Thanks Again AGAIN, Henry!

Happy 23rd anniversary of the Morgentaler decision, everyone! This is a good day. We need to remember what a big deal it was to decriminalize abortion in Canada; we only need to look to the south to see that our approach is STILL innovative and progressive.

Of course we have a long way to go within our own country; there is so much stigma around abortion, reproductive health care and women's sexuality in general. And the opposition to abortion rights is nothing to be scoffed at: they have a lot of power and influence, and they are keeping us on our toes every day. Also, access to abortion in this country is shameful, particularly for rural, poor, racialized and otherwise marginalized women. There is still a lot of work for the pro-choice movement in Canada.

Still, I would like to raise a glass to Dr. Morgentaler - a Canadian hero - and all the women who stood with him through his struggles to eventually win this great victory. And of course to all the clinic staff and volunteers, activists and allies, friends and lovers who work every day to not only maintain the right to choose, but also to make abortion services better, easier to access, and more respectful. Thank you for trusting women.

I want to share this wonderful piece that one of my colleagues, a counsellor at the clinic where I work, wrote for the Globe and Mail: The human drama of abortion counselling.

Keep fighting the good fight, friends.

A Couple Things to Read

Hey friends! Here are some abortion-related things to check out...

First, my piece on Henry Morgentaler over at Feminists for Choice (just keeping our American friends informed).

Second, a quick article on Dr. Morgentaler's lawsuit against the province of New Brunswick, and how nothing is happening (still!).

And third, the most patronizing thing you will read today.

Cheers!

2011

Happy new year, my snuggly readers! I hope you all had a lovely, restful break. I made a whirlwind visit to Fredericton to see my parents and friends and of course to make a brief visit to my old stomping grounds, the Fredericton clinic. I went on a lazy afternoon though, because I really couldn't drag myself out of bed at some ungodly hour on a Tuesday morning to help with escorting. I know, I'm a bad pro-choicer.

Anyway, I'm back in Toronto, back to work, and hopefully back to blogging. I say "hopefully" because really, I'm a horrible unreliable blogger. I do have some ideas in the works though, so do stay tuned. For now, here is a long overdue edition of the weekly reader:

The always sharp Heather Mallick on abortion rights in Canada.

A brave piece for the Globe on forgiveness after abortion.

Some follow-up on the defeated Bill C-510.

A woman stabbed her boyfriend to death when he tried to force her to have an abortion.

More to come!