March 2009 – Page 11

Stupid Story of the Day

Christian dude upset that chefs recommend “kosher salt.” Decides to make “Christian salt” blessed by Episcopal priest. So pointless I don’t even know what to say.

Illinois Legislation Would Prevent Forcible Sterilizations of People With Disabilities

Last April, a court in Illinois ruled that a certain woman with a mental disability could not be forcibly sterilized at the request of her guardian. This was excellent news, and a great step forward for the civil rights of people with disabilities, as forcible sterilizations amazingly still happen far too often.

But while the ruling was precedent setting, it was not enough to ensure that the forcible sterilizations of people with disabilities do not happen again in Illinois. Which is why it’s important that the state is now considering legislation that would put more protections in place. From FRIDA:

What would you do if you were a person with a disability, and your legal guardian decided to have a doctor operate on you so you couldn’t have babies? What would you do if your guardian didn’t even tell you about this, or tricked you into doing it? This is called involuntary sterilization, and in Illinois it happens more often than you think. Involuntary sterilization is when your guardian and your doctor agree to tie your tubes or do a hysterectomy without your permission or knowledge. We are one of 16 states nationwide with no laws to protect people with disabilities who have guardians from sterilization.

Now we have a chance to change that. Today, there is a bill in the Illinois House of Representatives called H.B. 2290. This bill would update a law called the Probate Act of 1975. H.B. 2290 would add to the Probate Act by saying that a guardian would need to get a court order to have a doctor do a sterilization on a ward with a disability. The exception would be if you might die or be seriously harmed without it. Otherwise, a court would have to say that sterilization is ok, and the court would have to do their best to figure out whether the person with a disability is ok with it or not. Right now, we do not have that kind of protection at all. H.B. 2290 is an important Illinois bill that protects the bodies of people with disabilities who have guardians.

And the right to bodily autonomy is something that everyone deserves.

Here’s how to help:

So what can you do to help? We need this bill to pass the Illinois House of Representatives NOW! If you live in Illinois, contact your state representative and ask them to sponsor H.B. 2290 TODAY! You can find out who your representative is at the Board of Elections webpage. Right now, we especially want to reach representatives who are on the Judiciary;s Civil Law Committee—look them up here. If you are with an organization, have your organization join our list to support H.B. 2290! Let’s make this happen today! Check back at www.ourfrida.org for updates.

Write in now if you live in Illinois, and make sure to sperad the word regardless. FRIDA also has a petition going. Though the signatures of Illinois constituents are most helpful, I’ve verified that the signature and support of everyone is appreciated. So sign away!

TMI?

Judging from the comments on this article at Salon, it’s gross to taste breast milk unless you’re a child under the age of two. But judging from my friends’ and my own experiences, it’s pretty common to have your intimates — and your own self — at least sample the goods when you’re lactating. Curiosity isn’t that outrageous.

Who Gets to Say What, Part II (Blog Hierarchies)

(This is the second part of our series of reflections on Feministe and its place in the bewildering and sometimes nauseating constellation known as “the feminist blogosophere.” You can read part one here.)

This time, your hostesses start to scratch the surface of meritocracy and the lack thereof, the social economies that create “large” and “small” blogs, the connections that create those economies, and a continuation of responses to What if the feminist blogosphere is a form of digital colonialism?

Is blogging a meritocracy? Could it be? What do we do to keep hierarchies of oppression from relentlessly structuring who gets heard and who doesn’t?

Shameless Self-Promotion Sunday

Self-promote away. Include a short description of something you’ve written this week, along with a link. Make it specific, not a link to your whole blog.