All in the last week:

• The Susan G. Komen for the Cure nonprofit elected to defund breast cancer checks provided by Planned Parenthood because of pressure from right-wing groups…
   
• A group called “One Million Moms” applied pressure on JC Penney to fire Ellen DeGeneres, who they had hired as a spokesperson.
   
• The Catholic church is up in arms about the requirement that employers, including Catholic hospitals, provide contraception coverage in their health care plans. Yet, the latest numbers show that rates of teen pregnancy and abortion are down because of greater use of birth control. Yes….birth control PREVENTS abortion. Which is worse, Mr. Pope?
• The House of Representatives is considering a Republican bill that extends civil rights to fetuses, barring doctors from performing abortions if the physician thinks the woman is seeking to end a pregnancy because of sex or race.

Fortunately, justice prevailed on the first two issues, but they have heightened attention on the fact that “women’s issues” are polarizing our country.

A group of female senators have decided to take action against these attacks. They have formed a group, One Million Strong for Women, in support of women’s rights. I suspect the “1 million” is also in response to the supposed “One Million Moms” (which in fact number around 40,000).

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), seven Democratic senators, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee are hoping to harness the energy displayed in the backlash against Komen. “The strong public outcry in response to the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to defund Planned Parenthood last week–which they later reversed–shows how powerful we can be when we come together,” says Kirsten Gillibrand. “Our right-wing opponents continue to launch attack after attack against women’s rights, women’s health, and women’s economic security–and we’ve got to fight back every single day.”

“The next battle over the Obama administration’s decision to make contraception more affordable under the new health care law is already underway,” it says, referring to a White House decision to require most employers to include birth control coverage in their insurance plans. “It’s hard to believe that in the 21st century we have to fight for access to birth control, but that is the fact — and there will be many more fights in the weeks ahead.”

Other senators involved are Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

Join the fight by adding your name!