Since Roe vs. Wade passed in 1973, proponents and opponents of abortion have argued this very thing: what is considered a human being? Is it at the time of conception or after the first trimester of a woman’s pregnancy and beyond? A change in the law would deny a woman’s ability to get an abortion in the case of rape, incest, or a pregnancy in which the woman’s life is in danger, i.e. ectopic pregnancy. Under this law, certain contraceptives would be considered illegal including IUD’s, Plan B (the morning after pill), some oral contraceptives and in vitro fertilization would be restricted. Most frightening about the amendment is that a woman could be charged with a crime for a miscarried baby. Supporters of the bill note that the circumstances surrounding the miscarriage could determine whether a woman can be charged with a crime.

Women (and even men who are seemingly the most vocal proponents of the change) from both sides of the debate have vocalized their opinion about whose right it is to determine what a woman does with her body. With Georgia, Montana, Ohio, Oregon, and California proposing to have it on the ballot in 2012, one must ask if Mississippi’s failure to pass the law will have an adverse affect on future attempts across the country. The language presented in Mississippi’s bill can have various interpretations, which is cause for greater concern considering every person’s understanding of a word or phrase may vary. Slate.com presents a thorough breakdown of what Mississippi’s failed change proposed and gives you insight on how other states may mimic the same regulatory amendments on future ballots.

What say you? Do you think this type of amendment is fair to women? Sound off in the comment section below!

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There have been multiple discussions on this topic, with many outraged parents and even teen girls speaking their concerns and criticisms of the show. Most recently, I came across an article criticizing the show because they do not promote abortions.

An outraged blogger stated, “Where are the pregnant teens who choose not to stay pregnant? Where are the abortions? If MTV really wanted to prove themselves as responsible programmers, they would also feature pregnant teens who have abortions.”

She went on to complain that MTV decided that only pregnancies that ended in birth were worth documenting and that pregnancies that end up in abortion shouldn’t be shown.

The president of Concerned Women for America told Lifenews.com that “showing a teenager who had an abortion would trivialize the post-abortion problems many women face because such problems often take years to materialize”.

Since many people tune into a reality show to see how others deal with problems, having abortions on the show would not show the real consequences and emotional regrets that many women face years after their abortion has taken place.

What do you think? Should “16 & pregnant” show more abortions on the show? Or would showing abortions on the show glorify the situation like previous seasons?

Read more here.

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For Union, the Planned Parenthood controversy hits a personal note: Her best friend, who lacked health care, was able to receive both screening and treatment for cancer. Even though Union’s friend recently died from the disease, Union contends that Planned Parenthood still gave her friend a fighting chance. Read her words below!

“At the age of 32, my girlfriend Kristen Martinez was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. She fought incredibly hard for five years but ultimately lost her battle with breast cancer on June 16, 2010.

We knew she wasn’t going to make it this past summer, so I asked her, What’s the one thing that you want young girls to take away, what do you want your legacy to be?

She said just to remind people and women, especially, that you are your own best advocate, and if you don’t put you first, no one else will. With all that’s going on in the media about Planned Parenthood and abortions, I think the media is doing the public a great disservice. The fact that only 3 percent of the services that Planned Parenthood provides are abortions makes you wonder what’s happening with the other 97 percent of what Planned Parenthood is doing… READ THE REST HERE!

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Georgia Rep. Calls For Death Penalty For Women Who Miscarry

Yes, really.

Rep. Franklin’s 10 page bill states that any miscarriage in which the mother could not prove that there was no ‘human involvement’, would be classed as a felony and punishable by life in prison or the death sentence. Further, the bill makes all women are responsible for protecting their fetus from the moment of conception. However the bill doesn’t go into specifics like what actually constitutes ‘human involvement’, and doesn’t specify how you can protect your fetus from conception, when you can’t even tell you’re pregnant until at least three weeks into the pregnancy. I guess when you’re a crazy old man, who has no chance of miscarrying yourself, and presumably have had all your children already, then you don’t need to worry about the specifics. Like considering that doctors do not even have a clear picture of what causes a miscarriage, how can human involvement even be defined?

It reminds me of the proposed law in South Dakota, which made homicide legal, if it were to protect the life of an unborn child. Again the details were vague, leaving doctors at abortion clinics at the mercy of any crazy person who felt justified in killing them. Thankfully the law there was shelved.

But the vagueness of the law isn’t even really my main problem. What really annoys me is the fact that miscarriage is being talked about at all. And by a bunch of middle aged males, who obviously have no ideas about medicine, or for that matter- women and their bodies. Having watched family members and friends suffer from miscarriages, I cannot even begin to fathom how it could be believed that someone would deliberately put themselves (and their families) through it. As if the pain of being told your child has died isn’t enough to have to deal with, imagine then being blamed for it and left to spend the rest of your life in prison.

I’m not going to get int the whole debate about abortion, because I really don’t think there is a clear cut answer. My point is that miscarriage is not abortion, and thus, there should not, I don’t believe, even be a debate about the legality of miscarriage. Isn’t the main classification of a miscarriage that it was unintentional?

It seems to me that this bill is just another example of the law makers trying to exert control over a woman’s mind and body. It fits in with a rape victim being blamed for the crime for dressing too provocatively, or Lara Logan being blamed by some quarters for being attacked because she was too attractive or ‘asked for it‘. Women are, in this case, being blamed for a common biological occurrence that not even the doctors can explain. You have to wonder if, if having children rested on male shoulder’s, would there be a push to criminalize miscarriage?

I don’t believe that someone who has had no experience with suffering a miscarriage, can try and force their own opinions on an entire state. Hopefully, the policy makers and residents in Georgia share some of my sentiments and those of Mother Jones’ writer Jen Phillips who called it ‘the apex…of women hating craziness’, and this bill is shelved also.

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Since 1973, over 50 million babies have been aborted with 14 million of those being black. With the abortion rates in the black community skyrocketing over the past years, GA Right to Life and the Radiance Foundation, which is endorsed by national civil rights leaders, announced their “endangered species” project earlier this month. The project is focusing on the amount of abortions by African American mothers in two of the biggest minority counties in Georgia, Delkab and Fulton where 67% of the state’s abortions are held.

About 62 billboards have been put up in those two counties, in attempts to elicit a response and putting an end to the high abortion rates in Georgia. Of all states in the US, Georgia has the most reports of abortions from black mothers, so it seems only fitting that the campaign be launched here. It has also been reported that 30% of Georgia’s population is black, and that black women account for 59% of all abortions in the state.

Although the campaign is launched in Georgia, GA Right to Life and The Radiance Foundation has taken the campaign nation wide, with billboards from New York to California, trying to bring awareness to the issue.

The campaign also launched the website toomanyaborted.com which is behind campaigns such as “The Negro Project”, “The Truth In Black and White”, and “Who’s Behind This?.” The website also launched this video below:

Aside from this anti-abortion campaign, ANOTHER billboard was launched in New York City today trying to elicit the same response. This billboard features a young African American girl with the caption “The Most Dangerous Place For An African American Is In The Womb”. The billboard was created by an organization entitled Life Always, with the same goals in mind as the aforementioned anti-abortion organizations. This particular billboard was placed about three blocks from the planned parenthood clinic in NYC, and has sparked a similar response from the black population in New York City, as in Georgia which is exactly what the creators of this campaign were hoping would happen.

What are your thoughts about this campaign? Personally, I definitely appreciate the fact that there are organizations taking the initiative to put an end to so many abortions, especially in the black community, as well as bring nationwide attention to the issue. However, I am not so sure how I feel about the choice of words used for the billboard, but I guess that is the point of this campaign. Nevertheless, it’s for a good cause, right?

If your interested in donating to this organization, you can visit toomanyaborted.com or thatsabortion.com to find out more information.

Thoughts?

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Horribly, doctors say that Mareena Silva could miscarry her baby within days.

And if that isn’t bad enough, the error is being blamed on pharmacist negligence. Apparently, the pharmacist didn’t follow correct procedure by double checking all the patient’s info before handing over the medication.

Here’s hoping the baby is ok.

Read the official statement here.

Facing questions before a Mecklenburg County Court judge, the famous singer, 26, was pressed on whether she knew Cook was living with Paula when they embarked on their illicit affair.

The Idol season three winner has acknowledged she dated Cook “off and on for about 11 months” but said she believed he had separated from his wife.

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The company says that the purpose behind the billboard it is to let people know, African American women in particular that there are other alternatives to unwanted pregnancies other than abortion. “While African Americans make up thirteen percent of the population in America, they represent 36 percent of the abortions in the United States,” says Marissa Gabrysch from Heroic Media. “In the African American community, twice as many deaths have occurred due to abortions than the combined totals of violent crime, cancer, heart disease and AIDS,” she continues.

While I respect Heroic Media’s license to free speech and their opinions about abortion, I do not appreciate their attempt at spreading their message at the expense of being disrespectful towards the African American women who are handling their business as mothers. Something about the ad seemed to be judgmental and stereotypical. The tone went beyond statistics and numbers and came off as an attempt to demoralize African American mothers overall.

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Reading that statement one could go beyond relating it to abortion only and take it as them implying that any child who is born to an African American mother better pray to the heavens because… To Read The Rest Visit YeahSheSaidIt

Quote Via: The Grio

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If you missed last night’s episode of “What Chilli Wants,” then you missed Chilli revealing that she had an abortion when she was 20 years old.

The TLC star went back to the early days of her career, tearing up when talking with a psychologist about aborting her first pregnancy with producer Dallas Austin. Chilli also opened up about her  relationship with R&B star Usher.

And check out our original story of the week: “Just Wright” Stars Show Us 4 Perfect “Date Night” Outfits

Take a look:

Some billboards in the “A-Town” have an unnerving message for African-Americans: “Black children are an endangered species (?)”

Here’s the deal: A national media corporation reported Friday that southern anti-abortion groups say black women “are having a disproportionate number of abortions,” in which are on the rise in the Peach State, based on federal data.

It indicates that 54 percent of the abortions in Georgia are performed on black women; even though black people constitute 30 percent of the general population.

54 percent! That’s staggering, yes. However, where are these women’s voices?

Organized parties opposing the advertising campaign and contradictory data have come out of the woodwork, but where are these lades’ written stories?

It must be disheartening for a woman of color who exercises her right to choose to see an advertisement depicting a lost African-American tyke, blaming her for the endangerment of his race when driving on a major highway.

What about those hundreds of thousands of children in foster care with limited care and resources, and when they are adopted, how many of them are in abusive homes?

Those statistics are also staggering.

Georgia Right to Life, a state anti-abortion group, partnered with Atlanta-based Radiance Foundation, a proponent of adoption, to launch this campaign that comes complete with a Web site called www.toomanyaborted.com. They say that abortion is a setback for a growing black America, not just for black women.

I am also assuming that eliminating a woman’s freedom to be a decision-maker is being progressive?

Debates on health care reform, with abortion an apparent sticking point, continue in unrest among non-bipartisan elected leaders to community activists at town halls.

I wonder after all is said and done, Will such billboards be allowed near every exit or toll station throughout our country?

Maybe the answer will be discovered in former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow’s pro-life ad expected to air in the Super Bowl.

I support a women’s right to choose. What’s your word?

Links:

http://www.afterellen.com/node/67360,

http://womensissues.about.com/od/reproductiverights/a/AbortionArgumen.htm

‘ If you are someone who believes killing unborn children is a right that should be legally protected and made available to all pregnant women, and that the government should eventually take over the U.S. health care system, then you must believe that the government should get into the business of killing unborn babies. And if you believe that, then you believe that the law must compel certain government officials to cooperate in the killing of innocents.”

But that’s what makes the abortion debate so difficult, one has to choose over which life deserves more protection. Is the child’s life more important than the mother who carries it? …” Does the life of a woman only hold improtance up to the point of conception, and then the life of her baby becomes more important than her rights as an individual human being?”

We recently came across this story from BlackPlanet member Ka-bon.

Click here to read more of this story?

Get a positive outlook, extend your life

We told you last week that Lauren and Weezy weren’t happy about the pregnancy initially, but they have accepted it and will raise the baby together, well it seems like there’s more baby drama going on between these two.

According to egyptsaidso.com, Lauren is upset she lost her virginity to Wayne and is only keeping the baby because he threatened to out her if she had an abortion. Lauren decided to go ahead with the pregnancy so she would not ruin her reputation and career.

Lauren London pregnant by Lil Wayne

Damn, this some crazy ish right here.

Check out these pics of Lauren below:

BP member mariposa_mami starts the discussion in the BP news section with the shared article Should I tell my husband I helped our 15-year-old daughter have an abortion?

She asks “When do you know as a parent the right time to keep your child’s confidence?” Hello Beautiful let us know what you think and join the debate here.

It is clear as to why feminists across the board support Senator Barack Obama for President: The disparity between McCain and Obama could never be more clear on who is a better choice for women.

When it comes to abortion rights, Obama stated – in his write-in response to a 1998 survey – that, “Abortions should be legally available in accordance with Roe v. Wade.” The Democratic nominee supports a woman’s right to choose, and thus opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court case decision.

Obama also plans to expand access to contraception, health information and preventive services. In 1997, the candidate was one of the original co-sponsors of “The Prevention First Act” – a piece of legislation that will end insurance discrimination against contraception, improve awareness about emergency contraception and provide compassionate assistance to rape victims. The act would also increase funding for family planning and comprehensive sex education, which would teach both abstinence and safe sex methods.

Senators Obama and Biden have sponsored and supported legislation – including funding – to reduce violence against women and to assist women survivors of domestic abuse. The presidential hopeful passed a law to create VESSA, The Victims Economic Security And Safety Act, to help victims of abuse seek treatment without losing their job. He also passed laws in order to increase penalties for repeat domestic offenders and for committing battery in or near a domestic violence shelter.

Moreover, the Illinois senator cosponsored the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which passed the Senate in 2005 and was later signed into law. The Act provides essential funding to assist communities, law enforcement and non-profit organizations fight stalking, sexual assault, dating violence and domestic violence. The Act establishes a sexual assault services program and offers grants for education programs to prevent domestic violence and encourage reporting of abuses.

An Obama presidency would also translate into a decrease of gender-based bigotry in the workplace. The candidate passed the Equal Pay Act in Illinois to give 330,000 more women protection from pay discrimination.