H.R.3 – No Taxpayer Money for Abortion Act Sponsored by Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ)

Written by: Rachel Pazda
I recently was made aware of a bill that is before the House of Representatives, H.R. 3 – No Taxpayer Money for Abortion Act. Based on the title it would seem the goal of Rep. Smith and others who are supporting the bill is rather straight forward… to stop taxpayer money from funding abortions. Fair enough, members of Congress have the right to propose bills for and against Reproductive Rights; it’s what makes our country great, the right to fight for what you believe in even when a person across the aisle disagrees with you. But the bill isn’t just about abortion funding; it’s about funding abortions that are being sought by rape victims.

Although it would be easy for me to, without pause, destroy the whole bill with simple logic and legal argument, I will focus on only one key point: Mr. Smith and his compatriots are attempting to redefine rape. The fight for rape to even be properly acknowledged in society has yet to be won, and if the wording in H.R. 3 is not drastically altered the progress made for victim’s rights will be effectively negated. According to the bill, only victims of “forcible rape” will be eligible for tax dollar assistance to fund the abortion of a pregnancy that was a result of the assault. The phrase “forcible rape” is not elaborated or defined throughout the rest of the text. Which raises some somewhat obvious, but non-the-less important, questions: What is force? Is coercion force? What about refusal to accept “No” for an answer? What if the rapist had drugged the victim, would that be considered force? Or is a rape victim only allowed to claim to be “forced” if she is covered in blood and bruises? If the victim is on life support due to her injuries and is unable to even request an abortion because she is in a coma, is that force enough? Or would the abortion still be unfunded due to the fact that since the rape victim is unable to make the decision it would most likely fall to the family to make the decision and since legally the woman cannot be forced to have an abortion wouldn’t it technically be illegal to fund the abortion procedure with tax dollars? Seems like a rather complicated, unnecessary can of worms that would re-victimize women who have been raped because Mr. Smith doesn’t want to pay for abortions with tax revenue. Perhaps I am wrong to believe that we should actually increase funding to help the victims of rape with counseling and medical services rather than decrease their aid, but I don’t think I’m wrong. It is wrong and irresponsible for our government to pass a law that is in its very essence a definition of victim blaming and minimization of trauma experienced by women who are raped, whether their bruises are in their skin or in their psyche.

As an individual, I ask you to take action and speak up! Call your Congress people and let your representatives in Washington and in your state capitals know what you think. I know I will make my representatives aware that I am not ok with this law and as citizens representatives they are obligated to vote as their constituent’s desire. I have included a link that can be used to find out who your representatives are if you are unsure.

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Just choose your state, enter your zip code + 4 digit zip code extension and click on “Contact My Representative”.  You will be directed to your representative’s website.

Below is a link to the text of H.R.3.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-3

“It might be more worthwhile if we stopped wringing our hands and started ringing our congressmen.”  ~Author Unknown

The "Ins and Outs" of Valentine's Day

by Lauren Little
Assistant Supervising Counselor

St. Patrick has his day; ghouls and ghosts even get their own too. It’s only fitting that lovers should have a day on the calendar as well. By the 14th of February, whether or not Cupid’s pegged you from behind (no pun intended), you’ve undoubtedly witnessed the overblown commercialism that is the Valentine’s day blitz. Is there anything real or earnest about the exchange anymore?

Well, there’s a few ways to ensure that at the very least the sex is real, up to par, and, of course, safe:

-Planning. It’s what makes Batman the best at what he does and you can be guaranteed he does it in the bedroom too. If you can make it appear spontaneous, there are bonus points to be scored, but going to extra mile can be surprising in itself. You don’t need a utility belt to stash your condoms, water-based lube, and dental dams, instead, strategically place them around the bedroom or intended places of fornication. Wherever that may be. Remember if you don’t have time to strategically purchase your condoms and lube so that the middle-aged cashier at Walgreen’s doesn’t notice, come stop by Hayes Annex C on South Campus to stock up on your FREE stash. Oh yeah, and Lifestyles Ultra Lubricated and Durex Love condoms have snazzy red packaging that fits the Valentine’s theme.


-Be Creative. There’s no Oscar for Most Mediocre Performance. Think outside the box (or get in one if you’re into that sort of thing) and try something different. As long as it’s safe (no hanging from the ceiling fan that’s missing a few screws), GO FOR IT! Of course, make sure you and your partner discuss new positions, toys, etc before trying them out. Keep in mind, whatever your muse inspires you to try, always use latex! No one wants their most memorable Valentine’s Day to be the one they got Chlamydia.

-Be Romantic. Nothing says, “I love you,” like a Hallmark card and a box of Russell Stover. Oh wait, just about anything is more romantic than that. Instead of just shoving a box of chocolate and a few roses into your partner’s arms, place the otherwise inert petals in the bed and seductively feed your lover the chocolates. This harkens back to the Be Creative clause. Also, if you’re thinking about using chocolate in other, more imaginative, ways, it’s best to keep it away from lady parts. Nothing spoils the post-Valentine’s Day glow like a sugar fueled yeast infection. Yummo! However, guys, you’re free to go swim in the stuff if you so much as please (so not fair, right?). If are really looking to spice things up taste wise, condoms, dental dams, and water-based lube come in a variety of seductive flavors.

-Love yourself! You don’t have to commission a ten foot tall nude portrait of yourself riding a tiger, but don’t sell yourself short either! Don’t feel obliged to sleep with someone just because you feel the date predicates it; make sure it means something and you’re getting exactly what you want out of it. If it’s your first time with that person, make sure you use protection and discretion. If your only date for the night is with Facebook, close down the laptop and treat yourself to a nice candle-lit bath. Or, if you’re stuck in the dorms, go take a nice hot shower and take as long as you want in there. No one’s judging!

These are just a few of the many things to think about for February 14th. If all else fails, remember, there’s always March 14th.

Pi Day. Because who doesn’t like pie! (What were you thinking about?)

HPV Can Cause Cancer in Men!

Written by Courtney Bauer


According to the CDC the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can cause penile, anal, head, and neck cancer in men. It is also a leading cause of genital warts. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. There is no HPV test for men. There is also no cure for HPV. HPV is spread by skin to skin sexual contact. Therefore, it cannot be fully prevented with condoms because condoms do not always cover all of the skin that is coming into contact with another person. This is the bad news.

The good news is that Michael Hall (Health Services) on South Campus is having an HPV vaccine clinic Wednesday December 1st and Tuesday December 2nd. They are giving the vaccine to male and female students twenty six years old and younger. If your insurance does not cover the vaccine Michael Hall has a supply they can give away for free. This is not a walk in clinic you must make an appointment by calling (716) 829-3316.

The vaccine that will be given is the Gardasil vaccine. This vaccine protects people against four strains of HPV. Two of the strains cause the majority of genital warts. The other two strains can cause cancer. The vaccine cannot cure someone if they have already caught one of these strains, but it can protect them if they have not. You can still get the vaccine even if you are already sexually active because you may not have been exposed to these strains of HPV yet so you can still be protected.

Fun in Flavors!

Submitted by: Dominiqua Griffin

Flavored condoms? Edible underwear? Both are made to spice up your sex life! While they’re meant to be fun, you should still use them correctly to stay safe!

Edible panties are fun, but may involve the risk of sexually transmitted infection (STI). To ensure that you remain safe while giving oral sex, you can use a latex barrier (some call it a dental dam), which is a thin latex film. You must commit to using one side so that fluids are not transferred from your partner to your mouth, because STIs are transmitted through bodily fluids. It just creates a barrier between the genital area and your mouth. If you don't have a latex barrier, you can use a male condom split in half or cheap saran wrap. Cheap saran wrap is less porous and therefore prevents the transfer of fluids.

Flavored condoms for oral sex come in handy as well. They are preferred for oral sex over vaginal or anal sex, where they could cause irritation because of the sugary flavor. This can increase the chances of you or your partner getting a yeast infection. Before using them for vaginal sex, check the packaging to see if the company recommends it. If the condom is not recommended for vaginal sex then don't use it for anal sex as well because the same thing can occur - irritation.

Edible, flavored, or otherwise, have fun and be safe! Remember that SBI Health Education gives out free condoms (non-flavored), so come visit us!

Reality TV Has Gone Too Far

By Shannon Gawel
Events Coordinator at SBI Health Education

OK, I put up with the shows about too many children, too many wives and too many tans. And I don’t mean that I sit through entire episodes. I mean I put up with the fact they exist. So, when I found out there was going to be a show on E! where brides-to-be were going to compete for plastic surgery for their big day, my stomach just sank.

There have been shows about plastic surgery before. In 2004, The Swan took “ugly” women with low self-esteem and gave them a coach, a therapist, cosmetic surgeons and a dentist. After a three month transformation, the panel would rate their achievement and see if they were worthy to move on and compete in “The Swan Pageant.” All of the people on the panel were legitimate experts, the surgeons were board certified, and the therapist had written several self-help books. And the main difference: the women didn’t have a “wish-list” of what surgeries they wanted.

On the aptly named Bridalplasty, premiering Nov. 28, the women will compete each week in challenges such as writing vows and honeymoon planning. The winner gets one procedure from their list. For example, if they won two weeks in a row, they’d get two procedures in two weeks. Besides making America look extremely shallow, it also has some ethical issues. Under the American Society of Plastic Surgeons code of ethics, "We're technically prohibited from giving procedures away as a prize for a contest. It totally undermines the doctor-patient relationship," says Dr. Gayle Gordillo, associate professor plastic surgery at Ohio State University. "The ethical and social implications of this [show] are frightening" (abcnews.go.com.)

Of course, every bride wants to look beautiful on their wedding day. That’s why it’s OK for them to splurge on getting a manicure, getting their hair and make-up done professionally-because it’s their special day. But, in contrast to this new show, who’s going to tell them they’re already beautiful without these things and more? This show might actually be playing into a serious psychiatric condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder, where there is an unrealistic goal for the ideal image, and people that have this are fixated on supposed flaws.

I can only hope this show bombs after a few episodes. I don’t want to watch women put themselves through all that pain to be a pre-conceived idea of beauty based on a ridiculous societal standard.

If you need a better wedding show to watch, catch David Tutera on My Fair Wedding on WE TV. He makes every bride feel like a princess for the right reasons.

Remember, if (s)he asked you to marry them, they love you for who you are! You should too. There’s no one else out there like you, and if they want you to change how you look, they don’t deserve you.

Sources: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/bridalplasty-compete-nose-jobs-implants-dream-wedding/story?id=11663378&page=2 And www.wikepedia.org

One in 10 sexually active teens has same-sex partners

Thursday, October 28, 2010


By Zach Gottlieb


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study suggests that nearly one in sexually active ten teens have same-sex partners -- almost twice as many as previous research found. According to a 2002 study of Massachusetts and Vermont teens, only 5 percent to 6 percent of teens had same-sex partners.

In the new study, 9.3 percent of teens said they did.

"Clearly there's a high rate of same-sex partners among teens, and we need to recognize any vulnerabilities that may be associated with these behaviors," said Dr. Susan Blank, an assistant commissioner at the NYC Health Department. Blank, who was not involved with the study, was referring to a lower rate of condom use and unwanted sex among teens with same-sex partners seen in the study.

The new research, published in the journal Pediatrics, looked at more than 17,000 teens in New York City. It found that teens who had sex with only their own gender or with both genders were more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, putting themselves at greater risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of the 18 million new cases of STDs that occur each year happen among people aged 15 to 24.

Such risky behaviors included not using a condom during sex and having forced sex. More than half of boys who engaged in bisexual behavior didn't use a condom, compared to a fifth of those who engaged exclusively in heterosexual behavior. The difference was not quite as large for girls who engaged in bisexual behavior and those who engaged exclusively in heterosexual behavior, but it was similar: About half of the former didn't use a condom, compared to 30 percent of the latter.

About a third of those teens who engaged in bisexual behavior had forced sex at some point in their lives, much higher than the 6 percent of those boys who engaged exclusively in heterosexual behavior and the 16 percent of the similar group of girls.

Elizabeth Saewyc, a researcher at the University of British Columbia, told Reuters Health that these teens may engage in riskier behavior because sex education programs don't always acknowledge gay, lesbian, and bisexual relationships.

"Some teens I've seen tell me that they completely check out of sex ed because they feel what they were learning didn't apply to them," said Saewyc, who was not involved in the new study.

She suggested that educators need to acknowledge gay, lesbian, and bisexual relationships more often in sex education curriculums so that teens are more likely to listen and will feel more comfortable discussing any issues.

Though the authors of the new study report that the rate of same-sex partners is higher than previous studies, Saewyc pointed that this rate is actually similar to what she has seen in her own work and other studies.

In the 2008 British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey, for teens who were sexually active, 8 percent of males and 10 percent of females reported having had a same-sex partner. In a study looking at the 2001 Minnesota Student Survey, 9.4 percent of teens reported having had partners of the same or both sexes.

Dr. Preeti Pathela, lead author of the new study, said the results may have been different this time around because some states do not measure same-sex encounters. Still, Pathela said, it's clear that some teens are more vulnerable to risky behavior and STDs than others. In discussing sexual relationships and potential risks, she said it is important that parents, educators, and researchers focus on behaviors and not just on sexual identity.

"How teens identify themselves doesn't always correlate with actual behaviors," said Pathela, a research scientist in the New York Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene. "Behavior is a better measure of what's actually happening because teens are changing rapidly." SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/gas77m Pediatrics, October 25, 2010.

Reuters Health

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Gay Sex vs. Straight Sex

This is a very interesting and eye opening blog post.  Definitely something to check out!

Gay Sex vs. Straight Sex