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?