fola" La Folette, participated in feminist meetings and gave lectures, and several of his plays dealt with marriage, equality and the rights of women.

Attention pro-choice Long Islanders!

Join NARAL Pro-Choice New York as we kick off the 2008 election season Long Island style at Spoon Coffee House, right across from the LIRR Lindenhurst stop.

Hey all. I'm an officer in my university's chapter of NOW. We're planning to take on several large projects this year, including the Vagina Monologues and protesting Amendment 2 (in FL). Recently we decided to also put together a huge Take Back the Night march. The problem is that none of us has ever done something like this before.

So I come to you. I know that many of you are activists and I'm sure many of you have participated previously in this event. I was hoping that you could share any tips that you might have. I'd especially like input from those who helped plan a march, but even if you just attended one, I'd like you to respond too. What did you like? What did you think was lame? What's something you'd like to see?

Thanks. <3

I woke up on Friday morning more invigorated and excited than I thought possible, considering I was waking up from a Tia Tequila-esque sleeping arrangement (push two double beds together and see how many people you can fit into a hotel room!), unshowered and still sore from driving seven hours across the Midwest, from Minneapolis to Chicago. And what was the cause of my joy, you may ask? The kick-off for the International Femme Conference! As one of the roomies and I walked downstairs to pick up our registration packets and search out liquid happiness (i.e. coffee), I found myself immersed in a sea of fabulousness - friendly smiles, shy and boisterous greetings, people with whom I felt instantly connected. Every time we would walk by someone wearing the conference lanyard I would turn to my friend with a "YAY!" It is a powerful thing, to be in a space with a large group of people who share some aspect of your identity; to have amazing, powerful presenters and keynote speakers articulate the unifying forces of femme and femininity; to be challenged to better ourselves, and our community, which reaches far beyond our social circles, queer spaces and fellow conference attendees.

Over the next few days I'll be putting up posts, recalling the immensely powerful and life-changing keynote addresses by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha , Dorothy Allison , Julia Serano and Veronica Combs, AKA Vixen Noir , some of the incredibly informative workshops (The Trouble with Femme History, Femmeizm Manifesto, Femme Community Organizing, among others), and the subversively sexy performances that occurred on Friday and Saturday night.

This Thursday, Lilly Ledbetter — the Alabama woman who was paid less than her male co-workers for nearly two decades — will be standing alongside Congressional leaders to rally in support of the bill that bears her name, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

Join us at the U.S. Capitol to show your support for fair pay for women!

Time: Thursday, July 17, 10 a.m.

Location: "Senate Swamp" — corner of Constitution and Delaware Avenues, NE, Washington, DC, across from the Senate Russell Office Building, near the Union Station Metro (here's a map )

Speakers will include:

• Lilly Ledbetter, plaintiff in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
• Senator Barbara Mikulski
• Senator Hillary Clinton
• Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro

Please RSVP if you'll be joining us so we can get a head count. You can also RSVP on Facebook .

More info on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is up on the National Women's Law Center's Fair Pay Campaign website .

Hope to see you there!