Slog
News & ArtsTuesday, June 19, 2012
Politics / Sex / The Ladies Signs From the Protest at the Michigan State Capitol Today
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Michigan State Rep. Lisa Brown used the word "vagina" during a debate last week about an intrusive, unconstitutional, sexist and—surprise!—GOP-backed bill that would impose new and intrusive regulations on abortions in Michigan. For daring to mention the proper medical name of the exact thing her GOP colleagues were trying to regulate, Rep. Brown was censured and silenced by her GOP colleagues. At first the GOPers said it was because Brown used the word "vagina," which one lawmaker said he would never use in "mixed company," then they said it was because Brown threw a "temper tantrum." (The tape is here—decide for yourself if Brown threw a tantrum or if the men who run the House of Representatives in Michigan can't tell the difference between a woman with an opinion and some crazy bitch who needs to STFU.) There was a huge protest at the Michigan's state capitol in Lansing today. Friend of Slog and regular "Savage Love" guest expert Alice Dreger was there and sent along pics of the best signs she spotted. Much more after the jump...
3
@2
Me too. Seems ridiculous that there's so much hubbub over something all these starched old white men can't even stand to hear being discussed in strictly clinical terms.
Me too. Seems ridiculous that there's so much hubbub over something all these starched old white men can't even stand to hear being discussed in strictly clinical terms.
5
My mind was spinning through the night on LOTS of stuff, one of which was an attempt to come up with a "slogan" to fire back at theocrats every time they try to regulate -- either via laws or social disapproval -- people's bodies. The one I came up with is a riff on that one about individual rights: Your rights end where my nose begins.
I came up with "Your right to your religion ends where my nose begins".
Reading these signs, of course, makes me think that it could also be "Your religion ends where my vagina begins", but given the reactionary nature of the audience, as much fun as that would be to say, I don't think it would actually work as a rhetorical tool.
I honestly cannot understand how "separation of church and state" is being undermined to such an extent. These people who use god - and no legal or rational precedent - to justify their laws are advancing a theocracy in our country, no different from those other countries they despise (Iran, etc). The hypocricy is gobsmacking.
I came up with "Your right to your religion ends where my nose begins".
Reading these signs, of course, makes me think that it could also be "Your religion ends where my vagina begins", but given the reactionary nature of the audience, as much fun as that would be to say, I don't think it would actually work as a rhetorical tool.
I honestly cannot understand how "separation of church and state" is being undermined to such an extent. These people who use god - and no legal or rational precedent - to justify their laws are advancing a theocracy in our country, no different from those other countries they despise (Iran, etc). The hypocricy is gobsmacking.
6
I really disapprove of her language and deportment. She should have been standing on a chair yelling, "Stay out of my cunt, you fascist pigs!"
8
wow.
the left is really desperate to whip up their base.
sorry.
it isn't going to be enough, however.....
practice:
"President" Romney.
btw;
it is always good for a big laugh
when Danny tries to do "journalism".
perhaps Slog could find
a middle school journalism student intern
to research Danny's posts for him.....
the left is really desperate to whip up their base.
sorry.
it isn't going to be enough, however.....
practice:
"President" Romney.
btw;
it is always good for a big laugh
when Danny tries to do "journalism".
perhaps Slog could find
a middle school journalism student intern
to research Danny's posts for him.....
10
I honestly cannot understand how "separation of church and state" is being undermined to such an extent.A big part of the problem (and not to pick on you, @5, though I'm using your quote as an intro) is that far too many people reserve their attention for Congress and the presidency.
The theocratic takeover of the U.S. is being orchestrated from the bottom up: school boards to city councils to county commissions to state legislatures. A huge step down was taken over the last two years when right-wing gains in statehouses in the mid-term elections came just as the 2010 census results started the redrawing of Congressional districts. In the many states where the majority party in the state legislature controls redistricting, this will most likely result in more Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2012 elections.
Progressives HAVE to pay attention to local political races and do the legwork to make informed votes. The other side will continue to gain ground until this happens.
11
Thanks @9 (and the woman with the sign). Now I have the Viva Viagra! jingle going through my head, only singing Viva Vagina! instead.
13
I'm afraid that, in the minds of the GOP, any woman with an opinion is some crazy bitch who needs to STFU.
14
@10 has it correct. They are undermining seperation of Church and State at the local level. Look at all the legislation around the country that is making bullying in schools a serious offense, unless it is religiously inspired (read, unless the bully is a Christian and the person they are bullying is gay). Look at all the legislation around the country making science teachers teach mythology in science class. Look at abstinance education, which is a religious aproach to sexual health and education, not scientific or real world effective.
It's starting with the schools and then working it's way up though state level anti choice legislation, defunding of health services for women, more and more exemptions to allow churches to ignore the law, while everyone else has their eyes on the Federal government and what they are doing.
Distract and attack, that's why we are losing this. We are too easily distracted from what is actually going on around us.
It's starting with the schools and then working it's way up though state level anti choice legislation, defunding of health services for women, more and more exemptions to allow churches to ignore the law, while everyone else has their eyes on the Federal government and what they are doing.
Distract and attack, that's why we are losing this. We are too easily distracted from what is actually going on around us.
15
@10, nicely put . It makes me think about the anger that the fundiconservitards use to fuel their campaigns to take those "small" seats. Often their resentment drives them to outperform the rest of the field in the basics of campaigning. Especially in podunk races it can make all the difference.
Using anger as fuel serves to support what pass for their convictions, which so often are nothing more than a jumble of hot buttons and hair triggers cemented by a spitball of platitudes. Easy to dismiss, but it does serve them. Anger is the proper fuel of the reactionary stance.
So what of progressives, for whom anger in the long run tends to drain away the energy their convictions need to survive? Progressives who run too heavily on anger tend to flame out when it comes to buckling down and working for the long run. Alan Grayson, Kucinich, Occupy, etc. The reactionary spirit doesn't serve the left like it does the right.
What alternative political fuel can help progressives make a comeback at the local level? My guess is that it's a genuine sense of humor, a spirit of fun. Not making fun, but of genuinely enjoying the spectacle rather than just deriding it.. I'm thinking of Barney Frank, who for all his faults was a stalwart for decades in Congress. He could get as pissed off as anyone but I think the secret to his stamina and nimbleness was humor, humor that wasn't merely a caustic spotlight a la Bill Maher but one Frank used to keep the legislative process from getting bogged down. Even when he was outraged he never forgot how comical the right wing was and used that to keep his spirits up. He's been pretty open about his decision to retire being not just because of age but because the fun has gone out of the legislative process to a degree he'd never thought possilble. Everyone's so hidebound these days there's not much for him to play with in getting bills passed.
If finally losing a sense of fun is what gets the Barney Franks to drop out of office at the top, can applying a sense of fun get a new generation of lefties into office from the bottom up?
More...
Using anger as fuel serves to support what pass for their convictions, which so often are nothing more than a jumble of hot buttons and hair triggers cemented by a spitball of platitudes. Easy to dismiss, but it does serve them. Anger is the proper fuel of the reactionary stance.
So what of progressives, for whom anger in the long run tends to drain away the energy their convictions need to survive? Progressives who run too heavily on anger tend to flame out when it comes to buckling down and working for the long run. Alan Grayson, Kucinich, Occupy, etc. The reactionary spirit doesn't serve the left like it does the right.
What alternative political fuel can help progressives make a comeback at the local level? My guess is that it's a genuine sense of humor, a spirit of fun. Not making fun, but of genuinely enjoying the spectacle rather than just deriding it.. I'm thinking of Barney Frank, who for all his faults was a stalwart for decades in Congress. He could get as pissed off as anyone but I think the secret to his stamina and nimbleness was humor, humor that wasn't merely a caustic spotlight a la Bill Maher but one Frank used to keep the legislative process from getting bogged down. Even when he was outraged he never forgot how comical the right wing was and used that to keep his spirits up. He's been pretty open about his decision to retire being not just because of age but because the fun has gone out of the legislative process to a degree he'd never thought possilble. Everyone's so hidebound these days there's not much for him to play with in getting bills passed.
If finally losing a sense of fun is what gets the Barney Franks to drop out of office at the top, can applying a sense of fun get a new generation of lefties into office from the bottom up?
16
Are her Democrat peers backing her up? Seems to me that they should be slipping the word vagina in every time they speak on the floor till the GOP apologizes.
18
@10
You have it exactly right. Reapportionment is always a big deal and, unfortunately, a lot of Democrats don't vote in non Presidential election years.
In many ways 2010 was a more important election than either 2008 or 2012, and we (the good guys) got our asses handed to us.
Hopefully it does not take a whole decade to undo the damage. I have hope that generational change and the increasingly Democratic Latino voting block will wipe out Republican gains a lot faster. It will start this November, as Democrats take back some state legislatures and as marriage equality finally wins a few at the ballot box.
You have it exactly right. Reapportionment is always a big deal and, unfortunately, a lot of Democrats don't vote in non Presidential election years.
In many ways 2010 was a more important election than either 2008 or 2012, and we (the good guys) got our asses handed to us.
Hopefully it does not take a whole decade to undo the damage. I have hope that generational change and the increasingly Democratic Latino voting block will wipe out Republican gains a lot faster. It will start this November, as Democrats take back some state legislatures and as marriage equality finally wins a few at the ballot box.
19
we pay more attention to gossipy scandals and shames like this one than we pay to the fact that nearly every day the republican thugs in the michigan legislature deny democrats the right to a counted vote, which is key to putting laws into immediate effect instead of the normally provided for effective date, which in case of the new laws restricting the voting requirements means the republican illegal thugs will put laws into effefct illegally to steal the upcoming election. but hey that's just normal republican thugery which democrats are too pussy to complain about. but censuring some legislator for saying vagina, that's worthy of posting, comment, discussion. say they recant and allow her to say vagina, does that really lead to change? is that more important than having republithugs stop mugging the state constitution in michigan with impunity? in a way designed to steal an election?
20
Wow. CleverNameTroll is still @ it. Yes, I read CNT's posts. It is a bit of a sharp reminder of the sludge lurking.
22
@12- Vulva is for the external parts. The GOP has skipped right over that and gone for the vagina and uterus.
23
@22 - "The GOP has skipped right over that and gone for the vagina and uterus." - For now!
I'm just waiting for them to start advocating clitoridectomies... after all, if sex wasn't pleasurable, maybe those slutty-slut-sluts would stop making such a big deal about their v******s!
I'm just waiting for them to start advocating clitoridectomies... after all, if sex wasn't pleasurable, maybe those slutty-slut-sluts would stop making such a big deal about their v******s!
24
I think that her comment was mildly undecorous, but they are WAY overreacting. It warrants some tittering and unfriendly glances, not open censure.
25
so weird, a violation of the right to speak one day, gets protests, but thee michigan party thugs who violate democrats rights every day, denying them the right to a counted vote on legislation, which affects the effective date, and potentially can throw thousands off the voter rolls and tilt the state for romney this fall, well, gee I guess that's too complex. Either that or democrats just don't do real power, in politics, and focus on the trendy, the hip, the things that relate to constituency groups most of all, the sense of outrage, without figuring out how to fucking win and use power.
26
Trust the Republicans to lie about something that's caught on tape. The Daily Show suggested Brown use the term 'Margaret Snatcher' instead. Sad that we have to pander to the Christian Jihad.
http://tonightsforecastdark.blogspot.com…
http://tonightsforecastdark.blogspot.com…
27
Right. The difference is more between "a woman whose opinion we oppose" and "crazy bitch whose opinion we support". Where's that video Dan posted showing the state hearing featuring some old bat talking about the apocalyptic consequences of when"the P-E-N-I-S goes in the rectum"? And the reaction of the guy in the background? That's an excellent comparison of one crazy bitch who spends more time off this planet than on it, yet who is still somehow allowed to speak.
28
Wonder how many of the protesters voted for the Republican takeover of the Michigan legislature in 2010. And is the Michigan legislature up for grabs this November? If so, vote out the "can't say vagina" idiots.
Dems may be spineless and weak at times, but they're better than the vagina-probing Repubs.
Dems may be spineless and weak at times, but they're better than the vagina-probing Repubs.
29
@23- Oh I agree, they'll be mutilating genitals inside a generation if they're not kept in check.
30
I seriously thought the story was an onion piece when I first saw it. Legislating women's reproductive rights, but you can't use the CLINICAL FUCKING TERM for the BODY PART IN QUESTION?
Seriously, I was convinced it was satire. What the FUCK, GOP.
Seriously, I was convinced it was satire. What the FUCK, GOP.
32
This Catholic priest is talking about marriage equality, but he speaks about the church not forcing its beliefs on others.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXB8eACUw…
And YES, progressives need to pay attention to the small races - city council, school board, state representatives - that's where the votes really count, and where the senators and governors get their feet wet in politics. How about more progressives RUNNING FOR OFFICE?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXB8eACUw…
And YES, progressives need to pay attention to the small races - city council, school board, state representatives - that's where the votes really count, and where the senators and governors get their feet wet in politics. How about more progressives RUNNING FOR OFFICE?
33
@6:
If she had agreed with them, she could have used the word 'cunt', screamed and gibbered, and been lauded for a fine speaker.
If she had agreed with them, she could have used the word 'cunt', screamed and gibbered, and been lauded for a fine speaker.
34
I think penises need to be legislated just as harshly as vaginas. Someone needs to invent some sort of cock ring/shock collar whenever seed is spilled, or an erection is achieved, because you only get erections from impure thoughts.
Though... that could backfire, there are a lot of freaks in positions of power...
Though... that could backfire, there are a lot of freaks in positions of power...
35
@23 Christian extremists, even in their craziest form, are not exactly like the tribal Muslim extremists who perform female genital mutilations.
And yes, I know that most Muslims do not practice female genital mutilation--but every tribal culture that practices it also, not coincidentally in my view, happens to be Muslim.
There are many similarities that can be found in the most extreme forms of Christianity and Islam and Judaism, but refusing to recognize that there are also differences is sloppy, and is analogous (IMHO) to tossing the accusation "Nazi!" around with casual aplomb.
And yes, I know that most Muslims do not practice female genital mutilation--but every tribal culture that practices it also, not coincidentally in my view, happens to be Muslim.
There are many similarities that can be found in the most extreme forms of Christianity and Islam and Judaism, but refusing to recognize that there are also differences is sloppy, and is analogous (IMHO) to tossing the accusation "Nazi!" around with casual aplomb.
36
I agree that progressives have problems with voter apathy, but for me, the biggest problem is our lack of being able to frame the debate in a way that will "fire up" our base, which is why we took such heavy losses in 2010.
I'm not certain if this is real or true, but the link below is a perfect example of how we can reframe an issue to motivate voter turnout:
http://www.upworthy.com/burn-the-librari…
I'm not certain if this is real or true, but the link below is a perfect example of how we can reframe an issue to motivate voter turnout:
http://www.upworthy.com/burn-the-librari…
37
That isn't what happened. She made the comment "no means no" after her vagina crack and the dude took exception to being called a rapist (essentially).
It's probably equally ridiculous, but shit - report the actual facts if you're going to put on a holier than thou rant filled with righteous indignation.
Sheesh.
It's probably equally ridiculous, but shit - report the actual facts if you're going to put on a holier than thou rant filled with righteous indignation.
Sheesh.
38
Daniel.
Have you checked in on how your fav homo-retailer is doing?
JC Penny stock peaked at over $43 a share in February.
Currently it is $21.
ouch.
The old CEO bailed yesterday.
The new CEO, Ron Johnson, blames Penny's problems on its marketing.
maybe they haven't featured enough gay dads in their advertising?
couldn't you be a darling and run out and buy some more of those dingy Tshirts you so love?
Have you checked in on how your fav homo-retailer is doing?
JC Penny stock peaked at over $43 a share in February.
Currently it is $21.
ouch.
The old CEO bailed yesterday.
The new CEO, Ron Johnson, blames Penny's problems on its marketing.
maybe they haven't featured enough gay dads in their advertising?
couldn't you be a darling and run out and buy some more of those dingy Tshirts you so love?
39
38
wow.....
Back in February,
the department store chain faced criticism
from the American Family Association's One Million Moms project
for its hiring of Ellen DeGeneres to be the company's new spokesfaggot.
Back in February.
When the stock was at $43.
instead of $21......
In a direct response to the boycott campaign of One Million Moms,
JCPenney ran a Father's Day ad featuring a same-sex couple.
gutsy.
and very trendy.....
Danny gushed and slobbered about it all over the Slog on May 31.
His exact words were: "Well done, JCPenney. Suck it, haters."
Well Done, Indeed!
One Million Moms say, "Suck It Yourself, Danny......"
wow.....
Back in February,
the department store chain faced criticism
from the American Family Association's One Million Moms project
for its hiring of Ellen DeGeneres to be the company's new spokesfaggot.
Back in February.
When the stock was at $43.
instead of $21......
In a direct response to the boycott campaign of One Million Moms,
JCPenney ran a Father's Day ad featuring a same-sex couple.
gutsy.
and very trendy.....
Danny gushed and slobbered about it all over the Slog on May 31.
His exact words were: "Well done, JCPenney. Suck it, haters."
Well Done, Indeed!
One Million Moms say, "Suck It Yourself, Danny......"
40
@37 Actually, what happened is that she made the statement, the men in the hall became upset at her use of the word vagina, and then, a few days later, they realized that their refusal to allow a woman to use the actual term for the part of her body they were trying to regulate was making them looks like assholes, so they changed their minds and started announcing that they were offended by the "no means no" statement. How about you learn the facts, rather than accepting whatever bullshit comes out of the mouths of politicians?
Sheesh.
Sheesh.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
GOP Congressman: We Have to Ban Abortion Because Fetuses Are Masturbating In There by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: The Tell-Tale Handjob by Dan Savage
-
Foie Gras Tastes Like Cat Food by Callan Berry
-
Cap Hill Is Becoming a Little Like What? by Charles Mudede
-
SL Letter of the Day: Let Me Think... by Dan Savage
-
Pizza Update: Breaking the 5-Minute Barrier by Goldy
-
President Obama Says NSA Spying Is "Transparent" by Paul Constant
-
The Wednesday Morning News by Goldy
-
Less Than a Quarter of Americans Have Confidence in Newspapers by Eli Sanders
-
Jobs-Killing Socialism Drives Seattle's Unemployment Rate Down to 4.7 Percent by Goldy
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (40) RSS