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Sandra Fluke

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Sandra Fluke
Born
Sandra Kay Fluke

(1981-04-17) April 17, 1981 (age 43)
U.S.
Alma materCornell University
Georgetown University
Occupation(s)Activist
Law student

Sandra Kay Fluke (born April 17, 1981) is an American law student and women's rights activist[1][2] enrolled at Georgetown University Law Center[3][4][5] who spoke before Democratic members of the House of Representatives at a press conference on why she believed free contraception is generally essential. She came to national attention in March 2012 after Rush Limbaugh made inflammatory comments about Fluke's testimony (see Rush Limbaugh–Sandra Fluke controversy), consisting of speculation and slurs regarding her sex life, resulting in public outcry and the loss of several advertising sponsors from his radio program.[6][7]

Biography

Fluke graduated from Cornell University in 2003 and spent five years working for Sanctuary for Families, a New York-based nonprofit aiding victims of domestic violence, where she launched the agency's pilot Program Evaluation Initiative. She co-founded the New York Statewide Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court, which successfully advocated for legislation granting access to civil orders of protection for unmarried victims of domestic violence, including LGBTQ victims and teens. Fluke was also a member of the Manhattan Borough President's Taskforce on Domestic Violence and numerous other New York City and New York State coalitions that successfully advocated for policy improvements impacting victims of domestic violence.[8]

While at Georgetown University Law Center, she worked on issues that involved domestic violence and human trafficking.[9]

Congressional testimony on contraception mandates

External image
image icon Testifying to House Democrats

On February 16, 2012, Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, held a hearing on infringement of religious liberty and contraceptive mandates, entitled "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?". This hearing was seen as one concerning religious freedoms by Republican members and one concerning Women's health by Democratic members.

Citing the inability to vet Fluke and develop a line of questioning, Issa denied her testimony. The hearing was widely criticized by Democrats for having no women witnesses to speak on contraception[10] although two female experts, Dr. Laura Champion and Dr. Allison Garrett, who did testify. [11] She was later[12] invited to address House Democratic members,[13] and submitted written testimony.[14]

She argued in favor of requiring all private insurance plans to cover contraception coverage, even religious institutions. She argued that over the three years as a law student, birth control could cost $3,000 in some cases. She continued that the lack of free contraception would induce many low income students to go without contraceptives and that women's free health clinics cannot meet the need.

She then discussed the consequence of such policies, anecdotally citing a friend with polycystic ovary syndrome. While the condition was "covered by Georgetown insurance", getting treatment was difficult because of the policy.[14] According to Fluke, her friend was denied coverage, even with a verified condition from her doctor. She also added that this is not a rare event for women with these medical conditions under insurance plans that did not cover contraception. She then stated that she wanted equal treatment for women's health issues and did not see the issue as being against the Catholic Church.[15]

Rush Limbaugh Controversy with Fluke

Main article: Rush Limbaugh–Sandra Fluke controversy

On February 29, 2012, in rebuttal to Fluke's statement, conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh berated Fluke using the term "slut" for three days on his radio show. This resulted in widespread criticism from across the political spectrum including the president and a loss of some advertising support.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Three days later, after several sponsors had deserted his show, Limbaugh apologized.[24] He later attacked his critics, saying "I acted too much like the leftists who despise me. I descended to their level, using names and exaggerations. It's what we've come to expect from them, but it's way beneath me."[25] His apology itself has been criticised and rejected by Fluke as well as some commentators, politicians and businesses who have continued to pull their advertisements.[26][25][27]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Limbaugh apologizes to student for 'insulting' comments" Reuters. March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "Limbaugh sorry for 'slut' comment" Irish Times. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  3. ^ "Obama calls student as contraception fight turns nasty". Reuters. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Meet The Georgetown Law Student That Rush Limbaugh Called A 'Slut'" Business Insider. March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "Current Public Interest Law Scholars". Law.georgetown.edu. 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2012-03-05.
  6. ^ "Law Student Makes Case For Contraceptive Coverage". Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  7. ^ "Rush Limbaugh loses another sponsor over Sandra Fluke remarks". Chicago Tribune. March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "The Faces of 2012". Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  9. ^ "Current Public Interest Law Scholars". Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  10. ^ "Meet Sandra Fluke: The woman you didn't hear at Congress' contraceptives hearing". Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  11. ^ "GOP:Dems 'played games' over Sandra Fluke".
  12. ^ Sandra Fluke Opening Statement (C-SPAN)
  13. ^ "Sandra Fluke Receives Call From Obama After Rush Limbaugh 'Slut' Comments" The Huffington Post. March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Testimony - Sandra Fluke" (PDF). Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  15. ^ Fluke, Sandra. "Statement to Congress" (PDF). Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  16. ^ "MESSAGES TO THE GEORGETOWN COMMUNITY on Civility and Public Discourse". Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  17. ^ "Nancy Pelosi Slams Rush Limbaugh 'Slut' Remarks" The Huffington Post. March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  18. ^ "Rush Limbaugh: Obama calls Sandra Fluke to express 'support'" Los Angeles Times. March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  19. ^ "Rush Limbaugh 'Slut' Attack On Sandra Fluke 'Inappropriate,' John Boehner Camp Says" The Huffington Post. March 3, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  20. ^ Klein, Joe (March 3, 2012). "Limbaugh Lost–and other notes on the contraception controversy". Time. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  21. ^ "Romney offers tepid response to Limbaugh's insulting remarks" Los Angeles Times. March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2012.
  22. ^ Crary, David (March 2, 2012). "Obama joins in denouncing Rush Limbaugh's slur of student; his sponsors urged to pull ads". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  23. ^ "Obama joins in denouncing Rush Limbaugh's slur of student; his sponsors urged to pull ads". Associated Press. March 2, 2012.
  24. ^ USA Today Limbaugh apologizes to Sandra Fluke by David Jackson, March 3, 2012
  25. ^ a b "Rush Limbaugh loses more advertisers over 'slut' remarks" BBC News. March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  26. ^ Sandra Fluke Says Rush Limbaugh's Apology Doesn't Change Anything - ABC News
  27. ^ Paul: Limbaugh apologized for personal gain, CBS News, March 4, 2012

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