Things are different in America than they were Pre-Roe

[Nevilledog]

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What America has now that it didn't pre-Roe is generations of people whose lives have been made immeasurably better by access to legal abortion AND birth control. Today they are grandparents, parents, and people without children. Some are elected officials. Some will run soon.

They have stories to tell and I do not believe they will stop telling them. These people are living testimonies to the power of access to comprehensive, safe reproductive healthcare. Their power is enormous. Some of them have yet to step up, but many will. I am grateful to them.

If you are a woman - trans, cis, AFAB but identifying as nonbinary - who wishes to run for office, or simply to explore your options, I encourage you to check out @emilyslist. They run free trainings and they win elections all the time.

EMILY's List
EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $700 million to elect Democratic pro-choice women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million member…
http://EmilysList.org

You don't have to want to run for Senate. You could simply wonder what it might be like to try to serve on your local school board, where you could make the difference between a kid having access to real education about reproductive health.

EMILY's List
EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, has raised over $700 million to elect Democratic pro-choice women candidates. With a grassroots community of over five million member…
http://EmilysList.org

If you'd like to send money to help people who want to access abortion, or to help those providers, check out @AbortionFunds and consider a contribution. If you can't donate money, you can always just let others know that this organization exists. Wow, are they amazing.

And if you need to access abortion, here is one resource.

http://INeedAnA.com
Also check out
@SisterSong_WOC

- they do a beautiful job of showing the many ways in which reproductive justice positively impacts EVERYBODY. Because it does. Including those who fight so violently against it.

You probably know about @YellowFund but if you don't, get to know them. They do tough work.

I'm not a lawyer or legal expert, and I am so grateful to those who give their time, their expertise, and their passion to making abortion and birth control affordable and available to as many folks as possible. Thank you to lawyers and law students with this mission.

Another organization that provides help is @AIsForOrg. Get to know them, too. It's okay if you have never been interested in this fight or if you've never had an abortion or really thought about it, but are very upset today for reasons that surprise you. I'm glad you care now.

Another option is to consider running for a position or applying for a position as a leader within your faith community. If you are pro-choice (as the majority of American Catholics are) your presence as a pro-choice deacon, elder, teacher could help somebody in your community.

None of this is going to change what happened today, which is the culmination of five decades of effort by a Republican party that realized early on that it's easy to manipulate people in a faith-based setting and an evangelical Christian right that saw a chance for $$ and power.

But you have a chance, in some small way, to offer comfort through action. It may help you feel a bit better, and I assure you it's not nothing. Abortion has always existed and is still legal in most of this country, and you can help some people access it. You really can.

None of what I've said has anything to do with suppressing or "healing" your anger. Your anger WILL heal you! You need to feel your anger and express your rage in whatever way is best. But as we feel all our feelings, there are people who need a ride to a clinic two states away.

Right now, there is a woman who wants to drive her friend thirteen hours to get a legal abortion, but can't afford the gas money. There is a man who wants to help his sister get a legal abortion but can't afford the overnight stay at the motel near the clinic. You can help them.

When I was a high school teacher, one of my 14-year-old students got pregnant. Her adoptive parents were white evangelicals who would not permit her to access abortion. We all know stories like that. The organizations I've tagged above know more than we can imagine.

I know a lot of you support @NARAL. I think they're wonderful. I hope you continue to support them.

I know a lot of you support @PPFA. They are excellent and they work hard. I hope you continue to support them, especially your local chapter.

There are so many local, small organizations - charities and mutual aid organizations - that help folks get to their appointments for reproductive healthcare (abortion, yes, and also Pap smears, STI tests, UTI checks, all sorts of wonderful helpful things.) Help one near you.

I think it is wonderful if you want to protest and get in the streets, write letters to elected officials, all sorts of things like that. But don't forget that even if you've just got a couple of dollars to give to a little pro-choice group in a tiny office near you, it'll help.

Remember that resistance can be loud and it can be quiet, and it's still resistance. Some people have the power to be a sledgehammer and some people are the slow but steady drip of water eroding a rock of ignorance and pain. We need all of us, with all our different methods.

It's a hard day for a lot of folks. And it will get tougher, but you will find your way to be of service. Or you'll move somewhere else, which is also cool, please send a postcard. But anyway, while you're here, your anger can fuel good work. Thank you for reading. Take care.
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[electric_blue68]

1. TY, full of good info...

and yeah, we're not quite in the same place but we've unfortunately we have a lot of fighting ahead us bc of
this, and the other things (people) the RW will go after.

But I like the past where they pro choice people said - we'll take turns here and there. Rest at times - to be able to fight again.