MAKING PROGRESS/LOSING GROUND #5

Where we’re making progress:

There are now 20 EVE in the U.S. Senate! That’s an all-time high, but still only 1/5 of the members of this powerful legislative body. Then again, EVE can often have positive effects beyond their numbers.

* Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Maryland, is the first non-male to lead the Senate Appropriations Committee, which dispenses billions of dollars annually,
* Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, is the first chairwoman of the Budget Committee,
* Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, presides over the agriculture committee and led the fight on critical farm legislation, and
* Senator Barbara Boxer, D-California Democrat, Chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, shepherded the highway bill.

These EVE Senators bring many things to this powerful body: different life experiences, new social perspectives, more practical priorities, and an ability to look for solutions rather than continue the partisan chest thumping. And they’re already showing how things can get done when it’s not about winning or being powerful no matter who suffers:

1. Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, D-New York, and Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, led the repeal in the Senate of “don’t ask, don’t tell” in 2010, allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the military,
2. All four of the EVE Senate Republicans split with their party and voted with Senate Democrats to reauthorize the Violence against Women Act, which had lapsed during the last Congress.

A wide array of scholarship supports the view that “while men may choose to obstruct and delay, women continue to strive to build coalitions and bring about new policies.” And even male senators say EVE’s potential to change the tenor of the Senate and push for compromise is extremely important. Senator Rob Portman, R-Ohio, put it this way, “I don’t want to generalize, because this isn’t true of all of them, but they tend to be interested in finding common ground. So I think it’s going to have, and is having, a positive impact on the Senate.”

More EVE = more production & less corruption!

Where we’re losing ground:

Is this the Wild West or 21st century America? It can be hard to tell in Texas.

In early June, a jury used a preposterous interpretation of a Texas law to exonerate a man who shot and killed a woman who had refused to have sex with him. He was in no danger at all when he murdered her, but he will serve NO TIME AT ALL!

Ezekiel Gilbert shot and killed a Craigslist escort when she left without having sex with him. His lawyer argued that since he had paid her $150 for the evening, he was justified under Texas law in shooting her because state law allows people “to use deadly force to recover property during a nighttime theft."

This attitude and this judgment sets a very dangerous precedent. EVE are not property and should NEVER be required to have sex if they don't want to. You can argue about the $150, but you can’t just kill her!!!!!!! EVER.

It’s horrifying that we’re still having to clarify, define, and defend the fact that EVE’s control of their bodies is absolute and consent is always theirs to give, regardless of the circumstances.

Thanks to the UltraViolet team @ http://www.weareultraviolet.org/