Today was a huge step forward for South Carolina!

The General Assembly passed the Conference Committee Report on the budget which ensures funding and coverage for essential programs like Medicaid and HIV/AIDS prevention.

The budget now goes to the Governor for his signature.

Thank you to the 100+ Tell Them members who sent emails or made phone calls to their House members. Your voices were heard and the bill was passed!

Due to a resolution passed yesterday, the General Assembly will be back on June 15th to handle any further items.

H.3245- The Two Trip Ultrasound Requirement Bill is not finalized with a Conference Committee Report, and can still be called up for a Conference Committee meeting. This will be on the table until June 17th.

More to come- thank you for your time and efforts!

What I would like to know is this: why is the media treating Bristol as if she’s a one-of-a-kind teen mother? Why are we shocked by Bristol’s experience? Bristol Palin is having the same problems and issues that the majority of teen moms are having across the country.

Pregnant at 17

If teens are not educated about sex and contraception, they will be unable to prevent teen pregnancy or STI transmission. Bristol’s mother, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, is a staunch supporter of abstinence-until-marriage education, and Bristol says her parents never talked to her about sex. “It’s not like we all sat down and were like, ‘Alright, here’s the birds and the bees.’ Truly, my parents just assumed that I wasn’t doing anything. And it was a shock for us all,” she says. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy says that 91% of teens think it’s important to get a strong message about sex.

Teens that are sexually active but are not using contraception have a 90% chance of getting pregnant within a year. But only 21 states allow teens to get contraceptives without parental approval or notification. The other states require parental consent, forcing teens to hide their sexual practices from their families and therefore have unprotected sex. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 85 teenage girls get pregnant each hour.

The headline on AOL.com/news this morning was “Bristol Palin Says Being Pregnant Was ‘Humiliating.’” I’m sure it was very difficult for her. And while they didn’t have to be pregnant on national TV, I’m sure being pregnant at 17 was “humiliating” and difficult for the 745,000 teens that get pregnant every year in the US.

From the Harpers Bazaar article: “Bristol knew people at her high school were watching and gossiping about her, as she stood beside her mother on national television with a growing baby bump. “It was kind of humiliating … Great, I’m 17 years old, I’m 40 pounds overweight with a big belly on me, all my friends are at school watching this on the news. This kind of sucks,” she laments.”

Making Ends Meet as a Teen Mom

Bristol is currently living in a condo with a roommate and her son, and says that she provides for her son completely on her own. The assumption has been that the Palin family provides Bristol with help and aid that many other teen moms would love. But Bristol proudly states that she is “’on my own. I’m really proud of it. I’m a hard worker … I don’t have time for friends or anything like that. It’s just like, Right, crap, there is a hockey game tonight that I want to go to, but I can’t. Or, I do have to go to work today, because I’ve got bills to pay.’”

Bristol is working as a medical assistant in a Dermatologist’s office, and speaks out for abstinence education for the Candies Foundation. She, like many teen mothers, had hopes of a college education. “I thought I would be somewhere warm at college with my friends, but that was definitely not possible with having Tripp.” While Bristol has broken some barriers and finished high school (only 30% of teen moms have a high school diploma by age 30), she’s following suit on college. Only 1.5% of teen moms have a college degree by age 30.

Single Parenthood

Levi Johnston was present when his son was born, and was engaged to Bristol for several months, but called off the wedding in March 2009. “I just ignore it. He is a stranger to me,” Bristol says about Levi’s activities, such as posing for Playgirl. “I don’t want to get into it. It’s just dirty laundry.”

Again, the fact that Bristol is no longer with the father of her child is not rare. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy shows that only 20% of teen moms marry their child’s father. 80% of teen moms are single moms, and 80% of teen moms end up on welfare.

I think that Bristol Palin is doing exactly what she should- providing for her son and being a good mom. She’s making ends meet, and if that means taking $30,000 for a speech here and there, go for it. But I find it troubling that the media thinks Bristol’s story is rare. In reality, there are thousands more like her across the country: teens who should be getting ready for the prom or to head off to college, who are, instead, changing diapers and trying to put food on the table. These teens need help and acknowledgement too.

According to the Greenville News, “House Republicans cut $50 million in health programs, including cancer screening, HIV and kidney disease prevention, rural hospital grants, free medical clinics, smoking cessation and trauma centers. Medicaid prescriptions would be capped at three per month, and no new enrollments would be allowed in the state’s health insurance program for children.”

These cuts were made after the House failed to override Governor Sanford’s veto of $20 million in new court fees. Representative Joe Neal (D-Richland) is quoted in the State paper: “It is very clear what the intent of this is. It is punishment for not going along with the vote.”

Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter said that the House has “stuck it to poor people. To heck with the Democrats who care about the poor. It would be funny if it were not so sad.”

Click here to read the article in the State

This loss of funding is catastrophic to the millions of South Carolina tax-payers who are HIV positive and rely on these programs for their medications.

Click here to read more about this story

As I looked through my emails and RSS feed yesterday, I came across this article from the Washington Post:

‘Code Red’: iPhone/iPad app for men who need to track women’s menstrual cycles

After my initial chuckle and sending the article around the office, I became more disgusted by the idea of this. An IPhone (or IPad, to really bring home a disgusting visual) application that tracks the woman in your life’s menstrual cycle. Really- WHY would people want to know about someone else’s period?

I understand that some women may find this tool helpful for their own calendars, but this particular application is marketed to men. Here’s the description from the developer’s website:

Men’s best defense against the monthly Her-ricane.

Men no longer need to fear the wrath of menstrual madness. MEDL Mobile is pleased—and very relieved—to introduce Code Red: a simple but powerful menstrual calendar for men to keep track of—and survive—their girlfriend’s/fiancé’s/wife’s monthly cycle.

I’m already insulted by this. I get the stereotype of PMSing women and their horrible mood shifts, but come on. You don’t think we’re entitled to, if not a bit of understanding, some privacy?? The ad continues:

Simpler is Safer

All you have to do is set the start day of her most recent cycle, and the app takes care of the rest!

When the tracking starts, Code Red will provide special alert messages for every phase in her cycle. There are five different alerts, and each calendar day comes equipped with a wealth of tips and advice to brave even the most violent of storms.

• Smooth Sailing Alert — Let’s you know when she’s feeling like a team player.
• Horny Alert — Let’s you know when you’re able to score.
• PMS Alert — Let’s you know when to hit the (cold) showers.
• Ovulation Alert — Let’s you know when to sit on the sidelines (unless you’re ready to start a junior league).
• Code Red Alert — Let’s you know that it’s game time and you’re way out of bounds.

“Code Red will be a life saver for thousands of guys out there,” said Kevin Harrison, Co-Creator, “Its each guys personal color coded Terror Alert System…”

Are you kidding me? Terror Alert System? I have a pretty good sense of humor, but I’m not amused by the idea of any man in my life getting an alert that it’s time to “hit the showers” because I’m PMSing or that I’m “feeling like a game player” and now it’s safe to come around me.

What gets me even more is that a WOMAN helped build this application.

Code Red was facilitated through development by husband & wife team Kevin and Lisi Harrison. Kevin & Lisi have been together for 180 menstrual cycles. The recurring stress that always followed inspired them to find a way to help alleviate their shared aggravation over the monthly houseguest.

“It’s good for everyone; It’s a giant step towards world peace.” –Lisi Harrison

Way to betray the sisterhood, Lisi. In my mind, you’re now just as guilty and insulting to women as the Iranian official who claimed women cause earthquakes. Are we really so powerful that we can cause natural disasters? Then no wonder men around the globe are terrified of us and have to be alerted that “it’s game time and you’re way out of bounds.”

Yesterday, the South Carolina Senate was bullied into debating a fetal personhood bill which has failed to garner enough support to pass out of the House Judiciary Subcommittee.

Orchestrated by Senator Lee Bright of Spartanburg, this bill was brought up, against Senate procedure, during the debate of the cigarette tax.

The bill in question would grant constitutional rights from the “moment of fertilization.” This means that it would guarantee the right to due process and equal protection to fertilized eggs. This statement has far-reaching consequences including:

• Outlawing birth control options, like the Pill and IUDs, and emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest, in the state of South Carolina
• Banning stem cell research currently being used to find cures for chronic disease and disabilities
• Outlawing In-Vitro fertilization since fertilized eggs would have full legal rights to decide their future
• Eliminating a women’s right to decide about issues regarding her body- such as when to have a C-Section. If passed, this bill could place that decision in the hands of our legislators, giving them the right to force women to have C-Sections even when their lives are at risk. A woman with cancer could also be denied life-saving medical treatment because it could endanger a fertilized egg.
• It ignores the reality of miscarriages and non-implantation – even when a woman is not using a contraception method that can inhibit implantation. (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists estimates that between one-third and one-half of all fertilized eggs never fully implant.)

Senator Lee Bright (R-Spartanburg) delayed the cigarette tax increase because his bill (S. 450) has still not been called up for debate. The State Newspaper chronicled the events of the debate in the following way:

Bright, who has emerged as the Senate’s most vocal opponent of abortion rights, tried to force a vote on bypassing the committee hearings.

An irritated Senate president pro-tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, blasted the move, however, which he said not only breaks Senate procedure, but also would wind up costing the state money.

“It is unconstitutional under the U.S. Constitution,” said McConnell, an attorney. “Let me tell you what he is trying to push on us: This bill would make a doctor guilty of manslaughter or murder if it goes forward.”

McConnell, who described himself as “pro-life,” scolded Bright for attempting to change U.S. law established by the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, by passing a conflicting state law.

McConnell also blasted Bright for attempting to force senators either to support that effort or look as if they favor abortions.

“This is one of those gotcha votes,” McConnell protested. “You’re for abortion or you’re against it.”

Bright said two other states had approved legislation similar to his personhood bill

But Lexington Sen. Jake Knotts, a fellow Republican, pointed out that legislation had not cleared both chambers in those two states.

Bright later agreed.

Thank you Senators McConnell and Knott, for standing up for women in this state. These two courageous Senators had the strength and support to get this proposal tabled until further notice. The Greenville News is reporting that “it [is] unlikely the measure will pass this year.”

Once again we can see that Senator Lee Bright is no friend to women in South Carolina, while Senators McConnell and Knotts are true supporters and advocates.

Click here to thank Senators McConnell and Knotts for their words of encouragement and strong acts on the Senate floor yesterday.

Headlines: Just like the old site, this area contains recent news articles about our issues: Access, Birth Control, Education, HIV/STIs and Privacy. The 3 most recent articles appear on the homepage, but if you click on Headlines, you’ll be able to access the full list of past articles.

The Buzz: This is our blog- and has been moved to a central location on our homepage. From here, you can read new blog posts and comment on the issues that affect you. This section is updated regularly, so check back for new posts.

From the Hive: This is one of our favorite new features. This area is for us to highlight what’s going on at any given point. From the more recent Action Alert to an interesting op-ed in a local paper to a volunteer spotlight, check out our From the Hive section for regularly updated tidbits!

Forum: This new area is meant for YOU- the Tell Them member. Here you can chat with other members across the state and discuss the issues you care about. We’re open for suggestions about topics, so if there’s something you’d like to talk about, email us at info@tellthemsc.org and we’ll start posting!

Explore the site and let us know what you think. We’ve been gearing up for this launch and are SO excited to finally be able to share everything with you. Look around, chat with each other (and with us!), and get ready to take action- the Legislature opens their new session on January 12^th, and we want to be ready for it!