moominmuppet

"It was 7:40 am on Tuesday morning when the call came into my cell phone. There was a volunteer from our crisis hotline on the other end, alerting me that there was a woman at the emergency room who had been raped. She needed an advocate. I started on my way. When I arrived, the patient was wearing gray footies that the hospital had provided her. She only had a second to run out the door of her apartment while her attacker was using the restroom. She left her shoes and socks behind.
Now, I am sitting across from her in an emergency department. The nurse began an exam, photographing bruises on her arms and legs and carefully recording every detail of the patient’s case. Then it came time to administer emergency contraception. Only one problem: the ER doc refused to write the order, citing religious objections. My blood pressure spiked. How could this be? What did his religion have to do with helping this poor woman right now? I was furious. But this moment was not about me, nor was it about the doctor or his religion. This moment was about the rape survivor staring me in the face. This moment was about what she needed to heal from this horrendous night. The ER doc left the room and the nurse calculated how long it would be until a physician’s assistant came on duty. Only 20 minutes. We waited. Before the exam was over, the assistant wrote the order and the patient took the pill. She got what she needed and that is all that matters.

This survivor had a lot of things to worry about, including whether her attacker would be released from jail that day and how she would ever find the strength to walk into her apartment building again. But fortunately, the one thing she did not have to worry about was getting pregnant. That’s the way it should be for every rape survivor. Unfortunately, as advocates, we cannot guarantee survivors that they will experience the same at every hospital across the state."

That really happened. Right here in Ohio. It's a horrific realization to know that someone can refuse you emergency contraception after you've been sexually assaulted. It's like experiencing a violation of your rights all over again.

The Care Act (Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act) has been introduced in the Ohio House. It's designed to ensure that ALL rape survivors have access to EC and medically accurate information. NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio has partnered with the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center to host the Day of the Diva on June 13. Day of the Diva is a fabulous brunch event to benefit our work to make sure CARE is passed. We have a wonderful committee working to make the event a success, but we need everyone's help.

Here is where you come in. There are THREE things you can do to support Day of the Diva:

1. Spread the word. Visit the Day of the Diva event page on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=117173254962385&ref=ss. Click the Invite People to Come link on the right and invite your entire list of contacts. Include a personal message asking them to do the same. Facebook also has the option to email the invite to people who are not on your FB friends list. It takes only minutes and you are helping a three-person staff reach THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE in a few clicks. Our goal is to get 1,000 FB invitees on the event page. Please click here (LINK) and help promote the event.

2. Land us an awesome raffle item. We're looking for raffle items like gift certificates or merchandise! Ask your friend who makes jewelry, your fave bakery, your stylist, your fitness instructor, bar/restaurant, pet groomer, employer, etc. to donate an item. We make it easy for you: we have a request letter already created for you to print and drop off/email. Please email Rachel at rachel@naralohio.org with the place you want to contact.

3. Attend the event! What better way to support the event than by coming and having a good time! Visit www.dayofthediva.com for ticket info.

Home sick? Laid off? No money? Hate meetings?
Volunteer for the event by making phone calls to local businesses and asking for donations. We're also looking for people who can get donated decorations for the event space. If you are persistent and passionate, this is an easy job for you and we make it even simpler by providing the list and the script. You do the calls at your convenience and report back to NARAL. Folks who help make a ton of calls or get us donations will get into the event for free! Email Rachel and rachel@naralohio.org.

ALL rape survivors deserve CARE. Please help NARAL and CRCC by supporting Day of the Diva.

Maria Miranda
Event Chair
Day of the Diva 2010