Roller Derby: Strong Women, Strong Roles

Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania has recently become a proud sponsor of Pittsburgh’s only all-female flat-track roller derby league, the Steel City Derby Demons. The focus on strong, independent women makes an affiliation between these two great organizations a perfect fit.

If you aren’t familiar with the Steel City Derby Demons, let us tell you what all the fuss is about. They are currently ranked by WFTDA (The Women’s Flat-Track Derby Association) as sixteenth out of over 100 leagues nationwide. The SCDD consists of three teams. The Steel Hurtin’ is the A-team or varsity-level team. They play other top teams from around the nation such as Detroit, Philadelphia, Maine, and Houston. The other two teams, the B-Unit and the Blitzburgh Bombers, are the B-level teams. They play similarly matched junior-varsity leveled teams; most recently Toledo, West Palm Beach, and Rideau Valley from Ottowa, Canada.

The Steel City Derby Demons is a skater-owned and operated organization that was founded in 2006 by a group of hard-working women who wanted to get fit, make friends, and have fun. In addition to training to be top athletes in their sport, they also run every aspect behind the scenes. From building the website, to P.R. and marketing right down to renting the bouting venue and paying the bills, the roller girls do it all.

Today’s roller derby has eschewed the professional wrestling style of showmanship of the past to be reborn into a full-fledged highly competitive fast-paced sport. Nothing is faked here; although some of the flair from your mother’s roller derby has remained, such as the derby nicknames (‘Snot Rocket Science and Busty Brawler, to name a few) and the occasional pair of fishnet tights. Training for derby can be extremely grueling, and derby girls do it strictly for the love of the sport and that fleeting bit of glory to be snatched at the end of a victorious game. Roller derby is not a professional sport and no one gets paid.

Roller derby is played on a circuit track between two teams of roughly 12-14 players each. Four “blockers” from each team form the “pack.” It is their job to assist their “jammer” (or, point scorer) to pass as many of the opposing team’s blockers as they can in order to score points. At the same time, the blockers must also try and hinder the opposing team’s jammer from scoring points by blocking and checking her off of the track. Roller derby is unique in this way that offense and defense are played concurrently. This makes the game incredibly fast, with outcomes that can change on a dime.

Roller derby girls have often been portrayed as “counter culture” or “punk rock” in the media, but to try and categorize these women into such narrow stereotypes would be misleading. Members of the Steel City Derby Demons cover the whole spectrum when it comes to daytime jobs; examples of which are optometrist, lawyer, junior high school math teacher, nurse, graphic designer, and mother. However, the women of the SCDD and roller derby in general do share many qualities. They are strong, athletic, outgoing, energetic, and lots of fun, but they are definitely not all cookie-cutter copies. The SCDD celebrates diversity and the opportunity for women to lead extraordinary lives and hopes others can embrace those concepts too.

For more information about the Steel City Derby Demons, or to buy tickets, visit www.SteelCityDerbyDemons.com. Bouts are held every third Saturday of the month at Romp n’ Roll skating rink in Shaler off of route 8. Catch the next home bout on Saturday, April 17th, when the Steel Hurtin’ will play The Dutchland Rollers (Lancaster, PA) and Blitzburgh Bombers face off against the Dutch Blitz. Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania will have a table at this event.

Post by Planned Parenthood Volunteer and Steel City Derby Demon Heather Wood.

Health care can be costly, especially for those without benefits, and more new patients are filing into free clinics in order to receive proper medical attention.

Health officials said more patients may be a result of more job layoffs and losses of benefits.

“We’re speculating that we’re seeing a number of people in the community who have lost their jobs and they don’t have benefits, so they’re coming to our clinic for services,” said Cheryl Brill, a volunteer, vice president and secretary of the board of directors for the Somerset Community Clinic.

The clinic has 400 active cases. The clinic has been open nearly three years, and toward the beginning of its inception there were about three new patients each night. Lately, the number of new patients has doubled, according to Brill.

The clinic responded to 874 visits from July 2007 to June 2008 — the most current figures.

The free clinic is only open for about two hours every Tuesday night. Volunteers had to lower the cap on the number of patients they saw each night from 18 to 16 patients.

“With the way the economy has been we’ve had more patients coming to the clinic, but we’re able to balance that with the number of volunteers,” said volunteer Monique Martella.

She predicts that things will not let up, and new patients will continue to be drawn to the free medical assistance.

Planned Parenthood offices in western Pennsylvania have also seen an influx of new patients.

“We have seen a significant increase in patients,” said Kim Evert, chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania. “What we’re seeing is people have lost their insurance and are in need of health care. Overall, we’ve seen about a 10 percent increase in the number of people coming to us for the first time — presumably who’ve lost their benefits.”

Evert said about 250 patients are seen each month at the Somerset office, which includes a staff of three.

Federal funding for the organization is flat, meaning it receives no more government money even if there are more people using its facilities.

It is necessary to provide affordable health care when so many people are in need of assistance, she said.

“It’s important for women to take care of their health anyway with regular pap smears and breast exams,” she said. “Generally when people are struggling is the time where it’s better for them to have family planning services. What we do is try to make that affordable.”

In addition to no- or low-cost services and inexpensive supplies, the Somerset office provides free sexually transmitted disease testing.

Emergency rooms are no exception, as those seeking treatment cannot be refused, regardless of whether they are underinsured or have no insurance altogether.

“We are seeing an increase in our emergency room visits, but that may or may not be a result of the economy,” said Greg Chiappelli, spokesman for the Somerset Hospital. “We are seeing patients that are sicker or putting off their care or not seeking medical attention right away.”

Chiappelli could not provide numbers for the number of patients seen in the emergency room.

The Somerset Community Clinic operates on a 100 percent volunteer staff, according to volunteer Lois Lafferty.

The $25,000 it takes each year to run the clinic is funded strictly by donations. Patients 18 years of age and older who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Martella said the clinic is constantly seeking more volunteers and always accepting new patients.

Legislation would change the way sex ed is taught in Pennsylvania

By Mike Wereschagin and Michael Aubele
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Two bills in the Legislature, crafted with the help of Planned Parenthood, would change the way that sex education is taught in the state's public schools.

One would require public schools to notify parents if the sex-education curriculum teaches only abstinence. Parental notification is required if schools teach about contraception.

Another bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Chelsa Wagner of Beechview, would require public schools to teach students how to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. It requires that teachers note abstinence is the only sure way to prevent both.

Those in favor of broader sex education point to studies showing abstinence-only education doesn't prevent teenage sex, so youths should learn ways to protect themselves.

An eight-year Department of Health and Human Services study of four federally funded abstinence-only programs, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research and released in 2007, found no difference in sexual activity or contraceptive use between students enrolled in the programs and those who weren't. President Obama's proposed 2010 budget includes no money for abstinence-only programs.

Abstinence-only supporters say the $50 million spent each year since 1997 goes to more than 700 programs, and they maintain many of those programs work.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate one-quarter of sexually active adolescents have sexually transmitted diseases.

Teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases cost Pennsylvania about $380 million a year in social services and health care, said state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, sponsor of the parental notification bill.

"For a person to be celibate until marriage is highly unlikely. The moment will come when they're going to engage in some form of sex. When that moment comes, they will know the dangers involved and how to protect themselves," Pashinski said about his support for broader sex-education programs. "I'm taking a very realistic approach to all this. I'm coming from the standpoint of being a father and a grandfather."

"Parents are under the assumption that their kids are getting sex education," said Sue Steele, vice president for education with Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania.

Steele was on a city schools committee that prompted the district to abandon abstinence-only for broader sex education. Part of the problem, she said, was a lack of textbooks teaching anything other than abstinence.

"There are two major companies that do printing of textbooks, and they're both in Texas," she said. A study by two Texas State University professors found 94 percent of schools there teach abstinence-only, and the state Legislature and board of education require school districts to emphasize abstinence. Pennsylvania law requires the same emphasis.

About 6 percent of girls ages 15 to 19 in Texas got pregnant in 2006, according to the CDC. Pennsylvania's teen pregnancy rate that year of 3 percent was lower than all but 11 states. The teen pregnancy rate in Pennsylvania, and across the country, fell by more than one-third during the previous 15 years, according to the CDC.

Local reaction

Marion Boggs of Harrison said that while there were several reasons why she chose to send her children to a faith-based school, one of them was the confidence that abstinence would be promoted as part of its sex education program.

"In this day and age, everything but abstinence is dangerous," Boggs said. She feels the best way to protect her son's and daughter's future is to promote abstinence until marriage. "I'm thankful that's what they're teaching."

Boggs sends her 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter to Evangel Heights Christian Academy in Buffalo Township.

Boggs works with Tri-City Life Center, a faith-based organization in Lower Burrell that offers support to young pregnant women.

Val Yajko, who coordinates Tri-City Life Center's teen abstinence program, argued that efforts to promote safe sex "haven't been working." Sexually transmitted diseases are an epidemic, she said, and the best way to slow the process is by promoting abstinence.

Yajko said abstinence is not only a better choice for teens to stay physically healthy, it's better for them emotionally.

"It's not said enough how much their self-worth is affected," she said about youth who are sexually active.

Mary Anne Poutous, director of community education for Adagio Health System, said her organization promotes comprehensive sex education — that includes teaching youth about safe sex.

Poutous said that, as a parent, "I would like my daughter to be taught that abstinence is the only 100 percent way to avoid pregnancy, HIV and STDs. However, if she chooses to make a decision I may not agree with, she should have all of the necessary facts to keep herself safe.

Poutous of Bethel Park said she'd like for her daughter "to know everything in regard to pregnancy, preventing HIV and STDs and using a condomA flexible sheath, usually made of thin rubber or latex, designed to cover the penis during sexual intercourse for contraceptive purposes or as a means of preventing sexually transmitted diseases.."

Poutous added that she believes children should be taught how to make wise decisions in the company of their peers.

Adagio is based in Pittsburgh but has a medical office in Lower Burrell. Adagio offers a variety of medical services, including pregnancy and disease prevention.

As for public schools in the Alle-Kiski Valley, officials from a number of districts declined to comment on the proposed legislation.

Spokesmen for Armstrong and South Butler County school districts said the curriculum in their schools approaches sex education from an abstinence perspective.

Todd O'Shell, South Butler spokesman, said the "forms of protection are discussed" during the lessons.

Local schools, state step up sex education efforts

By Larrisa Theodore, Times Staff

Freedom Area High School always took a conservative approach to teaching students about sexuality. Health teachers preached abstinence while broaching topics of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

But after seeing a rise in teen pregnancies, within the district and countywide, J.C. Summers, a health and physical education teacher at Freedom, said teachers decided to move to a more intense curriculum next school year.

“We want to talk about it,” Summers said. “We’re not passing out condoms and birth controlVoluntary limitation or control of the number of children conceived, especially by planned use of contraceptive techniques., but they need to be aware of what’s going on.”

No standards exist for comprehensive sex education in Pennsylvania public schools. And while the state school board sets academic standards for health, safety and physical education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education doesn’t regulate what schools must teach when it comes to sex ed, said Michael Race, education department spokesman.

Some schools prefer an abstinence-based program, while others, such as Ambridge Area High School, have long taught “comprehensive” sex education, a program that discusses abstinence but also delves into protection, prevention and other details.

TWO BILLS

Two Pennsylvania legislators are hoping to unify the way public schools teach sex education. Two House bills introduced in April, the Healthy Youth Act and the Notice Home Act,, aim to change health curriculums in public schools by offering guidelines on what schools should teach. Parents also would have to be notified about the instruction.

The Healthy Youth Act, introduced by state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-22, Pittsburgh, would amend the Pennsylvania school code to require schools to teach age-appropriate, medically accurate and nondiscriminatory information.

The Notice Home Act, introduced by state Rep. Eddie Pashinski, D-122, Wilkes-Barre, would increase parental involvement by requiring that a parental notice be sent home before children take part in sex education programs.

As of now, schools don’t have to notify parents when students take part in abstinence-only programs, said Rebecca Cavanaugh, vice president of public affairs with Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania.

Cavanaugh said the “notice home” bill would allow parents to opt out if they choose or continue the class discussion at home.

“It raises awareness with the parents that this is what your children are talking about. It’s a great tool for parents,” Cavanaugh said.

Keri Muir, executive director of Choices Pregnancy Center in Moon Township, hadn’t heard about the bills, but said she believes parents should have the opportunity to look at the curriculum and have input in their children’s education.

“When it comes to issues about sex and relationships, parents are always the first we would encourage children to talk to,” Muir said.

TWO DISTRICTS

Ambridge Area students have already been learning that the safest way to prevent unwanted pregnancies and disease is to abstain from sex until marriage. However, Denise Folino, chairwoman of the district’s health and physical education department, said students also learn about disease, birth control, decision-making and parental involvement.

Folino said one student was pulled from class this year by her mother, but that’s rare.

“Quite honestly, in the 35 years I’ve been teaching, I only had two parents question the curriculum. The rest were so glad they didn’t have to tell their kids what I was teaching,” Folino said.

Summers said Freedom Area began introducing its new “comprehensive” sex education curriculum at the end of this school year. Next year, he said they’ll “really kick in and attack.”

“I do think it needs to be addressed,” Summers said. “We’re just starting to get in full throttle. We talked about STDs and STIs, but never got into the juicy details. But we’re seeing a need for it with teen pregnancies. Overall in the county, I think it’s on the rise.”

THE FUTURE

Pashinski, who was a teacher prior to becoming a legislator, said more responsibility has been placed on schools to prepare students for life’s challenges. Although he agrees that abstinence is the safest, surest way to prevent unwanted pregnancy, he said he also realizes the natural desire for companionship is strong in young people’s lives.

“I think the least that we can do as adults is to provide them with accurate and honest information that will hopefully prevent unwanted pregnancies and prevent any kind of disease,” Pashinski said.

Both bills are currently in the House Education Committee. Pashinski said Wagner is due to deliver a baby any day now, and with legislators currently working on the state budget, he predicted the bills wouldn’t reach the floor until at least fall.

If passed, the bills would take effect beginning with the next full school year after the passage date.

Larissa Theodore can be reached online at ltheodore@timesonline.com.

THE HEALTHY YOUTH ACT

    * H.B. 1163, introduced by state Rep. Chelsa Wagner, D-22, Pittsburgh, would amend the Pennsylvania school code to require schools to teach age-appropriate, medically accurate and nondiscriminatory information.
    * Schools would have to teach that not engaging in sexual intercourse is the only certain way to prevent pregnancy and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases.
    * Schools would have to provide information about the health benefits of condoms and other methods that reduce the risk of STDS, including HIV.
    * Young people would be encouraged to communicate with family and trusted adults about sexuality.

THE NOTICE HOME ACT

    * H.B. 1162, introduced by state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-122, Wilkes-Barre, aims to increase parental involvement and would require that a notice be sent home informing parents if their child is to take part in a sex education program at school.
    * Schools that receive federal funding to teach abstinence-until-marriage education would have to let parents know what their children are being taught.

Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania Mourns the Loss of
Doctor George Tiller,
Health Care Provider and Champion of Women’s Rights

All of us at Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania are outraged and deeply saddened at the murder of Dr. George Tiller by an abortion protestor on Sunday morning. Our most sincere sympathies go out to Dr. Tiller’s family, to his dedicated and brave staff, and to the thousands of women who have benefited from Dr. Tillers courage, compassion, and unwavering dedication to women’s health care.

Dr. Tiller’s murder is an immense loss for the pro-choice community and will have a grave impact on the quality and availability of comprehensive reproductive health care in the United States. As one of three doctors in the country who offered late-term abortion services to women in life-threatening and often heartbreaking situations, Dr. Tiller spent the majority of his career as a target of unlawful harassment and violence. Dr. Tiller’s clinic was burnt down, he was shot in both arms by an abortion protester, and has been the target of multiple legal battles concerning the services he provided.

None of this, or the many other transgressions against him, deterred his commitment to providing women and their families with abortion care that others were unwilling to offer. Dr. Tiller remained dedicated to providing access to safe, legal care and will be remembered by Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and the pro-choice community as an example of true courage in the face of opposition and as a man who put personal freedom and the health of women and families above all else.

“Make no mistake, this battle is about self-determination by women of the direction and course of their lives and their family’s lives. Abortion is about women’s hopes and dreams. Abortion is a matter of survival for women.”
– Dr. George Tiller, physician and advocate