RI NOW's May 2012 e-newsletter

RI NOW: A Progressive Voice for Social Justice

May 2012

The National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month is sponsored by Advocates for Youth. The purpose is to involve communities in promoting and supporting effective teen pregnancy prevention initiatives. In honor of this month, here are a few things you can do:

1) Check out the photo exhibit at TseTse Gallery featuring "Children of Children, Portraits and Stories of Teenage Parents." (Opening night May 8.) Sponsored by the YWCA of Northern RI.
2) Come to the next Healthy Kids RI coalition meeting on May 7, 'Like' the Healthy Kids RI facebook page, and stay informed of efforts in RI and around the country to promote comprehensive sex education.
3) Check out the website for The Rhode Island Alliance and learn how you can get involved.
4) Check out www.stayteen.org and take their National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy quiz.

Legislative Update

This past month was a busy month for RI NOW's legislative team. RI NOW testified on bills concerning abortion, family planning, childcare assistance, workforce investment, housing, marriage equality, tax equity and more. We saw the Homeless Bill of Rights and a domestic violence bill which would make strangulation a felony assault in Rhode Island both pass the Senator floor - thank you for reaching out to your legislators! Now we need to contact our representatives to urge them to pass these bills as well. To get involved in RI NOW's legislative efforts, please contact RI NOW legislative chair Robin Dionne.

Take Action

Tax Equity: Ask the General Assembly to fight for the people of Rhode Island and support tax equity. Sign this petition.

MERI Organizing Training: Fired up after the marriage equality hearing? Take the next step, and learn how you can move equality forward in our state. Attend MERI's training on May 5.

Women are Watching: Let your representative and senator know that women are watching. Ask for their support for family planning, eliminating gender rating in health insurance, and defeating anti-choice legislation. Look up your elected officials here.

Breast Cancer Deadline: Sign the petition to end breast cancer by 2020!

Boy Scouts of America: Reinstate Cub Scout leader who was removed for being gay. Sign the petition.

In Case You Missed It

5/3 A spirited debate on same-sex marriage

5/3 Senate passes bill of rights for homeless

5/2 Bill would offer free family-planning services to poor

5/2 Corvese amendment denies Rep. Ferri equal rights

5/2 ACLU renews criticism of civil union law as "a complete failure"

5/2 Ending discrimination starts with equal protection of the law

5/1 At Brown, Steinem can still inspire, Globe-trotting feminist, now 78, shares her personal history

4/28 Former Rep. Claudine Schneider to be honored by YWCA

4/23 Transgender Breakthrough: EEOC rules gender-identify discrimination is covered by Title VII

4/19 Most Catholics diverge with Vatican on abortion

4/18 Middle class, LIFT RI rally for income tax equity

4/13 Contraception, financial responsibility and the US economy

4/12 Abortion bills draw a crowd

4/11 Birthrate among RI teens drops

4/6 Why is so much domestic violence not being successfully prosecuted?

4/5 Secretaries shouldn't pay more than millionaires

4/5 Another View: End health insurance discrimination against women now

4/4 RI ranked worst in New England for women but 16 in US

4/2 Sexual politics

4/2 BDH Editorial: Prohibiting racial profiling

Quick Links

RI NOW/Events

Thanks to all the RI NOW members that participated in the Unite Against the War on Women rally on April 28. Visit RI NOW on facebook to see photos from the event, and visit RI NOW's blog to read the speech given by RI NOW President Carolyn Mark.