Eight female state senators in Georgia walked out of the Senate chambers on Wednesday to protest two bills that hinder access to abortion and contraceptives. All eight female democratic senators left the chambers together after two bills they oppose passed the Republican-led Senate. From Atlanta’s WXIA, the legislation:
- Prohibits state employees from using state health benefits to pay for abortions
- Does not allow employees of private religious institutions to demand that their insurance policies pay for contraceptives
“We stood together to protest what we feel is absolutely a war on women here in Georgia and we want to sound the alert to Georgians,” said Sen. Nan Orrick.
Republican state senator Joshua McKoon said of the legislation, “What I would say is the war that’s being waged is on a religious minority in this country that has strong beliefs that are protected by the First Amendment.”
The bills now heads to the House, where both are expected to pass.
The senators who walked out: Sen. Gloria Butler, Sen. Gale Davenport, Sen. Nan Orrock, Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, Sen. Donzella James, Sen. Miriam Paris, Sen. Valencia Seay and Sen. Horacena Tate. Looks like I’ll be spending my Friday night emailing these senators to thank them for taking a stance on an incredibly important issue.
Linking arms? Awesome.
Fact: I am so sad for the US women’s soccer team. Such a tough loss today against Japan. Thanks Women’s National Team for being a distraction until basketball starts again.
Brittney and I walked over four miles today. I am pretty sure my legs are going to suffer tomorrow. I asked her if she wanted to go again at 7am tomorrow and she said yes. It is still to be determined if I will actually make it. I don’t do well getting up that early.
The bummer of my weekend was that I didn’t go see Winnie the Pooh on Friday. Tragedy.
Also, my mom failed to bring me back something of my papa’s from my granny’s house. I feel like I need something of his to carry around with me everywhere like I have with Nanna’s ring. I do always travel with his socks but I would like something to either wear or something I can put in my purse. I carry the socks b/c I like to think that means that he gets to go with me whenever I travel somewhere. I’m really having a hard time with it. Time is supposed to make things easier but I am a creature of habit and I struggle like hell with change. Stuggle city.
People that try to use Casey Anthony as an example to push their anti-abortion agendas really piss me off. People might not agree with me but I believe there is a big fucking difference between someone killing their child by duct taping her mouth and nose shut and then dumping her body in the woods and someone who makes the tough decision not to bring a child into the world.
Generally women that have had an abortion express something we will never see out of Casey Anthony, remorse.
Oh tumblr, I’ve neglected you. I deeply apologize. Sometimes I forget about this outlet. Fail.
I sent Frances a post card I bought in Key West. I don’t know if she is purposely not answering the phone or if she is just remarkably busy but she never picks up when I call her. I feel myself calling her less and I hate that. It’s just that every time I call her I feel the void of not hearing my papa yelling in the background. I never thought I would miss him rudely yelling randoms.
Back to work after 11 days off. It is so weird. Whenever I tell people what I do, they always look at me with this sadness in their eyes and say something to the effect of, “oh, that must be so hard.” They then quickly get the hell away from me b/c no one wants to be seen talking to girl that works in DV for a significant period of time. Truth is, hearing about the meanness that lives in some people isn’t hard, the hard part is watching a woman try to explain something that she has worked her ass off to keep a secret for a long time. They are always so ashamed. That is the heartbreaking part. My job is basically to try to convince her within a 3 hour period that his asshole-ness isn’t her fault and she has nothing to be ashamed of. My job is so weird.
So, Key West. Amazing. 2nd best place I’ve ever been. After Duke of course. Even it was the best place I’ve ever been, I would never tell. It was amazing though. The culture is just so chill and happy. It made me wonder why everyone can’t live like that everywhere. Just be chill ya’ll.
Despite being a kickin trip, I’m happy to see my Riddy pants again. My life is just way better when he is around. My own furry Buddha.
Speaking of happiness, Blake is awesome. Seriously fucking awesome. That is a fact and here is another one.. just about every time we go on a trip together I get sick like that creepy girl under the bed from the 6th Sense. Turns out I might be susceptible to motion sickness. I can check “puke off the back of a boat” off on my bucket list. I only threw up once which I thought was pretty good. According to Blake, over 50% of the boat was ill. I can’t confirm or deny his statement as I kept my head safely tucked between my knees with my sunglasses on and a tshirt over my face. At one point a crew member put a cold rag on my neck and said, “it is ok sweetheart, it will be over soon.” I think that is pretty indicative of the people in Key West. Such a loving gesture from a stranger. I think we could all use a little more of that.
I have never celebrated the end of a month before but I could not be more happy that March is over. March and I used to be really good friends but this year, she was a total bitch to me.
There are still no words.
However, there are distractions and AMAZING people which helps. A LOT.
Boyfriend sent me flowers today. It was precious times ten. Props to him for recognizing that sending flowers post V-Day is way cooler.
JC, I’m sleepy. bahahahah. My grandpa’s initials are JC. James Cecil. I of course am referring to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ not Cecil. Just thought I should clear that up.
What a lovely day, if I were talented like Taylor Swift I would write a song about it.
This is my first experience with extended stays at the hospital and it has been an extremely humbling experience. It also kind of reminds me of court. Hurry up and wait. We hurry to get here in the morning and then we wait for a doctor or someone wearing scrubs to come in an give us information. What a process. The staff at the hospital has been remarkably caring and loving towards my family. Yesterday I was sent in search of chocolate milk and of course I went at the time that the snack bar and cafeteria were closed. Well, this precious woman in the cafeteria let me in before they opened up so I could get my papa some chocolate milk. It was so nice. I am going to equate her niceness with being southern but it probably had a lot to do with her working at a hospital and seeing people everyday that are so sad and trying to come to grips with whatever someone in scrubs has just said to them.
It is really hard to see someone that you have always seen as a strong and able man laying in a hospital bed with tubes sticking out of his stomach. It makes my heart hurt. I have to believe that he will be ok and that he will get to leave this hospital to go back home and do things like mow the grass. I’ve never seen anyone in my life that loves to ride around on the lawn mower like my papa. Hell, half the time I’m not even sure if the blade is down but he just rides and rides.
Ok, time to hurry and wait for someone in scrubs to give us info
