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Vote 2004

Stem Cell Research

President Bush signs legislation banning the dilation and extraction procedure commonly called partial birth abortion. 11.05.03

A report on several recent policy moves that have become focal points in the debate over abortion rights. 01.02.03

The debate over prescription drug coverage for birth control pills. 08.13.02

President Bush's reversal of Clinton policies on abortion and the environment. 01.22.01

A discussion on the approval of RU-486. 06.20.01

NewsHour Extra:
NewsHour Extra's Vote 2004 coverage

My Story: A 17-year-old delegate at the Democratic National Convention shares his vision of what appeals to young voters. 07.26.04

My Story: A Boston teen asks, will the presidential candidates address issues that affect young people and the poor? 07.26.04

Top Story: Conventions Define Presidential Election. 07.19.04

Top Story: Senate Passes Bill Outlawing Violence Against Fetuses. 3.29.04

Top Story: Thirty Years of Roe v. Wade. 01.15.03

Top Story: U.N. Debates Abstinence. 05.08.02

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The 2004 Democratic National Convention

The 2004 Republican National Convention

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Choice USA

American Collegians for Life

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Fifteen-year-old Fiona Smith, an editor for 8-18 Media, shares her experience interviewing one of her role models, feminist icon and Democratic National Convention delegate Gloria Steinem.

Listen to Fiona's interview with Gloria Steinem

As a 15-year-old teenager in today's world, I'm concerned about my rights as a girl and whether I'll have the same rights I have now in the future. In less than a year, women's rights could either skyrocket, or deteriorate even more than they already have in the past four years. It is absolutely critical that these rights stay.

My school's sex education program is abstinence based. Teachers in my school can't tell students that sex is healthy. All they can say is that sex is bad, and that we shouldn't be having sex until marriage.

It's ridiculous and unrealistic. I would like to see this change. I think as teenagers, we should know where we can go for contraception; we should know what we need to do if we want to have sex that is safe. No one should have to say they got pregnant or an STD because no one told them where to get contraception.

I find it even more ridiculous because most of the decision makers aren't women; they will never be in our position. I think that we should have the right to choose, especially in America. I thought we could have choices in America.

As a journalist at the Democratic National Convention in Boston this year, I was assigned to cover the pro-choice party put on by Planned Parenthood at the World Trade Center in Boston. After attending the March for Women's Lives last April in Washington D.C., I was excited to go to this and talk to people about women's issues.

What I love about going to these pro-choice events is that there's so much diversity, and so many different kinds of people from different backgrounds - since I come from Michigan.

After a series of speakers, Gloria Steinem took the stage. Having no idea Steinem was going to be there, and then seeing her talk about issues that I feel strongly about, was incredible.

I was talking to members of my team going, "Do you realize how huge this is? She's one of the symbols of feminism!" I immediately went to get close to the podium to talk to her. My heart was pounding; this was huge! After waiting in a nonstop line of people wanting to talk to her, we finally got our chance.

-- By Fiona Smith, 15, an editor at 8-18 Media in Marquette, Mich., attends Marquette Senior High School. She also covered the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

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