Welcome!

Mi Women's Issues is a group of men and women who have banned together to fight the assault is on women.  It is hard to understand why these predominately white male legislative bodies would attack the mothers who brought them into this world, their wives, their sisters, but that is what is happening, in Michigan and across the country. Thanks to Bonnie Bucqueroux of Lansing Online News we were able to participate in Bonnie's weekly show, along with representatives of the Peace Education Center.  And thank you to Mary Mroz, for inviting us to the American Business Women's Association meeting to talk about these issues.

Our current goal is to educate and organize women and men about this assault on women's rights.  We hope that these women and men will demand that their legislators across all 50 States and the District of Columbia protect the rights of our sisters, mothers, and daughters.  We will not let women  become second class citizens.  

We stand with Erin Nanasi, senior columnist with MadMikesAmerica, who started this movement on Feb. 23rd, 2012, by calling Americans together in Washington, DC, on April 28th, 2012, to tell legislators we have had enough.   The sleeping giant has awoke and she is pissed.

As a group, we believe that

• Public education is a right
• We are our brothers and sisters' keepers
• Separation of church and state is a fundamental American value, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, and reiterated later by James Madison, Father of the U.S. Constitution.
• All Americans have the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies,  including contraception, without interference from government, business, or religious groups. 
• The right to unionize is fundamental to all Americans. 

Proposed Michigan Legislation pertaining to Reproductive Health

While the personhood amendment from MS and the vaginal ultrasound legislation from VA have made the national news, Michigan is not without its own set of draconian legislation that has been proposed to control and dominate women.  Excellent analyses of  HB 4433 which would force similar vaginal ultrasounds on MI women seeking abortions are provided by Angi Becker Stevens, Amy Kerr Hardin and the American Civil Liberties Union.  HB 4799, HB 4798, HB 5134, and HB 5181 are aimed at making it illegal to coerce a woman into having an abortion, which is a laudable goal.  But the problem is - this legislation demands state-supported coercion! You can sign this on-line petition to tell your legislators NO! To state-supported coercion!  Even better, call or write your legislator telling him or her to vote NO to restricting women's rights to reproductive health care.  A model letter addressing HB 5182 is posted here.

On April 6, 2012 the GA passed the "women are livestock" legislation that would prevent abortions beyond 20 weeks for all reasons, including the death of the fetus and endangerment of the pregnant woman's life.  Unfortunately, Michigan has its own version of this bill - HB 5343, the pain-capable unborn child protection act. 

Everyone is welcome to join, plan, and rally as we unite to demand that every person be granted equal opportunities, equal rights, and equal representation.

Invitation to those on Facebook

Our main page on Facebook is Mi Women's Issues.

We are unaffiliated with Unite against the War on Women, but support their efforts.

Invitation to those not on Facebook

We want you to participate and be part of the group.  We will be posting pertinent information here along with links so that you can share our information widely with friends and acquaintances.  We would love to have your support, to have you help us organize and to reach out to other groups with similar interests.  Just email us at miwomensissues@gmail.com. 

Other newsworthy items

It is clear that the republicans are attempting to turn back Roe v. Wade with no regard for women.  I am assembling stories about women who are forced to carry stillborns, need abortions to protect their health and well-being, or simply desire an abortion.  It is time we fight to make sure that we do not allow the republicans to turn back the clocks.  It is time we focus on making sure our legislature does not do the same. 

Did you know that no Michigan republican in the House or Senate is in favor of contraception as a right?  Its time to demand the right to legal, save, and inexpensive contraception.  All insurance plans that cover Viagra must cover birth control.  Why are we fighting this in 2012?

The federal war on women

The war on women didn't start yesterday, its been a long slow slide towards the Dark Ages.  Girl Scouts didn't suddenly become the "training ground for homosexuals and promiscuity", the Christian right wing has been working on this for years.  And so we must be vigilant, we must be aware of the voting records of our legislators.  We must stand together in support of freedom and the rights we have worked hard and many have died to obtain.  We can not return to the days of yore, when women were chattel and had no rights.

So I will post Federal legislation here that attacks our rights as American citizens.  If you are aware of others, please comment and I will add them

In Georgia, the "women as livestock" bill has now passed through both houses and is heading to the Governor who will likely sign it.    Another leap backward for women.

Every Republican on Senate Judiciary Committee Voted against Renewing the Violence Against Women Act (Feb 26, 2012)

Information on personhood amendments that have been introduced across the US

Herstories: Because anti-choice legislation affects real people

Its important that we continue to tell the stories of the women affected by the anti-choice legislation that is being passed across the US.   It is important that all listen.  Its important that those that consider themselves pro-life realize the impact of the legislation they support.  Life is not black and white, life is shades of many colors, including grey.  Life does not give us easy decisions - we struggle, we make choices where we are, with what we have at that point in time.  Its important to recognize that.  Its imperative we listen.  And so here we tell the herstories of so many women. 

(1) Danielle Deaver was 22 weeks pregnant when her water broke and doctors gave her a devastating prognosis: With undeveloped lungs, the baby likely would never survive outside the womb, and because all the amniotic fluid had drained, the tiny growing fetus slowly would be crushed by the uterus walls. Yet, Danielle had to wait more than a week to deliver baby Elizabeth, who died after just 15 minutes. Danielle's life was placed in serious risk because of Nebraska's fetal pain legislation.  Doctors were forced to violate their the Hippocratic oath they had taken when they are prevented from treating Danielle.

(2) Lizzie Seeberg was a young co-ed at St. Mary's College.  Like many college women she trusted men who did not deserve her trust.  Like many women who report assault, she was vilified.  Her reputation was destroyed by the very people and institutions that she and her family trusted - the institution into which her family entrusted their daughter.  Lizzie is not alone....