RAPE IS RAPE. PERIOD.

Dear Lucas, 

Across the country - and even right here in New York City - a woman's right to choose is under attack. 

At the Federal level, the new Republican Congress has introduced a series of measures designed to roll back women's rights and ability to make their own decisions about their health. Bills like the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" ignore the fact that there already is no taxpayer money going to pay for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or to preserve the life of the mother. Even those limited circumstances were attacked by a bill that would have redefined rape to only include "forcible rape." 

That is outrageous and almost unbelievable. Rape is rape. Period. End of story. 

But this is only the beginning of the assault on our rights.

Here in New York City, an anti-choice group called Live Action released a hidden camera video last week of a visit to a Bronx Planned Parenthood clinic.

 The video claims to show that the Planned Parenthood employees aided and abetted a child prostitution ring. The video shows no such thing.   This doctored footage attacks Planned Parenthood of New York City, an institution with a sterling reputation and 90 year history in New York. PPNYC sees 50,000 women a year and provides them with excellent health care - care they wouldn't otherwise receive. Live Action also has a reputation. It's one of altering video and distorting the truth.

We have to fight back. Here in the New York City Council, my bill to regulate and bring truth in advertising to so-called "crisis pregnancy centers" continues to gain momentum and I hope and expect it to pass soon.

On the federal level, I hope you will join with me in signing the petitions from Emily's List and Eleanor's Legacy urging the Republican Congress to respect women's constitutionally-protected rights. We have to keep up the struggle.