2014 was a pretty not-so-stellar year in reproductive rights, if we’re being honest.
The Supreme Court ruled against the best interest of women not once, but twice this year via the monumental Hobby Lobby and clinic buffer zone decisions.- Sex ed in our schools continues to be completely atrocious.
- TRAP laws caused the closure of clinics in numerous states and continue to threaten our access to safe, legal abortion in 24 of the 50 states.
- Our shero, Wendy Davis, lost the gubernatorial race in Texas by an enormous margin.
Various jackasses have filed more than 100 legal challenges to the contraception benefit in the Affordable Care Act. #HandsOffMyFreeBirthControl- Beginning in January, anti-abortion politicians will have a lot more seats in the legislature than they did last year. Thanks a mil, old white dudes who ruined the 2014 midterm elections for the liberals, progressives, and pro-choice among us.
- The killings of unarmed black men and boys (and women) served as a horrific reminder that racism and police brutality are indeed reproductive justice issues.
- Despite Gardasil’s proven efficacy, HPV vaccination rates are still “unacceptably low” in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But hold your chin up. All did not suck!
Same-sex marriage was legalized in our state!!!- Some of Arizona’s pro-choicey-est legislators got to keep their seats!
- On the technology front, 2014 brought us an app that allows you to photograph that gnarly rash on your privates and get a diagnosis from a real live doctor!
- The FDA gave us greater access to the morning-after pill.
- Conservatives in Arizona lost their bid to put unreasonable restrictions on the use of the abortion pill.
- President Obama wrapped the protective arm of the law around transgender workers.
- Male birth control continues to make strides and could be here by 2017!
While we’re never sure what new, exciting, or horrible fates await us at the dawn of a new year, rest assured that we’ll be here covering the news that matters most with regard to reproductive and sexual health, politics, gender issues, and reproductive justice well into 2015 and beyond.