We’re Getting In on the In/Out Trend Too

January 3, 2023

Felicitous new year, Meteor readers,

Wow, we’re back at it again in 2023. I, for one, have been in a time freeze since the last time we chatted. The Meteor is coming off of a seven-day vacation during which I chose to live my best life—and by that, I mean I reorganized my closet and played several hours of God of War: Ragnarok. (She’s a gam3rgrl.) I hope your end-of-year was just as exciting.

In today’s newsletter, we’re easing ourselves into 2023 with our own version of what’s in and what is absolutely out (*cough* low-rise jeans *cough*). But first, let’s take a look at the news.

Typing from the floor of my extremely clean closet,

Shannon Melero

WHAT’S GOING ON

Birth behind bars: According to the Arizona Republic, Perryville prison induced three incarcerated women before their due dates without their consent. While induction is safe in most cases, doing so before a due date is a decision between a patient and a care provider—and the women told reporters that they were not given the choice to refuse induction, and would have preferred to give birth without it. They’ve also claimed that prison medical providers insisted that the inductions were part of Arizona Department of Corrections policy—most likely as a way to decrease the prison’s liability—rather than a medical necessity, bringing an entirely new and frightening meaning to forced birth. (The ADOC did not comment on the situation, but NaphCare, the medical contractor working with the prison, denied the existence of any such policy.)

One of the women, Stephanie Pearson, told the Republic, “They just told me that someone on a different yard a few years ago went into labor in their cell, and had their baby in the cell, and that’s why they induce everyone now.”

Desiree Romero, who was also induced, said she wasn’t surprised that she wasn’t being given any choices: “I’m quite used to the prison making all these decisions for us because we are still state property.”

AND:

Groundbreaking tennis Hall of Famer and 18-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with throat and breast cancer at the age of 66. We wish her a quick recovery.

MARTINA PRESENTING THE WOMEN’S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY AT LAST YEAR’S US OPEN. (IMAGE BY DIEGO SUOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES)

The state of Missouri is set to carry out the execution of Amber McLaughlin, a transgender woman convicted of killing her girlfriend in 2003. If McLaughlin’s clemency petition is denied, she will be the first openly transgender person to die by execution in U.S. history. The real thing to consider here is why the self-proclaimed greatest country in the world still conducts the medieval practice of executions in the first place.
Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters died on New Year’s Eve after a lengthy battle with cancer. The Pointer Sisters were the first Black all-woman singing group to perform at Nashville’s Grand Ol’ Opry.

THE LAST IN/OUT LIST YOU’LL NEED THIS YEAR

You know what’s always in? Winning free stuff. We’re giving away tote bags to the first 10 people to click on the image below just as a thank you for sticking with us into the new year.