It’s the law for many women: a space to breast-feed or pump at work, but where and how?; Most Americans support access to contraception yet increasingly the political winds are blowing the other way; New Hampshire’s parental notification bill and more…

• There’s still time to make your nursing-mama voice (or advocate-for-nursing-mamas voice) heard! As part of the health reform law (the one House Republicans are intent on repealing), employers are required to provide nursing and pumping mothers with “reasonable break time” to pump or nurse as well as an appropriate space in which to do so. The Department of Labor is drawing up the guidelines and is asking for public input (what spaces within an office setting are appropriate? what about employees who work in “non fixed space” settings, ie bus drivers, law enforcement officers?). You can and should comment, if you’ve got input! Babygooroo.com has info on how to do so here. 

• Please go to TheNation.com and read Sharon Lerner’s excellent in-depth article, “Does Contraception Count as Prevention?,” on the incongruous nature of the harsh political realities we seem to be facing, on the state and federal levels, when it comes to contraceptive coverage and funding of providers like Planned Parenthood, juxtaposed with what most Americans support (greater access to birth control, federal funding for health centers which help facilitate this). 

• According to Poz.com, an HIV positive man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for “having sex with a minor and transmitting the disease to her.” The man was aware of his status when he lured her via Facebook; the victim is now only 15 years old.

• Young feminists take note! CREA, an international, feminist, human rights organization based in New Delhi is organizing it Sexuality, Gender and Rights Institute this year in Istanbul, Turkey. You can find the link to apply and more information here! From the description of the institute: “CREA’s Sexuality, Gender and Rights Institute is an annual, week-long, residential course – begun in 2007 – that focuses on a conceptual study of sexuality. It examines the links between sexuality, rights, gender, and health and their interface with socio-cultural and legal issues. Participants critically analyze policy, research and program interventions using a rights-based approach.”

• Womens eNews reports on New Hampshire anti-choice Republicans’ efforts to pass a parental notification bill, with other states to likely follow. After thirty years, given the sweeping, extremist anti-choice sentiment amonst Republicans in Congress now, they feel this year will be the year.