Reproductive Freedom
ACLU and Women’s Health Groups File Lawsuit to Protect Vital Health Services in Oklahoma
3.29.12
OKLAHOMA CITY – A lawsuit was filed today on behalf of six Oklahoma voters – including women’s health providers– against an Oklahoma ballot initiative that would ban vital health services by granting fertilized eggs and embryos the same constitutional rights as people. The voters are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Oklahoma and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
“By their own admission, the proponents of this initiative aim to strip women and families of their established right to decide whether and when to become pregnant and carry a pregnancy to term,” said Ryan Kiesel, Executive Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma. “This initiative insults Oklahoma women’s intelligence and dignity by denying access to basic health services.” If passed, the initiative would outlaw many critical reproductive health services, including all abortion care, commonly used forms of birth control, in vitro fertilization and treatment for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages.
“It’s been nearly four decades since the Supreme Court ruled that women have the right to safe, legal abortion services,” said Talcott Camp, deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project. “Yet state legislatures continue to attack that right through dangerous, outrageous initiatives such as this one. This is unacceptable. We More >
2011 Session Ends With Small Victories
6.15.11
The ACLU began the 2011 session tracking almost 50 bills. Although this number was significantly down from the previous session, the bills introduced this year were more hostile toward civil liberties than in years past. Predictably, bills restricting a woman’s right to choose, blurring the separation of church and state, and demonizing the immigrant community were prevalent through the 1800 bills introduced.
While many other organizations and individuals were concerned by the fundamentally conservative nature of the new administration and agency heads, the affiliate was prepared for the typical neglect toward civil liberties as witnessed in the past. The strategy changed very little this session. Legislative Counsel Tamya Cox, who also serves as the lobbyist, was required to be in the office more this session due to the transition of executive directors. Therefore, Cox focused her attention on bills that lacked an organized effort. She wrote more position papers and provided needed talking points to key legislators.
Mainly anti-immigrant bills and First Amendment restrictions bills became the focus of her efforts. Over 20 anti-immigrant bills were introduced this session. It was expected that an Arizona copy-cat bill would be introduced, and there were several versions introduced. Several bills attempted to More >
Deputy Director Tamya Cox Excites Pro-Choice Activists
5.15.11
Deputy Director Tamya Cox spoke at the 2011 Pink Wave held at the State Capitol on May 12, 2011. Cox, a rigorous supporter of choice, invoked lyrics from “Power” by Kanye West to demonstrate the need for women to get off the sidelines and back into the fight. “We must be warriors,” Cox said.
Speaking over cheers of support, Cox urged the women in the crowd to fight for their rights. “Be like Alice Paul,” she said “be like Rosa Parks.” Cox also encouraged attendees to invoke the spirit of all champions of choice, specifically mentioning Barbara Santee. Santee, a long time supporter of the ACLU, is one of Oklahoma’s fiercest warriors for women’s rights.
The Pink Wave was organized by the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice and Planned Parenthood of Oklahoma to protest bills proposed and/or passed this session that lessen women’s reproductive choices. Other speakers included several state legislators and community activists for choice.
Women’s Health Day is March 23!
3.9.09
The ACLU of Oklahoma has partnered with Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma to host Women’s Health Day at the State Capitol on Monday, March 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Rotunda.
* Progressive organizations will have booths * Information on mental, reproductive, and physical health * You can get blood pressure and glucose levels checked * There will be demonstrations on CPR and CPR for infants, self-defense demonstrations, and yoga techniques * This will also be a lobby day for HB 1595. We will meet senators to share our concerns with this bill. * If you interested in participating in the lobby day or in having a booth for the Women’s Health Day, please contact Tamya Cox at tcox@acluok.org or (405)524-8511 by March 18.
An open letter from ACLU of Oklahoma Program Director and Legislative Counsel Tamya Cox
3.27.09
Posted by ACLU OK in Commentary
I attended the committee meeting on HB 1595, the Statistical Reporting on Abortion bill. This bill would require doctors to ask a series of invasive questions that would then be uploaded to the Internet. This bill also prevents gender-selection abortion. This is not an issue in the United States and 90 percent of abortions that do occur happen within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Fourteen to sixteen weeks into the pregnancy is typically the amount of time before gender is decided. Only four percent of Oklahoma abortions occur at or after week 16. However, the data does not show if these abortions are due to women’s health risks or fetus anomaly.
But while the abortion issue is an important topic, I am concerned that the legislature continually politicizes the topic and doesn’t get to the real issue. All sides want to reduce the number of abortions; all sides want to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. But the politics of the “choice vs. anti-choice” issue overshadows this. It is time both sides come together, divorce the emotion, and have meaningful dialogue.
We first need to decide how to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies. I believe it is through a comprehensive sex education. More >