The labels "pro-choice" and "pro-life" just aren't working anymore. These two terms have defined the battle lines of the abortion issue for decades, but they simply don't reflect how people actually feel about abortion. It's a complicated issue that engenders a whole range of opinions. So instead of trying to fit everyone into one of these two boxes, we need to meet people where they are by talking about abortion in terms everyone can access. The message is simple: we shouldn't interfere with a woman's personal medical decisions because we're NOT IN HER SHOES. Watch this short video for a quick explanation of how this message can change the conversations we have about abortion:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_imN0RUN_8

Planned Parenthood recently released new polling research that shows that nearly one quarter of voters don't identify with the pro-choice/pro-life label dichotomy. Many people feel conflicted about the issue. Many people personally do not like the idea of abortion, but don't feel they have the right to keep anyone else from accessing the procedure. These people don't feel like these labels accurately describe how they think and feel about abortion.

Two thirds of all voters believe that abortion should remain safe and legal. The reason this percentage is higher than those people who self-identify as "pro-choice" is because often those who identify as or lean towards "pro-life" actually say that their personal view of abortion "depends on the circumstances."

So let's start having conversations about abortion that acknowledge that we don't all fit into neat boxes on this complicated issue. It's just not that simple. Talk about how we can't make these decisions for a woman because we're not in her shoes. Then, though you might be tempted, don't describe the shoes. What you consider a good reason to have an abortion might not be a good reason in the eyes of someone else. We want to lead people away from a place of judgement. Instead, we want our conversations to lead others to a place where they are free to acknowledge that that don't know the circumstances that surround the very personal decision to end a pregnancy.

Please take the time to read this short online booklet to learn more about how to have an authentic conversation about this complex topic.

 

ACLU Challenged Policy that Cut Separation Pay in Half for Service Members Discharged for Their Sexual Orientation

 

WASHINGTON – Former service members who are part of a class action lawsuit challenging a Defense Department policy that cuts in half the separation pay of those who have been honorably discharged for “homosexuality” will receive their full pay after a settlement announced today.
 
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of New Mexico had filed a class action lawsuit against the policy, which was not part of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" statute and so was not changed when that law was repealed.
 
“There was absolutely no need to subject these service members to a double dose of discrimination by removing them from the armed forces in the first place, and then denying them this small benefit to ease the transition to civilian life,” said Laura Schauer Ives, managing attorney for the ACLU of New Mexico. “This decision represents a long-delayed justice to these veterans.”
 
The ACLU’s class action lawsuit represented approximately 181 honorably discharged veterans who had their separation pay cut in half because of the discriminatory policy. The total amount of separation pay withheld from those veterans is approximately $2.4 million. The lead plaintiff in the case is Richard Collins, a former staff sergeant in the Air Force who served for nine years until he was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Collins was stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico before being seen by a co-worker exchanging a kiss with his boyfriend in their car while stopped at an intersection off-base.
 
“This means so much to those of us who dedicated ourselves to the military, only to be forced out against our will for being who we are,” said Collins. “We gave all we had to our country, and just wanted the same dignity and respect for our service as any other veterans.”
 
Under the settlement, all service members covered by the lawsuit will be contacted by the government and notified that they are eligible to opt in to the settlement and receive 100 percent of the separation pay that they would have received had they been discharged for any other honorable reason. Federal law entitles service members to separation pay if they have been involuntarily and honorably discharged from the military after completing at least six years of service in order to help ease their transition to civilian life.
The settlement covers service members who were discharged on or after November 10, 2004, which is as far back as the settlement could extend under the applicable statute of limitations.
 
“It makes no sense to continue to penalize service members who were discharged under a discriminatory statute that has already been repealed,” said Joshua Block, staff attorney for the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. “The amount of the pay owed to these veterans is small by military standards, but is hugely significant in acknowledging their service to their country.”
 
More information on the case is available at: http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/collins-v-united-states-class-action-military-separation-pay
 
CONTACT: Robyn Shepherd, ACLU national, (212) 519-7829 or 549-2666; [email protected]
Micah McCoy, ACLU of New Mexico, (505) 266-5915 x1003; [email protected]

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Long time ACLU member Phil Bock was a finalist for the 2011 ACLU of New Mexico Southern Chapter annual songwriting contest held in Silver City.  The contest theme was "LGBT Rights." Here are the lyrics from "Freedom To Love."  The music is available to anyone interest from   [email protected].

FREEDOM TO LOVE

By Phil Bock

Freedom To Love and freedom to choose: That's what we all are fighting for. Just to show affection, freely without fear, And have protection from the law.

It shouldn't matter how we look or how we talk, We're equal even if we're few. We are human beings, we have human rights Protected by the ACLU.

Freedom to love is one human right And we demand it every day. No one has to beg for a basic human right. Straight or gay we're all okay.

Freedom from fear and freedom from hate, No need for hiding who we are:Not to need protection, nor to face rejection Whether in marriage or in war.

 It’s not illegal how we walk or how we talk, We have a style that’s not like yours: Maybe worse or better, you must understand Difference is not against the law.