Andy Birkey

New Journalist Fellow

Andy Birkey covers lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, local
politics, religion and reproductive health for the Minnesota Independent.
He has almost a decade of experience working to empower Minnesotans to
be knowledgeable about their sexual health and to create healthy,
responsible and sex-positive communities.

Poll: Majority of Minnesotans Support Abortion Rights

Andy Birkey

St. Cloud State University poll data released on Friday (PDF) shows most Minnesotans support abortion rights and oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, a result that’s in line with polling throughout the decade.

VIDEO: Klobuchar Joins Senate Push for Women’s Health

Andy Birkey

Sen. Amy Klobuchar is one of several female Democratic senators demanding that health insurance disparities that impact women be eliminated as part of the health reform packages being debated in Congress.

Michelle Bachmann: “Pants on Fire!”

Andy Birkey

Rep. Michele Bachmann warned that the health insurance reform package currently being debated by Congress would set up “sex clinics” in schools where students “taken away” to have abortions. Where does she get these things?

Bachmann To Raise Funds for Controversial Christian Punk Ministry

Andy Birkey

Rep. Michele Bachmann will be headlining a fundraiser in November for controversial ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide (YCRBYCH).

Rural Women in Minnesota Face Obstacles to Health Care

Andy Birkey

In Minnesota, lack of health insurance, lack of clinics, and factors like poverty, geographic isolation and even extreme winters all reduce rural women's access to health care.

Abortion Foes Fund Rep. Bachman, Bash State Sen. Clark

Andy Birkey

An analysis of anti-abortion campaign donations finds that Rep. Michele Bachmann is one of the country’s top earners — and she’s delivered for her contributors on that issue.

Abortions Declined in Minnesota Last Year

Andy Birkey

Abortions declined in Minnesota in 2008 for the second straight year. Reproductive health advocates point to expanded access to birth control as the reasons for the decline.

Army of God Defends Driver in Health Clinic “Crash”

Andy Birkey

Matthew Derosia was convicted late last week for ramming his car into the entrance of a Planned Parenthood clinic St. Paul in January during an anti-abortion protest. The Army of God and other anti-choice groups have risen to his defense.

Minnesota Anti-Choice Group Credits State Program with Slight Drop in Abortion

Andy Birkey

Minnesota’s largest anti-abortion group, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, says state-funded anti-abortion programs are responsible for a drop in the number of abortions among low-income women.

North Dakota Abortion Ban Could Have National Implications

Andy Birkey

North Dakota's "egg-as-person" bill would afford "preborn persons" the "privileges and immunities" of state citizenship.

Andy Birkey

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