Blogs Comment on DNC, Transgender Health, Sexual Assault, Faith and Public Policy

September 11, 2012 — We've compiled some of the most thought-provoking commentaries from around the Web. Catch up on the conversation with bloggers from Huffington Post, Slate and more.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION: "DNC 'Abortion-Palooza' Nickname Misses the Mark," Laura Bassett, Huffington Post blogs: Bassett writes, "Certainly, the 2012 DNC was characterized by an unyielding focus on issues affecting women and a host of pro-abortion rights, feminist speakers." However, as Terry O'Neil, president of the National Organization for Women, noted, observers miss the mark when they think that advocating for women's rights only involves supporting abortion. In O'Neil's view, "to see the roster of female leaders in health care advocacy, politics, labor and the military that spoke at the DNC ... on issues ranging from equal pay and economic security to health care coverage and reproductive freedom" be boiled "down to 'abortion' ... completely miss[es] the point of the Democrats' message," Bassett writes (Bassett, Huffington Post blogs, 9/8).

What others are saying about the DNC:

~ "Democrats Offer Unqualified Support for Choice. It's About Time." Amanda Marcotte, Slate's "XX Factor."

~ "Why Does Sandra Fluke Drive Conservatives Bananas?" Marcotte, RH Reality Check.

TRANSGENDER HEALTH AND RIGHTS: "The Importance of New Data on Anti-trans Violence and Suicidality," Jos Truitt, Feministing: "The National Transgender Discrimination Survey has been incredibly important for giving us data on a broad range of topics, but it's a survey," Truitt writes, adding that there remains a need for "multiple [well-funded] studies looking at different aspects of all of the topics" covered in the survey. Being able to reference comprehensive, high-quality data is essential to enabling advocates for marginalized groups to gain support for their issues, she writes (Truitt, Feministing, 9/10).

What others are saying about transgender health and rights:

~ "Open Letter to Elizabeth Warren on a Prisoner's Right to Medical Transition," Truitt, Feministing.

~ "A Trans-Gender Father Challenges Breastfeeding Norms," Miriam Pérez, RH Reality Check.

SEXUAL ASSAULT: "Arizona Cop Gropes Woman, Victim-Blaming Ensues," Daniel Lewis, Ms. Magazine blog: "A police officer walks into a bar, flashes his badge and gropes a woman. Who gets the strict talking-to in court?" Lewis asks, adding, "The assaulted woman, of course." He notes that the presiding judge in the officer's trial told the victim, "If you wouldn't have been there that night, none of this would have happened to you." Lewis laments that the local community responded to the conviction with "widespread support for the police officer and condemnation of the sexual abuse victim," adding, "In Arizona, it's not the sexual predator's fault that his life is in shambles; it's somehow the victim's" (Lewis, Ms. Magazine blogs, 9/10).

What others are saying about sexual assault:

~ "Judge to Woman Sexually Assaulted by Cop: 'When You Blame Others, You Give up Your Power To Change,'" Ian Millhiser, ThinkProgress.

FAITH AND PUBLIC POLICY: "Faith Leaders Urge Republican Governors To Expand 'Pro-Life' Medicaid Program," Tara Culp-Ressler, ThinkProgress: The group of more than 100 religious leaders who released a statement urging lawmakers to accept the Affordable Care Act's (PL 111-148) Medicaid expansion "join the 43 members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus who have also called on GOP governors to 'refuse to play politics with people's health' and agree to expand the Medicaid programs in their states," Culp-Ressler writes. "Nevertheless, Republican governors in states including Texas, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have pledged to reject the Medicaid expansion," she notes (Culp-Ressler, ThinkProgress, 9/10).

What others are saying about faith and public policy:

~ "4 Ways the Catholic Church is Out of Date," Mindy Townsend, Care2.

~ "My Jewish Abortion," Sarah Tuttle-Singer, Huffington Post blogs.