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Opponents use parental rights and anti-trans messages to fight abortion ballot measures

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CHICAGO (AP) — Billboards with the words “STOP Child Gender Surgery.” Pamphlets warning about endangering minors. “PROTECT PARENT RIGHTS” plastered on church bulletins.

As voters in nine states determine whether to enshrine abortion rights in their state constitutions, opponents are using parental rights and anti-transgender messages to try to undermine support for the ballot proposals.

The measures do not mention gender-affirming surgeries, and legal experts say changing existing parental notification and consent laws regarding abortions and gender-affirming care for minors would require court action. But anti-abortion groups hoping to end a losing streak at the ballot box have turned to the type of language many Republican candidates nationwide are using in their own campaigns as they seek to rally conservative Christian voters.

“It’s really outlandish to suggest that this amendment relates to things like gender reassignment surgery for minors,” said Matt Harris, an associate professor of political science at Park University in Parkville, Missouri, a state where abortion rights are on the ballot.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court eliminated constitutional protections for abortion, voters in seven states, including conservative Kentucky, Montana and Ohio, have either protected abortion rights or defeated attempts to curtail them.

“If you can’t win by telling the truth, you need a better argument, even if that means capitalizing on the demonization of trans children,” said Dr. Alex Dworak, a family medicine physician in Omaha, Nebraska, where anti-abortion groups are using the strategy.

Tying abortion-rights ballot initiatives to parental rights and gender-affirming is a strategy borrowed from playbooks used in Michigan and Ohio, where voters nonetheless enshrined abortion rights in the state constitutions.

Both states still require minors to get parental consent for abortions, and the new amendments have not yet impacted parental involvement or gender-affirming care laws in either state, said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University.

“It’s just recycling the same strategies,” Cohen said.

In addition to Missouri and Nebraska, states where voters are considering constitutional amendments this fall are Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Missouri’s abortion ballot measure has especially become a target. The amendment would bar the government from infringing on a “person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom.”

Gov. Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, both Republicans, have claimed the proposal would allow minors to get abortions and gender-affirming surgeries without parental involvement.

The amendment protects reproductive health services, “including but not limited to” a list of items such as prenatal care, childbirth, birth control and abortion. It does not mention gender-affirming care, but Missouri state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, a Republican and lawyer with the conservative Thomas More Society, said it’s possible that could be considered reproductive health services.

Several legal experts told The Associated Press that would require a court ruling that is improbable.

“It would be a real stretch for any court to say that anything connected with gender-affirming care counts as reproductive health care,” said Saint Louis University law and gender studies professor Marcia McCormick. She noted that examples listed as reproductive health care in the Missouri amendment are all directly related to pregnancy.

As for parental consent for minors’ abortions, she pointed to an existing state law that is written similarly to one the U.S. Supreme Court found constitutional, even before Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Most states have parental involvement laws, whether requiring parental consent or notification. Even many Democratic-leaning states with explicit protections for transgender rights require parental involvement before an abortion or gender-affirming care for minors, said Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law.

A state high court would have to overturn such laws, which is highly unlikely from conservative majorities in many of the states with abortion on the ballot, experts said.

In New York, a proposed amendment to the state constitution would expand antidiscrimination protections to include ethnicity, national origin, age, disability and “sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive health care and autonomy.” The constitution already bans discrimination based on race, color, creed or religion.

The measure does not mention abortion, and experts say it might be more vulnerable to opponent’s attacks.

The Coalition to Protect Kids-NY calls it the “Parent Replacement Act.” But Sasha Ahuja, campaign director for New Yorkers for Equal Rights, said the measure “does not change the existing common-sense laws that are already on the books.”

Rick Weiland, co-founder of Dakotans for Health, the group behind South Dakota ‘s proposed amendment said it uses the Roe v. Wade framework “almost word for word.”

“All you have to do is look back at what was allowed under Roe, and there were always requirements for parental involvement,” Weiland said.

Caroline Woods, spokesperson for the anti-abortion group Life Defense Fund, said the measure “means loving parents will be completely cut out of the equation.” Weiland said those claims are part of a “constant stream of misinformation” from opponents.

If this campaign strategy failed in Michigan and Ohio, why are anti-abortion groups leaning on it for the November elections?

Ziegler, the University of California, Davis law professor, said abortion-rights opponents know they may be “playing on more favorable terrain” in more conservative states like Missouri or in states like Florida that have higher thresholds for passing ballot measures.

“Anti-abortion groups are still looking for a winning recipe,” Ziegler said.

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Associated Press writer Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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What’s the greatest holiday gift: lips, hair, skin? Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

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Give the gift of great skin this holiday season

Skinstitut Holiday Gift Kits take the stress out of gifting

Toronto, October 31, 2024 – Beauty gifts are at the top of holiday wish lists this year, and Laser Clinics Canada, a leader in advanced beauty treatments and skincare, is taking the pressure out of seasonal shopping. Today, Laser Clincs Canada announces the arrival of its 2024 Holiday Gift Kits, courtesy of Skinstitut, the exclusive skincare line of Laser Clinics Group.

In time for the busy shopping season, the limited-edition Holiday Gifts Kits are available in Laser Clinics locations in the GTA and Ottawa. Clinics are conveniently located in popular shopping centers, including Hillcrest Mall, Square One, CF Sherway Gardens, Scarborough Town Centre, Rideau Centre, Union Station and CF Markville. These limited-edition Kits are available on a first come, first served basis.

“These kits combine our best-selling products, bundled to address the most relevant skin concerns we’re seeing among our clients,” says Christina Ho, Senior Brand & LAM Manager at Laser Clinics Canada. “With several price points available, the kits offer excellent value and suit a variety of gift-giving needs, from those new to cosmeceuticals to those looking to level up their skincare routine. What’s more, these kits are priced with a savings of up to 33 per cent so gift givers can save during the holiday season.

There are two kits to select from, each designed to address key skin concerns and each with a unique theme — Brightening Basics and Hydration Heroes.

Brightening Basics is a mix of everyday essentials for glowing skin for all skin types. The bundle comes in a sleek pink, reusable case and includes three full-sized products: 200ml gentle cleanser, 50ml Moisture Defence (normal skin) and 30ml1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum. The Brightening Basics kit is available at $129, a saving of 33 per cent.

Hydration Heroes is a mix of hydration essentials and active heroes that cater to a wide variety of clients. A perfect stocking stuffer, this bundle includes four deluxe products: Moisture 15 15 ml Defence for normal skin, 10 ml 1% Hyaluronic Complex Serum, 10 ml Retinol Serum and 50 ml Expert Squalane Cleansing Oil. The kit retails at $59.

In addition to the 2024 Holiday Gifts Kits, gift givers can easily add a Laser Clinic Canada gift card to the mix. Offering flexibility, recipients can choose from a wide range of treatments offered by Laser Clinics Canada, or they can expand their collection of exclusive Skinstitut products.

 

Brightening Basics 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut, available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

Hydration Heroes 2024 Holiday Gift Kit by Skinstitut – available exclusively at Laser Clincs Canada clinics and online at skinstitut.ca.

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Committed By Eldon Sprickerhoff Sells Through Pre-sales!

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COMMITTED
by
ELDON SPRICKERHOFF
sells through pre-sales!

Toronto, ON — Eldon Sprickerhoff’s groundbreaking new book, “Committed: Startup Survival Tips and Uncommon Sense for First-Time Tech Founders,” is making waves in the entrepreneurial community and has struck a chord with readers. This week, Sutherland House Experts revealed that “Committed” has already achieved remarkable pre-sales of nearly 2,000 copies, a testament to its resonant insights and practical guidance for aspiring tech founders.

Committed” is available for pre-order with a release date of November 12th.  Sutherland House Experts congratulates Sprickerhoff on the early success of Committed.  Sprickerhoff is a world-acclaimed entrepreneur, trusted advisor, mentor, investor, and board member working at the frontier of information security, computer science, software-as-a-service (SaaS), and finance. Eldon Sprickerhoff has always been the kind of person who knew he wanted to start something and see it through to success, no matter what it took. But how does that journey begin? Where do you start? Committed” has those answers. Sprickerhoff assembled a list of everything he didn’t know as a first-time technical startup founder before his firm rocketed to a value of over $1 billion.

Committed” guides first-time tech founders on how to find their company’s product-market fit, raise early-stage capital, and how to compete against bigger and better-funded competitors. There is no magic wand, but there is a proven path. Widely respected for his common sense approach to business, Sprickerhoff uses his professional life lessons to show his readers ways of building resilience and pushing through failure in order to survive and come out the other side. Does your tech startup have in you… what it takes to survive and thrive? Committed will get you there.

Eldon Sprickerhoff, renowned in tech circles for his innovative achievements in cybersecurity, is the Co-Founder of eSentire, a leading global cybersecurity Managed Detection and Response company. Sprickerhoff has a Bachelor of Mathematics (Major: Computer Science, Minor: Economics) from the University of Waterloo, and was awarded the J.W. Graham Medal in Computing and Innovation. He was inducted into the Waterloo Region Entrepreneur Hall of Fame this year and currently works as a Strategic Advisor at Caledon Ventures.

Sprickerhoff knows great tech isnt enough.

“The early success of ‘Committed’ highlights a strong demand for practical wisdom in entrepreneurship. With nearly 2,000 copies sold in pre-release, Eldon Sprickerhoff has undeniably resonated with readers. He provides a clear roadmap for those eager to innovate and create. Sutherland House Experts is proud to deliver this invaluable resource to aspiring entrepreneurs around the globe.”
Neil Seeman
Publisher, Sutherland House Experts

Committed offers entrepreneurs survival strategies” that encourage technical founders to embrace their new title, the one that matters most: Chief Survival Officer.

“I loved Committed because Eldon brings something rare and refreshing to the table: an honest, no-fluff guide that explores the complex realities and nuances of being a (tech) founder today. This book isn’t just another startup manual; it’s a candid blueprint and strategic playbook for creating lasting value in an ecosystem that, frankly, has drifted off course and lost some of its edge.”
Sumit Bhatia
Cofounder – Centre for Designing Change
Executive Vice-President, CyberEco

Eldon Sprickerhoff is a legend in the Canadian tech sector — for his pioneering success in founding eSentire, and also for being one of the best mentors around. Anyone who has ever wanted to start a business will benefit from Eldon’s hard-won wisdom, delivered with his usual candor, wit and humility. This is a terrific guide to building great businesses, but also, and maybe even more importantly, it is a book about how to stay sane and hopeful when the going gets tough.
–       Charles Finlay, Founding Executive Director of Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University

Eldons road from zero to $1B puts him in a rare and advantageous position to offer practical insights and strategies that are both profound and accessible. After 20 years of supporting founders and bearing witness to their challenges, Committed is one of the most real guides available for anyone truly serious about success as a start-up entrepreneur.
–       Dave Unsworth, Co-Founder and General Partner of Information Venture Partners

Every successful founder had some kind of competitive advantage. For Eldon, it was his deep experience in cyber defense and a passion for helping companies to protect their data. For first-time entrepreneurs looking to start a high-impact company today, its Committed. Any aspiring or early-stage founder should read this book.
–       Ross Haleliuk, best-selling author of “Cyber for Builders”

“First-time technical founders don’t know what they don’t know. Candid, practical advice from technical founders who have ‘walked the path’ is hard to find. I Hope “Committed” will help lighten the journey.
— Eldon Sprickerhoff

Release date: November 12th available now for pre-order:
https://www.amazon.ca/Committed-Survival-Uncommon-First-Time-Founders/dp/1738396428

Media Inquiries:
Sasha Stoltz Publicity:
Sasha Stoltz | Sasha@sashastoltzpublicity.com | 416.579.4804
https://www.sashastoltzpublicity.com

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Murphy warns Connecticut abortion law could be at risk while GOP opponent says he’s fearmongering

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While the right to abortion has been codified in Connecticut law since 1990, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy warned Wednesday night how women in the state could still be at risk if Republicans impose a national ban.

“I know that doesn’t seem possible in Connecticut. But if the Republican Party platform is put into law, then no one in Connecticut is safe,” the two-term Democrat said during a televised debate.

Even though he is favored to win reelection, Murphy echoed a key talking point Democratic congressional incumbents and challengers in much tighter races across the country have been using to capitalize on the national debate over abortion rights. That prompted Murphy’s Republican challenger, small business owner Matt Corey, to accuse Murphy of trying to scare voters.

“The state of Connecticut’s law is what it is,” he said, calling it “settled law” and that he stands by the state’s laws.

“So Senator Murphy wants to fear-monger in this election because that’s what they do in Washington. They send fear through you,” said Corey, adding how GOP leaders have said any bill that would enact a national ban on abortion would be vetoed.

But Murphy insisted that Connecticut law would be at risk if a fetus was considered a person in federal law.

“If that is indeed the law, that means that every abortion in this country would be illegal, regardless of whether you live in Connecticut, a blue state, or you live in Texas, a red state,” he said. “So I don’t think I’m fearmongering on this topic. I just think I’m reflecting what the actual Republican Party platform is.”

“I want to make sure that Connecticut families and Connecticut women get to make their own health care decisions,” he said.

Corey, who challenged Murphy six years ago and lost, then questioned Murphy’s true support for women, criticizing him for not opposing efforts to allow transgender athletes to participate in girls’ sports.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference currently has a policy of allowing transgender girls to compete in girls high school sports.

“When are men in this country going to start standing up for women’s rights? Why should women suffer?” Corey asked. “You see around the country, women are trying to stand up for what they believe in. Why should we wipe out the achievements, the scholarships, records?”

Murphy said he believes the issue of transgender student athletes should be left up to individual communities and local school boards and not the federal government. He also warned of a “campaign of fear underway in this country” to make people believe they should be scared of others with a different sexual orientation.

“There’s an epidemic of suicide and self-harm in this country amongst our gay students and transgender students,” Murphy said. “And it often happens because they are made to feel ostracized by the communities in which they live.”

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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