Election 2010: Why you have no excuse not to vote!

The November 2nd election is extremely important, particularly for YOUR reproductive rights and access to sexual health care. Get out there and vote AND encourage your friends and family to make their voices heard as well! Less than 30% of Illinois voters turned out for the primary election, a 7% decrease from our already low turnout average. It's up to YOU to make a difference. There's no excuse not to!

ABSENTEE VOTING: For those of you who have conflicts with election day and can't make it to early voting, there's hope for you yet. Early voting by absentee ballot opened up on Thursday, September 23. Absentee ballots can be requested until October 28 by mail, or November 1 in person. And, a recent law passed in 2009 allows you to request an absentee ballot without any need to provide a reason for your absence. Equality Illinois Education Project, Rock the Vote, and Roosevelt University launched a "VOTE NAKED ILLINOIS" campaign to get more people talking about this exciting initiative that makes voting easier than ever. Check out the video below!

For more election info follow these links:
Information on Registration
Find your Polling location
List of PPIL-endorsed candidates

Technorati tags: 2010 Election, voting, Pat Quinn, early voting, absentee ballot,

Sex Ed for Over-50s?

FPA, the sexual health charity, recently launched what they believe is the first ever safe sex education campaign in the UK targeted toward adults over 50. The campaign is in response to recent figures that show almost 13,000 men and women over the age of 45 were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection just this past year. Crazy, right?The issue may be that aging adults who no longer worry about unwanted pregnancies, tend to no longer worry about the other consequence of unprotected sex: sexually transmitted infections. But the truth is, clamydia and HIV don't age-discriminate. Sexually active individuals have to be pro-active about their sexual health, at every age.

Perhaps 20 years ago, no one would have ever felt the need for sex education provisions to men and women over the age of 50. But a lot has changed. The idea of a "normal family" is no longer what it used to be: divorce rates are sky-rocketing and the number of voluntary (and involuntary) single parents is larger than ever. With all of these changes comes a new culture of "post-marital sex." And just because it's post-marital, doesn't mean it shouldn't be safe.

We say, you can never be too old for education! The world is an ever-changing place with ever-changing trends and technologies that the over-50s should know about. With this in mind, don't you think FPA's campaign is a great idea? Afterall, when is fact-based sexual education ever a bad idea?

Called "The Middle-Aged Spread," FPA's campaign focuses on reminding its target audience (over-50s) to use protection and access sexual health clinics more regularly. FPA's intentions are to address the "Middle-Aged Spread" of STIs and unsafe sexual behavior before it gets worse. What do YOU think about FPA's new campaign?

Read this New York Times article for more information on FPA's campaign. And for information on how YOU can stay safe at every age, check out the information provided on Planned Parenthood's web site!

Technorati tags: safe sex, sex education, over-50s, New York Times

Law & Order: SVU Viewing Party Tomorrow! Celebrate Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Work for Victims of Sexual Assault

Just to give you an idea of how important legislation on rape and sexual assault is, more than 232,960 women in the US were raped in 2006 alone, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. That's more than 600 women every day.

The state of Illinois saw more than 5,610 rapes in the year 2001. But even more frightening than the magnitude of numbers of rapes and sexual assaults committed every year is the estimation that less than 30% of Illinois rapes are reported to the police, according to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. On top of that, so many of those reported cases are left uninvestigated or inconclusive.

Rape and sexual assault are crimes too frequently committed in our own backyard. It is essential that everything is done to find and charge attackers so as to ensure that they cannot assault another victim. Unfortunately, as of earlier this year, an estimated 4,000 untested rape kits were stored away in police departments throughout the state--cases of assault left uninvestigated. Luckily for us, Attorney General Lisa Madigan decided that something should be done.

Because of Lisa Madigan's work, the Illinois Rape Kit Law was passed into law on July 6 of this year. The law is the first of its kind passed on the state-level, making Illinois the pioneer state in justice for rape and sexual assault victims. Madigan's historic Rape Kit Law mandates the testing of evidence collected in cases of sexual assault. Investigating law enforcement agencies are required to submit all evidence of sexual assault to crime labs within 10 days of receiving it from the hospital, and are required by law to provide the Illinois state police with an inventory of all untested kits in their possession.

With Lisa Madigan's help, Illinois rapes and sexual assaults will no longer go uninvestigated. Illinois women can feel safer and more empowered to report assaults to the police knowing that everything will be done to ensure justice is served.

Tomorrow, to celebrate the Attorney General's work on the historic Rape Kit law, Citizens for Lisa Madigan is hosting a viewing party of this week's Law & Order: SVU. This week's episode highlights the importance of Illinois' groundbreaking rape kit law. Guests will be given the opportunity to learn more and discuss Lisa Madigan's critical work for survivors of sexual assault. Drinks and light dinner will be also be provided.

We think this event is an amazing opportunity to honor and celebrate PPIA-endorsed candidate Attorney General Lisa Madigan's work on behalf of assualt victims. Details for the event are below.

WHAT: Citizens for Lisa Madigan Law & Order: SVU Viewing Party

WHEN: Wednesday, September 29 from 6:00-9:00PM

WHERE: Flashpoint Academy 28 N Clark St. Chicago, IL

Please R.S.V.P. to Citzens for Lisa Madigan Women’s Outreach Coordinator, Tess Mattingly at 312-670-0606 or tess@lisamadigan.org

Technorati tags: Illinois Rape Kit Law, Lisa Madigan, Law and Order: SVU

Planned Parenthood Recognized as a Top Ranking Nonprofit

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) has been designated as a top-ranked nonprofit by the philanthropic experts through Philanthropedia! What an honor! The organization surveys large groups of experts who have an average of eight–20 years’ experience in nonprofit work and asks them to identify some of the highest-impact nonprofits working in their sector. Experts rank nonprofit organizations based on their success in carrying out their respective mission and evidence they are having a high impact on their issue of focus.

Today, the work of Planned Parenthood is carried forward by more than 30,000 staff members and volunteers who provide health care and education, work to protect reproductive rights and ensure access to quality, affordable care for all, and support women’s health and rights in developing countries around the world. Congrats to all PPFA staff and a giant THANK YOU to all of the Planned Parenthood donors, volunteers, and activists out there who continue to support the mission and enable us to do the work that we do!

Check out the list of top ranking organizations here, and read the full write-up on PPFA here.

Technorati tags: Philanthropedia, PPFA, donate

Happy Comprehensive Sex Ed Week of Action from PPIA!

This week is Comprehensive Sex Ed Week of Action! Planned Parenthood supporters, peer educators, and Advocates for Choice campus chapters will be sponsoring grassroots events highlighting widespread support for comprehensive sex education and thanking elected leaders who support comprehensive sex education.

With today being the official first day of fall and schools across the country getting back in session (not to mention the election inching closer), now's the perfect time to think about the quality of education we're providing for our children and teenagers. Did you know that 750,000 American teenagers get pregnant and 4,000,000 contract a sexually transmitted disease EVERY YEAR? What this means is something is seriously missing from our country's sex education. Fact-based, age-appropriate comprehensive sex education is proven time and time again to decrease rates of teen pregnancies and STIs as well as delaying the onset of sexual activity. But despite the truth, 1/3 of sex education programs in the US omit birth control! And nearly 40% of Illinois students who receive sexual health education are taught an abstinence-only curriculum! Abstinence-only education is hiding the truth from our sons and daughters. So we're here to tell you what is being done about this by the government and by Planned Parenthood, and what YOU can do to end abstinence-only education.

The health reform bill passed into law this year features the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). PREP provides $55 million for states to fund evidence-based sex education programs. These programs teach students how to prevent pregnancies and STIs (including HIV/AIDS), make responsible decisions, and develop critical skills to form healthy relationships with parents, peers and partners. These programs reiterate that abstinence is the only 100% effective way to avoid pregnancy and STIs, but also gives students the information they need to be safe if they so choose to be sexually active. Good thinking, Obama!

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is proud to sponsor our Teen Awareness Group (TAG). TAG is a program that intensively trains teens to become peer educators in their communities and discuss sex, contraception, STI prevention, and other issues with their peers. Our programs, currently based in Bloomington, Champaign, and Decatur reach over 25,000 community members in need of sexual health education every year. The ultimate goal of our TAG program is to reduce rates of pregnancy and STIs among teens by working to replace fear, misinformation, and risky behavior with education, information, and responsible decision making. We couldn't be prouder of our educators who are making a difference by finally giving high school and college students the opportunity to talk about sex and related issues openly and truthfully. As one of our own peer educators at Decatur said, “We all have the right to understand our bodies and learn how to make the right choices. We are all humans and sex is a natural part of life. It's not something we should be ashamed of.” If you want more information about TAG or would like to get involved, e-mail us at TAG@ppil.org.

So what can YOU do to celebrate Planned Parenthood's Comprehensive Sex Ed Week of Action? First, contact your members of Congress and ask them to further support comprehensive sex education by backing the Lautenberg-Lee bill, which would end funding for ineffective, abstinence-only programs. You can also thank them for accepting PREP funding. Second, sign this petition sponsored by Advocates for Youth to help 122 youth activists end funding for abstinence-only education. And finally, make sure you are always honest and open with your children about sexual health and safe sexual practices.

To learn more about Planned Parenthood's local education programs, click here.

Technorati tags: Comprehensive Sex Ed Week of Action, sex ed, TAG, peer educators, health care reform

Starting Today: Changes in Your Access to Health Care

Wondering when and how health care reform is going to start affecting your life? The answer is today! Today is the day that the first provisions of health care reform will go into effect. It is an exciting day for men and women, and a huge advancement for access to reproductive health care in the US!

Under the Affordable Care Act, you can stay on your parents' insurance until age 26 or until you find a job that offers insurance. This initiative will help young people stay safe and healthy, and will help make sure that college students won't be left uninsured after graduation.

The Affordable Care Act will also end a number of insurance company abuses including pre-existing condition exclusions for children aged 19 and younger. No longer can an insurance company deny coverage of chemo-therapy for a child with cancer simply because the cancer was diagnosed before getting insurance.

Also beginning this month is the Illinois Pre-Existing Insurance Plan (IPXP). This initiative is an extraordinary measure to reduce the number of uninsured citizens with pre-existing conditions. The IPXP will cover a huge range of health care benefits for the people who need it most. We couldn't be more excited!

Although the Health Care Reform Act is a huge step closer to providing health care to all those who need it, there is still a long way to go. Have you had issues with health care coverage? Planned Parenthood Illinois Action wants to hear about it. If you have a story about your personal struggle in seeking health care insurance, go to our Facebook page and share it! We want our readers to know that acquisition of health care coverage is a REAL issue that REAL women like you and me have to deal with every day.

Watch this video from Planned Parenthood to learn how health care reform advances women's health care.



Technorati tags: Health Care Reform, insurance, Affordable Care Act, Obama

"Loved Bodies, Big Ideas" Essay Contest!

It's no secret that body image is an inner struggle every woman can relate to. We are surrounded by images of what is "beautiful," and actresses and models are getting skinnier by the minute! Eating disorders are a very common and very scary reality for girls everywhere.

For so many women, our bodies are a constant reconstruction project. So what do we do?

Now's YOUR chance to tell the world what YOU think should be done! The Women's Therapy Centre Institute recently announced an essay contest giving women like you a chance to share your big idea. In a 500-word max essay, the contest asks you to answer the following question:

What is one bold action that could make the world truly value the diversity of women and girls' bodies?

The three winners of the contest will get to present their big idea to the Endangered Species Summit in March of 2011 in New York City! For more information on this exciting essay contest and details on how to enter, click here. We hope you all enter! This is an amazing opportunity to get your voice heard.

Technorati tags: Loved Bodies Big Ideas, body image, essay contest

Your Guide to the 2010 General Election

The leaves are turning red and November is getting closer and closer, which means one thing: ELECTION DAY! Women's health and reproductive rights are at stake this coming election so it's important - now more than ever - to make your voice heard in November. Are YOU informed on candidates and important election dates?

October 5: This is your last day to register to vote! If you haven't yet, here's a link to information on how to register. And if you're not sure whether you've registered, click here to find out!

October 11: This is the first day you can vote early!! Find your closest early voting location.

October 28: Last day to vote early.

November 2: ELECTION DAY! Polls open at 6am and close at 7pm. Find your polling location.

Planned Parenthood Illinois Action has a list of endorsed candidates for the 2010 election. To view the list and print yourself a copy to bring to the polls, go to our web site. Make sure you know your candidates and get your vote out!

Technorati tags: Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, Election 2010, voting

PPFA Congratulates First Head of UN Women

Planned Parenthood is ecstatic to congratulate Michelle Bachelet as head of the new UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women--UN Women for short. The initiative will be charged with coordinating efforts to advance women's rights and empowerment across the globe.

Michelle Bachelet was not only the first woman president of Chile, but she is also a physician and a former minister of health making her more than qualified for the position. Bachelet has been consistent with her support for women empowerment and reproductive rights throughout her career. Most notably, Bachelet facilitated the 2006 Chilean law that allowed free distribution of emergency contraception in an effort to lower teenage pregnancy rates.

Though gender inequality seems to be a struggle of the past for many, there are endless hurdles for Bachelet and UN Women to overcome. Cultures of rape, human trafficking, and genital mutilation are rampant throughout developing countries all over the world. But it is hopeful to finally see gender equality a priority on the international political agenda.

Planned Parenthood applauds UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on this decision to appoint Bachelet, and looks forward to the progress that is to come for women and girls of the globe. Congratulations Michelle Bachelet! Let's see what you can do.

International Planned Parenthood Federation works for these same internationl women's issues. IPPF aims to promote and provide reproductive health care and contraceptive services to particularly women across the globe who would otherwise have little or no access. To learn what you can do to help, go to http://www.ippf.org/en/help/ and make a donation or become a volunteer. Or click here to do your part for Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Technorati tags: Michelle Bachelet, UN Women, gender equality

PETITION TO END ABSTINENCE-ONLY!

According to the Guttmacher Institute, sex education programs that provide information about both abstinence and contraception help to delay the onset of sexual activity among teens, reduce their number of sexual partners and increase contraceptive use when they become sexually active. Comprehensive sex education is proven study after study to reduce teenage pregnancy and STI rates. So WHY has America spent over $1.5 billion on less effective abstinence-only programs? In our own state, nearly 40% of students who learn sexual health education in schools are taught an abstinence-only curriculum. Let's do something about it!

On Monday Sept. 27, 122 young people from 33 states will travel to Washington DC for the 11th Annual Urban Retreat. These young activists will spend a day of their retreat lobbying on Capitol Hill to end all funding for abstinence-only education programs. In addition to meeting with congressional staff face-to-face, these young activists will also be delivering a petition with what they hope will be 5,000 signatures to end funding for abstinence-only programs once and for all.

YOU CAN HELP! Sign the petition, share it on Facebook, and send it along to friends and family who know we can not afford to spend another dime on sex education that doesn't work. The youth of America deserves better.

Follow these steps to do your part:

1. SIGN the petition!
2. SHARE it on Facebook
3. SEND it to your friends

It's time to end abstinence-only programs and empower our youth with the education they deserve!

Technorati tags: abstinence-only, comprehensive sex education, Annual Urban Retreat, petition

Join Planned Parenthood of Illinois at Graham Czach's Album Release Party

Exciting news for Planned Parenthood of Illinois!!

Award-winning and versatile musician Graham Czach is teaming up with Planned Parenthood of Illinois to host the record release party of the year! Clear your schedules because on Friday, October 15 Graham Czach will be performing at Martyrs (3855 Lincoln Ave) in Chicago at 9:30pm to celebrate his debut album Lucid and to promote safe sexual behavior and reproductive rights.

Graham Czach's musical style is influenced by some of his favorite bands growing up: Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Crosby Stills Nash & Young. He is known in the windy city for his modern and progressive rock sensibilities, but we know him best as a musical activist. Czach's new album, Lucid, features a powerful song about abortion rights titled "Choice." Czach, a talented and socially conscious musician, just so happens to be passionate about reproductive rights. So obviously, we love him!

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is more than proud to collaborate with such a talented and inspirational figure like Graham Czach. We love his music just as much as we love his message. A percentage of the event proceeds will go to Planned Parenthood of Illinois and other charities such as Greenpeace and the American Cancer Society. If only all musicians were so socially conscious...

Graham Czach is a recent winner of the Chicago Music Award and a 3-time consecutive winner of the the Union and Civic Arts League of Chicago Jazz Improvisation Competition. And the members of Czach's band are no strangers to the music world either as all of them are current members of well-known, successful musical groups:

Drummer- Kris Myers (Umphrey's McGee)
Keyboardist- Matt Nelson (Lupe Fiasco and Matthew Santos)
Guitarist- Chris Siebold (Howard Levy and Kick the Cat)
Bassist- Graham Burris (Lupe Fiasco and Matthew Santos)

Come support Graham Czach and Planned Parenthood of Illinois on October 15 at Martyrs in Chicago at 9:30pm! Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the door or online at: http://www.martyrstickets.musictoday.com/Martyrs/calendar.aspx

For more info on Graham Czach, go to http://www.grahamczach.com/

Technorati tags: Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Graham Czach, Pro-Choice

Free Forum on Sex and Relationships

LifeLube and the Chicago Development Center for AIDS Research have teamed up for a free forum called What’s Love Got to Do with It? Join researchers Colleen Hoff (San Francisco State University) and Patrick Sullivan (Emory University) as they present their findings on HIV infections within same-sex relationships.

What's Love Got to Do With It?
Center on Halsted
3656 North Halsted, Chicago, IL
Tuesday, September 21, 6:00 PM

Discover the link between relationships and HIV infection, and learn ways to have the sex you want and stay healthy. Moderated by Brian Mustanski of the University of Illinois, Chicago.

To RSVP, click HERE

Doors open for food and socializing at 6:00pm. The program begins at 7:00pm at the Center on Halsted, Hoover Leppen Theatre, third floor. This community event is FREE, but you must RSVP

Technorati tags: sexual health, relationships

Vote for David Miller for Illinois State Comptroller!

We need pro-choice leaders at all levels of government and the office of Illinois State Comptroller is no exception. What does the Comptroller do, you ask? As Illinois’ Chief Fiscal Officer, the Comptroller is responsible for paying the state’s bills. In the 2010 November general election, David Miller is the choice for Comptroller.

Miller established his pro-choice credentials as an Illinois state representative. Through his consistent voting record, he showed that he supports a woman's right to choose without government interference.

- He voted in favor of the Illinois law that requires health insurance to cover birth control.

- He supported the Illinois law that requires hospital emergency rooms to tell rape victims about emergency contraception.

- He supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education.

Miller's opponent, Judy Barr Topinka, is a disappointment for Illinois women. Although she has claimed to support choice, she also has said she would support numerous restrictions on a woman's right to choose. Her record as a state senator backs this up. Topinka voted for a ban on abortion coverage in state employee health insurance even for cases of rape or medical necessity and for a bill that would have allowed a husband to challenge his wife's decision to have an abortion in court!

Illinois deserves better! This November 2nd, make sure to vote for David Miller for Comptroller!

For more information about David Miller's campaign click here.

For a list of other PPIA endorsements, click here.

Technorati tags: Illinois Comptroller, David Miller, elections.