Monday, November 13, 2017

Slate: It’s Remarkable How Wrong This Newsweek Cover of a Woman Deflating a Balloon Penis Is

Good grief Newsweek...what were you thinking?!

From Slate
Something weird must be wafting through the HVAC system over at Newsweek, where the storied weekly has chosen to illustrate a story about sexual harassment and assault with a larger-than-life set of male genitalia, rendered as a bright orange balloon animal, being popped by a needle in a white lady’s hand.

In no imaginable universe is “woman poking a fake penis with a sharp object” the appropriate visual shorthand for “women bravely sharing their experiences with sexual harassment.”

Making a penis (or its inflatable equivalent) the central image for a story about women seizing power over their assailants is actually a pretty good example of how rape culture distorts discussions of sexual violence. The problem with sexual harassers isn’t their boners! Boners in a vacuum are neither good nor evil! If the teenage boy–cum–carnival worker in charge of Newsweek covers these days really wanted to go with the woman stabbing body parts idea, it would have made more sense for her to be slicing up a male brain, where decisions to abuse and exploit women are made.
Read more at Slate.com 

Monday, November 6, 2017

This week with Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood



This week with Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood
#YourVoteYourVoice
 

Don't Forget to VOTE Tomorrow!

 
Tomorrow is Election Day in New York State and it's a great opportunity to get out and support the issues that matter to you. Not sure what seats are up for election in your area? Visit Vote411.org to learn where candidates running for office in your community stand on the issues. You can even print or email the information to use as a reference when you actually vote. 
 
#New York 2017 Ballot Measures
This year, three statewide ballot measures were certified to appear on the back of the ballot on November 7, 2017.
 
  • New York Proposal 1, the Constitutional Convention Question, is on the ballot in New York as an automatic ballot referral on November 7, 2017.
    • A 'no' vote opposes holding a constitutional convention to develop and propose changes to the state constitution that voters would vote on at the election on November 5, 2019.
    • A 'yes' vote supports holding a constitutional convention to develop and propose changes to the state constitution that voters would vote on at the election on November 5, 2019.
You can find out more about the Constitutional Convention, including opponents and supporters here.
  • New York Proposal 2, the Pension Forfeiture for Convicted Officials Amendment, is on the ballot in New York as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 7, 2017.
    • A "yes" vote supports this amendment to authorize judges to reduce or revoke the public pension of a public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her official duties.
    • A "no" vote opposed this amendment to authorize judges to reduce or revoke the public pension of a public officer convicted of a felony related to his or her official duties. 
You can find out more about the Pension Forfeiture for Convicted Officials Amendment, including supporters and opponents here.
  • New York Proposal 3, the Forest Preserve Land Bank Amendment, is on the ballot in New York as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 7, 2017.
    • A "yes" vote supports this amendment to create a 250-acre land bank, which would allow local governments to request state Forest Preserve land for qualifying projects in exchange for the state adding 250 new acres to the preserve; and allow bike paths, sewer lines within the width of highways on preserve land.
    • A "no" vote opposes this amendment to create a 250-acre state Forest Preserve land bank; and allow bike paths, sewer lines, and utility lines within the width of highways on preserve land. 
You can find out more about the Forest Preserve Land Bank Amendment, including supporters and opponents here.




#FasoFriday
 
Join Upper Hudson Planed Parenthood Advocates of NY, Indivisible Chatham NY, Indivisible Rensselaer (Official), Indivisible NY19, Green River Indivisible, and other coalition partners as we rally outside Representative John Faso's office in the Village of Kinderhook every Friday from noon-1pm. Bring a sign to tell Faso what you care about, or use one of the extra signs that are usually available. It's also a perfect time to stop by his office to pick up and fill out a comment form.
Every Friday, 12:00pm
Representative John Faso's Kinderhook Office
2 Hudson Street, Kinderhook, NY