Via JT, here’s a new bill that recently passed in the Tennessee State Senate Education Committee by a 7-2 vote: Republican state Sen. Joey Hensley encouraged fellow senators to pass SB 514 to “prevent an institution of high education from discriminating against a student in the counseling, social worker, psychology programs because of their religious beliefs.” Hensley’s bill …
Tag Archive: laws
Aug 02 2012
Abortion and Suicide: A Spurious Link
In South Dakota, it is now legal to require doctors to tell women seeking abortions that they are putting themselves at risk for suicide. This move is brilliant from a PR standpoint. Unlike banning certain types of abortions entirely or, say, forcing women to undergo invasive screenings that are medically unnecessary, this seems completely apolitical …
Jul 20 2012
Surprise! Elle Magazine Editor Doesn't Really Care About Eating Disorders
Confession: sometimes I read women’s magazines. They’re fun to make critique and laugh at. This time, though, I didn’t even get past the magazine’s front matter before finding something objectionable. In her opening letter for Elle magazine’s August issue, Editor-in-Chief Roberta Myers discusses the recent legislation in the U.K. that would require digitally altered photographs …
Jun 25 2012
"Vagina" is Not a Four-letter Word
You would be forgiven for assuming that our elected politicians are mature adults who can handle using words that designate genitalia. You would especially be forgiven for assuming that given that many of these politicians are very eager to legislate what can and cannot be done with genitalia. However, you’d be wrong. This is old …
Apr 30 2012
How Not to Argue Against Abortion
Our campus magazine, North by Northwestern, recently did a cool feature called “Dormroom Debate” in which it pitted a conservative and a liberal against each other to discuss the recent Arizona abortion laws. I think that it’s great to expose yourself to dissenting viewpoints, not just for the sake of understanding and kumbaya (though that too) …
Apr 11 2012
A Handy List of Ludicrous Anti-Abortion Legislation
For your reference. I’ll try to update this as needed. Read the linked articles for more information about these bills and why they are so harmful. Oklahoma State Bill 1433–defines a fertilized egg as a “person” and seeks to extend human rights to said “persons”; conflicts with Roe v. Wade. Georgia House Bill 954–bans all …
Apr 06 2012
A Sacrifice They're Willing to Make: Mississippi's War on Abortion
The last remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi is perilously close to shutting down thanks to a new proposed law, Mississippi House Bill 1390. The law would require that all doctors performing abortions be board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology (reasonable), and that they also have admitting privileges at a local hospital (not so reasonable). The reason that’s …
Mar 14 2012
Agribusiness is Ruining Capitalism (Among Other Things)
Agribusiness is the reason we can’t have nice things. The same industry that recently terrified consumers by including pink slime (or, euphemistically, “boneless lean beef trimmings”) in 70% of supermarket ground beef is now responsible for a new Iowa law that makes it a crime to misrepresent yourself in order to get a job at a farm. It had …
Jul 26 2011
Why I Oppose Banning Burqas
And no, my reasoning has nothing to do with racism or any other ism! Belgian lawmakers recently passed a bill that, if approved in their senate, would make it illegal to wear burqas in public. This comes on the heels of France’s When justifying banning burqas or similar Islamic garments, people typically make two points–one, …







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