Gloria McMurtry, sat with and for me (after some coaxing) in her N.E. Portland coffeeshop. The camera captures her gentle and introspective nature, the keystone of her community connectivity and continuing success.
—By Lindsey
With its quarterly publications, Vagina provides a space for female contributors to share their creative work with the public. The zine features a unique variety of opinions, passions, and observations from our contributors.
Posted 4 days ago
by thevaginazine
Honey and Hydrangea
He closed his eyes,
his eyelids like waxen papier-mache
wrinkle delicately like origami
framing tender blue eyes.
The canvas of his body
stretched thin, all honey and hydrangea
his freckles, the citizens of his skin
dance across his arms and back.
In the crook of his creased elbow
a rough patch like crepe-chiffon
an over-worn party dress
my fingers taste the thread.
Together we fold and unfold,
the crash and collide.
Submerged in flesh,
he blankets my sliding skin.
After the storm has passed
the violent waves engulf us
the tides of rippled sheets slow
and calm.
—By Rachel Ritchie
Posted 6 days ago
by thevaginazine
Freedom Of Whose Belief, Exactly?
We’ve seen a lot of business about birth control in the news recently. Some people think mandating insurance companies to pay for something that reduces the risk of cancer, regulates hormone problems, improves conditions such as anemia and ovarian cysts, and can be used as a contraceptive somehow impinges on the religious freedoms of organizations who are finicky about that “contraceptive” part. It’s a fair cop, I suppose—I understand why a Catholic University doesn’t want its insurance to be forced to cover something that goes against the Church’s beliefs.
On February 16, 2012, there was a congressional hearing that was “meant to be more broadly about religious freedom and not specifically about the contraception mandate in the Health Reform law”. In this hearing, however, the contraception mandate came up several times, and was viewed by the (male) witnesses on the panel as an attack on their religions. Despite this being a question of religious freedom, no one from the Catholic Health Association (which has women members and runs the Catholic hospitals this mandate would affect) or any Catholic Charity was invited. Darrell Issa’s reason for not allowing these witnesses—or one Sandra Fluke—was that “they were not members of the clergy.” Sorry, but shouldn’t non-clergy members of a religion still have a right to voice their opinion regarding their religious freedom?
But while we’re concerned with religious freedom (as we should be), and allowing the members of these religious organizations to act on their beliefs (which is their right), we don’t seem to be showing any concern for the beliefs of the women this reform will ultimately affect.
