I’d just sat down for my breakfast repast when a bit of news made me choke on my Fuji apple: thepillkills.com Taking a rejuvenating sip of my coffee (yes, apples and coffee—I do live in Seattle, after all), I figured that I’d stumbled upon another site touting the evils of Plan B (a/k/a the morning after pill). While the opposition to Plan B is more than irksome, it’s sadly something that doesn’t surprise me; what did surprise me was that the site it not about Plan B, but hormonal birth control. Yes, you read that correctly: hormonal birth control.

Normally, I’d be slightly annoyed by such a site, and then write it off as another example of anti-choice extremism. I may even have a few chuckles as I read through the Q & A section:

Q: Isn’t it better to be on the pill when you are sexually active?
A: Better for whom? The pill does not prevent you from getting a sexually transmitted disease, it is not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and you could conceive a child who gets chemically aborted before the baby’s presence is even known to you. Moreover, sexual activity outside of marriage is seriously wrong.

Yes, I’ll admit that the above made me chuckle a bit more than the rest. Regardless, let’s get back on track: it seems as if this site’s message is going live this Saturday, June 7th, in the form of Protest the Pill Day:

Everyone should know the deadly consequences of the pill and similar contraceptive products- they cause chemical abortions. Therefore, American Life League, along with Pro-Life Wisconsin and Pharmacists for Life International Associate groups, calls all pro-lifers across the country to speak out on Protest the Pill Day ‘08: The Pill Kills Babies, scheduled for the Griswold anniversary of Saturday, June 7. We encourage you to gather with your friends for peaceful protests in front of facilities that distribute birth control products.

Now they’ve gone and done it: no longer slightly annoyed, I am now fully irked. Its one thing to publish this on the internet, but a whole other thing when these folks will be staking out territory at Planned Parenthoods across the country. While I’m sure that I’m preaching to the choir here, I’ll remind you all that PP offers a host of affordable health care options and resources for women of all walks of life; it is a place that women feel comfortable going to, knowing that their needs will be met with respect, quality, compassion, and accessibility. Facing a faction of protestors (who are attempting to shame and mis-educate these women) casts a negative pallor upon PP’s many positive attributes.

If you’re interested in countering these protests, I highly suggest getting in touch with your local Planned Parenthood to see if they’ll be in need of additional escorts. New Yorkers in particular may want to attend the Union Square counter protest, time TBA. For more information, contact PPNYC Action Council at ppnycupfront@gmail.com

Take care of yourselves, and let’s nip this in the bud before it reaches full bloom.

It looks as if everyone (and I mean everyone) is giddy with excitement for Babeland Park Slope. Over here on the West Coast, we’ve been spreading the news to friends and customers alike; and not to be left out, the East Coast’s Gothamist has picked up on the excitement as well:

This year sex shop Babeland celebrates its 15th year, and its 1st Brooklyn store. Claire Cavanah is the co-owner, but she’s also a Park Slope mom…so naturally the borough’s first Babeland is landing right in her own nabe. So far the neighbors have greeted them with an unexpected level of excitement, and today the Park Slope outlet of Babeland will finally open its doors. Recently Cavanah told us about the shop’s history, the neighborhood-specific events planned and what products she think will fly off the shelves in the Slope.

Not only are we treated to this glowing blurb, but there is also a delightful interview with Babeland co-owner, Claire Cavanah. She waxes poetic on the new shop, Babeland’s history, and even tosses in an excellent plug for our new rechargeable, wearable, silicone WeVibe. It’s an enjoyable read, and no doubt a suitable appetizer for the new shop to come.

Hello Friends,

I am reposting this from The Gender Center, Inc. in Oregon. Please read the following article and then take the time to sign this easy to use on-line petition.
This is an extremely serious issue for the GLBT community, we really need everyone’s help with this one! Thank you in advance for your time and support.

Dear folks,

I’m writing you because you are well-connected with our LGBT community organizations. A catastrophic thing has just happened to the community on the federal level, there’s still time to stop it, and most folks in the community seem not to know. A few days ago the American Psychiatric Association announced who would write the new revision of the DSMV, the manual of mental disorders that controls the diagnosis and treatment of gender and sexual difference. The “expert” just named to chair the revisions on sexuality and gender is Kenneth Zucker. Zucker is the major remaining proponent of “reparative therapy” to “cure” kids they think are LGBT. If the APA doesn’t change the committee, the next edition of the DSMV will probably prescribe reparative therapies as recommended “treatment” for LGBT people.

Zucker’s named Ray Blanchard to the work group that will rewrite Gender Identity Disorder. Here’s the deal: Blanchard is connected with ex-gay organizations; his core theory is that transpeople are “really” sex offenders or homosexuals, and homosexuals are mentally ill. Zucker’s stated purpose for reparative therapy is that, without it, gay kids will grow up into transsexuals. So any version of Gender Identity Disorder the two of them write will not only put transpeople out of medical help and into conversion therapy, but also redefine GID from an independent diagnosis to a kind of homosexuality. In other words, their goal is to put homosexuality back in the DSMV as a mental illness. We’d be back where we were before 1973.

I hoped I’d never have to live with this crap again, but here we are in the Stone Age. These are the folks that “cure” boys who play with dolls and girls who like sports. The APA just gave these wackos the authority to define American gays and lesbians as mentally ill. They’re likely to use it. We have to get the word out. If the community protests loudly and fast, the APA will probably have to remove Zucker and Blanchard. I am terrified it won’t happen because it’ll get tagged as a “trans issue.” The HRC, the Advocate and so on have no love lost on transpeople, but transpeople don’t have the pull with the APA. Only the gay and lesbian communities can apply the necessary pressure. It’s use it or lose it. Once your identity has been defined as a mental illness your political clout falls to zero.

Folks in the know say the appointment was so unexpected that it’s likely most APA leadership doesn’t really understand what they just did. Zucker and Blanchard are considered fringe–Zucker’s clinic in Toronto has been defunded by the Canadian government. But they’re famous for their political skills, taking over academic forums and then using them to set themselves up as “recognized experts.” I think if we call the APA on it right away, they’ll fold and replace them.

Please help. Spread the word to everyone you know. Any contacts you have with LGBT political advocacy and media organizations, please light a fire with them to pressure the APA to remove Zucker and Blanchard from the DSMV committee. It matters for all of us.