September 17, 2024

Ms. on the Move: Let’s Talk About Sex

by Alanis Alvarez and Elaine Hunt

Members of the Ms. Foundation team often have the opportunity to travel around the country (and sometimes the world!) to learn from and share their expertise with feminists and leaders in the fights for gender and racial equity. The Ms. on the Move series offers a glimpse inside these experiences, and a chance for team members to share what they learned. 

Where were you? 

We attended Let’s Talk About Sex, which is the nation’s largest reproductive justice conference, hosted by SisterSong, the National Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. 

What did you do there? 

Primarily, we learned! We attended sessions that covered a range of reproductive justice issues – from community organizing to advancing abortion policy in red states to building narratives that change culture. We got to learn so much both from the sessions and from conversations we were a part of and were happening around us. 

Who were you in community with?

We had the chance to meet folks in the reproductive justice space at all levels. We spoke to and heard from grantee partners, grassroots organizers, national leaders, doulas, sex educators, health practitioners, and more. It was also a great chance to spend time with Ms. Foundation colleagues in a non-work environment! 

Were there any event highlights or learnings to share?

AA:  My biggest takeaway from the conference was the validation that bold campaigns are our collective way forward. I attended a session titled Advancing Bold, Pro-Abortion Policy in Red States, focusing on Texas abortion funds working to advance pro-abortion policy in hostile political landscapes, including a discussion around Rosie’s Law. Lilith Fund Campaign Director Ana Rodriguez Tenorio shared that research shows bold campaigns don’t shut people out – instead, they can embolden those who may previously have had no interest in political issues and expand the number of people engaged. This is something anti-abortion organizers have long understood and practiced. She explained that citizens in red states like Texas or Florida would be more likely to actively campaign for issues that matter to them if those campaigns were bold enough to promise real, exciting change. Ana also shared another crucial element of intentional campaigning: considering the future impact of today’s choices. Arguments that push bills or shift narratives should be built on the values of the world we want. It has never served us to undercut our values of equality in the present fight because all struggles are connected. She explained that we mustn’t make the future harder for ourselves by limiting our possibilities and minimizing our values.

Finally, one of my favorite quotes from the conference was: “organizers are hope dealers.”

EH: Given the timing and location of the conference (Washington, D.C.), democracy was a major theme in all the conversations we had. In one of the opening sessions, we heard from a few national movement leaders. URGE Executive Director Kimberly Inez McGuire expressed that for her, democracy doesn’t just mean ensuring folks can safely get healthcare, but that healthcare is localized. “People shouldn’t have to leave the community they live in to get abortions and gender-affirming care,” she said.  

In the same panel, Feminist Women’s Health Center Executive Director Kwajelyn Jackson said, “the thing I’m most focused on when we think of democracy is changed living conditions.” She explained that you can have an incredible 10-year policy plan, or a great marketing campaign, but she’s focused on what work will make an actual, tangible difference in the day-to-day lives of her community. 

To learn more about SisterSong and their work, check out their website!