Latest news with #abortion
CBC
7 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Quebec anti-abortion group fails to reverse decision banning protests in front of clinics
Social Sharing Brian Jenkins is among the protesters who must continue keeping their distance from Quebec's abortion clinics, after the province's Superior Court upheld a law requiring a 50-metre buffer zone It's a blow to the vice-president of the Quebec Life Coalition (QLC). The organization with a mission of "building a Christian society" challenged a 2016 provincial law preventing groups from protesting within 50 metres of an abortion clinic. It argued that the law infringed upon its civil liberties, including freedom of expression and the right to gather. On Monday, a Quebec Superior Court judge said although an infringement of the rights of QLC and its members has been demonstrated, "protecting the rights to dignity and privacy in access to medical services" warranted the need for the boundary. In her judgment, Justice Lysane Cree said the law ensures the safe provision of health and social services to users. "Evidence shows that a buffer zone is necessary around clinics to ensure privacy in a medical setting and the safety of all those who work or receive care," read the judgment. "The risks associated with not having a buffer zone outside clinics have been amply demonstrated." WATCH | Anti-abortion activist says decision is a 'blow for women's rights': Quebec judge upholds law banning protests within 50m of abortion clinics 23 minutes ago The Quebec Life Coalition, an anti-abortion group, challenged the 2016 law, arguing that it restricts free speech. The Quebec Superior Court decision found that the law does in fact limit freedom of speech, but that limitation is reasonable. The judgment outlined how the group members positioned themselves as "sidewalk counsellors" and would hold up signs with photos of a fetus or messages such as, "Pregnant and scared? …. We can help you," or "Pray for the end of abortion." Advocates for women's reproductive health say the judge's decision prioritizes health care and access. Jenkins calls it "a blow for women's rights. Rights to be informed." Protesters create shame and fear, advocate says Jenkins protests daily in Montreal and tries to speak to women entering facilities to dissuade them from terminating their pregnancy. Forced to stand away from clinics means protesters are "out of the picture," he said. "I can't see how harassment fits into the picture," he said. "We want to be supportive. We want to be helpful." He says he "can't control the reactions of people" who might feel vulnerable or attacked. "In our society we're seeing restrictions on freedom of speech and other areas," he said. TK Pritchard, executive director of Abortion Care Canada, says using this kind of argument negates responsibility. They say it's a way to speak or act without consequence. "You can be 51 metres away from the property and you can still have your signs," they said. "No one is stopping you from sharing your opinions." With abortion already highly stigmatized, Pritchard says this judgment helps prevent more challenges and barriers for patients when they're on site. "When there are protesters, when there are folks with signs that talk about abortion as murder … it creates a lot of shame for people and fear," they said. Courts weighed both sets of rights, lawyer says In Canada, although it's more common to see protests against campaigns organized by anti-abortion groups, Pritchard says the climate in the U.S. influences abortion care here. This raises an interesting question around the contagion effect, said Pearl Eliadis, associate professor at the Max Bell School of Public Policy who teaches civil liberties at McGill University's Faculty of Law. "We've started to lose our focus a little bit on women's reproductive rights and what a massive hit they've taken since the Roe v. Wade case was overturned," she said. She says she is starting to see "a lot more noise" around restricting women's access to basic health-care services, particularly in the U.S. "People can say what they want to say, but that next step, right, when it comes to actually impeding access to health-care services, that takes it to a whole other level," she said, adding the courts in this case were "quite right to shut it down." She says although the courts found that this law was a violation of civil liberties for the QLC, it is a reasonable limit, particularly since it relates to health care access. "The opening lines of the legislation in question talk about the importance of access," said Eliadis. "When somebody bars that access, it's a problem. And so that's how the courts weigh the two sets of rights." Clinique Morgentaler, a centre in Montreal that offers abortion, said in a news release that its staff must be able to go to the clinic without fear. "We sincerely hope that anti-abortion protesters will respect this ruling, which confirms women's right and freedom to choose to access abortion clinics without any constraints," read the statement. Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette says women have the right to access services without being intimidated. "In Quebec, we can have different opinions, we can have our own opinion on the subject, however, it's a personal choice. We must respect personal choices regarding the medical services we receive," he said.
CBC
7 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Quebec judge upholds law banning protests within 50m of abortion clinics
The Quebec Life Coalition, an anti-abortion group, challenged the 2016 law, arguing that it restricts free speech. The Quebec Superior Court decision found that the law does in fact limit freedom of speech, but that limitation is reasonable.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lily Allen Leaves Fans Livid After 'Disturbing' Comments About Multiple Abortions
What Lily Allen found amusing about her freedom to choose is making her fellow pro-choice fans disappointed. The 40-year-old's admission comes amid separation from her ex-husband, David Harbour after she discovered him running an account on a celebrity dating app earlier in the year. Lily Allen spilled some uncomfortable truths about her fertility and the steps she took to put a stop to her non-stop pregnancies. Lily Allen: 'I'd Get Pregnant All The Time' The English singer discussed the topic of contraception and unplanned pregnancies during a conversation with her pal, Miquita Oliver, on their "Miss Me" podcast. Allen revealed that she would get unplanned pregnancies all the time, till she decided to do something about her reproductive system, which she tagged "a complete disaster area." She disclosed that she now has an IUD (contraceptive coil) and it is her third or fourth year running. "I just remember before that it was a complete disaster area. Yeah, I'd get pregnant all the time, all the time." Allen shared. The singer then recalled a period in her life when her partner at the time paid for her abortion- a gesture she described as very romantic. Allen and Oliver went back and forth about their thoughts and perspectives on contraceptives and the issue of abortion. At some point in the discussion, the musician expressed her anger at having to justify or explain getting rid of a pregnancy to anyone. Allen declared on the podcast: "…You start seeing people posting things about extraordinary reasons for having an abortion. I don't want a f-cking baby right now. Literally: "Don't want a baby" is enough reason." The 'Smile' Singer's Statement Raised Dust Among Commentators The actress's transparent session on her podcast did not go well with listeners and fans, who shared their thoughts on the discussion. "This conversation is just disturbing on so many levels. May God help you two in the end," a commenter noted. Another fan shared that the discussion between Allen and her bestie is directly helping the "anti-abortion movement in so many ways." A third Instagram commenter expressed shock at the fact that Allen and Oliver are "laughing about having five abortions each" and "treating contraception like a comedy sketch." Others joined the commenter in describing the situation as "horrible" and a "trauma laugh response." "I find this conversation incredibly insensitive. I'm very much pro-choice, but I'm genuinely shocked by what was said," this perplexed listener emphasized. According to them, the joking remarks made about having ten abortions collectively come off as irresponsible and selfish. Their comment compared the pain of women who long for children with the casual tone of Allen and her friend's statements. The commenter questions the choice not to use protection when the speakers are aware of the consequences. The podcaster lost another angry fan, who expressed that they would no longer listen to their content after their "morally bankrupt" commentary. Allen Found A Connection Between Her Childhood Trauma And Motherhood The Grammy-nominated artist admitted on her podcast last September that, in retrospect, she feels she had kids for the wrong reasons. In September 2024, The Blast reported that Allen revealed she spent a large part of her life, both before and during her marriage, yearning for unconditional love, a void that had been missing in her life since childhood. Allen also felt that with kids in the picture, she would finally experience stability and press pause on her "high-speed" career, which was extremely overwhelming at the time. "I felt like the one way to stop people hassling me, it's not about me, it's about this other person that's inside me," the singer explained, shedding more light on her mindset during her pregnancies. Allen admitted that she indeed got the break she wanted from everyone, but on the bigger picture, she had no idea about the journey she was about to embark on. Women Are Always Stuck Between Two Difficult Choices Allen left behind a sociable life to move to a more discreet place to start a family after her marriage to Harbour in 2020. The singer explained that the option to choose between her job and her pop career left her in a tight spot. Allen then expressed her opinion on how she feels society places women in a position where they must prioritize their kids or their careers. She admitted to sticking to the former but at an indelible cost to the future of her career. "I love them and they complete me, but in terms of pop stardom, they totally ruined it. I get really annoyed when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can't," the 40-year-old continued. Nevertheless, the singer does not regret her choice; in fact, she is completely thrilled with her decision to take a break from everything and focus on her children. Allen applauded her parenting skills, affirming that her kids are well-rounded and have turned out well. Lily Allen's Discovering Husband's Infidelity Left Her Struggling For Emotional Balance The English songwriter finally got candid about her split from the American actor on her podcast and how it has left her emotionally exhausted. In January, The Blast reported that Allen revealed how she has been trying to act tough since news broke of her estranged husband owning an account on the celebrity dating app, Raya. "I know I've been talking about it for months, but I've been spiraling and spiraling. It's got out of control; I've tried," the singer shared. She recalled suffering from a panic attack in the middle of an event and dashing out of a theatre performance due to overwhelming emotions. Allen added that the pain from Harbour's betrayal completely took over her system, and each moment felt worse than the last. What will Lily Allen be transparent about next? Solve the daily Crossword
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Planned Parenthood can keep billing Medicaid, judge rules in setback for Trump
A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked a provision in President Donald Trump's domestic policy package that cut Medicaid funding to certain abortion providers — a measure that primarily impacted Planned Parenthood. The provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill barred Medicaid funding for one year for health care providers that perform abortions and receive more than $800,000 in reimbursements annually. Shortly after Trump signed the policy package into law, Planned Parenthood — the nation's largest abortion provider — sued, saying the provision would have 'devastating consequences' for patients seeking basic health care services, including STI treatment and cancer screening. Last week, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, nominated by President Barack Obama, temporarily blocked the provision — but only for Planned Parenthood clinics that do not perform abortions or get less than $800,000 in annual reimbursements. Talwani's order Monday indefinitely extended that block to all Planned Parenthood clinics, allowing them to resume billing for Medicaid services while the case plays out. The ruling is the latest turn in an ongoing clash between Republican lawmakers and Planned Parenthood over what the organization says is a categorical attempt to 'defund' it for offering abortions. In a statement Monday, Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson said the organization would 'keep fighting this cruel law' so patients could continue getting 'critical health care, no matter their insurance.' The Department of Health and Human Services rebuked the ruling. A spokesperson for HHS, the umbrella agency overseeing Medicaid, said the order 'undermines state flexibility and disregards long-standing concerns about accountability.' 'States should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,' the spokesperson said in a statement. Medicaid has subsidized health care for low-income patients and families since 1965. Planned Parenthood participates in the program in every state it can, billing for services such as contraception, pregnancy tests and cervical cancer screenings. It is not used for abortions — Congress has prohibited using federal funding for abortion for decades, with limited exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. A handful of states already cut Planned Parenthood's Medicaid funding, including Texas and Louisiana. Last month, the Supreme Court opened the gate for more states to follow suit when it decided that South Carolina could bar the group from receiving any Medicaid funding. Trump's reconciliation package placed Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide at a crossroads over whether to stop abortions or lose a year's worth of Medicaid funding. That choice, Talwani wrote, 'kneecaps the entire organization.' In her order Monday, Talwani said she considered 'the disruption in patient care and corresponding adverse health outcomes' in deciding whether to grant the temporary block. Nearly 200, or about one-third, of Planned Parenthood's clinics would be affected by the Medicaid provision and have to consider reducing hours, terminating staff or closing entirely, the organization said. The Medicaid-funded clinics treat more than 1 million patients who would have to scramble for affordable care elsewhere — most of them in areas that are medically underserved. The law's text does not explicitly name Planned Parenthood, but the group contended in its lawsuit that it was singled out by the provision. Few other providers have had their funding slashed under the measure. One of them, Maine Family Planning, has also sued the Trump administration. In its original complaint, Planned Parenthood described the Medicaid provision — which it called the 'Defund Provision' — as 'a naked attempt to leverage the government's spending power to attack and penalize Planned Parenthood and impermissibly single it out for unfavorable treatment.' 'It does so not only because of Planned Parenthood Members' long history of providing legal abortions to patients across the country, but also because of Planned Parenthood's unique role in advocating for policies to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion,' the July 7 filing said. The organization added that 'there is no indication that Members of Congress were even aware that any other entity could qualify under this statute that was clearly designed to target Planned Parenthood alone.' In her order Monday, Talwani said Planned Parenthood would likely be able to show they were 'the 'easily ascertainable' target of the law' when it passed. 'This is apparent from the statutory text,' Talwani wrote. She added that there was 'ample evidence' that Congress 'intended to punish Planned Parenthood,' citing previous legislative attempts to curb its funding. As the case goes forth, Planned Parenthood is likely to successfully argue a number of its other claims — including that the provision has 'no legitimate fiscal purpose' and violated the group's equal protection rights, Talwani wrote.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Pro-life Texas GOP lawmaker admits affair with stripper who accused him of paying for ABORTIONS
A pro-life Texas representative has admitted to having an affair with a stripper after she accused him of paying for abortions. State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, 52, confessed to having an affair 'years ago' after a woman alleged he paid for 'meetups' and 'funded several abortions for his own personal gain,' reported The Texas Tribune. The woman, named Alex Grace, came forward with the affair on Friday during an interview with the Current Revolt. 'I know that Giovannie Capriglione has been having affairs since 2005 because it's me. I'm her. I'm not proud of it, in fact I'm ashamed of it,' Grace said on TikTok after the interview came out. 'Hopefully, you can keep in mind that we all have a past and I wish I could say for him that that was the worst of it, but it's not.' Capriglione dropped out of his reelection race just days before Grace's interview, but has denied paying for any abortions and said he will pursue 'legal remedies' over her claims. 'Years ago, I selfishly had an affair. I'm not proud of this. Thank God my wife and family forgave me, and we moved past it and have the strong marriage we do today,' he said in a statement. 'The rest is categorically false and easily disproven... I have never, nor would I ever, pay for an abortion.' Capriglione promotes himself as a 'pro-life champion' with a '100 percent pro-life voting record' on his campaign website. 'Giovanni voted to defund Planned Parenthood and authored the Abortion Trigger Ban Bill, which banned abortion in Texas when Roe v. Wade was overturned.' Grace claimed she met Capriglione when she was just 18-years-old and worked as an exotic dancer in 2004. 'We became close friends. He was magnetizing. He was outwardly genuine and kind,' she said. 'He was the one who reminded me to keep my head up. He was the one that encouraged me. He pushed me to succeed more in life.' Grace described one incident where Capriglione made her receive cash from him at a Chuck E. Cheese. 'He told me to go to the back of the building and next to the dumpster there would be a rubber mat. And under this rubber mat was an envelope with money,' she said. This is a developing story.
