I will say that The Perfect Family, which premiered at Tribeca, had an unfair advantage given that I would show up, eagerly, to watch (and listen to) Kathleen Turner read the phone book, and in addition to being a consummate film actor, she is also an outspoken advocate of Planned Parenthood. But advantages aside, The Perfect Family is a darling of American independent cinema. Turner plays Eileen Cleary, nominated for Catholic Woman of the Year (but in close running with her childhood nemesis). Her priest tells her she’s going to win by a mile since she has a perfect family, a successful lawyer lesbian daughter (living partially in the closet and about to marry her partner), a son who is having an affair, and her own struggling marriage to a recovering alcoholic. The film doesn’t rely on quirkiness, but is instead populated by very real characters, both due to wonderful performances and excellent dialogue. When I found out the screenwriter Claire V. Riley was a first time screenwriter, I about died of shock, not only because of her gift at crafting her characters, but also because the arc of the film is so well designed. When she told me she came from a background in Social Anthropology, I understood.
Ms. Riley is a storyteller who studied families (lesbian partners and their families), and thus understands familial dynamics. She got right to the core and made it incredibly amusing and moving to watch. I laughed (a lot); I cried. I will post a trailer for the film as soon as it is released.
This is not a surgical instrument!
Of course, it’s actually a neon sign, but you know what I’m getting at here. Let’s not endanger the lives of women by restricting access to safe abortions.
The assault on Planned Parenthood is unjustified. It is penny-wise and pound foolish. The law strictly and clearly prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services. The Republicans’ elimination of funding for Planned Parenthood, will in the end cost more than it saves by ending the ability of millions of American women to receive family planning services, breast and cervical cancer screenings and preventative healthcare at cost-efficient Planned Parenthood centers. And the denial of simple birth control and family planning services may well increase both the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in our country.
Help My Friend Jess Raise Money for National Abortion Access!
“I am bowling for abortion access because I believe every woman should have the right to shape her own life. By raising money, I am filling a vital health care gap by helping women pay for abortion care, emergency contraception, options counseling, child care during abortion procedures, and transportation costs to clinics. I’m supporting our community members when they need me most. Please donate today, and thank you for your support.”
Help my friend Jess raise $350!!! She’s also a really good bowler. She bowled a plus 200 the other night! She’s half way to her goal! Go Jess!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Um, I’m there! Play bingo and hang with pro-choicers, all in favor of Planned Parenthood’s Birth Control Matters campaign, “an effort to make prescription birth control available without co-pays, to enable women to choose the method that works best for them, and reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.” Reproductive Rights are my favorite!
If any of you lovely tumblr followers want to go, send me a message! I’d love to meet some you amazing feminists IRL!
Sign the petition in support of making birth control available without co-pays.
“When politics trumps medicine, real women suffer.”
An amazing video from the NYC Stand With Planned Parenthood rally on February 26th. The video features excerpts from speeches by Kathleen Turner, Anthony Weiner, Chuck Schumer, Kathleen Hanna, Yvetta Clark, Eliot Engel, and Dr. Sarah Miller.
Hi, I'm a twenty-something, and I live in Williamsburg, BK. I wear many hats. Writer, feminist, filmmaker, a fedora with a Lindsey Lohan pin on it (circa Freaky Friday). I also try to practice yoga every now and then, enjoy live music, and love to rabble rouse.
