reproductive justice links & resources

Another blizzard hit us today in the Springs. I went to an incredible symposium on reproductive justice at Auraria up in Denver, but I'm glad I decided to drive back early to miss the snow. Literally can't see further than ten feet out the window. Here are a few resources I compiled from the seminars I went to:

1. Trans* Reproductive Rights, provided by Adison Q. Petti, TransCampus Facilitator

• The Brown Boi Project: a community of masculine of center womyn, men, two-spirit people, transmen, and our allies committed to transforming our privilege of masculinity, gender, and race into tools for achieving Racial and Gender Justice. 
• Milk Junkies: A transgender dad in a gay relationship breastfeeds his baby boy. A celebration of queer families, breast milk, and attachment parenting. 
• Denver Specific: Colorado Anti-Violence Project, Gender Identity Center of Colorado

2. Environmental Reproductive Justice and Health, with Katsi Cook, Mohawk midwife and environmental activist.

• Women's Earth Alliance: WEA partners with community-based organizations globally to uplift local solutions to issues of water, food, land, and climate change by providing women with trainings, resources, and advocacy support.
• Women's Voices for the Earth: a national organization that works to eliminate toxic chemicals that harm women’s health by changing consumer behaviors, corporate practices and government policies.
• International Women's Day Article: The Intersections of Feminism and Veganism
• Book: Breasts, by Florence Williams. "An engaging narrative about an incredible, life-giving organ and its imperiled modern fate."

3. Panel    Sex work: How to Promote Human Rights for All People Involved in Sex Trades, moderated by Indra Lusero

• PRAXUS is the only organization in Colorado dedicated to serving individuals, particularly homeless youth, in domestic human trafficking situations.
• The Sex Workers' Outreach Project: a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy.
• HERE IT IS! (On original post, couldn't remember the name of this.) Matthew Jackalinski's book, Success Stories, part of which revolves around Matthew's life as a sex worker. He read us a chapter at the panel, and it was lovely.

Fave Five Tidbits of the Week

1. Some helpful hints for men surrounding feminism. Don't run the risk of even trying to mansplain before you read this.

Tip no. 7: It is similarly unfair to ask a woman to leave aside her personal experience and discuss feminist issues in the abstract. You are discussing the stuff of her life. Asking her to "not make it personal" is to ask her to wrench her womanhood from her personhood. 

2. This week's crazy story from Wired. The ending was a little abrupt, but I was totally sucked in.
Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell


3. Wow. Check it out. Shocker! Disbelief! Craziness! Condoms in schools=less teen pregnancy?!

4. (Yes. I am totally about to Fave Five myself.) This wonderful felted sweater I finally had time to finish this week. It's up here because it's a favorite sweater that needed some life breathed (needled?) back into it.

5. Last but definitely not least. Rafter's "Veggie Coming Out" or really just "The Everyday Life of Being Intentional About Your Food Choices, and Why People Hate You for It" or also "The Facebook Transcript of a Feisty Debate on Carnivore Club and..." well, just read on: