michigan abortion and pregnancy network spring 2015 newsletter

THE MITTEN MAPquarterly news from the Michigan Abortion and Pregnancy Network

Volume 1, Issue 1March 2015

the faces behind map network

is pro-choice pro-trans?

website to provide central location for resources

Page 2

Page 5

Page 6

Michigan Abortion & Pregnancy Network

1

who we are

our mission

our projects

greetings from the michigan pregnancy and abortion network

our values

• MAPNetworkisapro-choice,LGBTQinclusivecollaborativeeffortbetweentwoprogressivecollegestudentsinMichigan.

• TheorganizationservespeopleinMichiganinneedofinformationorassistanceregardingpregnancy,abortionorotherreproductivematters.

• MAPNetwork’smissionistoconnectpregnantpeopleinMichigantopregnancy,abortionandotherrelevantreproductiveresources.

• MAPNetworkispro-choice,meaningweprovidenon-judgementalinformationandresourcesonavarietyofpregnancyoutcomes.

• MAPNetworkislesbian,gay,bisexual,transgenderandqueer(LGBTQ)affirming.WeworktodeterminewhethertheproviderswelistonourwebsitearewelcomingtotheLGBTQcommunity.

• MAPNetworkvaluesthebodilyautonomyofpregnantpeople.Wedirectclientstoresourcesbasedontheclient’spreferencesandneeds.

• MAPNetwork’sfirstprojectisourwebsite.ThiscomprehensivecollectionofreproductiveresourcesinMichiganisthefirstofitskind.

• MAPNetwork’sotherongoingeffortisthecreationofadatabaseofsafehomesinMichigantoprovideshort-termhousingand/ortransportationtothosewhomusttraveltoaccessabortioncare.

2

meet the founders

kai niezgoda

LexiAchterhofisajunioratCentralMichiganUniversitystudyingsociologyandwomenandgenderstudies.Achterhofiscisgenderandrespondstoshe/her/herspronouns.AchterhofisamemberofSexualAggressionPeerAdvocates,acampusresourceforsurvivorsofsexualviolence.Thestudentactivistisalsoamemberofthepro-choiceregisteredstudentorganizationVoicesforPlannedParenthood.

Lexi achterhof

KaiNiezgodaisajunioratCentralMichiganUniversitystudyingwomenandgenderstudiesandjournalism.Niezgodaistransgenderandrespondstothey/them/theirspronouns.NiezgodaservesasaninterninCentralMichiganUniversity’sOfficeofLGBTQServicesandleadsthetransgenderstudentorganizationTranscend.NiezgodaisalsoinvolvedinStudentsAdvocatingGenderEquality,onefeministactivistgrouponcampus.3

get involvedvolunteer opportunities

open positions

MAPNetworkdependsonvolunteercontributorstoidentifyrelevant,reliableinformationfortheorganization’sonlineresource.

• Thefollowingareasofthesitearestillindevelopmentandrequiremoreadditionsbycontributors:generalpregnancy,adoption,abortionandparentingresourcesandLGBTQ-specificresources.

• Tovolunteertoresearchoneormoreoftheaforementionedtopics,contacttheorganizationatabortionnetwork@gmail.com.

• Contributors’nameswillbelistedontheMAPNetworkwebsite.

4

MAPNetworkisintheprocessofbecomingaregistered501(c)3nonprofitorganization.Beforeregistering,wemustestablishaboardofdirectors.

• MAPNetworkisseekingthreetofivededicated,pro-choice,LGBTQaffirmingboardmemberstojoinco-foundersLexiAchterhofandKaiNiezgodainrunningtheorganization.

• BoardmemberresponsibilitiesincludeguidingMAPNetworkonanexecutivelevel,assistingintheorganization’scurrentprojectsandlendingexpertisewhereoneisable.

• Boardmembersarerequiredtomaintaincommunicationwithoneanotherandattendmonthlyboardmeetingsviatelephoneorwebcam.

• Toapply,pleasesendacoverletterandresumetoabortionnetwork@gmail.com.Directanyquestionstothesameemailaddress.

map network site launch: March 27

5

OnMarch27,2015,MAPNetworkwilllaunchthefirstcomprehensiveonlineresourceforpregnancyandabortioncareinMichiganatwww.abortionnetwork.weebly.com.Resourceswillinclude:• Pregnancyandabortionresources• Adoptionandparentingresources• InformationonreproductivehealthcareclinicsinMichigan• Ournetworkofsafehomes(temporaryhousingandtransportationfor

thoseinneed,providedbyvolunteers)

Withthehelpofvolunteers,MAPNetworkhopestoexpandthebreadthoftheresourceslisted.PotentialtopicsincludeinformationonsafersexandhealthyrelationshipsandinformationontheLGBTQ-friendlinessofMichiganreproductivehealthcareproviders.

Tosuggestaresourceforthewebsite,contactMAPNetworkatabortionnetwork@gmail.com.Contributors’nameswillbeaddedtothewebsiteasatokenofourgratitude.

www.abortionnetwork.weebly.com

6

two causes, one goal: where pro-trans and pro-choice overlapIt’seasytoseetransgenderrightsandabortionaccessasseparateanddistinctissues.Accesstoabortion,orsothestorygoes,isawomen’sissue-nevermindthatnotallwomencanbepregnant,andsomemenandnon-binarypeoplecanbe.

AtMAPNetwork,werecognizetheoverlapbetweentransgenderactivismandpro-choiceactivism.Thesemovements,despiteadvocatingfromdifferentexperiencesandperspectives,shareonefundamentalvalue:therighttobodilyautonomy.

Bodilyautonomyistheconceptthatallpeopleareentitledtomakedecisionsaboutandfortheirownbodies.Fullbodilyautonomyimpliesnoonebutoneselfhasmoreauthorityindeterminingwhen,whereandhowone’sbodymustbeusedforanypurpose.

Therighttobodilyautonomyfortransgenderfolksinvolvesgivingtransgenderpeopleagencyintheir

ownhealthcaredecisionsandrecognizingtherighttogenderself-determination.Therighttobodilyautonomyforcisgenderwomenandotherfolkswhocanbepregnantinvolvesgivingpeoplefullandequalaccesstoarangeofpregnancyoptions.

Theissuesoverlaphere.Sometransgenderfolksareimpactedbyrestrictionsonabortioncareandarestrippedofautonomyalongmultipleaxes.Sometransgenderfolksaresubjectedtoforcedsterilizationinordertotransition.Thesearealsoissuesofchoice.

Fromtheperspectiveoftherighttobodilyautonomy,itisdifficulttobepro-choicewithoutalsobeingpro-trans,orpro-transwithoutalsobeingpro-choice.Innumbers,theoverlapbetweenpeopleaffectedbyanti-choicerestrictionsandtransgenderoppressionissmall.Inprinciple,thesimilaritiesarebothundeniableandcentraltothefutureofpro-choiceactivism.

THE MITTEN MAPquarterly news from the Michigan Abortion and Pregnancy Network

Volume 1, Issue 1March 2015

the faces behind map network

is pro-choice pro-trans?

website to provide central location for resources

Page 2

Page 5

Page 6

Contact Michigan Abortion and Pregnancy Networkwww.abortionnetwork.weebly.comwww.facebook.com/abortionnetworkabortionnetwork@gmail.com