Issues & Our Mission

Intersectional Feminism

Intersectionality is a term coined by Kimberé Williams Crenshaw. Intersectionality considers that various forms of social stratification, such as class, race, sexual orientation, age, disability and gender, do not exist separately from each other but are interwoven together. The movement focuses on power structures and oppression. At the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth delivered a speech which essentially solidified the basis of intersectionality with her groundbreaking address known as, “Ain’t I a woman?”. Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes & collides, where it interlocks & intersects. Why does this matter? Because all oppression is connected.

For more information, visit https://www.aapf.org/intersectionality-matters

Abortion Positivity

We are taking the word “abortion” back. We are wiping the stigma away by proudly using the word “abortion". Being abortion positive means being willing to talk about abortion, what it means, an why it’s healthcare service so many people will need in their lifetime. Our hope is that, by talking about abortion, and actually using the word, we will erase the stigma attached to it and decrease the hate aimed at its supporters. It’s been 43 years since Roe v. Wade, it’s time to start a new movement in abortion activism, and we will lead it!

For more information, visit https://www.advocatesforyouth.org/abortion-out-loud

Sex Work Decriminalization

Sex work is any type of labor where the explicit goal is to produce a sexual or erotic response in the client. Criminalization exposes sex workers to abuse and exploitation by law enforcement officials, such as police officers. Decriminalizing sex work maximizes sex workers’ legal protection and their ability to exercise other key rights, including to justice and health care. Legal recognition of sex workers and their occupation maximizes their protection, dignity, and equality

For more information, visit https://swopusa.org/learn-about-sex-work/ and https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/07/why-sex-work-should-be-decriminalized

Trans Liberation

The work of trans-femme activists such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera that pushed the boundaries of the queer liberation movement to include youth of color, queer sex workers, homeless youth, and other extremely marginalized groups. Exclusion, discrimination, poverty, and a lack of political power is what is killing trans women, and, particularly, trans women of color and black trans women. We stand with the trans community and black trans women-- No TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical "feminists") allowed!

For more information, visit https://transgenderlawcenter.org/trans-agenda-for-liberation

Abortion: Not just "women's health care"

Although many people consider abortion, contraception, and pregnancy to be “women’s issues,” many LGBTQ people—including lesbian and bisexual women, transgender men, two-spirit, intersex, nonbinary and gender nonconforming individuals—can get pregnant, use contraception, have abortions, carry pregnancies, and parent. Women are, of course, targeted and victimized when abortion is restricted or criminalized — but in this, women are not alone. Women are joined in this vulnerable place by trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people who can also get pregnant, also need access to abortion care, and also are under attack by laws that seek to strip them of their basic human rights. Supporting trans abortion rights is an intrinsic good—even without the larger imperative to categorically secure abortion for all, on demand, and without apology.

For more information, visit https://www.allure.com/story/abortion-gender-neutral-language-transgender-men-nonbinary and https://www.thetaskforce.org/reproductive-justice.html

Anti-Capitalism

Feminism is about fighting for a good life for everyone, regardless of gender, race, or income. We can’t achieve that under capitalism. The patriarchy and capitalism are interconnected in oppressing marginalized folks. Racism, transphobia, and homophobia are also connected to capitalism. The only way to win the fight for equity is to connect it up with the larger global campaign for liberation in all its forms.

For more information, visit https://outraspalavras.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Feminism-for-the-99.pdf and https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/09/capitalism-socialist-feminism-inequality-sexism

Decolonization

Land Acknowledgement - to recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honoring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.

Colonization is when a dominant group or system takes over and exploits and extracts from the land and its native peoples through: the stealing of lands; the r*ping of women; the taking of slaves; the breaking of bodies through fighting, labor, imprisonment, and genocide; the stealing of children; the enforcement of religion; the destruction—or attempts to destroy—spiritual ways of life. Decolonizing is about reclaiming what was taken and honoring what we still have. This takes conscious work and effort!

For more information, visit https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-decolonization-is-and-what-it-means-to-me

Racial Justice and Anti-White Supremacy

White supremacy is the idea that white people are better and more deserving of wealth, power, and privilege than people of color. White supremacy pervades our culture, institutions, and relationships. It is a self-perpetuating system that continues to fuel colonialism, exploitation, oppressions, inequities, and brutalities that people of color experience. The characteristics listed are damaging because they are used as norms and standards without being pro-actively named or chosen by the group; and promote white supremacy thinking, both damaging to both people of color and to white people.

For more information, visit https://resourcegeneration.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2016-dRworks-workbook.pdf

Climate Justice

By endorsing the principles of Reproductive Justice—including the right to bear and raise children in healthy environments—you are advancing Environmental Justice! Both EJ and RJ seek to improve socioeconomic conditions for those living in poverty and to provide a forum for traditionally marginalized communities to advocate on their own behalf. Both frameworks and their corresponding movements developed because their mainstream counterparts failed to address the underlying social injustices giving rise to the problems EJ and RJ seek to address. It's also important to recognize that indigenous folks are most vulnerable to climate change and pollution

For more information, visit https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/FactSheetEnvironmentalJusticeandReproJustice.pdf

Anti-Imperialism

Imperialism is an important, although understated, intersection of reproductive justice. Due to Western imperialism and colonization, as well as the violent theocratic patriarchy that such intervention breeds, justice is out of reach for nations in the Middle East and North Africa. As the United States marches toward military intervention in Iran, Iranian families are once again being forced to live through war. We believe no one is illegal on stolen land. Protect immigrants, dismantle ICE, and close the detention centers on the border.

For more information, visit https://www.bpfna.org/antiimperialism-decolonization

Disability Justice

Ableism, coupled with white supremacy, supported by capitalism, underscored by hetero-patriarchy, has rendered the vast majority of the world “invalid”. Shifting how social justice movements understand disability and contextualize ableism, disability justice lends itself to politics of alliance. We honor the insights and participation of all of our community members, knowing that isolation undermines collective liberation. No body or mind can be left behind – only mobbing together can we accomplish the revolution we require

For more information, visit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5bed3674f8370ad8c02efd9a/1555969438554-F41O4T3B3MBTDM2BQ0OY/10principlesDJ2-final.jpg?format=2500w&content-type=image%2Fjpeg

Queer Liberation

First, we must understand rainbow capitalism: companies advertising for Pride while actually being allies to the community. As with other marginalized groups, once LGBTQ+ people gain (some) rights, capitalism aims to co-opt identities into lifestyles that can be marketed and sold. We should celebrate and define sexuality on our own terms, not by what products and identities the market sells us. We reject rainbow capitalism and fight for queer liberation and economic justice

For more information, visit https://www.dsausa.org/files/2017/09/Zine-Socialist-Pride.pdf