Jezebel: Mississippi

Virginia Is Now Perilously Close to Criminalizing Abortion

Cassie Murdoch — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:20:00 EST

Virginia must really be desperate to distinguish itself as a place where nobody with a uterus wants to live, because yesterday their House of Delegates passed not one but two insanely restrictive anti-abortion bills, which are both heading pretty directly toward becoming law. You can choose which one you find more outrageous: the personhood bill or the bill that requires ladies to get an unnecessary vaginal probing before they're allowed to have an abortion. More »

America-Loving Lawmaker Wants to Change Name of Gulf of Mexico

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST

Because the state of Mississippi has not been embarrassed enough by the shenanigans of its lawmakers, one of the Jackson's finest has introduced a bill to the state legislature that would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico... to the Gulf of America. I bet he also drives a truck that shoots flames from its tailpipe. More »

Mississippi Wisely Prevents Governor From Pardoning a Bunch of Murderers

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:10:00 EST

In response to the outrage over Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour pardoning a slew of convicted murderers on his way out of office, the state's corrections commissioner said, "This is just something that happens." Thankfully, officials in the state refuse to accept that there's simply nothing you can do when a governor decides a criminal is actually a good dude. More »

Generous Governor Pardons Men Who Murdered Their Wives

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:15:00 EST

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is leaving office today, and he's done something to ensure that a certain group will never forget him. People whose family members were murdered now have to live with the knowledge that their loved one's killer is on the loose because Barbour decided to pardon several inmates, including many who killed their wives and girlfriends. More »

Mississippi Doesn't Particularly Care If Voters Don't Want Personhood Amendment

Margaret Hartmann — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:50:00 EST

Immediately after voters in Mississippi, the most conservative state in the nation, rejected the proposed "personhood amendment," anti-abortion advocates vowed to continue their fight in other states across the country. It seemed like a fairly idiotic move, but then we're talking about people who insist the proposed laws would only ban abortion, but not potentially zygote-destroying birth control, fertility procedures, or necessary medical interventions, simply because they say so. Now personhood advocates are refusing to take "no" for an answer even from Mississippians, and are trying to push the measure through the state legislature. It's about as ridiculous as asking your girlfriend's father for permission to marry her after she's already turned down your proposal on national TV — and the most absurd part is that it might work. More »

Defeated Personhood Advocates Vow To Continue Their Idiotic Fight

Erin Gloria Ryan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST

Yesterday, Mississippi voters sent Initiative 26— the so-called "Personhood" Amendment— shrieking off into the night like a vanquished horror movie antagonist. Even though 58% of voters in the reddest of red states rejected the extreme abortion ban, advocates of calling zygotes people are undaunted and insist that this isn't the last you'll see of them or the personhood fight. Coming to a state or local ballot near you: get ready for Personhood II: Electric Fetus Boogaloo. More »

Score One For Sanity: Mississippi Defeats Absurd Personhood Initiative

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:15:00 EST

If you're a fan of women having reproductive rights, break out your finest bottle of champagne and do a celebratory dance in your living room. Realizing that they enjoy having access to hormonal contraceptives, IUDs, the morning after pill, in vitro fertilization, and yes, safe and legal abortion, Mississippi voters have voted down a ballot initiative that would have declared fertilized eggs are full-fledged people whose interests trump those of the woman whose uterus they need to survive. More »

10 Things Besides Zygotes That Should Also Be Declared 'Persons'

Erin Gloria Ryan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:30:00 EST

Today, Mississippi's voters weigh in on Initiative 26, the "Personhood" Amendment. If enacted, it will declare that a zygote is a "person" from the moment of fertilization and that all forms of abortion are illegal. In addition, some birth control and IVF practices will be outlawed. As unfathomably dimwitted as it sounds, a recent poll shows a deadlock among the electorate — 45% of Mississippians say they support Personhood with 44% opposing and 11% undecided (Mississippi: The Science State). We kind of like this whole idea of making it illegal to mess with things by virtue of the fact that we have amended the constitution to declare them "persons." What else, besides featureless clusters of cells, deserves the same protection as grown ass humans? More »

Mississipi Women: Hurry Up And Start Your IVF!

Erin Gloria Ryan — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EDT

Only four doctors in Mississippi perform in vitro fertilization, and since the state's so-called "Personhood Amendment" was added to the November ballot, they've all been receiving panicked calls from patients about the possibility that the state constitution might soon make many IVF practices illegal. More »

Both Candidates For Mississippi Governor Think Zygotes Are Totally People

Erin Gloria Ryan — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:10:00 EDT

It's great to live in America, a place where our two-party system allows you to align yourself politically with someone who sort of agrees with you a lot of the time, and then voting them into office where they'll hopefully make decisions and laws that reflect what you believe is best for the country. If you live in Mississippi, you have a choice in the upcoming governor's race — you can vote for someone who thinks that zygotes are fully human and deserve the same rights as full grown women, or you can vote for someone else who believes the same thing. More »

How Anti Choice Groups Are Trying to Eliminate Abortion Without Making it Illegal

Erin Gloria Ryan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EDT

Last week's Congressional passage of the Let Women Die ("Protect Life") Act capped off a year characterized by a dismayingly high number of abortion restricting bills, and there's no end to the fuckery in sight. Since Roe v. Wade has withstood decades of legal challenges, the next wave of abortion restricting laws won't try to take on Roe v. Wade directly; rather, they'll attempt to gradually ebb away at a woman's right to bodily autonomy by eliminating funding, legally redefining "life," and harassing and intimidating doctors interested in providing abortion services. This is going to be the best fall ever. More »

Will Conservatives Outlaw Birth Control?

Erin Gloria Ryan — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EDT

Mississippi loves its fetuses, y'all. Mississippi loves them so much that this fall, the state is allowing its voters to decide whether to add a so-called "Personhood Amendment" to its state constitution. More »

Sisters Starting Over

Lauri Apple — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 11:40:00 EST

[Jackson, Mississippi, January 7: Gladys (left) and Jamie Scott wave during a news conference held after their release from prison. Their life sentences for armed robbery were suspended after Gladys agreed to donate a kidney to Jamie. Image via AP.]

A Southern Lesbian Tells Her Story

As told to Diana Scholl — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:36:00 EST

We Are the Youth is a photographic journalism project chronicling the individual stories of LGBT youth in the United States. This is the story of Audri, a fifteen-year-old from Mississippi who identifies as a butch lesbian. More »

Mississippi School Reverses Its Race-Specific Election Policy

Irin Carmon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:42:31 EDT

Nettleton Middle School, which distributed materials stipulating specific races' eligibility for middle school elections, is ending the policy, saying it was a rotation implemented 30 years ago to ensure diversity. More »

Black Principal Runs School With Segregated Class Elections

Irin Carmon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:04:28 EDT

Some interesting facts about Mississippi's Nettleton Middle School, which only allows white students to run for class president: their segregated homecoming is mandated in their handbook. And they have a black female principal. More »

Middle School Only Allows Whites To Be Class President [Updated]

Irin Carmon — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:00:40 EDT

If we still have segregated proms in the American South, including in Mississippi, why not segregated middle school elections? Welcome to Nettleton Middle School, where not only are class elections segregated, but the president slots are designated for white students. More »

Lesbian Teen Victoriously Settles With School Over Prom Snub

Anna North — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:44:00 EDT

Constance McMillen accepted a settlement from her school for barring her from the prom, and a promise that the school will end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It's a victory not just for gay teens, but teens everywhere. More »

What A Stretch

Anna Holmes — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:10:00 EDT

[Jackson, Mississippi; June 9. Image via AP]

"She's Who Scout Finch Would Have Grown Up To Be, I Think"

Anna Holmes — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:20:00 EDT

I'd like to think so too. But regardless, this is a great read, including the very vibrant comment section, from whence the quote above comes. [Ta-Nehisi Coates/The Atlantic] More »

Three Little Girls

Anna Holmes — Fri, 07 May 2010 10:10:00 EDT

[Jackson, Mississippi; May 6. Image via AP]

Turtle Love

Anna Holmes — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:10:00 EDT

[Gulfport, Mississippi; May 1. Image via AP]

Prom Teen To Lead Gay Pride Parade

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

After being banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom, and later seeing the event canceled over her inclusion, Constance McMillen will finally get to celebrate. She has been named the grand marshal of June's gay pride parade in NYC. [CityRoom] More »

Lesbian Teen Sent To Decoy Prom While Other Kids Party At Real One

Anna North — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

All the news had been good for Constance McMillen, who was supposed to bring her girlfriend to her school's privately sponsored prom on Friday. Except that prom was a decoy. More »

"That's Just Who I Am. I Don't Dress Like A Girl. I Don't Even Own Any Girl Clothes."

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:40:00 EDT

Ceara, an openly gay female student in Wesson, Mississippi, wore a tux in her yearbook photo; school officials are refusing to include the pic. "I'm paying for the yearbook. Why can't it be in there?" Ceara rightly asks. [WLOX] More »

McCain Campaign, CBS Journalists Are Unashamed Of Their Own Entitlement, Election Tactics

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:00:00 EDT

When the chips are down and all the prayers to God to win the election and protect you from witchcraft haven't worked, everyone knows it's time to call in the big guns: the forces of evil. And, if they're too busy helping the Axis of Evil get nukes and shit, well, then you can always call in the forces of pettiness and covert racism, as they've been helpful in many an election here in the States. But Swampland's Ana Marie Cox and I will insist on, at a minimum, throwing rhetorical spitballs at the hordes and making assfucking jokes as the sky is falling, so there's that, at least... after the jump. More »

"The Mother Of All Storms"

Anna Holmes — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:00:00 EDT

For those in southern Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, we don't need to tell you about the Category 4 storm currently tearing its way north in the Gulf of Mexico. For those who aren't there — or don't know — a massive, massive hurricane is bearing down on the Gulf Coast of the United States, one that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is now calling "the storm of the century". At the request of a number of readers, we're putting up this short post — not to announce news updates about the storm (we suggest you rely on television, radio, the internet and other people for that) — but to provide a forum for interested parties to converse. Good luck, all, and Godspeed. [CNN] More »

Hurricane Katrina, Three Years Later: A New Memoir And An Approaching Storm

Dodai Stewart — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:20:00 EDT

Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, there's a new storm on the horizon: The latest on Gustav is that it could hit the coast of Louisiana — and New Orleans — with a similar impact. Earlier this week, Salon ran an interview with Phyllis Montana-LeBlanc, a woman who's considered the breakout "star" of Spike Lee's 2006 documentary When The Levees Broke. Montana-LeBlanc has written a memoir — completed over the last two years, in her FEMA trailer. She's let go of much of her anger. "You can continue to hate and blame, but that's not constructive," she says. "You have to get past it at some point. At the time, all the dead bodies [I saw in the media reports] were African-Americans. And when it's just black body after black body you start to wonder if all those people who died were white — if their lives were considered 'more valid' by the people in charge — maybe you would have seen a quicker response. Honestly, I still wonder if more people would have been saved." More »

Pussy Whip: Mississippi Bad For Civil Rights, Not Too Great For Women's Rights Either

Anna Holmes — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:30:00 EST

A bill criminalizing abortion in the event that Roe vs. Wade is overturned is on its way to Mississippi governor Haley Barbour. [Feministing]