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Banner unfurled and displayed by Toledo NOW and Take Back the Night Collective members during former Attorney General Marc Dann's opening address of the Two Days in May conference, 5/12/08
Click here to view Toledo Blade coverage of Marc Dann's May 14, 2008, resignation from office of Attorney General as investigation of sexual harassment in his office begins.

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Toledo N.O.W. & Again

A Seldom-Released Publication brought to you by:
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN - TOLEDO AREA CHAPTER

January 2007

In this web-edition:
Abortion Rights - 34 Years After Roe
Women Need Care, Not Lies
Toledo Priorities vs. Toledo Pride
Toledo's Casualties in the War Against Women
Know the Facts About Reproductive Freedom
Events Schedule
Letter to Toledo N.O.W. & Again
Keep Active in the New Year

Abortion Rights - 34 Years After Roe
By Michelle Finley

The debates are raging in the news as part of the contrived “Culture Wars”, in households across the nation, and in the Supreme Court: abortion is back as a topic of interest for the masses. For many years, it has been the feminists versus the religious right, but the rest of the nation has started to weigh in once again. Let’s review for those who may have forgotten what it is all about.

1. Do I “believe in” abortion? Abortion is real, like it or not. You can’t choose to “believe in” abortion (or not believe in it for that matter) the way one chooses to believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, or Jesus Christ. Abortion is real – it happens and will continue to happen whether or not it is legal. So let’s clarify the question.

2. Do I agree with abortion? Here is a short list of pertinent things I don’t agree with: girls and women being sexually assaulted by men and further being forced to bear children from those attacks; schools and churches not providing young people, especially young women, with adequate and accurate information about sex and birth control, and women having to bear the cross of pregnancy and parenthood while fathers are often absent; the economic impact of mothers having and raising children they can’t afford, while men all too often do not assume any responsibility for the children they “father”; and, the removal of decision-making about the health of women from women, their doctors, and anyone else women choose to include and being transferred to a government which is mostly run by affluent white males.

3. Let me be frank: I don’t know exactly when life begins. You know what? Neither does any other human on this earth. I do know that women are wonderful living beings. I know that women have to be able to control what happens to their bodies if they are to ever really be equal in this world, in this society, in these United States.

4. I know that for some people, abortion is a moral question, a religious question. There are a lot of folks around this country that claim to be religious, that claim to be followers of different religions… but when they are participating in “fornication”, sin isn’t so much of an issue. But when a woman wants to be able to make decisions about her own reproductive rights, suddenly she is crossing a moral boundary.

I don’t have all of the scientific, religious, or political answers when it comes to abortion. Like many women in this country, I know women that have had their lives forever changed because of unwanted pregnancies. Some of them chose to terminate their pregnancies; some of them chose to continue their pregnancies. Isn’t it absolutely wonderful that there has been a CHOICE? Abortion can’t fix the problem of women and children living in poverty. Abortion can’t prevent girls and women from being assaulted. Abortion can’t create a political paradigm in which women will be treated equally. However, abortion provides choice for women. Abortion provides the opportunity for a woman to have control over her own body. Abortion is never an easy choice for a woman; however, it is a CHOICE. How can we deny women that right?

Women Need Care, Not Lies
By Grace Powers

Pregnant and scared women would do well to not bother taking the advice of those billboards around town, as the boards are advertising anti-choice centers that do not give accurate facts regarding every option (read: abortion) during the vulnerable stages of pregnancy, or help women with their contraceptive inquiries.

Crisis pregnancy centers, or fake clinics, are nothing new; these anti-choice establishments have been around for years, masquerading as women's reproductive health centers and fooling women with deceptive advertising, unslanted sounding names such as Birthright, Pregnancy Care Center, Pregnancy Services, Pregnancy Distress Center, and Heartbeat. At these centers, you will be granted all of the information your heart desires…as long as your heart desires misleading and false information regarding how abortions cause breast cancer, that your boyfriend will leave you if you have an abortion, and different types of religious literature. And do not be surprised if you are pressured to pray with one, or several, of the volunteers.

Not only do these centers give you biased information, the health website www.womensmedcenter.com states that volunteers at the clinics are not all licensed to perform acts they commit:
“While most [crisis pregnancy] centers do provide free, commercially-available pregnancy tests (similar to a product you can find in any drug store), this is often the limit of their services that can be provided legally. These centers do not have a license to practice medicine, and their counselors do not have state-mandated training or literature. While many of these centers are careful not to tread in unlicensed medicine, there are medical malpractice suits pending against some of these centers.”

Some women have also been harassed by fake clinics. When an Indiana teenager went to schedule an abortion, she stumbled into a fake clinic she thought to be a Planned Parenthood. The fake clinic asked for her personal information and told her to return to their other office (the local Planned Parenthood) to schedule an appointment for the abortion. When she went to Planned Parenthood, the police were waiting for her - the fake clinic called the police saying that the teenager was being forced into an abortion. The volunteers at the fake clinic continued to harass the girl by showing up at the girl's house, calling her father's work and showing up at the teen's high school.

If you are pregnant and scared, try going to Planned Parenthood for help and not one of these centers. Toledo is fortunate enough to have two Planned Parenthood clinics, Jefferson Avenue (419-255-1115) & Glendale Avenue (419-385-8778).

Toledo Priorities vs. Toledo Pride
By Toledo NOW member

Our Proud Toledo Mayor has decided to vow zero-tolerance for shopping mall fights. Ok, I'm not FOR mall-brawls, I don't support them. But I'm concerned that ONCE AGAIN, our fine city-king either has his priorities severely botched up or his head stuck where the sun don’t shine. How many people have died in Toledo due to the mall-brawls? Do an average of three people (aka women) die every single day in mall-brawls across the country? No, I'm sorry, that is domestic violence. Violence in HOMES, not in malls. I wonder what the consequences would be if our fine mayor would come out and make such strong statements about domestic violence...how many lives could potentially be affected. Derived from his zero-tolerance for mall fights speech, here's what some of those statements would sound like, IF he suddenly decided to start caring about the lives and well-being of his constituents:

• "I want it made crystal clear to our police officers and to offenders that the mayor will not tolerate any more violence against women in Toledo streets or homes."
• "Any persons creating any issues or problems whatsoever, should be arrested immediately and taken to the Safety Building for appropriate booking. I repeat - No tolerance whatsoever of violence against women in this town."
• The mayor would meet with police to discuss problems that have occurred recently and, "what we do as a police department to prevent future problems."

So, instead of facing domestic violence and/or violence against women head-on, he has made this one fight between two young boys into the most terrible thing that has ever happened in Toledo history. Um, I beg to differ.

Further, let's face it. The people that hang out at malls with nothing better to do than start fights are kids (usually male kids, that's clear enough from the records) who simply feel they have nothing better to do. They can get a ride from their parents or ride the bus and hang out unattended for hours in the warmth, acting like the fools that society has turned them into. Simple solution...give them something to do or possibly challenge the society that is making them into such fools, because hanging out at the mall really isn't all that fun and just look at the training they are getting. These young boys will be excellent wife-beaters some day....and just so long as they can learn to keep it out of the mall, Proud Carty would apparently be just fine with that...heck, he'd probably hire them for a full-time city job.

Isn’t this an issue almost every high school principal in the area deals with everyday? He's never had the inclination to step in to help, never even gave youth violence a thought before it happened in a place where people are laying down big bucks (and big chunks of plastic debt) and he can be protected by many police, far removed from the scene of the 'brawl'...such as when he went to Westfield Shopping Center, hid away in a security office, days after a fight happened to occur there. And still even then, he behaved like a pompous and ineffective child, as displayed in the below photo which was featured on his website.

Another battle in the Priorities vs. Pride wars: Proud Mayor states there is no money to fund CareNet, which provided medical care for hundreds, if not thousands, of Toledo area working poor; however the $63,000 needed could have easily been covered if not for the following expenses, all approved and/or pushed through as imperative by the Proud Mayor:

1. Decorative lighting for outside the Mayor’s office = $40,000
2. Decorative lighting for Anthony Wayne Bridge = $90,000
3. Shower for Mayor’s office = $10,000
4. Hideous “Toledo Pride” sign over expressway = $6,400
5. Recent “Twinkling Twelve” holiday lighting contest = undisclosed amount

Really, though, who cares how many women die at the hands of a violent man, or how many children and working-poor die due to lack of health care? We have such pretty lights! Our mayor is clean (though he apparently needs to shower several times daily to remain so)! Our pride is boldly proclaimed for all to see!

In conclusion, the Fink is not only incapable of proper budgeting, but is clearly unable to see the root of the issues or the severity of the real problems in the city of his false pride.

Toledo’s Casualties in the War Against Women

Nine Toledo citizens were slaughtered during acts of violence against women in the Battle of 2006. Remember their names:

1. Michelle Mielecki, 21, June 3, shot seven times by boyfriend who then shot himself.
2. Susan Hichborn, 39, July 11, shot four times by estranged husband who then shot himself.
3. Lori Rivera, 37, August 18, died of head and neck injuries after a beating, ex-boyfriend is facing multiple charges in relation to her death.
4. Ericka Graham, 27, September 25, shot, ex-boyfriend charged with murder.
5. Rojelio “Roger” Compos, 29, October 31, shot while trying to stop an act of domestic violence against his family member, charges filed.
6. , 7, 8, 9. Rose Mary “Rosie” McCollum, 52; Mary Rose McCollum, 33; Jamal McCollum, 4; and Sanaa Thomas, 3; November 11, acute carbon monoxide poisoning caused by an arson fire, Mary Rose’s ex-boyfriend is charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder and arson.

• On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court recognized that women have a right to privacy when making decision about their own reproductive health in the Roe v. Wade case.
• Prior to Roe v. Wade, an estimated 1.2 million women each year resorted to illegal abortions, resulting in thousands of deaths due to unsanitary and hazardous conditions.
• Nearly 90 percent of abortions occur in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Anti-choice laws like mandatory waiting periods and parental consent laws for minors actually create obstacles that can lead to an increased number of abortions later in pregnancy.
• Since 1977, there have been over 80,000 acts of violence and/or disruption at women’s health clinics, including: 7 murders, 17 attempted murders, 41 bombings, 166 arsons, 82 additional failed bombing and arson attempts, 373 physical invasions of personal and business properties, 1042 acts of vandalism, 100 butyric acid attacks, 654 anthrax threats (of which 480 happened since September 11, 2001), 125 assaults, 355 death threats & 3 kidnappings – all perpetrated by the so-called ‘pro-life’ movement.
• George W. Bush and anti-choice legislators in both the federal government and state governments across the nation, including Ohio, are working hard to restrict a women’s right to choose. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft threatened the right to privacy and right to choose by subpoenaing private medical records to be used in his defense of the unconstitutional federal abortion ban.
• The National Cancer Institute, the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society and the National Breast Cancer Coalition all agree that no link between abortion and breast cancer exists.
• “Pro-choice” means supporting the full range of reproductive options, including healthy childbearing, adoption, contraception and safe and legal abortion, and respecting and trusting women to make personal decisions according to their own values. Pro-choice is pro-child and pro-family. It means that women and their families – not the government – decide when the circumstances are right to have a child.
• Many women could avoid abortion altogether if contraceptive options were improved and if safe, effective and easy-to-use methods, together with comprehensive sex education, were more widely available.
• Also known as the “Morning After Pill,” emergency contraception is up to 89% effective in preventing unintended pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. A concentrated dosage of ordinary birth control pills, they work by blocking ovulation, fertilization, or implantation BEFORE a woman gets pregnant.
• Emergency contraception is NOT the same as “The Abortion Pill”. EC prevents pregnancy but will not work if a woman is already pregnant. EC does not cause abortion. RU 486 (Mifeprex) is an early, non-surgical abortion option that is completely unrelated to emergency contraception.
• As of November 2006, emergency contraception has been approved by the FDA for over-the-counter sales to women over 18. Women under 18 still need a prescription.
• Comprehensive sexuality education discusses both abstinence and contraception and helps teens make smarter and more responsible decisions about sex.
• Abstinence-only programs frequently present misleading or medically inaccurate material about reproductive health, denying potentially life-saving information to sexually active teens.
• Congress has increased federal funding for abstinence-only programs 3000% over the last five years.

Events Schedule

• Every Wednesday evening, 6pm – 8pm: Free oral HIV testing (anonymous or confidential) at Planned Parenthood of Northwest Ohio, 1301 Jefferson Ave., Toledo, OH. Free condoms and literature available. Volunteer opportunities available. Community HIV Education Line: 419-255-1123, ext. 108

• Wednesday, January 3, 6:00pm: Take Back the Night Collective Meeting at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. Help plan the 2007 Take Back the Night, as well as interim anti-violence projects. All women welcome!

• Tuesday, January 9, 2007, 7:00pm: Lavender Triangle Organization Meeting at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. All lesbians welcome to help plan lesbian community events and socials!

• Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 7:00pm: Toledo NOW Meeting at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. New members always welcome and encouraged to attend.

• Thursday, January 18, 2007, 7:30-9:00pm: Brianna Lane and Emily White Concert at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. Emily opens at 7:30; Brianna takes the stage at 8:00pm. $5-$15 sliding scale; more if you can, less if you can't. For a preview of their styles, visit www.BriannaLaneMusic.comand www.Emily-White.com.

• Saturday, January 20, 2007, 7:30-10:00pm: Lavender Triangle Open Mic at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. Poetry, music, whatever! Snack & dessert potluck, too!

• Friday, January 22, 2007: 34th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court Decision that women own their own body. Possible protest of Toledo-area fake clinic, check www.ToledoNOW.org for updates.

• Tuesday, January 23, 2007, 6:00pm: Take Back the Night Collective Meeting at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. Help plan the 2007 Take Back the Night, as well as interim anti-violence projects. All women welcome!

• Friday, January 26 thru Sunday, January 28, 2007: Anti-War March in Washington D.C. UT AntiWar is sponsoring a bus from the University of Toledo to Washington D.C. for this march sponsored by National NOW, CodePink, United for Peace and Justice, and many other anti-war organizations. The bus leaves Toledo 10pm Friday, 1/26/07, following a send-off party and rally. Bus returns early Sunday morning, 1/28/07. Tickets for the bus are $41 per seat & are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis with payment in full. Call 419-340-4902 for further info or reservation.

• February 9, 2007 - Lavender Triangle Lesbian Dance, 8pm-Midnight at Zenobia Hall, 1511 Madison Avenue, Toledo, OH. $5-$15 sliding scale ticket price at the door (more if you can, less if you can’t), cash bar.

• Wednesday, February 21, 2007, 7:00pm: Toledo NOW Meeting at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. New members always welcome and encouraged to attend.

• February 23 & 24, 2007, 7:00pm each evening - Vagina Monologues at University of Toledo Scott Park Auditorium. Tickets - $5/students, $10/public, available in advance at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. Proceeds benefit the UT Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Program.

• Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 7:00pm: Toledo NOW Meeting at People Called Women Bookstore, 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH. New members always welcome and encouraged to attend. Deadline for newsletter article and events submissions, email to femails@toledonow.org.

• April 1, 2007: Expected release date of the next Toledo N.O.W. & Again, no fooling.

• Friday, April 20, 2007 - TAKE BACK THE NIGHT event! Community Rally with music, speakers and performances; Women's March in which women participate in a one-mile march to symbolically take back the night, streets, and homes from violence; Survivor SpeakOut where survivors of violence against women are invited to share their stories in an open-mike SpeakOut; Men's Program discussion group on men's efforts to end violence, held during the Women's March & SpeakOut; Silent Witness Project of lifesize figures representing local women murdered by intimate partners; and The Clothesline Project Shirts created by survivors of violence against women. Location to be announced, check www.ToledoNOW.org and/or www.PeopleCalledWomen.com for event updates.

Letter to Toledo N.O.W. & Again
By Robin Casey

I think that perhaps the men and women of today's political scene might learn from the women who have steadfastly worked on behalf of "the people" like the women of Toledo NOW or the Take Back the Night participants.

These organizations should be uplifted for the continued and unwavering fight to equalize the marginalized, to fight for the victimized and above all else their willingness to sacrifice their wallets, their voice and their time for others. I would like to say thank you to all the wonderful and powerful women I have gotten to know in NOW and TBTN--it makes me so confident that I am a part of a great struggle for positive change and that we will get there as long as there is a feminist presence and people of all genders who believe in community.

Keep Active in the New Year

While some are making New Year’s Resolutions to be more physically active, consider also increasing your social activism in 2007. Many women’s rights are at stake, and we will need a powerful feminist force to influence the new Congress and House to protect those rights. A membership to National N.O.W. includes your state and local dues, so be sure to renew your National N.O.W. membership before it expires (indicate Chapter OH0520 on forms), and if you are not yet a N.O.W. member – membership forms are available for download by clicking here. If you have received this newsletter in the mail, your membership is current.

There is also great need for volunteers, organizers and ideas for future actions. Toledo N.O.W. meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month, 7:30pm, at People Called Women Bookstore (in Cricket West), 3153 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43606. See the enclosed Events Schedule for additional opportunities to meet other activists and join us in creating positive change.

Spread the word! Share your copy of the Toledo N.O.W. and Again with an interested friend and encourage them to join N.O.W. Just like with exercise, having a ‘protest pal’ may help keep you going!

Don’t have time to share? While active participation is always in greatest demand, in-kind and monetary donations can always be put to good use. Paper, stamps or copy service for the Toledo N.O.W. and Again; poster board and markers for protests; and various other supplies are needed on a regular basis. Contact femails@ToledoNOW.org or drop-off donations at People Called Women.