Beyond the Fatigue
Hello Repro Warriors! I’ve heard a lot about activism fatigue lately, and I’ve felt it too. It has been a brutal couple of years where we keep flying past norms of civility and decency. Everyone should take a break when they need to in order to recharge because it will be all hands on deck come late summer and fall.
I did in January – and now I’m back!
Where We Are Now
I was watching coverage of the special election in New York last week. On MSNBC, commentators were saying before the election that repro wouldn’t be much of a driver because New York is safe on abortion. Huh? A federal election for a seat in Congress where, ultimately, we are going to need to pass national legislation protecting reproductive freedom isn’t important to New Yorkers? It’s remarkable how frequently commentators underestimate the importance of this issue for women everywhere. It’s not a fringe benefit or a perk; it’s a fundamental building block for living your life.
In that same vein, the other fallacy I’d like to burst right now is that national organizations and organizers are going to ride into states and save the day. “No One’s Coming to Save Us” presumes that people need saving, or that the national orgs know how to save them. It’s a hard no on both counts. No, we don’t. What we actually need is for consultants and “experts” and pundits to get out of the way. We know it’s not about money or polling or TV ads. We know how to roll up sleeves and get calling, knocking, and emailing our friends and relatives and neighbors in order to win elections. We’ve been doing this as evidenced in Kansas, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts and Wisconsin.
Our country is going to be saved by grown-ass women who aren’t asking for permission to do what needs to be done. In other words, us.
What to Know and Do Right Now
I used to feel that they fought harder on repro and were more creative. Not anymore! Here are exciting new initiatives that you should check out, share with people, and support:
Move Indigo. Move Indigo is a brilliant idea! They are providing recommendations to people who are moving to make all things equal, access to good jobs and schools, LGBTQ+ and repro friendly, and recommend swing districts where their votes matter a lot.
Find Out PAC. Gina Ortiz Jones, the former undersecretary of the Air Force, formed this PAC after Kate Cox was denied an abortion in TX. Its mission is to get out the vote to protect repro rights this year in Texas. Created by Texans for Texans – that’s the way to do it! And watch the video on the home page – it’s awesome!
Become an Impact Investor. We need to move money to where it matters the most. One way to do that is to invest in companies dedicated to reproductive health and justice. This isn’t a new field, Rhia Ventures has been doing this successfully for years. Here is more from Bridgespan on how to do this. What you may not know is that you may be able to make these investments directly from a donor advised fund. Here is more on how to make that happen. Or shoot me a note and I will direct you to the right place. We need more financial capital dedicated to repro justice and freedom!
To recap: rest, revive, make your list of people who need to know what to do this year, and when you’re ready, roll up your sleeves and get back to work. C’mon folks, we have a nation to save!