Plus, cervical cancer may soon be a thing of the past
Hello readers, Welcome back to another edition of the Reckon Report. Usually, I would start this section with a few cheerful quips. Since tomorrow is the beginning of February, it might have been something about Groundhog Day or Valentine’s Day or Mardi Gras. But I’m not feeling particularly cheery this week. The weather in my neck of the woods has been every possible shade of gray for much of the past month and it’s really done a number on me. Below the heavy clouds, we’re also dealing with a lot of heavy news lately. It’s a very fraught time to be a queer person or a Black person or a woman in America, let alone any combination of the three. We’re currently living through a moment in American history where rights people fought for for generations are being rolled back at the speed of light. It’s anxiety-inducing, to say the least. Every new legislative session seems to come with a heavy dose of “How are they going to try to criminalize [insert marginalized group here] this time?” It's exhausting to consider.
I don't want to drag this out, but I do want to say that if your head spins at the thought of everything that's happening lately, you're not alone in that. We've all heard about the importance of self-care in the last few years, but every new attack is an opportunity for community care. Every scary headline in this week's newsletter and newsletters to come is an opportunity for us to try taking care of each other. So let's figure out how to do that. And now, on to the main event. |
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One bill focuses on schools and the other focuses on drag performances, but the commonality for both of them is the idea that trans people are "obscene" just for existing in public. Over 100 pieces of anti-queer legislation have been introduced nationwide so far this year, and it's only the end of January. |
It's another version of "hate the sin, love the sinner," but his words and teachings aren't based in love at all. The pontiff's words, which are reflective of the Roman Catholic Church's stance since the 70s, simply feed into an increasingly loud homophobia in all facets of life, not just within the walls of the church. |
Gov. Ron DeSantis' crusade against AP African American Studies could have reach far beyond the borders of Florida. So far, 18 states have banned "critical race theory" (a concept often not introduced until upper levels of college education) from being taught in grade school. DeSantis' campaign will likely embolden other legislators of his ilk to try stamping out accurate and relevant curricula at students' expense. |
The FDA recently loosened restrictions on abortion medication, but that doesn't mean patients seeking the pills are in the clear. States like North Carolina and Texas are still trying to stand in between patients and their healthcare. |
One bright spot in the world of reproductive healthcare: Cervical cancer could soon be a thing of the past! The American Cancer Society reported a 65% drop in cervical cancer among women ages 20-24 between 2012 and 2019. Three cheers for vaccines! |
State legislators have already started banning the app on state-owned devices and networks, including wifi at many public universities. But that doesn't mean the path to banning TikTok for everyone in the US is a clear one. |
PFAS were invented in the 1930s and have been used to manufacture thousands of products we consume daily, from orange juice to raincoats to furniture. The chemicals are the reason melted cheese doesn't stick to your Teflon pans or why water doesn't permeate your windbreaker. But they have some pretty horrific downsides. |
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