comicsforchoice: A long time ago, in 1989, the...

A long time ago, in 1989, the Supreme Court of the United States of America handed down a decision that upheld a Missouri law that imposed restrictions on the use of state funds, facilities, and employees in performing, assisting with, or counseling on abortions. The decision allowed for states to legislate in an area that had previously been thought to be forbidden under Roe v. Wade. In fact, the decision was only a single vote away from effectively overruling Roe, and Justice Blackmun wrote “I fear for the future” and “a chill wind blows.”

In reaction to the decision, noted feminist cartoonist Trina Robbins and Liz Schiller, then treasurer of the Oakland chapter of NOW, published Choices: A Pro-Choice Benefit Comic to raise money for NOW’s pro-choice efforts. It contained contributions from people across the gender and sexuality spectrum and all over the comics field, including Garry Trudeau, Alison Bechdel, Cathy Guisewite, Ramona Fradon, and Jules Feiffer.

However, in 2012, Justice Blackmun’s chill wind has become a roaring gale, with attacks on access to birth control, talk about “legitimate” and “forcible” rapes, and utter ignorant nonsense about how one can or cannot get pregnant is not the jabbering of an imbecile but is practically the basis of a Congressional campaign.

Who else is tired of this bullshit?

This Tumblr is now taking submissions for a potential new benefit comic, along with helpful pro-choice organization donate links on the front page. In addition, things are moving behind the scenes to get a new printing of Choices out there (or at least a digital version), also to raise funds for pro-choice organizations and politicians.

So please submit comics (not necessarily your own, but please provide accurate credit so we know who to hunt down for reprint permissions) and spread the word. We’re going to speak up for our rights, and we are going to be graphic about it.