A Resource Guide For Texan Feminist Creatives In Anxious Times

At Future Front, our work is guided by a commitment to improving representation and resilience in our creative and small business communities. This has a distinct relationship to our understanding of social justice in Texas—which includes reproductive justice.

We envision a Texas that acknowledges and fights against the intersectional issues that affect the health of people with uteruses, like access to resources that cover basic needs, systemic racism, transphobia, abuse and violence, sexual miseducation and more. We envision a Texas without sexual stigma—a Texas that does not work to prevent all genders and sexes from receiving appropriate reproductive care and health services.

We envision a Texas where spaces that prioritize individual agency and the communication of truthful, responsible information thrive. We envision a Texas where abortion is decriminalized. We envision a Texas where we can speak for ourselves.

So, annually, we collaborate with women and LGBTQ+ creatives, small business owners, leaders and like-minded orgs to share resources and explore reproductive health equity in Texas—through everything from creative guides to cool parties.

In response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, we’ve created this 5-minute guide to cover a few strategies to understand and support reproductive rights in Texas.

No. 1 — Understand the laws that shape Texas’ ban on abortion and other reproductive health services today.

As of June 24, 2022, The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. In Texas, this has led to a total abortion ban, as well as multiple laws regarding criminalization for those who pursue abortion. Beyond their immediate effect on those seeking abortion, this will likely lead to new attacks on reproductive rights, at large, in Texas.

Currently, there are not many protections for maternal health, gender-affirming care or other vital reproductive health areas in Texas, either.


No. 2 — Ground yourself. It’s difficult to fight for access to bodily autonomy, without an understanding of our own bodies. Make space to learn about your body and its relationship to reproductive health, if you haven’t already done so. Refresh on the systems, biases and discriminatory practices that can affect your health, too.

Penned by cultural activist and digital organizer Emma Robinson, our 2020 SOTU guide takes a look at bodily autonomy, privilege and understanding our own reproductive health.

No. 3 — Turn anxiety spirals into daily actions. Here are a few things you can do right now to lend your support to reproductive rights movements:

  • Show up for your local reproductive justice orgs and abortion funds. Amplify their work in your advocacy. Follow their lead.

  • Contact your local representatives, write op-eds, send letters and protest the policies that affect you and the health of our collective communities.

  • Sign up to volunteer with your local protesting groups, reproductive rights orgs and/or abortion funds.

  • Make a donation to an org you care about. We’re currently recommending donations to this fundraiser, which splits proceeds between Clinic Access Support Network, Frontera Fund, The Bridge Collective, Whole Woman's Health Alliance, Inc., Texas Equal Access Fund, Fund Texas Choice, Support Your Sistah at the Afiya Center, West Fund, the Lilith Fund and Jane's Due Process.

  • Champion other causes around reproductive health, like maternal mortality, inclusive sex education, access to gender-affirming care, access to sex health services, etc. There are many ways to become an advocate for reproductive rights in Texas!

No. 4 — Normalize reproductive health as a part of everyday life. Tell your friends and family members about what you know and how they can help, too.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about reproductive and sexual health. Understanding our bodies and how they work, as well as our reproductive health options (like contraceptives, abortion, gender-affirming care) transforms these topics from taboos within our culture to conditions of everyday, human life. This helps our communities join forces and better navigate the systems that attempt to legislate us all, too.

No. 5 — Spread the word in your work, life and community. Make conversation. Make space. Make art. Make room. We still have our voice. And you still have yours.

Use what you know to make a difference.

For example, we recently collaborated with Plan C and Austin-based filmmaker Lindsey L33 to create an art-film guide around abortion pill access and what that looks like today. (Click here to learn more and contribute your own art to the campaign.)

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & RECOMMENDATIONS

Where to donate:

Other Creative Initiatives To Support:

 

Want to stay involved through Future Front?

Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.

Future Front TexasguideComment