the rittenhouse trial has illuminated many outrageous failures of the u.s. justice system. from the very start of the trial, judge bruce schroeder has created a mockery of these proceedings and provided the perfect example of what we mean when we refer to systemic racism.

new commentary from leading pediatricians and public health experts in the journal of adolescent health identifies key shortcomings in recent sex-education guidelines from the medical institute for sexual health (mish) and calls for the adoption of science-based standards for sex education such as the national sex education standards (nses).

after a few weeks, i had a mikveh ceremony with my friends to commemorate the budding life that sprouted in my body, and my decision that it wasn't time yet.

if i had a child with my abuser, my child's life would have been broken from the start. that's not fair to them or me.

the first abortion i had been careless with my boyfriend because i didn't think i was fertile. most of my friends had more than one abortion and at 25 i was starting to think i couldn't get pregnant.

i hope anyone who has done this, or find themselves thinking about it, it's okay, you are an amazing woman, don't think your heart won't break, but you are doing what you need to do, and that will always be okay.