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Two notable campaign successes: Planned Parenthood vs. Komen, and “gay cure” clinics in Ecaudor are OUT; Do women really suck at math?; Funky art stuff; And more… It’s another round-up!
(Yes, I know it’s not Thursday. I missed a Thursday. Meh.)
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From the Queer 'Sphere
Ecuador President Announces “Gay Cure” Clinics to Shut Down
After campaigns launched by All Out, Change.org and CredoAction went global — and local human rights defenders kept the pressure on in closed door negotiations with the Ecuadorian Health Ministry — the government just announced they’ll be investigating — and shutting down — hundreds of abusive and illegal “gay cure” clinics.
Read more, and sign a support petition to President Rafael Correa
Gender
Surprise! Gender Equality Makes Everyone Better At Math!
Tired of hearing that tired old argument that women are inherently less capable of excelling at math, physics, or other sciences? This delightful article explains the whys and wherefores of why that’s total CRAP. (And I’m sure you’ll have no trouble whatsoever with all the charts 🙂 )
Art & Culture
Photographer Hal’s Vacuum Packed Couples
In his “Fresh Love” series, Japanese Photographer Hal photographed couples in vacuum-packed nylon, representing the “ultimate union”. The couples actually stayed without oxygen long enough for Hal to snap three photos.
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Tampon Crafts
And this is a whole different kind of interesting →
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Irina Werning’s Back to the Future
Argentine photographer Irina Werning takes subjects from around the world back to the future — recreating old photos quite amazingly!
See also Back to the Future 2
Women's Health
Breast Cancer Awareness Body Painting Project
Continuing with art for a moment, here is art for breast cancer awareness.
The project Facebook page.
An all Breast Cancer Survivor project for awareness, fundraising, inspiration and healing worldwide… So far 25 brave and incredible women have selflessly stepped forward and been painted for the project.
Susan G. Komen Foundation vs. Planned Parenthood
Last week was all about the furor caused by Komen’s announcement that they would no longer provide funding to planned parenthood for breast cancer exams and screening, as a result of right-wing pressure opposed to PP’s abortion services. It was heartwarming to see the support that quickly arose for PP — from petitions, to blogs, to news coverage, and of course to donations that came pouring in and the increased awareness of both the need for breast cancer services and Planned Parenthood’s activities in general. The Komen Foundation’s top director resigned, and their site was even hacked. Now, Komen has announced that it has reversed its decision, and PP will remain eligible for funding. This campaign was the second great victory of the past week… Don’t let women die in the name of being “pro-life”… Keep the good news coming!
Femina Invicta 
I liked Amy Schiller’s essay on the commercialization of feminism and how Komen and its pink stuff are part of that marketing blitz…that being anti-breast cancer is safe because it’s NOT a woman’s fault, Whereas, if you support Planned Parenthood, well, it’s women having sex and that shit’s scary!
The 10 Non-Violent Ways to help women, I felt did not go far enough. Jeneba Ghatt says we should support women for political office no matter what their affiliation. Really? Sarah Palin for instance? Are you kidding me? Some women are just as bad as their male counterparts when it comes to issues affecting women.
Our struggle is political. It has to be.
I agree… I think there are many women in politics that do much more damage to women than if they weren’t there, and I have no desire whatsoever to support them. We have a couple of really scary women MKs here in Israel.
But if someone is looking to just get started supporting women’s issues in a non-scary way… Looking for a female candidate to support (who is NOT Sarah Palin or Michele Bachman… 🙂 ) is not a bad place to start.
But political — Oh definitely!
On that note, I’m getting ready to go to a protest against institutionalized trading in women’s flesh. Wish you were here to join me!