The Parallels of Anti-Abortion and Anti-Trans Laws and What We Can Learn
Session Type(s): Panel, Streamed Session
Starts: Saturday, Jul. 15 3:45 PM (Central)
Ends: Saturday, Jul. 15 4:45 PM (Central)
Room: Continental A
For the last 50 years, right-wing policy makers have put increasingly complex laws on the books to impact how and where abortion is accessible. They are now—almost to a T—replicating those laws to limit access to gender affirming care for trans and gender non-conforming people. The result of these restrictive policies around abortion access has created a vast network of organizations that help people travel for their care (called practical support) which is now also starting to be replicated in trans health. We talk about the local, national and legal systems that exist within abortion access and how they can be understood and leveraged to support trans people who will need to travel.
Moderator
Marisa Falcon
Marisa Falcon is one of the co-founders and the Executive Director of Apiary for Practical Support, a national hub for all the groups that help people travel for their abortion care. Apiary provides technical assistance, facilitates coordination, and convenes key stakeholders to create innovative practical support interventions to the new and perpetually shifting territory that abortion seekers, workers and organizations must navigate.
Marisa has been a leader in non-profit administration for over 15 years, primarily in reproductive health and immigration, building and supporting the sustainable growth of the systems that make direct service and justice-oriented organizations effective and impactful. Marisa built Apiary with two other experts in the abortion access space to fill a gap in practical support needs of those seeking abortion, and the need for better and more coordinated resources for the direct service workers who often bear the brunt of this labor. Though Apiary came to life before Roe was overturned, the crisis that decision brought and the subsequent attacks on reproductive health care have only made Apiary’s work more relevant and urgent.
In the wake of anti-trans legislation, Apiary’s team has also begun providing assistance to organizations looking to build trans practical support systems so that the two movements can learn from and with each other.
Panelists
Walker Fitz
Walker Fitz is a non-binary, transmasc queer located in Chicago. They’ve been volunteering with practical support abortion fund Midwest Access Coalition since 2017 and have recently been hired on as the Community & Events Manager. Walker is working hard to set up free Plan B/ harm reduction vending machines in Chicago and is always advocating for more inclusion of trans and queer folks in conversations about reproductive justice. This is Walker’s first time at Netroots and they can’t wait to connect with their communities!
Mariah Moore
Mariah Moore is an award-winning national transgender rights activist from New Orleans, LA. Her work includes fighting to ensure equity, equality, and safety for the transgender community, especially Black transgender women. Mariah has worked tirelessly in New Orleans to bring awareness to communities adversely affected by discriminatory laws and policies. Mariah is the co-director of policy and programs at Transgender Law Center and the co-founder and executive director of House of Tulip, which provides housing resources to TGNC community members in New Orleans. In 2021, Mariah Moore made history as the first transgender woman to run for the New Orleans City Council raising the most campaign funds and earning enough votes to rank her 4th out of a race of 14 candidates.
Erin Smith
Erin is a Louisville Kentucky native who has always had a passion for serving their community. After graduating high school Erin attended Northern Kentucky University where they majored in Political Science and minored in Pre-Law. Upon receiving their bachelor’s degree, Erin returned home and later enrolled in the University of Louisville where they earned a master’s in Women and Gender Studies.
With the completion of their master’s degree, Erin began working for Safe Place Services as the Coordinator for Community Outreach. They later accepted a position as the Educational and Outreach Coordinator for the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission.
On May 4th,2020, Erin became the Executive Director for the Kentucky Health Justice Network or KHJN. KHJN supports Kentuckians towards achieving autonomy and justice for communities across the state of Kentucky. They, along with their staff and board, work to advocate, educate, and provide direct services to ensure all Kentuckians have power, access, and resources to be healthy and have agency over their lives. They also serve as the chair for the Louisville Pride Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and advances equity and representation for all people.