Podcasts about global gag rule

Episode #168 with Dr Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President at Roche Diagnostics. Dr Allan Pamba is a global health leader and seasoned executive at the forefront of transforming healthcare systems through innovation, access, and sustainability. As Executive Vice President at Roche Diagnostics, the world's largest biotech company and a global pioneer in personalised healthcare, he brings decades of experience bridging the worlds of science, policy, and development to improve lives across Africa and beyond.In this episode, we dive into the urgent call for Africa to rethink its healthcare financing strategy, particularly around diagnostics amid shifting global policies and the threat of reduced foreign aid. With just five years left to meet the Abuja Declaration's 15% health budget commitment, Dr Pamba offers sharp insight into what it will take for African nations to move from dependency to self-reliance.What We Discuss With Dr AllanWhy do diagnostics, despite influencing 70% of clinical decisions, receive only 2% of healthcare funding in Africa?The potential impact of U.S. foreign policy shifts, including a possible return of the Global Gag Rule.How Africa can leverage economies of scale, pooled procurement, and regional collaboration to lower the cost of diagnostics.Ways African governments can create more attractive environments for private sector investment in diagnostics and healthcare infrastructure.Innovative financing models, public-private partnerships, and redefining government's role in health delivery.Did you miss my previous episode where I discuss Why the West Isn't Always Best: How Afro-Optimism Can Redefine African Success? Make sure to check it out!Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps!Connect with Terser:LinkedIn - Terser AdamuInstagram - unlockingafricaTwitter (X) - @TerserAdamuConnect with Dr. Allan:LinkedIn - Dr Allan PambaTwitter (X) - @RocheDo you want to do business in Africa? Explore the vast business opportunities in African markets and increase your success with ETK Group. Connect with us at www.etkgroup.co.uk or reach out via email at info@etkgroup.co.ukSubscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes insights, and bonus material - Unlocking Africa Newsletter

How outdated are U.S. immigration laws? What are the long-term, intended and unintended consequences of Trump Administration new executive orders such as the repeal of the Ending Sensitive Zones Policy, the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the USAID Funding Freeze, and the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule? Are anti-immigration discourses genuinely focused on 'protecting' women, both domestically and abroad, or are they driven by other underlying goals and agendas?In this interview with Melanie Nezer, Vice President of Advocacy and External Relations at Women's Refugee Commission, we explored how recent executive actions fail to protect vulnerable groups, including women, children, and victims of different forms of violence, drug trafficking, and human trafficking who are seeking asylum and safety in the U.S.We also examined the critical link between rising U.S. and global military spending and the violent conflicts that are driving populations to flee their home countries in search of protection abroad.Join us in this exploration, follow us on LinkedIn and⁠⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our podcast newsletter community here.⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to related episodes:  86. Chloé Meulewaeter on Global Military Spending & Demilitarization Efforts95. Jose R. Rivera-Gonzalez on US Withdrawal of Afghanistan190. Dr. William T. Armaline on The Crisis of Human Rights in the Age of Global Capitalism193. Devon Cone on USAID Funding Freeze: A Worldwide Setback for Refugee WomenRecommended links to this episode:⁠Women's Refugee Commission Official WebsiteWRC Crisis Response ProgramsIn Name Only: The False Allure of Anti-Immigration Policies That Claim to Protect Women from HarmThe Global Gag Rule Endangers Refugee Women's LivesWomen's Refugee Commission's Statement on the Laken Riley ActElimination of “Sensitive Zones” Will Create Fear, Cause Harm to Immigrant Women and Kids Seeking Safety From Domestic Abuse

What are the long-term, intended and unintended consequences of the USAID funding freeze? How the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule, and other executive orders from the new Trump Administration related to the US-Mexico border and the End of the Sensitive Zones Policy will impact the rights, safety, and lives of refugee women and girls in the U.S. and worldwide? In this interview with Devon Cone, Senior Advocate for Women and Girls at Refugees International, we explored the factors behind the growing disinterest in the protection of migrants' human rights and we examined how these measures will disproportionately affect women and girls fleeing violent conflict in Afghanistan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and countries in the Northern Triangle of Central America. Join us in this exploration and⁠⁠⁠ subscribe to our podcast newsletter community here.⁠⁠⁠Listen to related episodes:  91. Dr. Paul Slovic & Dr. Scott Slovic on the Science Behind the Limits of Compassion112. Devon Cone on COVID-19 Impact on Migration & Humanitarian Crises179. Marta Saiz on Human Rights Journalism & Foreign Affairs190. Dr. William T. Armaline on The Crisis of Human Rights in the Age of Global CapitalismRecommended links to this episode:Refugees International Official WebsiteWhat Do President Trump's Week One Actions Mean for Refugees International's Global Advocacy?No Model of Refuge: Sudanese Refugees in EgyptThe Nuba Mountains: A Window into the Sudan CrisisGaza Dispatches: Hunger and Siege“They Left Us Without Any Support”: Afghans in Pakistan Waiting for SolutionsIn Apparent Quid Pro Quo Deal, Panama and Costa Rica Facilitating U.S.-Sponsored Human Rights Violations of Asylum Seekers Tell Your Member of Congress: Save USAID, Save Lives

Journalist and advocate Pontsho Pilane joins Mike Wills to explore the idea that foreign aid isn’t just about assistance—it’s about power. She examines how U.S. aid, particularly PEPFAR, has shaped global health and HIV responses in South Africa. From Trump’s aid freeze to the Global Gag Rule, they unpack how funding decisions impose ideological control, leaving local NGOs in a bind. How do evangelical interests, political agendas, and financial dependence intersect? And what does this mean for Africa’s health sovereignty? #PEPFAR, #ForeignAid, #GlobalHealth, #HIVResponse, #TrumpPolicy, #GlobalGagRule, #EvangelicalInfluence, #HealthSovereignty, #USAID, #AidDependency, #PublicHealth, #SouthAfrica, #PoliticalPower, #ReproductiveRights, #LGBTQHealth, #SexWorkRights, #NeoColonialism, #FaithAndPolitics, #HumanitarianAid, and #PolicyAndHealth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Møde nr. 56 i salen 1) Besvarelse af oversendte spørgsmål til ministrene (spørgetid). SPØRGSMÅL: 2) 1. behandling af lovforslag nr. L 130: Forslag til lov om ændring af lov om social service og lov om retssikkerhed og administration på det sociale område. (Ændring af reglerne om sociale akuttilbud, reglerne vedrørende klageadgang ved bortvisning fra herberger m.v. samt udvidelse af muligheden for handlekommuneskift for borgere på herberger m.v.). Af social- og boligministeren (Sophie Hæstorp Andersen). (Fremsættelse 30.01.2025). 3) 1. behandling af beslutningsforslag nr. B 99: Forslag til folketingsbeslutning om at fjerne beløbsgrænsen for fradragsberettigede gaver og bidrag til velgørende foreninger. Af Steffen W. Frølund (LA) m.fl. (Fremsættelse 16.01.2025). 4) 1. behandling af lovforslag nr. L 131: Forslag til lov om ændring af færdselsloven, lov om Sund & Bælt Holding A/S og lov om vejafgift (Opkrævning af køretøjsrelaterede bøder og kontrolafgifter og forhøjelse af bødeniveauet for overtrædelse af vejafgiftsloven m.v.). Af transportministeren (Thomas Danielsen). (Fremsættelse 05.02.2025). 1) Til forsvarsministeren af: Trine Pertou Mach Mener ministeren, at det er i Danmarks forsvarspolitiske interesse at stille baseområder til USA's militærs eksklusive rådighed i Skrydstrup, Karup og Aalborg i en situation, hvor USA's præsident ikke vil afvise at bruge militær magt til at tilegne sig Grønland? (Spm. nr. S 679). 2) Til forsvarsministeren af: Trine Pertou Mach Er ministeren enig i, at definitionen på en »god allieret« er, at et land, som formuleret af senator Ted Cruz, giver USA, hvad præsidenten vil have, og mener ministeren, at Danmark bør leve op til Trumpregeringens opfattelse af, hvad en »god allieret« er, og tilpasse sig den nye definition? (Spm. nr. S 682, skr. begr.). 3) Til udenrigsministeren af: Peder Hvelplund Mener ministeren, at Danmark bør øge sine internationale indsatser og bidrag i forhold til reproduktiv og seksuel sundhed set i lyset af Trumps genindførelse af »The Global Gag Rule«, som er en bombe under årtiers globale fremskridt i forhold til bl.a. abortrettigheder og kampen mod aids, idet initiativet forbyder sundhedsorganisationer og ngo'er at tilbyde, vejlede om og nævne abort for at kunne modtage amerikansk økonomisk støtte? (Spm. nr. S 665 (omtrykt)). 4) Til finansministeren af: Kenneth Fredslund Petersen Hvad er ministerens holdning til DR-udsendelsen »Grønlands hvide guld«, som blev vist i fjernsynet søndag den 9. februar 2025, hvor påstanden er, at Danmark har tjent 400 mia. kr. på udvinding af kryolit i Grønland, med en kraftig antydning af, at Danmark dermed har udbyttet det grønlandske samfund, og vil ministeren iværksætte en udredning af, hvad fortjenesten i nutidskroner ved udvinding af kryolit i Grønland kan have været? (Spm. nr. S 662 (omtrykt)). 5) Til indenrigs- og sundhedsministeren af: Peder Hvelplund Hvordan mener ministeren Danmark bør reagere på USA's udmelding af WHO, og mener ministeren, at Danmark bør øge sine bidrag, både økonomisk og med ekspertise, til WHO og søge yderligere internationalt samarbejde på sundhedsområdet? (Spm. nr. S 664). 6) Til kulturministeren af: Mette Thiesen Er ministeren enig i, at der er behov for en bedre belysning på Nordeuropas måske smukkeste renæssanceslot, Frederiksborg Slot, så alle dele af den prægtige udstilling kan komme til sin ret? (Spm. nr. S 510 (omtrykt)). 7) Til kulturministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Hvad mener ministeren om, at en statsligt finansieret medieinstitution producerer en dokumentar, der sår splid og mistro i Rigsfællesskabet, og som ifølge danske topøkonomer tangerer misinformation og lige så godt kunne være lavet af russiske trolde, og tilmed udgiver dokumentaren midt under valgkampen i Grønland? (Spm. nr. S 675, skr. begr. (omtrykt) Medspørger: Alex Ahrendtsen (DF)). 8) Til miljøministeren af: Søren Egge Rasmussen Mener ministeren, at myndighederne spiller hasard med borgernes helbred, når man tillader Danmarks første pyrolyseanlæg at åbne uden først at have undersøgt luftforurening og lugtgener ved pyrolyseprocesser? (Spm. nr. S 669, skr. begr. (omtrykt) Medspørger: Peder Hvelplund (EL)). 9) Til beskæftigelsesministeren af: Charlotte Munch Hvad er ministerens kommentar til, at ministeren har en lavere andel af seniorer ansat i Beskæftigelsesministeriets departement sammenlignet med andelen af seniorer ansat i private virksomheder, når ministeren selv i november 2024 beskyldte arbejdsgivere for at fravælge seniorer ved ansættelse af nye medarbejdere? (Spm. nr. S 661, skr. begr.). 10) Til beskæftigelsesministeren af: Dina Raabjerg Vil ministeren være med til at samle ansvaret for opstarten af internationale medarbejdere i Danmark hos én myndighed, f.eks. SIRI, for at nedbringe sagsbehandlingstiden, fjerne bureaukrati og gøre processen mere enkel og digital til gavn for medarbejderne og danske virksomheder? (Spm. nr. S 671, skr. begr.). 11) Til ministeren for grøn trepart af: Kim Edberg Andersen Mener ministeren, at det er retfærdigt, at Krastrupsøgaard ikke længere må skilte for deres gårdbutik på egen grund? (Spm. nr. S 617, skr. begr.). 12) Til ministeren for grøn trepart af: Søren Egge Rasmussen Hvad mener ministeren om, at kun 3 pct. af de konventionelle køer får det kemiske fodertilsætningstilskud Bovaer i hele 2025, når regeringen havde forventet, at den frivillige ordning ville medføre, at 33 pct. af de konventionelle køer i 2025 ville få Bovaer? (Spm. nr. S 670, skr. begr.). 13) Til transportministeren af: Kenneth Fredslund Petersen Mener ministeren, at det er udtryk for en ansvarlig omgang med skatteborgernes midler, når DSB ifølge en artikel i Frihedsbrevet systematisk godkender fakturaer fra Knorr-Bremse, der er op til 15 pct. dyrere, end hvad DSB havde forventet? (Spm. nr. S 563, skr. begr. (omtrykt)). 14) Til transportministeren af: Betina Kastbjerg Er ministeren enig i, at en nedlæggelse af direkte togforbindelser mellem Struer og København i fremtiden vil være i direkte modstrid med regeringens ønske om at skabe et Danmark i geografisk balance? (Spm. nr. S 622 (omtrykt). Medspørger: Kenneth Fredslund Petersen (DD)). 15) Til social- og boligministeren af: Katrine Daugaard Vil ministeren forholde sig til den seneste udvikling i Langeland Kommunes sagsbehandling i sager om anbragte børn og svare på, om ministeren mener, at Ankestyrelsen gør nok for at sikre, at kommunen opretholder borgernes retssikkerhed? (Spm. nr. S 635, skr. begr. (omtrykt)). 16) Til social- og boligministeren af: Katrine Daugaard Vil ministeren forholde sig til den seneste udvikling i Langeland Kommunes sagsbehandling i sager om anbragte børn og svare på, om ministeren mener, at det er i orden, at den manglende faglighed og lovmedholdelighed i sagsbehandlingen ikke har konsekvenser for kommunen, kun borgeren? (Spm. nr. S 636, skr. begr.).

Møde nr. 56 i salen 1) Besvarelse af oversendte spørgsmål til ministrene (spørgetid). SPØRGSMÅL: 2) 1. behandling af lovforslag nr. L 130: Forslag til lov om ændring af lov om social service og lov om retssikkerhed og administration på det sociale område. (Ændring af reglerne om sociale akuttilbud, reglerne vedrørende klageadgang ved bortvisning fra herberger m.v. samt udvidelse af muligheden for handlekommuneskift for borgere på herberger m.v.). Af social- og boligministeren (Sophie Hæstorp Andersen). (Fremsættelse 30.01.2025). 3) 1. behandling af beslutningsforslag nr. B 99: Forslag til folketingsbeslutning om at fjerne beløbsgrænsen for fradragsberettigede gaver og bidrag til velgørende foreninger. Af Steffen W. Frølund (LA) m.fl. (Fremsættelse 16.01.2025). 4) 1. behandling af lovforslag nr. L 131: Forslag til lov om ændring af færdselsloven, lov om Sund & Bælt Holding A/S og lov om vejafgift (Opkrævning af køretøjsrelaterede bøder og kontrolafgifter og forhøjelse af bødeniveauet for overtrædelse af vejafgiftsloven m.v.). Af transportministeren (Thomas Danielsen). (Fremsættelse 05.02.2025). 1) Til forsvarsministeren af: Trine Pertou Mach Mener ministeren, at det er i Danmarks forsvarspolitiske interesse at stille baseområder til USA's militærs eksklusive rådighed i Skrydstrup, Karup og Aalborg i en situation, hvor USA's præsident ikke vil afvise at bruge militær magt til at tilegne sig Grønland? (Spm. nr. S 679). 2) Til forsvarsministeren af: Trine Pertou Mach Er ministeren enig i, at definitionen på en »god allieret« er, at et land, som formuleret af senator Ted Cruz, giver USA, hvad præsidenten vil have, og mener ministeren, at Danmark bør leve op til Trumpregeringens opfattelse af, hvad en »god allieret« er, og tilpasse sig den nye definition? (Spm. nr. S 682, skr. begr.). 3) Til udenrigsministeren af: Peder Hvelplund Mener ministeren, at Danmark bør øge sine internationale indsatser og bidrag i forhold til reproduktiv og seksuel sundhed set i lyset af Trumps genindførelse af »The Global Gag Rule«, som er en bombe under årtiers globale fremskridt i forhold til bl.a. abortrettigheder og kampen mod aids, idet initiativet forbyder sundhedsorganisationer og ngo'er at tilbyde, vejlede om og nævne abort for at kunne modtage amerikansk økonomisk støtte? (Spm. nr. S 665 (omtrykt)). 4) Til finansministeren af: Kenneth Fredslund Petersen Hvad er ministerens holdning til DR-udsendelsen »Grønlands hvide guld«, som blev vist i fjernsynet søndag den 9. februar 2025, hvor påstanden er, at Danmark har tjent 400 mia. kr. på udvinding af kryolit i Grønland, med en kraftig antydning af, at Danmark dermed har udbyttet det grønlandske samfund, og vil ministeren iværksætte en udredning af, hvad fortjenesten i nutidskroner ved udvinding af kryolit i Grønland kan have været? (Spm. nr. S 662 (omtrykt)). 5) Til indenrigs- og sundhedsministeren af: Peder Hvelplund Hvordan mener ministeren Danmark bør reagere på USA's udmelding af WHO, og mener ministeren, at Danmark bør øge sine bidrag, både økonomisk og med ekspertise, til WHO og søge yderligere internationalt samarbejde på sundhedsområdet? (Spm. nr. S 664). 6) Til kulturministeren af: Mette Thiesen Er ministeren enig i, at der er behov for en bedre belysning på Nordeuropas måske smukkeste renæssanceslot, Frederiksborg Slot, så alle dele af den prægtige udstilling kan komme til sin ret? (Spm. nr. S 510 (omtrykt)). 7) Til kulturministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Hvad mener ministeren om, at en statsligt finansieret medieinstitution producerer en dokumentar, der sår splid og mistro i Rigsfællesskabet, og som ifølge danske topøkonomer tangerer misinformation og lige så godt kunne være lavet af russiske trolde, og tilmed udgiver dokumentaren midt under valgkampen i Grønland? (Spm. nr. S 675, skr. begr. (omtrykt) Medspørger: Alex Ahrendtsen (DF)). 8) Til miljøministeren af: Søren Egge Rasmussen Mener ministeren, at myndighederne spiller hasard med borgernes helbred, når man tillader Danmarks første pyrolyseanlæg at åbne uden først at have undersøgt luftforurening og lugtgener ved pyrolyseprocesser? (Spm. nr. S 669, skr. begr. (omtrykt) Medspørger: Peder Hvelplund (EL)). 9) Til beskæftigelsesministeren af: Charlotte Munch Hvad er ministerens kommentar til, at ministeren har en lavere andel af seniorer ansat i Beskæftigelsesministeriets departement sammenlignet med andelen af seniorer ansat i private virksomheder, når ministeren selv i november 2024 beskyldte arbejdsgivere for at fravælge seniorer ved ansættelse af nye medarbejdere? (Spm. nr. S 661, skr. begr.). 10) Til beskæftigelsesministeren af: Dina Raabjerg Vil ministeren være med til at samle ansvaret for opstarten af internationale medarbejdere i Danmark hos én myndighed, f.eks. SIRI, for at nedbringe sagsbehandlingstiden, fjerne bureaukrati og gøre processen mere enkel og digital til gavn for medarbejderne og danske virksomheder? (Spm. nr. S 671, skr. begr.). 11) Til ministeren for grøn trepart af: Kim Edberg Andersen Mener ministeren, at det er retfærdigt, at Krastrupsøgaard ikke længere må skilte for deres gårdbutik på egen grund? (Spm. nr. S 617, skr. begr.). 12) Til ministeren for grøn trepart af: Søren Egge Rasmussen Hvad mener ministeren om, at kun 3 pct. af de konventionelle køer får det kemiske fodertilsætningstilskud Bovaer i hele 2025, når regeringen havde forventet, at den frivillige ordning ville medføre, at 33 pct. af de konventionelle køer i 2025 ville få Bovaer? (Spm. nr. S 670, skr. begr.). 13) Til transportministeren af: Kenneth Fredslund Petersen Mener ministeren, at det er udtryk for en ansvarlig omgang med skatteborgernes midler, når DSB ifølge en artikel i Frihedsbrevet systematisk godkender fakturaer fra Knorr-Bremse, der er op til 15 pct. dyrere, end hvad DSB havde forventet? (Spm. nr. S 563, skr. begr. (omtrykt)). 14) Til transportministeren af: Betina Kastbjerg Er ministeren enig i, at en nedlæggelse af direkte togforbindelser mellem Struer og København i fremtiden vil være i direkte modstrid med regeringens ønske om at skabe et Danmark i geografisk balance? (Spm. nr. S 622 (omtrykt). Medspørger: Kenneth Fredslund Petersen (DD)). 15) Til social- og boligministeren af: Katrine Daugaard Vil ministeren forholde sig til den seneste udvikling i Langeland Kommunes sagsbehandling i sager om anbragte børn og svare på, om ministeren mener, at Ankestyrelsen gør nok for at sikre, at kommunen opretholder borgernes retssikkerhed? (Spm. nr. S 635, skr. begr. (omtrykt)). 16) Til social- og boligministeren af: Katrine Daugaard Vil ministeren forholde sig til den seneste udvikling i Langeland Kommunes sagsbehandling i sager om anbragte børn og svare på, om ministeren mener, at det er i orden, at den manglende faglighed og lovmedholdelighed i sagsbehandlingen ikke har konsekvenser for kommunen, kun borgeren? (Spm. nr. S 636, skr. begr.).

The global gag rule, which prevents non-governmental organizations who receive U.S. global health funding from providing, counseling on, referring for, or advocating for abortion in their own country and using their own, private resources, has been reinstated by President Trump. Lori Adelman, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Global, and Caitlin Horrigan, Senior Director of Global Advocacy at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, sits down to talk with us about what the expanded global gag rule is, what it means for health practitioners and patients abroad, and how it can be repealed.When the global gag rule is in place, there is a deep disrupting in health service delivery, bolstering an anti-human rights agenda globally, undermining trust in medical providers, and weakening civil society allies. Communities have less access to centralized, essential care, which can force people to turn to unsafe methods of abortion. Thankfully, there are policy solutions. The Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights Act (Global HER Act), which was reintroduced this week, would take away presidential power to reinstate the global gag rule. Support the showFollow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfbFacebook: rePROs Fight Back Bluesky: @reprosfightback.bsky.social Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.comRate and Review on Apple PodcastThanks for listening & keep fighting back!

Lester Kiewit speaks to [Guest Name] from the Soul City Institute for Social Justice about the devastating impact of the reinstated Global Gag Rule. They discuss how this policy restricts U.S. funding for organizations that provide or even discuss abortion services, severely limiting access to essential reproductive healthcare in South Africa and beyond. The conversation highlights the broader consequences for maternal health, HIV prevention, and gender-based violence support, with a call for stronger local and global action to protect reproductive rights and gender equity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Soul City Institute for Social Justice is deeply alarmed by the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule and the pause of foreign aid funding under the new Trump administration. The decision by the world's single largest donor has sent shockwaves across the world. The Gag Rule prohibits U.S. federal funding to foreign organisations that provide, promote, or even discuss abortion services as part of comprehensive healthcare. The Soul City Institute says the decision is a direct attack on the health, rights and lives of women, girls, and marginalised communities across the globe, including in South Africa. For more we are now joined on the line by Phinah Kodisang , CEO for the Soul City Institute for Social Justice

Full episode transcript HERE.  The first awful week ends with March for Madness – IT'S HEAVY ON THE MADNESS! Your Feminist Buzzkils are out here using facts and belly laughs to break down the early returns of how the anti-abobo gorgons will fuck with our rights. Let's snap you out of your facism fatigue, stat! Every one of you is an abobo warrior, and we salute you (in a very normal human way). Trump's first week ended with the anti-abortion mayhem known as the March for Life, AKA Unbornaroo. For 52 years they have taken over the Capital for their annual patriarchal parade of fetus worship and ovarian oppression. BUT, as always, we've got the play by play! We're bringing y'all: their lies and their plans on where they will prioritize creating policy to further destroy access to abortion care. AND, joining us is Constitutional law scholar Dr. Michele Goodwin to explain the devastating blows we can expect from their shenanigans. From plans to reinstate the Global Gag rule to how Christian legal firms have spent DECADES turning the courts into dogma distribution centers, one judge at a time.  All this, PLUS, the latest on the anti-abortion “terrorists” Trump pardoned this week and all of the abobo-related news you need to know. Times are heavy, but knowledge is power, y'all. We gotchu.  OPERATION SAVE ABORTION: You can still join the 10,000+ womb warriors fighting the patriarchy by listening to our OpSave pod series and Mifepristone Panel by clicking  HERE for episodes, your toolkit, marching orders, and more. HOSTS:Lizz Winstead IG: @LizzWinstead Bluesky: @LizzWinstead.bsky.socialMoji Alawode-El IG: @Mojilocks Bluesky: @Mojilocks.bsky.social SPECIAL GUEST:Dr. Michele Goodwin IG/X: @MicheleBGoodwin Bluesky: @MicheleBGoodwin.bsky.social GUEST LINKS:Dr. Michele Goodwin Website“On the Issues with Michele Goodwin” Podcast “Policing the Womb” by Michele Goodwin NEWS DUMP:Lawsuit Alleges Vermont Tracks Pregnant Women Deemed Unsuitable for ParenthoodMississippi Politician Files ‘Contraception Begins at Erection Act'Instagram Censors and Blurs Aid Access PostsGovernment Website Offering Reproductive Health Information Goes OfflineWhat Is the Global Gag Rule?What Leaving the Who Means for the US And the WorldDefending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal GovernmentSenate Dems Block ‘Deliberately Misleading' GOP Bill Attacking Reproductive Care EPISODE LINKS:Hypocrites Unmasked WebsiteExpose Fake Clinics1/27 WEBINAR: Gender Liberation Movement Mass CallADOPT-A-CLINIC WISHLIST: Joan G Lovering Health CenterSTREAM: No One Asked You on JoltOperation Save AbortionSIGN: Repeal the Comstock ActEMAIL your abobo questions to The Feminist BuzzkillsAAF's Abortion-Themed Rage Playlist FOLLOW US:Listen to us ~ FBK PodcastInstagram ~ @AbortionFrontBluesky ~ @AbortionFrontTikTok ~ @AbortionFrontFacebook ~ @AbortionFrontYouTube ~ @AbortionAccessFrontTALK TO THE CHARLEY BOT FOR ABOBO OPTIONS & RESOURCES HERE!PATREON HERE! Support our work, get exclusive merch and more! DONATE TO AAF HERE!ACTIVIST CALENDAR HERE!VOLUNTEER WITH US HERE!ADOPT-A-CLINIC HERE!EXPOSE FAKE CLINICS HERE!GET ABOBO PILLS FROM PLAN C PILLS HERE!When BS is poppin', we pop off!

The incoming Trump administration won't just devastate sexual and reproductive health in the United States—the harm will absolutely ripple abroad. Rachel Clement, Senior Director of Government Strategy at PAI, sits down to talk with us about the prospect of global human rights under the incoming administration and potential harmful policy to come.Already, less than 1% of the U.S. budget goes to foreign assistance. And, under the Trump administration, it's incredibly likely that UNFPA will be defunded, in tandem with cutting funding in other UN spaces like the WHO, UNESCO, and UN Women. During the last Trump administration, the Geneva Consensus Declaration was created to undermine the United Nations and multilateralism in general, while the Commission on Unalienable Rights, out of the State Department, sought to re-define human rights; these tools and others like them might reemerge. In all, attacks to gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world will be enormous, especially with the probable reintroduction of the expanded Global Gag Rule. Support the showFollow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfbFacebook: rePROs Fight Back Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.comRate and Review on Apple PodcastThanks for listening & keep fighting back!

The Global Gag Rule (GGR) prevents foreign non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. foreign assistance funds from providing, advocating for, counseling on, or referring for abortion services—and has successfully done so for 40 years. Beirne Roose-Snyder, Senior Director at the Preclusion Project, and Bergen Cooper, Senior Research Advisor at the Preclusion Project and Chief Operating Officer with the Torchlight Collective, sit down to talk with us about the history of this destructive policy, its long and heart-wrenching impacts, and what the future of the GGR might look like.  The GGR, introduced in 1984 by President Ronald Raegan, is a presidential memorandum that is either reinstated or revoked depending on which political party is in the Oval Office. In 2017, the rule was expanded by the Trump administration to apply to all global heath assistance funding. The GGR has, and continues to, affect LGBTQI populations, people living in rural areas, people living with disabilities, sex workers, and healthcare providers, when accessing or providing abortion, contraception, gender-based violence care, HIV /AIDS care, STI care, and more. With the possibility of a change in administration coming soon, the GGR under Project 2025 may extend its reach farther and worsen outcomes.Support the showFollow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfbFacebook: rePROs Fight Back Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.comRate and Review on Apple PodcastThanks for listening & keep fighting back!

Trigger warning: In this episode we talk about sexual assault and descriptions of unsafe abortions. Please engage with challenging content with caution. 45% of the 73 million abortions a year are unsafe. One of the reasons they are unsafe is due to U.S. policies that place restrictions on how family planning-related foreign assistance is used. Jodi Enda, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Correspondent for The Fuller Project, sits down to talk with us about the  multiple tools used by the U.S.-- including the Helms amendment and the Global Gag Rule-- and how far their harmful reach truly extends.  These unsafe abortions result in approximately 39,000 preventable maternal deaths and millions of complications each year. The U.S. is the biggest healthcare funder in the world, as well as the biggest funder of family planning assistance. Still, The Helms amendment and the Global Gag Rule both impact U.S. funding and U.S. global health assistance as it relates to abortion care, albeit in different ways. These foreign policies disproportionately impact access to abortion care for those who have experienced sexual violence, those who are in conflict and humanitarian settings, and those of low-incomes.Support the Show.Follow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfbFacebook: rePROs Fight Back Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.comRate and Review on Apple PodcastThanks for listening & keep fighting back!

The Global Gag Rule (GGR) prevents foreign non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. foreign assistance funds from providing, advocating for, counseling on, or referring for abortion services even when done with their non-U.S. funds. Bergen Cooper, Director of Policy Research at Fòs Feminista and Kat Olivera, Associate Director for U.S. Global Policy at Fòs Feminista, sit down to talk to us about the unmitigated harm caused by the GGR and why permanent repeal of this rule is needed immediately. The Global Gag Rule, or the Mexico City Policy as introduced in 1984 by President Ronald Raegan, which is a presidential memorandum that is either reinstated or revoked depending on party lines. During the Trump administration, the Global Gag Rule was expanded and rebranded as the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance Policy, and Biden revoked the GGR early in his tenure. Still, even when the GGR is not in effect, it can be impactful. When the policy is put into place, purposeful communications are made to ensure cooperation; when the policy is revoked, communications are one-off. In fact, Fòs Feminista's research team found an alarming breakdown in communication between the U.S. government and relevant global stakeholders. It was found that, this particularly damaging game of telephone resulted in the prolonging of the policy's implementation and unnecessarily prevented people from accessing legal abortions.  The Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights Act (The Global HER Act) is a bicameral piece of legislation that would repeal the Global Gag Rule permanently. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has the potential to embolden anti-abortion policies like the GGR, which is why it's important to take advantage of our remaining time left with the Biden administration, the Senate majority, and the House to continue priming the Global Her Act and permanent repeal of the GGR. Especially when many countries' own national laws and policies permit for the funding and provision of abortion care, the United States' restriction of providers speech and services abroad is racist and unconscionable. The failure of the administration, Congress, and other government actors to monitor for and ensure compliance with the GGR revocation and provide clear communication only perpetuates the policy's harm. LinksFòs Feminista on TwitterFòs Feminista on FacebookInformation on Reintroduction of the Global HER ActFòs Feminista's report Chaos Continues: The 2021 Revocation of the Global Gag Rule and The Need for Permanent RepealThe Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Index Take ActionContact your Congresspeople and tell them to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule by supporting and passing the Global HER Act. If your Congressperson is already a co-sponsor, thank them! You can also ask them to find other avenues of moving the bill forward. Contact the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.Support the showFollow Us on Social: Twitter: @rePROsFightBack Instagram: @reprosfbFacebook: rePROs Fight Back Email us: jennie@reprosfightback.comRate and Review on Apple PodcastThanks for listening & keep fighting back!

In today's episode of New Security Broadcast, Sarah Barnes, Project Director for the Wilson Center's Maternal Health Initiative Project Director met with Bridget Kelly, Director of Research for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights at Population Institute to discuss the launch of Population Institute's new report: Connecting the Dots, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights as Prerequisites for Global Gender Equality and Empowerment. On the episode Kelly, lead author of the Connecting the Dots report, shares findings from the report on the importance of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) agenda, how SRHR leads to gender equality, the power of and need for increased U.S. investment, and policy recommendations to fully realize the SRHR agenda and improve gender equality and empowerment.   Selected Quotes: Bridget Kelly 1) The U.S. plays such an important role in the global goal to achieve gender equality as the U.S. is the largest funder and implementer of global health assistance worldwide. But what U.S. policymakers often fail to recognize is that these gender objectives are directly impacted by the availability and accessibility of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. 2) Why are SRHR important to achieve gender equality and empowerment? Evidence shows us that girls' education, a top gender priority, and SRHR have a mutually reinforcing relationship. Early marriage and unintended pregnancy can both be a cause of and a reason as to why girls are out of school. Of the 261 million adolescent girls age 15 to 19 living in the global South, an estimated 32 million are sexually active and do not want to have a child in the next two years. Yet, 14 million of these adolescent girls have an unmet need for modern contraception and are thus at an elevated risk of unintended pregnancy. So, the barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services puts the U.S. commitment to girls' education at risk. 3) Improved access to family planning services is linked with a higher labor force participation for women. We also know that reproductive health is a critical element to making space for women to meaningfully contribute to peace and security efforts, not only because they themselves are affected by these outcomes, but also because they are more often able to come to lasting solutions compared to their male counterparts.4) In order to create a more enabling environment for sexual and reproductive health and rights, Congress would need to pass the Global HER Act, which would permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule. The Global Gag Rule, when invoked, prevents foreign organizations receiving U.S. global health assistance from providing information, referrals, or services for legal abortion. Another Act that Congress would need to pass is the Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act, which would repeal the Helms Amendment. Now, the Helms Amendment prohibits U.S. foreign assistance from being used for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning. There would also need to be modifications to the Kemp-Kasten Amendment to ensure that U.S. funds are not wrongfully withheld from UNFPA.5) Now is a really opportune time to invest as the world population grows… Today there are about 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10 to 24. That is the largest generation of youth in history and close to 90% of this generation lives in the global South. And, these numbers of individuals are reproductive age are projected to grow. So, what these figures really highlight is just how critically important it is to increase U.S. foreign assistance for global sexual and reproductive health and rights in order to ensure that efforts do not fail to keep pace with the needs of this generation.

今年6月，美國最高法院宣告推翻1973年的「羅訴韋德案」判決結果，讓女性的墮胎權益不再受到全國性的保障。在美國「開倒車」的同時，世界上其他地區又如何規範女性的墮胎權呢？這一集的筆記本將繼續討論「生育自主權」這個議題，但將眼光望向全球，跟各位聽眾分享，在世界其他國家，女性的墮胎權益受到怎樣的保障或限制，背後又各自受到哪些因素的影響？ 本集關鍵字：生育自主權之全球現況 筆記重點： →　歐洲：東西歐的落差 →　拉丁美洲：拉美三大國如何改變了當地女性的墮胎權益？ →　非洲：美國的"Global Gag Rule”如何影響非洲人民的生育健康？ →　亞洲：在「人口政策」脈絡下發生的墮胎合法化 Music in the background: Touch Of Love (By David Renda) , from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com 更多內容相關資訊請參考：http://queerology.net/2022/08/vnote-14/ 支持我們：感謝你的收聽。如果你喜歡我們的節目，歡迎你透過以下的方式支持我們。你可以點下訂閱，期待我們下一集的節目；留下五星評價，讓我們知道你的喜歡；也可以將我們的節目分享給更多人知道。如果你願意給我們更多支持，歡迎你前往http://queerology.net，點擊頁面上的QR碼 ，請我們喝杯咖啡。

What do you get when you cross a human and an ape? This is what Soviet Era scientist Ilya Ivanov tried to find out, and it. gets. weird; like inseminating a woman with ape sperm weird. So, let's talk about it! Digressions include Transhumanism and the Hunger Games! Sources A. E. Samaan, From a "Race of Masters" to a "Master Race": 1948 to 1848(2013) Eric Michael Johnson, Scientific Ethics and Stalin's Ape-Man Superwarriors (2011) Ivan Cenzi, The Strange History of Men Going Nuts for Monkey Testicle Transplants (2021) Julian Huxley, Transhumanism, 1957 Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, Global Gag Rule Threatens Reproductive Health in Kenya: Study, (2020) Matthew Gault, The Soviet Union's Crazy ‘Planet of the Apes', (2014) Paul Weindling, Julian Huxley and the Continuity of Eugenics in Twentieth-century Britain, (2015)) Pawel Wargan, A Dream of Soviet Ape‑Men (2013) Sam Kean, The Soviet Era's Deadliest Scientist Is Regaining Popularity in Russia (2017) Stephanie Pain, Blasts from the past: The Soviet ape-man scandal (2008) The Open Society Foundation, What Is the Global Gag Rule? (2019) Wulf D. Hund, Racist King Kong Fantasies. From Shakespeare's Monster to Stalin's Ape-Man (2011)

Rape and other forms of sexual violence have been reported by health workers, human rights observers, and civilians in conflict zones, including Rwanda, Bosnia, Tigray, and Myanmar. Yet, survivors of these human rights abuses are rarely provided the sexual and reproductive healthcare they need. Jill Filipovic, freelance journalist and author of The H Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness and OK Boomer: Let's Talk How My Generation Got Left Behind, talks to us about how U.S. foreign policy has prevented the support and care of women who have endured sexual violence in conflict zones. U.S. foreign policy, such as the global gag rule and the Helms amendment, have prevented U.S. dollars to fund safe abortions for rape survivors and refugees even in areas where abortion is legal. In fact, the Helms amendment dictates that no U.S. funding can be spent on abortion as a method of family planning. Even though the Helms amendment's wording should exclude abortions needed as a result of rape or abortion for those whose lives and health are threatened, U.S. federal dollars still do not fund safe abortion care. The global gag rule prevents U.S. funding for family planning abroad from going to groups that perform abortion with their own non-U.S. money, advocate for abortion, or refer people for abortion care. The rule has a broad “chilling effect”, stigmatizing the procedure and preventing groups that receive U.S. funding from engaging in abortion-related activities. While the Biden/Harris admin has rescinded the global gag rule it is not a light switch, just because the policy is gone it does not mean its impacts are. (Learn more about why we must permanently repeal the global gag rule by checking out this episode of rePROs Fight Back from earlier this year).  As a result of U.S. law, many medical providers in conflict settings are able to offer post-abortion care—via the same medical machine or the same set of medications— but cannot offer an elective abortion, itself. Because women cannot access an elective abortion at the time needed, they may seek unsafe options and return to the medical provider for post-abortion care, after. This leads to increased rates of problems in pregnancy and childbirth, injury and death, loss of fertility, and more. Under the Trump administration, post-abortion care in conflict settings was scaled back, as well as radically expanded the global gag rule during the administration's four years. Those who have experienced this trauma, which is rooted in a loss of control over one's own physical safety and bodily autonomy, deserve control and ability to make personal decisions in the aftermath of a sexual assault. Ultimately, the U.S.'s policy must change to center the safety, health, and wellbeing of women and girls in conflict zones and to adhere to the principles outlined in the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.Take Action First and foremost, be sure to read Jill Filipovic's piece, How US Abortion Politics Distorts Women's Lives in Conflict Zones, here. You can also follow Jill on Twitter. Be mindful of the organizations that you support or donate to and continue to research whether or not they support a full range of reproductive health and rights, including safe abortion. Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

In the second part of episode two, we continue discussing the impact the Global Gag Rule has had on different countries around the world. We'll go into detail with Gisela Foz and Melisa Trad Malmod about the Hyde Amendment and how it has restricted access to abortion services. We'll focus on the ramifications of these legislations in the context of Latin America. You can follow Gisela Foz and Melisa Trad Malmod here: Instagram: @giselafoz Twitter: @giselafoz Instagram: @melisatrad Twitter: @Melisa_Trad Facebook: Melisa Trad Malmod

The Global Gag Rule has been intermittently preventing global communities from accessing comprehensive healthcare for the last 37 years. This Global Gag Rule Repeal Week of Action, it's important to recognize that ending this harmful policy is extremely urgent. Rebecca Dennis, Senior Legislative Policy Analyst at PAI, sits down to update us on the Global Gag Rule, the impacts it has had around the world, and what we can do to make sure it is repealed once and for all. The Global Gag Rule is an executive-level policy that has existed under every Republican presidential administration since Ronald Reagan, but was vastly expanded under Donald Trump. The policy under Trump withheld global health assistance funding from foreign NGOs unless they agree to not use any of their own, non-U.S. funding to provide abortions or any information, education, counseling, or referrals for abortion care. This was a huge expansion compared to under previous administrations where it only applied to family planning funding.  To learn more about the history of the Global Gag Rule, find our podcast episode here! The Global Gag Rule has prevented people around the world from accessing sexual and reproductive health care, maternal and child health care, HIV testing and treatment, tuberculosis and malaria testing and treatment, and nutrition programs. It has limited which commodities—including methods of contraception—can reach communities, and caused organizations to have to end entire programs. The rule has also restricted outreach to hard-to-reach communities, including young people, LGBTQI+ people, and those living in very rural areas or refugee camps. For many years, the policy only applied to U.S. family planning and reproductive health programs. But after the Trump administration's entry into the Oval Office in January of 2017, one of their first executive actions included re-instating and massively expanding the Global Gag Rule to impact all U.S. global health assistance funding. This expansion went above and beyond USAID, ultimately impacting programs in the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The administration expanded it a second time, changing the interpretation of the policy and forcing organizations that were complying with the policy to ensure that any of their partnerships were complying, as well even if they did not get any impacted U.S. health funding.  In January of 2021, the Biden-Harris administration repealed the Global Gag Rule. Despite this momentous step, the policy is not a light switch that can be turned on and off. Many organizations who did not comply with the rule now have to wait until there are additional funding opportunities with the U.S. government, while some are concerned that the policy might return and interrupt their work, again. Even beyond all of this, clinics have closed, and staff have been laid off around the world due to this rule.  Congress has the ability to amend the Foreign Assistance Act and clarify that an organization cannot be deemed ineligible to receive U.S. global health assistance on the basis of the services they provide. Passing the Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights Act (Global HER Act) would prevent the Global Gag Rule from ever being re-instated again.  Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

The Global Gag Rule is a piece of legislation that has actively hindered the ability of women across the globe to access abortion services. It has restricted organisations from providing the service and the Trump Era was one of the most detrimental phases of this legislation. Now that it has been repealed, what does abortion access look like, and more importantly, what are the sentiments that have guided it and any other legislative practices similar in nature. Join us as we discuss this with a Latina America focus with Melisa Malmod and Gisela Foz. Instagram: @giselafoz Twitter: @giselafoz Instagram: @melisatrad Twitter: @Melisa_Trad Facebook: Melisa Trad Malmod

Under the Trump administration, global LGBTQI+ health and rights faced an unprecedented assault. Andrea Gillespie, Sexual Health and Rights Policy Advisor with the American Jewish World Service (AJWS), sits down to talk with us about progress made by the Biden-Harris administration and what pieces of legislation we can advance to prevent backsliding. Under the Trump administration, global LGBTQI+ rights were facing unprecedented attack. In fact, those serving in the Trump administration had long records of opposing LGBTQI+ rights and reproductive rights—including officials at the U.S. State Department and USAID. The State Department attempted to erase the reality of global sexual and reproductive health and rights, removing the term “sexual and reproductive health and rights” altogether from their Annual Human Rights Reports. The removal of this topic from the reports limited our comprehensive understanding and tracking of reproductive health and rights progress for LGBTQI+ people around the world. Then-Secretary Mike Pompeo's Commission on Unalienable Rights sought to re-define and cherry-pick human rights, with the health and rights of LGBTQI+ individuals at the bottom of the ladder. Trump's drastically expanded Global Gag Rule also worsened the barriers that LGBTQI+ individuals faced when accessing healthcare, including HIV treatment and prevention.  The Biden administration has begun putting in place policies that work to repair and support LGBTQI+ health and rights. President Biden rescinded the expanded Global Gag Rule during his first week in office. In early February, when President Biden visited the State Department for the first time, his comments centered the health and rights of LGBTQI + individuals and, shortly after, the White Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Persons Around the World was released. The Biden-Harris administration has also recognized and released statements on Trans-Visibility Day and International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. In order to prevent backsliding on global LGBTQI+ health and rights, we must repeal the Global Gag Rule for good. The Global HER Act would permanently repeal this harmful policy, allowing LGBTQI+ people to have expanded access to abortion services and other reproductive health care. Similarly, the Helms amendment must be repealed in order to make sure all people have the ability to access the care that they need. During appropriations season, it's also important  to direct funding to LGBTQI+ rights programs, including those run from the State Department and USAID that fight to shift norms, end discrimination, and provide safety and security. Lastly, the Greater Leadership Overseas for the Benefit of Equality (GLOBE) Act, sponsored by Representative Dina Titus [D-NV-1] would recognize the impact of foreign policy tools on LGBTQ+ rights.  LinksAmerican Jewish World Service on FacebookAmerican Jewish World Service on TwitterMore information about the GLOBE Act Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

We have just passed 100 days of the Biden-Harris Administration! Christina Krysinski, Counsel and Senior Manager of Policy at NARAL Pro-Choice America sits down to talk with us about the reproductive health and rights victories achieved during this period, as well as what the administration can do more of to ensure health and rights for all. In his second week in office, President Biden ended the Trump administration's expanded global gag rule (also known as the Mexico City policy), and also began the process of restoring funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in order to restore access to sexual and reproductive health care around the world. The President also withdrew U.S. support for the Trump administration's anti-choice, anti-LGBTQ Geneva Consensus Declaration, sending the message that the United States will no longer be a barrier to progress for reproductive freedom. Lastly, during the release of the State Department's 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. will resume reporting on reproductive rights.  Domestically, the Biden administration has also made significant strides in expanding and protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights. This month, the FDA announced that it will stop enforcing a restriction that would force people accessing medication abortion pills to do so in-person at a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office for the duration of the pandemic. The administration proposed the ending of the Trump administration's “domestic gag rule,” which prevented reproductive health providers that are funded by the nation's Title X program from providing transparent and equitable care. The White House also officially established the Gender Policy Council, which will work to advance gender equity and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The administration has also appointed officials that are committed to protecting reproductive health and rights both globally and domestically, including the Vice President Kamala Harris, The Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine (the first openly transgender, Senate-confirmed federal official), United States Assistant Attorney General Venita Gupta, nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and USAID Administrator Samantha Power. While the Biden administration has accomplished much for reproductive health and rights, there is still so much more that needs to be done. Many organizations and groups continue to call for an increased sense of urgency from the administration. President Biden and other federal officials have yet to say the word “abortion” in a public address; doing so recognizes the reality of the abortion access crisis and contributes to de-stigmatization on a national level. It's also vital that the budget robustly funds reproductive health programs and ceases denial-of-care policies and funding bans. The administration can continue to fill important positions—including the FDA commissioner, the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, Director for the HHS' Office of Civil Rights, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs at HHS, and more. Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

In this episode, The O+G Advocates introduce themselves and explain what brought them to advocacy. They will also review some of the policies of the prior administration (Domestic and Global Gag Rule, REMS Changes for Mifepristone, and many others) as well as their hopes for reproductive health policy in the Biden/Harris Administration.

Møde nr. 65 i salen 1) Besvarelse af oversendte spørgsmål til ministrene (spørgetid). SPØRGSMÅL: 1) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Mette Thiesen Hvad mener ministeren om, at servicelovens § 109 sikrer, at kvinder, der udsættes for vold, kan få hjælp til både dem selv og deres børn, men at mænd i samme situation ikke nævnes med et eneste ord i paragraffen? (Spm. nr. S 846). 2) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Marie Krarup Hvad vil ministeren, der jo også har ansvaret for en del af familiepolitikken i Danmark, gøre, for at det kan blive mere attraktivt for danskerne at få børn, så vi kan afbøde det fald i befolkningstilvækst, som ifølge EU-statistik er på vej? (Spm. nr. S 862, skr. begr.). 3) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Stén Knuth Synes ministeren ikke, at udspillet »Børnene Først« er problematisk i relation til menneskerettighedskonventionen, når udspillet lægger op til, at biologiske forældre til anbragte børn kan miste enhver ret til at få deres børn tilbage i deres varetægt, også selv om deres kapacitet til at varetage forældrerollen udvikler sig i en positiv retning? (Spm. nr. S 866). 4) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Stén Knuth Vil ministeren kommentere det sidste afsnit i det notat, som Institut for Menneskerettigheder har sendt til Folketingets Social- og Indenrigsudvalg den 5. februar 2021 vedrørende udspillet »Børnene Først«, om, at adoptioner kun kan ske, hvis det er foreneligt med Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention? (Spm. nr. S 867). 5) Til sundhedsministeren af: Liselott Blixt Hvordan vil ministeren sikre ordentlige forhold for vordende forældre og fødende på landets hospitaler? (Spm. nr. S 855). 6) Til sundhedsministeren af: Liselott Blixt Hvordan vil ministeren sikre, at der kommer øget fokus på diagnosticering og behandling af andre sygdomme end covid-19, og vil ministeren eksempelvis overveje at oprette et sundhedsøkonomisk råd til dette formål? (Spm. nr. S 857). 7) Til transportministeren af: Mette Thiesen Mener ministeren, det er hensigtsmæssigt, at de danske skatteborgere opkræves ekstra for muslimske helligdage, fordi de regnes som særlige i de offentlige transportudbud i Danmark? (Spm. nr. S 840). 8) Til transportministeren af: Marcus Knuth Mener ministeren, at der bør gribes ind, hvis en kommune ikke efterlever forvaltningsregler og god forvaltningsskik i etableringen af infrastrukturprojekter, der kan have skadelige virkninger på et Natura 2000-område såsom en unik dansk ådal? (Spm. nr. S 853). 9) Til transportministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Hvad er ministerens holdning til, at den netop offentliggjorte opdaterede vvm-undersøgelse for Frederikssundmotorvejen viser en overraskende stor samfundsøkonomisk gevinst ved færdiggørelse af motorvejen, og er ministerens enig i, at en færdiggørelse af motorvejsstrækningen vurderes at være blandt de mest rentable vejprojekter i Danmark? (Spm. nr. S 863). 10) Til børne- og undervisningsministeren af: Marie Krarup Vil ministeren i sin egenskab af minister for børneområdet sætte foranstaltninger i værk, der kan gøre det mere attraktivt at få børn, så vi kan afbøde det fald i befolkningstilvækst, som ifølge EU-statistik er på vej? (Spm. nr. S 864, skr. begr.). 11) Til udlændinge- og integrationsministeren af: Kristian Hegaard Synes ministeren, at det er rimeligt, at en ung kinesisk studerende, der blot var i Danmark for at studere, kan ende i Ellebæk som følge af et udløbet visum, et sted, der af Europarådets Torturkomité har fået stærk kritik for fængselslignende forhold? (Spm. nr. S 860). 12) Til miljøministeren af: Marcus Knuth Er det efter ministerens opfattelse bekymrende at iværksætte infrastrukturprojekter, der vil medføre massiv tung trafik tæt på grænsen mod et Natura 2000-område, og kan en etablering af et sådant projekt være en trussel mod overholdelsen af FN´s klimamål, bl.a. grundet øget forurening i området? (Spm. nr. S 854). 13) Til miljøministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Er ministeren enig med sine københavnske partifæller i, at Danmarks Naturfredningsforening i kampagnen på de sociale medier mod byggeriet af 2.000 nye københavnske boliger spreder »fundamentalt farlig« misinformation, jf. artiklen »Naturfredningsforening angribes for grov vildledning i opgør om Amager Fælled: »Fundamentalt farligt« i Berlingske den 5. februar 2021? (Spm. nr. S 861). 14) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Karen Ellemann Hvordan vil ministeren sikre fortsat stort dansk fokus på pigers og kvinders rettigheder i forbindelse med den kommende udviklingspolitiske strategi? (Spm. nr. S 856. Medspørger: Ulla Tørnæs (V)). 15) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Ulla Tørnæs Hvad vil ministeren gøre for at styrke det globale samarbejde om kvinders og pigers rettigheder i udviklingslande, i lyset af at præsident Joe Biden har afskaffet »The Global Gag Rule«? (Spm. nr. S 858. Medspørger: Karen Ellemann (V)). 16) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Ulla Tørnæs Er ministeren enig i, at der er behov for at styrke indsatsen for at få piger i udviklingslande tilbage i skole i kølvandet på covid-19-pandemien? (Spm. nr. S 859).

Møde nr. 65 i salen 1) Besvarelse af oversendte spørgsmål til ministrene (spørgetid). SPØRGSMÅL: 1) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Mette Thiesen Hvad mener ministeren om, at servicelovens § 109 sikrer, at kvinder, der udsættes for vold, kan få hjælp til både dem selv og deres børn, men at mænd i samme situation ikke nævnes med et eneste ord i paragraffen? (Spm. nr. S 846). 2) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Marie Krarup Hvad vil ministeren, der jo også har ansvaret for en del af familiepolitikken i Danmark, gøre, for at det kan blive mere attraktivt for danskerne at få børn, så vi kan afbøde det fald i befolkningstilvækst, som ifølge EU-statistik er på vej? (Spm. nr. S 862, skr. begr.). 3) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Stén Knuth Synes ministeren ikke, at udspillet »Børnene Først« er problematisk i relation til menneskerettighedskonventionen, når udspillet lægger op til, at biologiske forældre til anbragte børn kan miste enhver ret til at få deres børn tilbage i deres varetægt, også selv om deres kapacitet til at varetage forældrerollen udvikler sig i en positiv retning? (Spm. nr. S 866). 4) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Stén Knuth Vil ministeren kommentere det sidste afsnit i det notat, som Institut for Menneskerettigheder har sendt til Folketingets Social- og Indenrigsudvalg den 5. februar 2021 vedrørende udspillet »Børnene Først«, om, at adoptioner kun kan ske, hvis det er foreneligt med Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention? (Spm. nr. S 867). 5) Til sundhedsministeren af: Liselott Blixt Hvordan vil ministeren sikre ordentlige forhold for vordende forældre og fødende på landets hospitaler? (Spm. nr. S 855). 6) Til sundhedsministeren af: Liselott Blixt Hvordan vil ministeren sikre, at der kommer øget fokus på diagnosticering og behandling af andre sygdomme end covid-19, og vil ministeren eksempelvis overveje at oprette et sundhedsøkonomisk råd til dette formål? (Spm. nr. S 857). 7) Til transportministeren af: Mette Thiesen Mener ministeren, det er hensigtsmæssigt, at de danske skatteborgere opkræves ekstra for muslimske helligdage, fordi de regnes som særlige i de offentlige transportudbud i Danmark? (Spm. nr. S 840). 8) Til transportministeren af: Marcus Knuth Mener ministeren, at der bør gribes ind, hvis en kommune ikke efterlever forvaltningsregler og god forvaltningsskik i etableringen af infrastrukturprojekter, der kan have skadelige virkninger på et Natura 2000-område såsom en unik dansk ådal? (Spm. nr. S 853). 9) Til transportministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Hvad er ministerens holdning til, at den netop offentliggjorte opdaterede vvm-undersøgelse for Frederikssundmotorvejen viser en overraskende stor samfundsøkonomisk gevinst ved færdiggørelse af motorvejen, og er ministerens enig i, at en færdiggørelse af motorvejsstrækningen vurderes at være blandt de mest rentable vejprojekter i Danmark? (Spm. nr. S 863). 10) Til børne- og undervisningsministeren af: Marie Krarup Vil ministeren i sin egenskab af minister for børneområdet sætte foranstaltninger i værk, der kan gøre det mere attraktivt at få børn, så vi kan afbøde det fald i befolkningstilvækst, som ifølge EU-statistik er på vej? (Spm. nr. S 864, skr. begr.). 11) Til udlændinge- og integrationsministeren af: Kristian Hegaard Synes ministeren, at det er rimeligt, at en ung kinesisk studerende, der blot var i Danmark for at studere, kan ende i Ellebæk som følge af et udløbet visum, et sted, der af Europarådets Torturkomité har fået stærk kritik for fængselslignende forhold? (Spm. nr. S 860). 12) Til miljøministeren af: Marcus Knuth Er det efter ministerens opfattelse bekymrende at iværksætte infrastrukturprojekter, der vil medføre massiv tung trafik tæt på grænsen mod et Natura 2000-område, og kan en etablering af et sådant projekt være en trussel mod overholdelsen af FN´s klimamål, bl.a. grundet øget forurening i området? (Spm. nr. S 854). 13) Til miljøministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Er ministeren enig med sine københavnske partifæller i, at Danmarks Naturfredningsforening i kampagnen på de sociale medier mod byggeriet af 2.000 nye københavnske boliger spreder »fundamentalt farlig« misinformation, jf. artiklen »Naturfredningsforening angribes for grov vildledning i opgør om Amager Fælled: »Fundamentalt farligt« i Berlingske den 5. februar 2021? (Spm. nr. S 861). 14) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Karen Ellemann Hvordan vil ministeren sikre fortsat stort dansk fokus på pigers og kvinders rettigheder i forbindelse med den kommende udviklingspolitiske strategi? (Spm. nr. S 856. Medspørger: Ulla Tørnæs (V)). 15) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Ulla Tørnæs Hvad vil ministeren gøre for at styrke det globale samarbejde om kvinders og pigers rettigheder i udviklingslande, i lyset af at præsident Joe Biden har afskaffet »The Global Gag Rule«? (Spm. nr. S 858. Medspørger: Karen Ellemann (V)). 16) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Ulla Tørnæs Er ministeren enig i, at der er behov for at styrke indsatsen for at få piger i udviklingslande tilbage i skole i kølvandet på covid-19-pandemien? (Spm. nr. S 859).

Møde nr. 65 i salen 1) Besvarelse af oversendte spørgsmål til ministrene (spørgetid). SPØRGSMÅL: 1) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Mette Thiesen Hvad mener ministeren om, at servicelovens § 109 sikrer, at kvinder, der udsættes for vold, kan få hjælp til både dem selv og deres børn, men at mænd i samme situation ikke nævnes med et eneste ord i paragraffen? (Spm. nr. S 846). 2) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Marie Krarup Hvad vil ministeren, der jo også har ansvaret for en del af familiepolitikken i Danmark, gøre, for at det kan blive mere attraktivt for danskerne at få børn, så vi kan afbøde det fald i befolkningstilvækst, som ifølge EU-statistik er på vej? (Spm. nr. S 862, skr. begr.). 3) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Stén Knuth Synes ministeren ikke, at udspillet »Børnene Først« er problematisk i relation til menneskerettighedskonventionen, når udspillet lægger op til, at biologiske forældre til anbragte børn kan miste enhver ret til at få deres børn tilbage i deres varetægt, også selv om deres kapacitet til at varetage forældrerollen udvikler sig i en positiv retning? (Spm. nr. S 866). 4) Til social- og ældreministeren af: Stén Knuth Vil ministeren kommentere det sidste afsnit i det notat, som Institut for Menneskerettigheder har sendt til Folketingets Social- og Indenrigsudvalg den 5. februar 2021 vedrørende udspillet »Børnene Først«, om, at adoptioner kun kan ske, hvis det er foreneligt med Den Europæiske Menneskerettighedskonvention? (Spm. nr. S 867). 5) Til sundhedsministeren af: Liselott Blixt Hvordan vil ministeren sikre ordentlige forhold for vordende forældre og fødende på landets hospitaler? (Spm. nr. S 855). 6) Til sundhedsministeren af: Liselott Blixt Hvordan vil ministeren sikre, at der kommer øget fokus på diagnosticering og behandling af andre sygdomme end covid-19, og vil ministeren eksempelvis overveje at oprette et sundhedsøkonomisk råd til dette formål? (Spm. nr. S 857). 7) Til transportministeren af: Mette Thiesen Mener ministeren, det er hensigtsmæssigt, at de danske skatteborgere opkræves ekstra for muslimske helligdage, fordi de regnes som særlige i de offentlige transportudbud i Danmark? (Spm. nr. S 840). 8) Til transportministeren af: Marcus Knuth Mener ministeren, at der bør gribes ind, hvis en kommune ikke efterlever forvaltningsregler og god forvaltningsskik i etableringen af infrastrukturprojekter, der kan have skadelige virkninger på et Natura 2000-område såsom en unik dansk ådal? (Spm. nr. S 853). 9) Til transportministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Hvad er ministerens holdning til, at den netop offentliggjorte opdaterede vvm-undersøgelse for Frederikssundmotorvejen viser en overraskende stor samfundsøkonomisk gevinst ved færdiggørelse af motorvejen, og er ministerens enig i, at en færdiggørelse af motorvejsstrækningen vurderes at være blandt de mest rentable vejprojekter i Danmark? (Spm. nr. S 863). 10) Til børne- og undervisningsministeren af: Marie Krarup Vil ministeren i sin egenskab af minister for børneområdet sætte foranstaltninger i værk, der kan gøre det mere attraktivt at få børn, så vi kan afbøde det fald i befolkningstilvækst, som ifølge EU-statistik er på vej? (Spm. nr. S 864, skr. begr.). 11) Til udlændinge- og integrationsministeren af: Kristian Hegaard Synes ministeren, at det er rimeligt, at en ung kinesisk studerende, der blot var i Danmark for at studere, kan ende i Ellebæk som følge af et udløbet visum, et sted, der af Europarådets Torturkomité har fået stærk kritik for fængselslignende forhold? (Spm. nr. S 860). 12) Til miljøministeren af: Marcus Knuth Er det efter ministerens opfattelse bekymrende at iværksætte infrastrukturprojekter, der vil medføre massiv tung trafik tæt på grænsen mod et Natura 2000-område, og kan en etablering af et sådant projekt være en trussel mod overholdelsen af FN´s klimamål, bl.a. grundet øget forurening i området? (Spm. nr. S 854). 13) Til miljøministeren af: Morten Messerschmidt Er ministeren enig med sine københavnske partifæller i, at Danmarks Naturfredningsforening i kampagnen på de sociale medier mod byggeriet af 2.000 nye københavnske boliger spreder »fundamentalt farlig« misinformation, jf. artiklen »Naturfredningsforening angribes for grov vildledning i opgør om Amager Fælled: »Fundamentalt farligt« i Berlingske den 5. februar 2021? (Spm. nr. S 861). 14) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Karen Ellemann Hvordan vil ministeren sikre fortsat stort dansk fokus på pigers og kvinders rettigheder i forbindelse med den kommende udviklingspolitiske strategi? (Spm. nr. S 856. Medspørger: Ulla Tørnæs (V)). 15) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Ulla Tørnæs Hvad vil ministeren gøre for at styrke det globale samarbejde om kvinders og pigers rettigheder i udviklingslande, i lyset af at præsident Joe Biden har afskaffet »The Global Gag Rule«? (Spm. nr. S 858. Medspørger: Karen Ellemann (V)). 16) Til ministeren for udviklingssamarbejde af: Ulla Tørnæs Er ministeren enig i, at der er behov for at styrke indsatsen for at få piger i udviklingslande tilbage i skole i kølvandet på covid-19-pandemien? (Spm. nr. S 859).

Happy New Year! While the advent of 2021 didn't quite bring the end of COVID/all our other woes, it did bring a helluva lotta politics and pop culture news. Here's what you need to know.  Reading Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings  *We found the story about the book with an error! https://www.thecut.com/2019/05/naomi-wolf-interview-book-error-bbc-interview.html  Watching  Never Rarely Sometimes Always  On The Rocks  Small Axe  Promising Young Women  Blown Away  Listening  right where you left me and it's time to go by Taylor Swift  *And our Taylor Swift episode for your reference: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-health-care-and-taylor-swift-7/id1380846237?i=1000437216656  Politics  Planned Parenthood International: https://globalgagrule.org/ Guttmacher Institute: https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2020/04/unprecedented-expansion-global-gag-rule-trampling-rights-health-and-free-speech# The impact of the global gag rule https://ghrp.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41256-019-0113-3 COVID impacts: https://www-thelancet-com.proxy3.library.mcgill.ca/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31679-2/fulltext  Pop Culture Olivia Rodrigo background: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Rodrigo Olivia and Josh dating?: https://www.feelingthevibe.com/news/are-high-school-musicals-olivia-rodrigo-and-joshua-bassett-dating/ Relationship timeline/breakup: https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/what-happened-between-high-school-musical-spin-off-stars-joshua-bassett-olivia-rodrigo-explainer/6bf0a9c1-c0cf-4046-a8ac-dbba0a8ac78e Josh and Sabrina: http://www.justjaredjr.com/2020/08/17/sabrina-carpenter-grabs-weekend-lunch-with-fellow-disney-star-joshua-bassett/

Acknowledgement of country//  7.10 Alt News - Gen talks us through the global gag rule and why Biden is trying to remove this law for good // 7.20 am - Lauren talks to Renters and Housing Union (RAHU) about their work and recent campaigns // 7:40 am We hear some snippets from the Safety For Who Panel which explored prison abolition in the context of coercive control. Featuring Tabitha Lean, Georgia Mantle and Monique Hameed // 8:00 am Cin Webb (@gotsthebug) joins us on the line to discuss their experience of coercive control and abolitionist perspectives on addressing harm // Songs Komang - FlexGreentea Peng - Hu ManNoname - Song 32https://youtu.be/0a4PD4SwEAsSOPHIE - Immaterial https://youtu.be/Kv3yIv9nwf8 

Multiple world heath policies were announced by the Biden Administration this week including the United States rejoining the World Health Organization. Also announced was the decision to lift the Global Gag Rule or the Mexico City Rule which would expand abortion services funding. FOX’s Trey Yingst speaks with Ben Weingrod, Director Of Government Relations at CARE, about the perceived benefits of these policy changes. 

Multiple world heath policies were announced by the Biden Administration this week including the United States rejoining the World Health Organization. Also announced was the decision to lift the Global Gag Rule or the Mexico City Rule which would expand abortion services funding. FOX’s Trey Yingst speaks with Ben Weingrod, Director Of Government Relations at CARE, about the perceived benefits of these policy changes. 

In Episode 15: Global Gag Rule, aka "the U.S. kills people", Katelyn & Hannah discuss the global gag rule, which is also informally known as the Mexico City policy. Podcast hosts explore the question "is the global gag order a human rights issue?". If you aren't aware of the global gag order or what it means, this episode is for you... and everyone else! This week's rant discusses Britney Spears, explores disability rights, and conservatorship. Oh yeah, and we have a new president! Listen to this important episode, and check out the resources below for more information. Center for Health & Gender Equity: https://srhrforall.org/download/prescribing-chaos-in-global-health-the-global-gag-rule-from-1984-2018/?wpdmdl=1064&refresh=6007ce015793e1611124225 Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/communities/planned-parenthood-global/end-global-gag-rule Half The Sky Movement: http://www.halftheskymovement.org/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=Dec_newsletter ACLU- How Conservatorship Threatens Britney Spears' Civil Rights: https://www.aclu.org/news/disability-rights/how-conservatorship-threatens-britney-spears-civil-rights/

*Content Warning*: Mention and some detail on unsafe abortions from 29:38 to 31:00We have a new presidential administration (!!!), so let’s get INTO IT on all things sexual and reproductive health, rights, and justice with Beirne Roose-Snyder, Director of Public Policy at the Center for Health And Gender Equity (CHANGE). Beirne is a brilliant thinker and strategist on reproductive rights policy, and she and Caitlin discuss everything from the awful rollbacks of human rights under the Trump administration to the priorities of reproductive health and rights for the Biden administration. Show NotesHow CHANGE was founded The origin of reproductive justiceBad sh*t that happened under the Trump Administration: Commission on Unalienable RightsGeneva Consensus DeclarationThe Global Gag RulePriorities for Biden Administration:Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and JusticeGlobal HER Act to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule

The Global Gag Rule has interfered with HIV prevention and contraceptive access and has increased unintended pregnancy and abortion rates. The Trump administration has engaged in unprecedented expansion of this rule, endangering the health and lives of millions around the world and is looking to further expand who the gag rule applies to. Beirne Roose-Snyder, Director of Public Policy at the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) talks to us about the continuation of these harmful expansions even though 70 percent of Americans oppose the Global Gag Rule. Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

“Unintended pregnancy and abortion are reproductive health experiences shared by tens of millions of people around the world, irrespective of personal status or circumstance. What differs though are the obstacles,” said Dr. Zara Ahmed, Associate Director of Federal Issues at the Guttmacher Institute in this week’s Friday Podcast. Research from the Guttmacher Institute on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) found that in 2018, there were 121 million unintended pregnancies globally, and of those, 61 percent ended in abortion. About half of these abortions were in unsafe conditions and led to approximately 23,000 preventable pregnancy related deaths, said Ahmed. “A major finding of our research is about the legal status of abortion,” said Ahmed. “This is important. Abortion rates are the same where abortion is broadly legal and where it's restricted - exactly the same.” Guttmacher research shows that in settings where abortion is restricted, the proportion of unintended pregnancies that end in abortion increased nearly 40 percent over the last 30 years. “There are persistent inequities in meeting needs for contraceptive services,” said Ahmed. Today, 923 million women want to avoid a pregnancy and among these women, about one in four, or 218 million, have an unmet need for modern contraceptive methods. Unmet need for modern contraception is higher in low-income countries and for adolescents than it is in high- income countries and for older women. In order to meet this global need for family planning, the United States must restore funding for UNFPA and increase funding for global family planning and reproductive health programs, said Ahmed. The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened access to SRH services worldwide. A decline of 10 percent in access to SRH services, said Ahmed, would lead to “an additional 49 million women with an unmet need for modern contraception, an additional 15 million unintended pregnancies, an additional 28,000 maternal deaths, an additional 168,000 newborn deaths, and an additional 3 million unsafe abortions, as well as an additional 1,000 maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion.” “In the middle of a global pandemic, the Trump administration is trying to make it harder for people to get the [SRH] care they want and need. A few weeks ago, the administration announced that it's proposing to expand the dangerous and harmful Global Gag Rule even further than it already has,” said Ahmed. The Global Gag Rule (GGR) is a policy that “prevents foreign NGOs that receive U.S. funds through grants and cooperative agreements from using their own non-U.S. funding to provide abortion services, information, counseling, referrals, or advocacy,” she said. Guttmacher research in Uganda shows that the GGR led to a “reduction in the number of community health workers, engaged in family planning work.” “People are complex and they live multifaceted lives with changing [SRH] needs,” said Ahmed. The global community must invest in the full range of SRH services to meet these needs. “Doing so is a smart investment, but it's also the right thing to do.”

Bergen Cooper, M.P.H., is the Director of Policy Research at the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE). She develops and evaluates research and builds CHANGE's institutional knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights. She leads forums, webinars, and workshops for global health advocates that focus on translating research into policy. Bergen also works with the World Health Organization, where her research since 2012 has focused on interventions within primary care to improve the sexual health of both adolescents and adults. She has evaluated, designed, and taught sexuality education for adolescents and young adults in Washington, D.C. and New York City.  Since 2014 Bergen has been researching the sexual and reproductive rights of women past reproductive age, and is widely considered an expert on gender-based violence and the sexual rights of older women. She is also the co-convener of a global network of nearly one hundred researchers on the Global Gag Rule. Learn more about Bergen's work here and find a recent interview with Bergen on pregnancy stigma here. In this podcast, we reminisce about Salt-N-Pepa's groundbreaking songs about sex and HIV, and discuss the importance of recognizing stigma about sex across the life course, from adolescents to older age. Stigma around fertility (and infertility), pregnancy, abortion, and contraception are global issues. We talk about the continued need to talk about and remove the stigma surrounding sex, the need to critique public health messaging (using creative means including defacing signs when necessary), and the power of harnessing our various platforms to promote social change.Find the SRHR Index we discussed here. Episode hosted by Dr. Carmen Logie. Original music and podcast produced by Cozmic Cat. Supported by funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovationand Canada Research Chairs program.

18% of maternal deaths in Malawi are due to complications from unsafe abortion. Malawi also consistently fights against child marriage, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality. Emma Kaliya, director of the Malawi Human Rights Resource Center and Chair of the Coalition for Prevention of Unsafe Abortion in Malawi and Brian Ligomeka, head of the Center for Solutions Journalism, talk to us about the sexual and reproductive health and rights landscape in Malawi. Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

0:08 – John Nichols, Washington correspondent for The Nation joins us to talk about the scope of the impeachment investigation as the Democrats make their final arguments in the Senate today. His latest book is The Genius of Impeachment: The Founders' Cure for Royalism. 0:21 – The Arab Resource Organizing Center (@AROCBayArea) is planning a mass march on Saturday, January 25 against U.S. aggression and possible war with Iran. 0:34 – This week marks the anniversary of the Global Gag Rule, which blocks U.S. funds from organizations around the world that provide abortion services. We speak with Anu Kumar (@AnuKumarIpas) of Ipas about the lack of access to safe abortions around the world and how the U.S. rule stifles human rights. The post The anti-abortion “Global Gag Rule” turns 36 years old; plus, organizers plan No War With Iran march in SF for Saturday appeared first on KPFA.

Torsdag 23. markerte 3-års dagen for gjenninnførelsen av "the Mexico City policy" kjent som "The global gag rule". Opplysningen snakket i den sammenheng med Chloe Cooney fra Internasjonale Planned Parenthood og Kjerstig Augland fra norske Sex og Politikk.

Every day in the U.S., there seems to be a new attack on reproductive health and rights. Still, it is important to remember that the U.S.' policies also impact sexual and reproductive health and rights for populations abroad. Bergen Cooper with Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) sits down with us to talk about their organization's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Index, which grades the U.S. on its international reproductive health policies.Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

The global gag rule, also known as the ‘Mexico City Policy,' is a U.S. foreign policy that prohibits non-U.S., non-governmental organizations from using their own private funds to provide comprehensive abortion care, counseling for abortion, referral for abortion, or organizing/lobbying/conducting public campaigns in support of abortion on the condition of receiving global health funding. The rule has appeared under previous Republican administrations, but under the current administration it has been vastly expanded. Two years in to the expanded global gag rule, there are a plethora of negative effects. Vanessa Rios from the International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) and Jade Maina from TICAH talk to us about IWHC's new report and why the global gag rule must go.  Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

On this episode of And Still We Rise, Angela Marie speaks with Julie Savard-Shaw about abortion, reproductive justice, connecting the global and domestic feminist organizing, feminist policy development and Women Deliver Mobilization.  Julie Savard-Shaw is CanWaCH's Director, Partnerships, Women Deliver 2019 Mobilization Canada.  She works with stakeholders across sectors to ensure Canadian leadership in the promotion of domestic and global women and girls’ health, rights and well-being in the lead-up and at the 2019 Women Deliver Conference. Julie holds a Master of International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and a Bachelor of Public Affairs and Policy Management. Julie most recently worked at the Prime Minister’s Office, providing policy advice on international, gender and immigration-related matters. Prior to working in politics, Julie worked in the international development sector and successfully leveraged additional resources for global health and education initiatives. Julie also supports local organizations that provide shelter and assistance to women survivors of gender-based violence. In her spare time, Julie regularly travels to Peru, where she co-founded a music school in rural Lima which provides weekly music lessons to disadvantaged youth.  --- Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Women’s Groups and Funders Respond to Global Gag Rule  https://bit.ly/2Jw0Rrz  Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy  https://bit.ly/2YBkIcc ---  Show Hosted and Produced by Angela Marie MacDougall and Battered Women’s Support Services.  Audio Engineering and Editing by Sarah Ellis Fox.  ---  To learn more please visit:  CanWaCH: https://www.canwach.ca/  BWSS: https://www.bwss.org/

In Episode 4 of "Don't Mention It," we dive into the history or reproductive health in the United States with historian Dr. Lauren MacIvor Thompson. We talk about 19th and early 20th century reproductive health in the United States, how a lack of fundamental equality in the Constitution restricts our access to healthcare, sterilization, the Comstock Laws, "Twilight Sleep," and more. Note: Some audio issues occurred in the recording of this episode, you may notice audio level changes in the intro section. The view expressed by the host in Underestimated: A Podcast are those of the host, and are not those of anyone else, any other entity, any employer, or company.   Show Notes: Books & Articles   Jacqueline H. Wolf: Cesarean Section: An American History of Risk, Technology, and Consequencehttps://www.amazon.com/Cesarean-Section-American-Technology-Consequence/dp/1421425521 Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens: Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecologyhttps://www.amazon.com/Medical-Bondage-Origins-American-Gynecology/dp/0820351350 Kelly Suzanne O'Donnell: "Reproducing Jane: Abortion Stories and Women's Political Histories," Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 43, no. 1 (Autumn 2017): 77-96.https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/692444   Trump “Gag Rule” Articles   Katelyn Burns, Rewire News Trump Administration Releases Final Text of Domestic ‘Gag Rule' Restriction on Title X https://rewire.news/article/2019/02/22/trump-administration-releases-final-text-of-domestic-gag-rule-restriction-on-title-x/   Ariana Eunjung Cha, National reporter for The Washington Post Trump administration bars clinics that provide abortions or abortion referrals from federal funding https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/02/22/trump-administration-bars-family-planning-clinics-that-provide-abortion-referrals-million-program/?utm_term=.2d222572522e   Steve Benen, MSNBC for The Rachel Maddow Show, “Targeting abortion rights, Trump unveils ‘domestic gag rule'” http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/targeting-abortion-rights-trump-unveils-domestic-gag-rule   Michelle Goldberg, Slate.com, Trump Didn't Just Reinstate the Global Gag Rule. He Massively Expanded It. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2017/01/trumps-global-gag-rule-is-even-worse-than-it-seemed.html   Steve Benen, MSNBC for The Rachel Maddow Show, Following women's marches, Republicans target reproductive rights http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/following-womens-marches-republicans-target-reproductive-rights Sterilization Articles   Hastings Women's Law Journal "If They Hand You a Paper, You Sign It": A Call to End the Sterilization of Women in Prison https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Roth_If_They_Hand_You_1_15_2015.pdf   NPR California's Prison Sterilizations Reportedly Echo Eugenics Era https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/07/09/200444613/californias-prison-sterilizations-reportedly-echoes-eugenics-era   “Twilight Sleep” Resources   New York Times, 1915 Twilight Sleep Is Subject of a New Investigation https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1915/01/31/301777902.pdf   Twilight Sleep – The Brutal Way Some Women Gave Birth In The 1900s https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/twilight-sleep/   “The Business of Being Born,” clip from documentary on Twilight Sleep https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzxs5qPsqX4 Additional video clip about Twilight Sleep   “Twilight Sleep” offered the promise of painless birth—but at what cost? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFRPx7d_eU   Sarah Seltzer, Rewire.news “Twilight Sleep:” Is The Past Prologue for Today's Debates Over Birthing Choices? https://rewire.news/article/2009/09/29/twilight-sleep-is-the-past-prologue-todays-debates-over-birthing-choices/   Henci Goer, The Journal of Perinatal Education Cruelty in Maternity Wards: Fifty Years Later https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2920649/   Lithotomy position https://www.google.com/search?q=lithotomy+position&oq=lithotomy+po&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.3574j1j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8   Black Women's Maternal Health Article - Includes Data from CDC   NPR Black Mothers Keep Dying After Giving Birth. Shalon Irving's Story Explains Why https://www.npr.org/2017/12/07/568948782/black-mothers-keep-dying-after-giving-birth-shalon-irvings-story-explains-why   Sound Sources Harpstrum.wav - freesound.org https://freesound.org/people/adriann/sounds/149187/ Keeping Old Letters by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Living_With_Trauma/Lee_Rosevere_-_Living_With_Trauma_-_04_Keeping_Old_Letters Edited for podcast Somber Heart by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Living_With_Trauma/Lee_Rosevere_-_Living_With_Trauma_-_14_Somber_Heart Edited for podcast Everywhere by Lee Rosevere is licensed under a Attribution License. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_For_Podcasts_5/Lee_Rosevere_-_Music_For_Podcasts_5_-_06_Everywhere Edited for podcast Untitled music box recording This work is licensed under the Attribution License. https://freesound.org/people/KAMARIN/sounds/417934/

It is critical that young people around the world are engaged and informed on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with over 75 percent of the population under the age of 35. Maureen Andinda with Reach a Hand Uganda chats with us about the importance of young people's knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and young people's role in combating SRHR challenges.Financial, social, and cultural issues are often deeply rooted in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Young people must have the knowledge and information on SRHR that would allow them to make informed decisions regarding family planning, because deciding if, when, how, and with whom one might have a family with is a basic human right.Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

In this b-side, we sent down with lawyer, activist, writer and civic leader Preston Mitchum about living authentically and intentionally.Length: 37:59Host: Zach#Pride #LGBTQ #BlackLivesMatterPreston's Website: prestonmitchum.com/Preston on Twitter: twitter.com/PrestonMitchumPreston on IG: instagram.com/preston.mitchum/?hl=enTRANSCRIPTZach: What’s up, y’all? It’s Zach with Living Corporate, and yes, you’re listening to a B-Side now. Yes, we introduced the purpose of a B-Side before, but every episode is someone’s first episode. So for the new folks, B-Sides are essentially random shows we have in between our larger shows. These are much less structured and somehow even more lit--that’s right, more lit--than our normal shows. Now, y’all might ask me what do I mean by more lit? Sound Man, give me something.[Sound Man plays Jamaican air horns]Zach: You see that right there? That’s what I’m talking about. Now, listen. Often times more than not we have a special guest, and today is no different. We actually have with us today Preston Mitchum. Preston is the international policy analyst at Advocates for Youth where he advocates for the sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people and U.S. foreign policy. He’s also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching LGBT health, law, and policy. Preston currently serves as the first openly gay male chair of the Washington Bar Association Young Lawyers division the Black Youth Project DC Chapter, and he’s written for theGrio, The Atlantic, Huffington Post, Ebony, Africa.com and plenty more. Preston, welcome to the show, man.Preston: Hey, thank you for the invite. I cannot wait for this conversation.Zach: [laughs] That’s awesome, man. Now, look, I gave the intro, but please, tell us about yourself.Preston: You know, so I often describe myself as an unapologetically black queer activist and advocate hailing from Youngstown, Ohio, but currently I’ve been living in the D.C., Maryland area for the past seven years, and I love black people. So that’s everything to know about me.Zach: That’s awesome. Now, look, when I look at your profile, right, and I look at your Instagram, and I just--I look from afar, and it just seems like there’s so much there. Can you talk to me about how you got into law? Like, was it spurred by your passion around social justice? Was it a money move? Was it both? Like, talk to me about that.Preston: You know, I wish it was money. I wish. For everything that I really wanted to do to become a lawyer, I wish money was really involved in that decision ‘cause I would probably be a little bit happier. My bills would be paid a lot faster. I wouldn’t be waiting ‘til the 5th of the month to finally make that rent payment.Zach: [laughs]Preston: But all that being said, for me I’m a social justice activist to my core. Something that really matters to me, again, are black folks, are queer and trans folks, are women of color, specifically black women, and so I think for me, like, when I saw how law was framed, how the legal landscape was framed, the one thing that I really wanted to do of course, even as a lawyer, was to change the law, right, and have this (inaudible) in the background to change the lives of black folks, but what really mattered to me was policy, right? And so that was really getting in front of the law before the law came into place, because when you’re a lawyer and you’re defending people, of course, like, litigation is life-changing for many people, particularly--like, people like criminal defense attorneys, but what really mattered to me the more I thought about it was what can happen before a defendant reaches the courtroom. What policy can be designed and created and lobbied for in a way that actually changes peoples’ lives before it goes into effect, and so for me that was really important when it came to, again, the legal and policy landscape, and frankly I have a passion for marginalized communities, you know, especially rape survivors of which I am one. I’ve talked about my personal experience with rape and sexual assault, mostly on theroot.com. So, you know, my passion began for rape survivors, you know, thinking about rape culture. Later in life obviously thinking about our childhood heroes, you know, become villains. So people like Bill Cosby and R. Kelly and thinking through the ways in which, you know, we have been told that we have to defend these people because they allegedly love us, but we often times saw that love turn into pain for many people, particularly marginalized black women and girls. So, you know, in a nutshell for me what was really important was to defend the civil rights and liberties of black folks and queer folks and of other marginalized communities who are kind of pushed to the margins every single day, and that’s how I got into law.Zach: Wow, man. That’s amazing. And, you know, your profile--and even when you talk about your story, right, the main things I get from you, like, just from a vibe perspective is authenticity and intentionality, right? I believe that, you know, everyone should seek to live as authentically as possible every day, and clearly from just your mission and your passion, your purpose in life, I would say that you agree with that. Can you talk to me though about your journey and living authentically and what rewards and challenges you’ve had from that?Preston: So I appreciate you even saying that because something that I always speak about is the purpose of living as an authentic person and living with intention, right? It’s funny, I was talking to someone the other day, and I told them that I didn’t think I was breathing, and they were like, “Well, you’re living. Of course you’re breathing.” I was like, “Yeah, I actually don’t feel my stomach moving though.”Zach: Hm.Preston: And I think that’s--so I knew I wasn’t breathing intentionally. I was breathing because I have to live, but I wasn’t breathing with a purpose, and so…Zach: It was cruise control.Preston: Yeah, exactly. Right, I was like, “Oh, I’m breathing because I need to eat and I need to drink water and I need to live to see another day,” but you know, but I was learning from folks, especially, like, black folks. Like, older black people. They’re like, “Are you breathing on purpose? Feel your belly. Can you actively and actually feel your belly going in and out, up and down?” And so I kind of wanted to use that to model really how I’m living my everyday life, and so there some rewards and there are some challenges, and so the rewards is, you know, people recognizing my authenticity and my intentionality. The challenges are people recognizing my authenticity and intentionality [laughs], and I think, you know, when we live authentically, everything is not great. Everything is not gold. When you live authentically, you are subjecting yourself to be more vulnerable to harm. For queer and trans folks, for black folks who are in white areas, for queer and trans folks who are in straight-dominated areas, your authenticity can get you killed. And so I think from--and you know what, I think we see that every day, you know? Something that really is exciting me has been this new show on FX called Pose.Zach: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.Preston: And it is--I have many friends in the house and ball communities, and it is such a brilliant depiction, and it’s so incredibly nuanced of what I would like to consider at least black and brown trans women nurturing queer or gay boys, black and brown gay boys, to life. And so, you know, those are trans women who are putting themselves on the front lines every single day, who are, you know, creating new communities for them to thrive in because in the communities that they exist in, which are these straight, cis-dominated spaces, they are by and large targeted, and so for me it’s like, “What does that look like? What does it look like to exist in spaces that are mainstream, that I know I’m not gonna be accepted in, and to create these alternative spaces where I can actually be affirmed on a daily basis?” So, you know, again, those are challenges, and I will say part of those challenges particularly, you know, as being the first openly gay chair of the Washington Bar Association Young Lawyers division is that in the legal profession and also in the black legal profession is really big on respectability politics. So people usually are catapulted to be successful because they have somehow created this environment for themselves that are very white-accepting. I have never cared in my professional life to be accepted by the white community, right? Like, that’s just not my thing. [laughs]Zach: [laughs] So wait--so wait, wait wait. So I’m actually really--so I was already excited, now I’m extra excited, right? So for our listeners, right, break down respectability politics, especially from the position of an activist and, like, all of the things that you drive. Like, if there was someone here who’s listening to this who’s like, “What is respectability politics like?” Give us the Preston definition of respectability politics.Preston: Okay. All right, so Preston? So a very blunt definition. So--no, so respectability politics, or the politics of respectability, is quite frankly the notion that you--everything you do, your existence, your actions, your behaviors are for white people, and so for white people who are generally accepted who dominate--I shouldn’t say culture, right, ‘cause that’s certainly not true. [laughs]Zach: [laughs] Right.Preston: But who dominates certain things like business, law, policy, et cetera. So, you know, there’s this idea for example that now, you know, if black boys and black men only dressed up in suits and ties they would be accepted by white people, right? As if the reason why black boys are being killed on the streets, or black women also being killed on the streets, is because they don’t look a certain way. Mind you, you know, folks like Martin Luther King were clearly gunned down by FBI agents.Zach: Right.Preston: Mind you, black and brown folks were being, you know, sprayed with fire hoses in the 1950s, since antiquity frankly, but continuing up until now, right? Like, the fire hoses just look like bullets now. So, you know, the thing that we always have to remind people is, you know, live authentically and intentionally because it’s not like respectability politics is the reason why you are disliked, why you are relegated. It reminds me of when I do lobb--I lobby a lot for my job, so it reminds me of when I go to the Hill, and, you know, sometimes I’ll wear a suit and tie, sometimes I won’t. Frankly it really depends on how I feel on that day and if my eyebrows look good. And so--Zach: Listen. Wait, wait, wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa. In all seriousness--wait, wait wait. ‘Cause your eyebrows on your website? Impeccable.Preston: Thank you. To your viewers, I need them to go and see my eyebrows because I really appreciate my eyebrow lady Kim in Silver Spring, Maryland at (inaudible). [laughs]Zach: Now, are they--is it--now, this is my question. Are they--is it threaded? Or is it--like, ‘cause they look great.Preston: You know, I appreciate that. They’re actually waxed, and so I’m afraid that the more I do it I’m not gonna have anymore. I’ma be looking like Whoopi Goldberg, but hopefully that’s not--sorry, Whoopi. My bad.Zach: No disrespect to Whoopi Goldberg just in case you ever come on the show. (inaudible).Preston: I mean, she practices respectability politics sometimes too, so I hope she comes on the show so we can talk about that.Zach: [laughs] Yes. Let’s go, man. Hey, let the cannons (inaudible) for that. We callin’ you out, Whoopi Goldberg. We got beef with you. [laughs]Preston: [laughs] Right. I mean, you know, I’m pretty sure that Ted Danson and others would agree, but nonetheless. Nonetheless. No, so yes, I go to the Hill a lot. Part of my job is lobbying on behalf of young people and their sexuality and reproductive health and rights, and, you know, again, sometimes I come in a suit, sometimes I do not, and the criticism I’ve received from some of my partners within coalition spaces are that, you know, they immediately shut down the conversation the second I may walk into an office. Mind you, we’re going to Capitol Hill. Mind you, Capitol Hill’s predominantly white. Mind you, Capitol Hill’s predominantly straight. So they’re shutting down the conversation because my entire body as a black gay man just came into their office, not because of, you know, me not wearing a suit and a tie, and they’re certainly not gonna listen faster just because I wear a suit and a tie.Zach: Right.Preston: On top of that, I’m advocating on behalf of marginalized communities’ rights. So I’m advocating on behalf of abortion access, on behalf of comprehensive sexuality education that’s queer-affirming, advocating on behalf of things like pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV prevention and treatment. So the conversation is shutting down just because we already don’t agree philosophically, and so I always have to tell people like, “Yes, it may make us feel better to pretend as though white people are going to accept us just because we are, you know, acquiescing to whatever they deem as acceptable, but that’s just simply not true, and I personally in my professional career have refused to do that for the sake of appeasing to a mainstream audience. Now, all of that being said, I think for me, I’ve decided to personally do that, and that is, you know, that’s--again, that’s word I’ve received because people were like, “You are very bold, and I appreciate you for knowing who you are and staying true to that,” and then the challenges sometimes can be, “Okay, I know the space I’m entering. I already know how I’m coming into, you know, this particular space that may or may not be safe and affirming.” So how do I navigate that accordingly? And I think that’s the conversations that I have to have every day and I’m sure that many of your viewers have to have every day too.Zach: Straight up, yeah. So that actually leads me to my next question. So you’ve done a masterful job of combining your passions around people, particularly the most unheard in our culture and in our country, in our world, in your profession. How were you able to do that, and would you consider that a situation where you’ve, like, arrived? Or is that something you have to really fight to maintain?Preston: Hm. So, you know, I would say what’s really helped me in these situations honestly have been mentors and people who I’ve networked with, really tight-knit circles and people who support me. I think without mentorships and networking it’s really impossible to--sure, you can live authentically, but I think when you’re pushed into the wall you really still need people to support you and lift you along the way, and I think sometimes that’s what’s difficult about being black and queer and trans when you’re not in spaces like D.C. or Atlanta. I mean, it’s hard still even in these spaces, but spaces like D.C., New York, Atlanta, places that presumed to be more accepting which sometimes are not. You know, if you’re in the rural south, right, how can you get mentors and networking from folks who are, you know, black, queer, and trans who are older, who are viewed as more successful? I will say personally, right, like, I don’t think I can turn on a TV many times and see two black men, two black, same gender-loving men being intimate. You know, I saw it recently. I saw it last week when I watched Pose, and I was shocked because that’s just not something that happens, you know? And I think that’s the thing, like, we have to really kind of come to terms with, right? Like Marlon Riggs one time said, “Black men loving each other is a revolutionary act,” and I think for me I recognize that, and I’m always humbled by my mentors and my networking opportunities. So that’s that. I think it’s really--I fight to maintain it every single day, and sometimes it’s easier than at other times, right? Because I think these mentors who I’ve networked with and who I’ve built loving and affirming relationships with, they will always support me, but I’m still battling a mainstream community who may not, and so, you know, thankfully--and I’m only 32, but thankfully I’ve created this kind of forcefield within myself that I know who to listen to, who to block out voices. It reminds me sometimes of when my friends would read comments after I’ve written articles, and they’ll text me like, “I am so angry what so-and-so said!” I was like, “Who are they?” Right? ‘Cause I’ve learned to just not check them out, and I’ve learned--and it just doesn’t bother me. Unless I feel like being shady on Twitter, chances are I’m not gonna respond to someone negatively responding to me ‘cause it just--I don’t even really realize it frankly, and I think--but I still think you fight to maintain that. You know, being black and queer isn’t easy, you know? Every day we walk around, even within all of our glory and our joy, we have to try to be resilient, and you know what? I think I’ve realized that I’m tired of being resilient. Resilience is a burden. It makes you literally--it puts you on this kind of pedestal if you are resilient and if your black joy shines brighter than others, but what about when people just are depressed and they want to be depressed? Are we turning our back on them because they’re not showing that they’re resilient anymore? And so for me, I’m gonna always fight to maintain it, and some of those days are gonna be better than others. I’m gonna shine. Shine, black boy, shine one day, and the next day I’m gonna be like, “I’m not getting out of this bed. Please bring the nearest bottle of Jack or Hennessy to me,” and that’s just what it’s gonna be, you know? But I do think that what’s really important is for us to kind of really think through queer and trans folks, LGBTQ folks, you know, who battle with ourselves internally every day because of social antagonism, we battle, you know, with white LGBTQ people because many white LGBTQ people--I won’t say many--some white LGBTQ people are racist and refuse to check that racism because, you know, we’re marginalized too, and it’s like, “Your marginalization looks very different.” It’s different, and it’s not layered often times, right? Like, you know, the one thing that I have to share with white people who say, “Well, you know, I grew up poor,” and I was like, “You didn’t grow up poor because you were white though, right?” Like, you can still experience hardships, but your hardships will never be connected to your whiteness. Black and brown folks and other racial minorities can never say that because we know our racial identity is always gonna be cross-connected with another oppression or marginalization that we’re experiencing, and so I think we just always have to kind of put those into play and realize, you know, the battles that we have, internally because of society, with white LGBTQ folks because of racism, and with the black folks because--straight black folks because of homophobia and transphobia, and biphobia frankly. We can’t leave out bisexuality and what that means for a lot of people. So yeah, so, again, you know, mentors helped me. They will always be there along the way. They push and support me, and in turn I give back to younger folks because, you know, without my mentors and without my close friends and my family I wouldn’t know where I would be, and I would also still have to fight to maintain that every day, and I’m fighting to maintain this authenticity and intentionality because without that I’m nothing.Zach: So, you know, in 2013 you wrote a piece in The Atlantic about coming out as a gay man, and you really tackled the nuances of that decision. Taking a step back, right, as a cis-hetero black man--that’s me, right--I think it’s easy for me to default and kind of just ignore the various identities within, like, just the diaspora, right, within our black space, and I think that speaks to a certain level of privilege. I think that’s pretty obvious. What advice if any do you have for, like, cis-hetero black men who are at the top of their own privilege pyramid of sorts and how they can be mindful, supportive allies?Preston: Yeah. So since this is a conversation I’ma talk to you like I’m a Baptist preacher.Zach: Let’s go. [laughs]Preston: So let me ask you. If your homies, if your straight homies say anything that could be perceived as derogatory about LGBTQ folks, do you think that you would be kind of confident enough in your masculinity and your sexuality to say, “Yo, that’s not cool. Don’t say that.”Zach: That’s a great question actually ‘cause I have these conversations, right? And so--and you mentioned a point about being a Baptist preacher, so we actually have--we actually have a guest that’s gonna be on the show by the time of this recording in a week. Her name is Janet Pope, and she is the leader of diversity and inclusion for Capgemini, which is, like, this global consulting firm, right?Preston: Nice.Zach: She’s actually a colleague of mine ‘cause we both work at the same firm, and so I was telling her about Living Corporate, right? And she was like--she was like, “So you say that you’re gonna include gay people in your discussion around underrepresented communities. How do you align that with your Christianity?” And I was like, “Well, let’s just say for argument’s sake like I believe exactly what the Bible says.” Let’s say that. Let’s (inaudible) what the Bible says. At the end of the day, like, everybody that I see around me are human beings, so if I sit back and I ignore somebody, right, if I ignore somebody or if I try to limit their voice, one I’m practicing the same type of oppression--I’m practicing a cheap form of the same oppression that I complain about, and on top of that you kind of--you actually rob people of their humanity when you ignore them, when you dismiss them, when you downgrade them, right? And so those are the kind of conversations I have with my friends. Thankfully, you know, but I definitely have had other discussions with people where it’s been like--I’ve been like, “Listen, this--like, nah, that’s wack,” or “No, you shouldn’t say that,” or whatever the case is or da-da-da-da. Like, let them live their life. That guy ain’t doing nothing to you. Keep it to yourself.” Whatever, whatever, and, like, those don’t always go well, right? It’s not every--like, I’m 28 years old, so, like, yes, like, I’m starting to get to the age where we’re having these nuanced, comfortable discussions, but man, three, four years ago, four or five years ago, you try to say something like that? Nah, man. It was--it was not like that, but, you know, as you get older--I know you get it. Like you said, you’re in your early 30s. Relationships change, and it’s kind of like, “Okay, I’m gonna let you have it, but you’re gonna have to back up talking to me like that or talking around me like that because I’ma check you every time.”Preston: Yeah. See, and I--oh, go ahead.Zach: Last thing is, like, I’m also really passionate about it beyond the fact that, like, what I said before, like, just recognizing and respecting the humanity of everybody, everybody around you, ‘cause they’re human beings. You know, I have gay family members. I have gay friends. So, like, it’s personal to me as well, you know what I’m saying?Preston: Yeah. See, and I really appreciate all of that because the one thing that I will say is that, you know, it actually reminds me sometimes, I mean similar when I hear--when I talk to black men, and this is not just exclusive to black men but, you know, I am one so that’s--you know, that’s what I know.Zach: Yes. [laughs]Preston: And it’s interesting talking to some black men, gay or straight, because something I’ve really noticed is when this conversation comes up when it comes to respect of women, you know, they’re like, “Yeah, I would quickly say something,” but then turn around and make a sexist comment, whether it’s covert or overt or won’t say anything to their friends when they make a sexist comment or a comment around, you know, the way a woman looks or, you know, her body parts, right? And I’m just like, “I know that seems normal, right, because we’re so used to sexualizing women in a culture that promotes rape culture and perpetuates rape culture, but that’s not okay, and that’s also problematic, right?” And so, you know, I think when it comes to--when I think about what straight men can do, what black straight men can do, always think about a couple of things, and I think one of them is certainly, like, when you really hear your homies making comments is to always, you know, be willing to say something, right? Whether it makes you look like you’re emasculated, whether it makes your friends question your sexuality, right? You need to be in solidarity, and I think being in solidarity sometimes is risking, you know, those things like the safehood of your masculinity, the safeness of your sexuality. I think, you know, that is what being an ally looks like. You know, I remember a couple of years ago we were having a protest for BYP100, and it was--you know, we were protesting for violence against trans women, black trans women, and this straight--presumably straight black man outside, who we were like, “Okay, we’re protesting on behalf of black people. Like, maybe, hopefully you should join us.” Quickly, you know, identified in my opinion as a white supremacist. He literally looked like what I imagine white supremacists to look like when they’re yelling at black people in the 60s.Zach: Goodness. Goodness gracious.Preston: You know, he got in front of one of my comrades who was a woman and started to yell at her because she’s more masculine-presenting and, you know, made comments like, you know, “If you want to be a man,” you know, insert words here.Zach: Goodness gracious.Preston: And so because I am a man I decided to intervene, right? Like that man probably would’ve threw me all around, right? But at the end of the day what allyship to women looks like to me is putting myself in harm’s way so you won’t be hit, right? Like, and I think sometimes we have to really analyze what allyship looks like for us because if people aren’t even willing to speak up when they see harm being done, they’re certainly not willing to, like, take a punch because of it, right? And I’m not saying that everything that happens you have to put yourself in harm’s way, but it was disappointing that other--that straight men out there saw this presumably straight man pretty much attacking a woman and didn’t say anything about it, and then you have to take my queer self with my tight jeans protesting outside to say something to this man, right?Zach: [laughs] Right, right.P And to me, now I’m really interrogating what manhood looks like, right? If I’m willing to throw some hands and you’re not. So I think that’s something that really troubles me, and so, you know, I think it’s also important that straight men actually admit that they have a gay friend. It’s amazing how many things that I see on social media posts, like memes, such as “Is it normal for a straight man to have a gay man best friend?” And I’m just like, “Why is this silly meme real?” Right?Zach: Right? [laughs] Right.Preston: Like, why are we even questioning this? I’m like--I didn’t literally--like, friendships are not necessarily built upon someone’s sexuality. Now, certainly there is some nuance to that because, you know, before I moved to D.C. I didn’t have many gay friends. I had some. You know, I grew up in Ohio and in North Carolina, which we existed clearly there too, but the numbers weren’t as numerous as here. And a lot of my friendships shifted to more of my LGBTQ friends because that’s the community I felt safer in. They went to the same places I wanted to go to. But I think for--you know, but obviously I still have straight black male friends, and I think, you know, the conversations came up where, you know, I would always go to every single straight bar that you could think of with them. I’m like, “Oh, God.” I’m like, “Y’all want to go to The Park AGAIN?” Like, yeah, I’ma go eat some jerk.Zach: [laughs] People love Park out there.Preston: Right? I’m like, “Fine, I’m gonna go eat some jerk, wings, and mac and cheese for $5 with a side of Crown, but also where the gay people at? ‘Cause I don’t wanna be here all night.”Zach: Straight up, though.Preston: Right? But then I would ask them like, “Yo, I’m going to this gay party. Black folks, you wanna go with me?” They’re like, “Uh, that ain’t my thing,” and I’m like, “Well, straight? That ain’t my thing either and I’m still here!”Zach: [laughs]Preston: And so I challenged their friendship because I’m just like, you know, you being the person who is centered in this space expect me, as your gay friend, knowing I’m gay, knowing I may not--Zach: To make yourself comfortable.Preston: Exactly. Like, you told me to come here with you, and I did because we’re friends, and I’ma still have a good time because we’re friends, but the second, you know, I tell you to come to a gay club, everything is gay now. Everything is about gayness. It’s not about me being a friend and you supporting your friend at a bar or a club. So, you know, again, I think that’s another thing that straight black men or, you know, straight black allies generally can do is really, you know, admit to having a gay friend, actually going once or twice to a club. Like, right? Get out of your comfort level. One of my fraternity brothers went to the bar with me, and it was amazing how--he’s straight, and it’s amazing how he said to me like, you know, “Yeah, I wasn’t comfortable a little bit, I can’t even lie.” He was like, “But, you know, when somebody tried to hit on me, I basically was just like “I’m straight,” and he left me alone.” And I’m like, “Well, what did you think was gonna happen? I know what you thought. What you thought was gonna happen was the thing that y’all do to straight women, is that y’all keep attacking them even when they tell you no, and y’all assume that all women at any place are straight as if lesbian women don’t exist. So I’m like, you know, “Just because you can’t take no for an answer does not mean that thing is reciprocated in our community.” Now, to be fair, it’s not always--Zach: [laughs] Preston got these bars for you, dog. He don’t care, boy. He let the yopper spray. My goodness. Keep going, though. [laughs]Preston: [laughs] But I can talk all the time about this issue because I think straight black men specifically in this conversation have to be better allies and have to figure out, you know, what allyship looks like, what speaking up on behalf of LGBTQ folk looks like, what, you know, sometimes putting yourself in harm’s way, though that shouldn’t be the case, and actually, you know, listening and acting as opposed to just speaking. Not for political gain, not to get the woman you like or the girl you like, but to just be a good ally to be in solidarity with people. So there’s a litany of things that I can continue saying, but it’s just really important that, you know--and I guess I’ll end on this note on saying that, you know, straight--to be good allies, heterosexual people really have to think through what it looks like to demand people to come out. I’ve had so many conversations with people over the years that said something like, “I would respect them if only they were openly gay like you,” and I’m like, “I shouldn’t get any accolades for being openly gay.” I’m in a position where, quite frankly, I pay my bills, I support myself. I’m okay with whatever consequences come my way as a result of me being openly gay. There are many people who cannot afford that. There are many people who can experience homelessness because of being kicked out of homes. There are many people who are exposed to violence every day because of it, and so I think we have to really start having these honest, raw conversations about what it looks like and the harm that people are experiencing when someone says, “I would respect them more if only they were gay like you.”Zach: Man, that’s profound, though, and I really appreciate you sharing this. I have, like, two more questions, right? So are there any resources you’d like to point the audience to on how to just learn how to be a better ally for the LGBTQ community?Preston: You know, I think the best resources frankly are everyday interactions with people, you know? ‘Cause I don’t really think you can--I mean, certainly you can Google and read up how to be an ally, but I would truly like to believe that we have enough common sense to understand what allyship looks like. I think the problem is that folks, many--in my honest opinion, many people don’t want equality. They want the ability to oppress other people, right? Like, we like to feel--as much as we try to push against whiteness, we like the ability to be white in many instances, right? And so I think, like, you know, we still have this totem pole, and we’re all trying to not be at the bottom of that totem pole, and so whenever I hear white people say, “Well, Preston, I didn’t know I couldn’t say the N word,” I’m like, “You’re--okay, you’re lying.” Right? Like, you know you shouldn’t have said that. You know you shouldn’t have alluded to it. You know you should’ve skipped over it in every rap song, but now you’re being decentered and you don’t like that feeling. You know what you should or should not do or should or should not say, you know? Straight black men know they should not be homophobic, right? And I will say obviously we can talk about, you know, Judeo-Christian, being Judeo-Christian, we can talk about fundamentalist Christians, we can talk about, you know, traditionalist principles and understandings, and that’s an important conversation to have, but we also have to peel back layers of why we think what we think, right? And why we’re pushing our thought process on other people when we haven’t even really interrogated why we think how we think. You know, many people--we’re just living and existing every day going through the motions based off of what we were told as children, not even questioning why we were told certain things. Growing up, my mom used to always be so frustrated with me ‘cause she’d always be like, “Why do you ask so many questions?” I’m like, “I love you. I know you are never going to harm me, at least intentionally, but I need to know why.” Right? And saying I said so is not an answer. Like, that’s not how youth development works, and I say the same thing for people, like, that’s not how adult development works either. We have to interrogate and question certain things, and I know that’s going a little bit off your question, but it’s only because, you know, right, like, I think resources are such an important thing in question, but I think the only way we can really, you know, truly get to the true resource, and that’s everyday interactions with folks who we want to learn from, right? And be willing, be willing to sometimes be cussed out to get to an answer we want.Zach: [laughs]Preston: I would like to believe I’m a good ally to trans people, right? I could be completely mistaken, right, ‘cause I’m not trans, and of course I would say I’m a good ally, but I know for me to even become a--for me to have been an OK ally, for me to get here, I had to be cussed out by many trans women for saying the wrong thing, for looking the wrong way, for staring too long at something, right? Like, that was--that was where I existed, you know, some years ago. I think over time the more I started to learn and genuinely be friends with trans folks, right? Like, not transactionally, genuinely be friends with trans folks is when I started to become a better ally. So we have to put ourselves in community with people if they believe, right, if that community believes that they can be safe and affirmed with your presence, ‘cause sometimes the sheer presence of someone is oppressive, and that’s why I always talk about safe spaces. That’s why I always talk about black-dominated spaces and black-only spaces, because sometimes the sheer existence of white people is exhausting, right? Because something will come up. It makes me think about this episode of Dear White People when, like, you know, they went to, you know, a party in Season One, you know, and they’re dancing and having a good time, and I forget what song came on, but of course it was a rap song, and the N word--you know, and somebody said the N word, and I’m just like, “Ugh, of course,” because when white people are around, you can absolutely guarantee it’s gonna be said once by them, right? And that’s exhausting, right? It’s laborious to have to tell someone like, “Can you not---can you not do that?” Like, “It’s Sunday. I’m trying to have a good day. I just prayed earlier,” right?Zach: [laughs]Preston: I think stuff like that is exhausting. So all that being said, the best resource is talking to people who are living these experiences.Zach: No, that’s awesome. [laughs] Look, this has been--this has been a great discussion, and, like, to be honest, before we, you know, started recording and everything, I was talking to the team and I was like, “Man, I already know this conversation’s gonna be lit. I can’t wait,” and I’ma be honest with you, Preston, you ain’t let me down at all, not that it should matter.Preston: I appreciate that.Zach: Not that my--not that my standards should matter for you at all, but I’m just letting you know I’ve had a great time. I want to thank you for coming to the show again. Before we go, do you have any shout outs? Do you have anyone you’re working with? Any other projects you want to talk about? Anything at all?Preston: Yes! I would love to shout out our youth activists at Advocates for Youth. We work with about 130 young people throughout the country, many of who are black and brown and queer and trans, and they’re every day working on projects and campaigns related to HIV decriminalization, abortion access and destigmatization. They’re working on--our Young Women of Color Leadership Initiative are working on, like, prison reform issues and issues of criminalization of black girls in schools. Our Muslim Youth Leadership project are literally existing between the identities of being Muslim and queer and trans and are building out platforms and policies on that. Our International Youth Leadership Council are pushing against the Trump administration (and?) the Global Gag Rule. I could continue, but our young people--young people are the most lit people and will literally build a liberation and a new movement that looks like freedom every single day, and so I really want shout out young people at Advocates for Youth and really young people all over the country, especially black and brown young people. You know, your viewers can definitely follow me on Twitter @PrestonMitchum or on Instagram @Preston.Mitchum. I’m really excited. I’m working on a lot of writing projects to come soon, but, you know, I’m really working on a portfolio on sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the last thing that I’ll say, what’s really important is to decriminalize sex work. Something that we’re working on in D.C. is part of the Sex Workers Advocates Coalition, Collective Action for Safe Spaces, BYP100, and HIPS D.C. is--you know, we helped with council member Grosso and council member Robert White on introducing a sex work decriminalization bill. We’re attempting to get it pushed forward, so we’re needing a particular council member, Charles Allen, to move it to the public health and judiciary committee, and so that’s something that’s really important is really thinking about how sex work decriminalization is an LGBTQ issue and ironically enough how people claim to dislike sex workers but masturbate to porn every single morning. And because of that, I’ll leave off here--I’ll leave it off here, but decriminalize sex work, and thank you for the invitation. It’s been amazing.Zach: [laughs] Man. First of all, again--I keep saying first of all ‘cause I’m just taken aback every single time, but Preston-- [laughs]Preston: [laughs]Zach: So Preston, man. Look, man. As your books drop, as you continue doing what you’re doing, I hope you consider yourself a friend of the show. You’re welcome back any time, and let’s make sure--like I said as you have your things going on, let us know so we can plug ‘em for you.Preston: Absolutely, Zach. This has been so lit, and I really appreciate being here.Zach: Man, thank you so much. Okay, y’all. Well, listen, that about does us here. Thank you for joining us on the Living Corporate podcast. Make sure to follow us on Instagram @LivingCorporate, Twitter @LivingCorp_Pod, and subscribe to our newsletter through living-corporate.com. If you have a question you’d like for us to answer and read on the show, make sure you email us at livingcorporatepodcast@gmail.com. And that does it. This has been Zach. You were talking to Preston Mitchum. Peace.Latricia: Living Corporate is a podcast by Living Corporate, LLC. Our logo was designed by David Dawkins. Our theme music was produced by Ken Brown. Additional music production by Antoine Franklin from Musical Elevation. Post-production is handled by Jeremy Jackson. Got a topic suggestion? Email us at livingcorporatepodcast@gmail.com. You can find us online on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and living-corporate.com. Thanks for listening. Stay tuned.

Every person, no matter who they are and where they live, should be able to make basic health decisions about their lives. Reproductive health and rights are both a domestic and international issue; we cannot talk about one without the other. But, attempting to keep up-to-date on the global fight on reproductive health can often be overwhelming. Helping us bridge that gap is Chloe Cooney with Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Because both in the United States and abroad, the intention behind every policy that limits reproductive health is an attack on women's rights.Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a program that was born from bipartisan legislation in 2003 under George W. Bush's administration. It was the biggest global health investment for a single disease by any country in the world, and still is today. We sit down with Caitlin Horrigan from Planned Parenthood Federation of America to discuss the evolution of PEPFAR, the ways in which it has provided care for HIV/AIDS patients around the world, and the attacks it is now facing from the Trump administration. Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

Listen NowA year ago last week the President Trump signed an executive order reinstituting the so called global gag rule (more formally termed the Mexico City policy).  The policy was first implemented by President Reagan and has gone in and out of effect depending on whether a Republican or Democrat holds the White House.  The initial policy only applied to abortions, i.e., in order to obtain US family planning funding aid, not for profits or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had to certify they would not use non-US funding, including private funding, to perform or promote (i.e., they are gagged) abortions overseas.  Beginning in 2001, the policy was expanded to cover other forms of contraception.  Under President Trump the policy was substantially expanded.  Under this administration's global gag rule, NGOs can neither use US family planning funding aid (at $575 million annually) nor any US global health funding aid (that totals $8.8 billion) even if it is used to prevent or treat other public health issues, for example, HIV or malaria, unless, again, the NGO certifies it is not using other funds in performing or promoting abortion as a method of family planning.         During this 21 minute conversation, Jonathan Rucks briefly explains PAI's mission, the Trump administration's significant expansion of the global gag rule, what effects the global gag rule has had in the past and what expected results an expanded policy will have going forward, what work PAI is doing to address the current global gag rule and past and present efforts by the Congress to prohibit the implementation of the rule via executive order. Jonathan Rucks is the Senior Director of Advocacy at PAI (formerly the Population Action International) where he is responsible for the development and management of advocacy strategies to inform and influence public policy in the US and overseas in moreover developing countries to increases support for sexual and reproductive health and rights.  Prior to PAI, Mr. Rucks worked for Pathfinder International, prior still he spent eight years working for Congressional Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Representative Jim Oberstar  (D-MN).  Mr. Rucks holds a master's degree in Strategic Security Studies from the College of International Security Affairs at the National Defense University in Washington, DC.   For information regarding PAI go to: pai.org. President Trump's January 23, 2017 global gag rule memorandum is at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-memorandum-regarding-mexico-city-policy/. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thehealthcarepolicypodcast.com

January 23, 2017 marks the one year anniversary of the reinstatement of one of the most pressing reproductive health issues today, the inhumane policy known as the Global Gag Rule, which undermines family planning efforts and threatens the health and lives of individuals and families abroad.Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

Now that we know how the U.S. is advancing, we have to ask: what is the status of accessible reproductive and sexual healthcare throughout the rest of the world? In this episode, we set the scene. Jonathan Rucks from PAI discusses how women and girls in developing countries may achieve access to family planning initiatives while he also helps us tackle the international side of reproductive health.Support the show (https://www.reprosfightback.com/take-action#donate)

De som påverkas allra mest blev aldrig tillfrågade. När klockorna slår tolv på nyårsafton börjar nya regler att gälla för världens mest utsatta kvinnor. Det är Donald Trump som har skrivit dem. Podden RFSU dokumentär handlar om USA:s nya globala abortpolitik, den som kallas ”munkavle-regeln på stereoider”. The Mexico City policy eller global gag rule som den också kallas, är ett påbud som skapats för att utrota aborter i världen men som fått helt andra konsekvenser. Hur gick det till när en moralkonservativ debatt i USA, kom att slå mot kvinnor i världens fattigaste länder? Kan Sverige och andra länder skjuta till pengar som begränsar skadorna? Foto: Margareta Bloom Sandebäck.

Last week, the Trump administration expanded the Global Gag Rule to affect $8.8 billion in US global health assistance funds and government programs. This week, we will be discussing the expanded Global Gag and the abortion restrictions that the US has been applying to its foreign aid for decades.

Jill Filipovic is author of the new book The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness. She is a Nairobi based journalist, but we caught up while she was on book tour in her hometown of Seattle.    Jill is someone I've known both online and in real life for many years. She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and regular contributor to the Guardian among many other publications. She is one of the original pioneers of political blogging; her contributions to the blog Feministe helped inspire the growth of a very vibrant feminist blogosphere that exists to this day.    We kick off with a discussion about some her global health reporting from Ghana and Niger. Jill and I spoke a few days after the State Department issued some clarifying guidance on how the Trump administration would interpret what is known as the Global Gag Rule; and jill explains what the Global Gag Rule is and how Trump's interpretation of it is a profound deviation from how previous Republican administrations sought to prevent US global health aid from contributing to abortions. We then pivot to a conversation about her life, career, and her book--which is getting rave reviews. You can find a link to the book on Global Dispatches Podcast.com   Leave a review on iTunes!    You can EMAIL Mark by clicking here.    Become a premium subscriber to unlock bonus episodes, earn other rewards, and support the show! Bonus episodes for premium subscribers include: #1: International Relations Theory, explained. #2: A Brief History of Nuclear Non-proliferation #3: A Brief History of NATO #4: The Syrian Civil War, explained.  #5: Meet the Kim family of North Korea. #6: Better Know Vladimir Putin #7: The Six Day War, Explained. (Coming soon!) #9: "Sustainable Development," explained (Coming soon!) 

On his third day on office President Trump signed a memorandum re-instating what is known as the "Global Gag Rule" or sometimes alternatively as the "Mexico City Policy." This is a policy that Republican Presidents enact and Democratic presidents lift when they come to office. Simply put the rule places restrictions on NGOs that receive US government assistance about what they can say about abortion.    As you can imagine, this policy is very much caught up in domestic US politics about abortion, but when Donald Trump signed the order re-instating the rule, his version of it went much, much farther than the George W. Bush administration or any republican administration since the Regan era.    On the line with me to discuss the Global Gag Rule, it's history and impact on women's lives is Seema Jalan, the Executive Director of the Universal Access Project and Policy, Women and Population, at the United Nations Foundation.  She does an excellent job of explaining the policy why the Donald Trump version of it is a big departure from previous republican administrations and in fact  may affect every aspect of US global health assistance around the world.