at state of the uterus,
we stand to dismantle the stigma that prevents all genders and sexes from receiving appropriate reproductive care and health services. We stand to acknowledge and fight against the intersectional issues that affect the health of women-identifying people, like access to resources that cover basic needs, systemic racism, transphobia, abuse and violence, sexual miseducation and more. We stand to create spaces that prioritize individual agency and the communication of truthful, responsible information. We stand to decriminalize abortion. We stand for ourselves.
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donate to sotu.
In 2020, we’re committed to raising funds for the Afiya Center, Deeds Not Words, Casa Marianella, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and bbatx (the organization behind SOTU)!
Text SOTU to 512-829-3248 or donate in honor of SOTU directly at bossbabes.org.
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DOWNLOAD OUR SOTU GUIDE AND sign up for a feminist 2020.
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. It then leaves you with a list of organizations to donate to that challenge abortion stigmas and inaccessibility. Fill out the form below to download the guide and subscribe to monthly SOTU action items from Alex Perez-Puelles, a reproductive rights advocate and board member at BBATX. (You’ll also get updates on SOTU 2021!)
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commit to a year of feminism in 2020.
Over the next 12 months, we have a 12-step action plan for our friends and family invested in reproductive health and busting sex stigmas. Below is a month-by-month map from BBATX Executive Director Jane Hervey and BBATX board member Alex Perez-Puelles. Follow along with us each month as we tackle these goals and hold ourselves accountable to showing up for the things we care about, and make sure you subscribe above to get monthly updates and reminders in your inbox.
In the meantime, click here to read up on 12 ways you can show up for reproductive rights—right now.
january 2020 // tell somebody.
Tell somebody you care about reproductive rights. Share your stance on social media, talk to your friends and normalize conversations about reproductive care, access to abortion and bodily autonomy. You can even use some of illustrator Jasmine Brooks’ illustrations from SOTU 2019. Click here to browse them all and download them for free.
FEBRUARY 2020 // learn more about reproductive justice frameworks.
If you’re based in Austin, Texas, attend The Abortion Teach-In hosted by Southern Insurgence at BBATX’s headquarters on February 20, 2020 from 7 to 9 PM. This event is free with an RSVP, and it will cover many of the topics addressed in Emma Robinson’s 2020 guide for SOTU. Click here to RSVP. Can’t make the event? Scroll to the top of this page and enter your email, so you can download a copy of the guide and read on your own.
MARCH 2020 // challenge sexual health stigmas.
In March, we’ll be looking at some of the stigmas in our communities that keep us from accessing healthcare. Take this survey from the KIND Clinic to share your thoughts on what those barriers might be.
APRIL 2020 // advocate for domestic violence awareness.
This month, we encourage you to learn more about organizations that care for survivors of sexual violence, assault and domestic abuse, in light of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Look into the work of the Survivor Justice Project, the Survive2Thrive Foundation and SAFE Austin.
may 2020 // SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO GIVE BIRTH.
In May, we’ll focus on birth justice. How do we show up for parents? How do concepts of bodily autonomy play out when it comes to birth? We’ll look at organizations like Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, who provide free pregnancy, birth and postpartum support for Black and Latina women in Austin. We’ll also explore spaces like BORN INTO THIS, an annual conference in Austin, Texas carving out time and community for parents, birth workers and leaders to discuss reproductive health.
JUNE 2020 // LIFE’S A SPECTRUM, BABY.
We believe PRIDE should be year-round, but June is a good a time to celebrate as any. Use the month of June to become a better ally. Learn more about how to better support LGBTQIA+ folks in your community with this comprehensive guide on gender inclusivity by PFLAG.
JULY 2020 // PRACTICE PLEASURE ACTIVISM.
Showing up for the things we care about can be difficult, hard work. This month, we encourage you to read “Pleasure Activism” by Adrienne Maree Brown, which explores ways to prioritize pleasure when times are tough.
AUGUST 2020 // become period-positive.
In August, we’re advocating for menstrual health. Learn more about your body. Sexual miseducation and misinformation are real. Don’t be afraid to lean in. If you came from a uterus, we suggest reading “Period Power” by Nadya Okamoto. You can also donate menstrual health items to Flo Code, so they can continue providing period care items to displaced folks in Austin, Texas.
SEPTEMBER 2020 // show up for immigrant rights.
In September, we encourage you to get out and volunteer for Casa Marianella (they’re also one of our SOTU beneficiaries!). Casa Marianella has worked to welcome displaced immigrants and promotes self-sufficiency by providing shelter and support services in East Austin since 1986. Learn more about Casa Marianella here.
~ Volunteer at Casa Marianella or Posada Esperanza! Volunteers teach ESL, help shelter residents get to vital legal, medical, and immigration appointments, tutor migrant children enrolled in public school, assist community members with moving into and furnishing their first homes post-shelter, and caring for the shelter space by cooking, cleaning, and providing house maintenance support. Contact volunteer@casamarianella.org to get involved.
~ Join Casa Marianella on the last Sunday of every month for a dinner of Mexican and Ethiopian food, live music, and dancing at Convivio in Casa's backyard. Convivio is a monthly gathering to welcome our community of recently arrived immigrants from around the globe to their new home in Austin, Texas. Details on Casa's Facebook page.
~ Donate to support Casa Marianella's work reuniting immigrant families separated by DHS, providing shelter and supportive services to asylum-seekers, and helping displaced migrants settle into safe homes in Austin.
OCTOBER 2020 // listen.
This month, we’re going to read and listen to others’ experiences. Here’s a good reading list to start with.
NOVEMBER 2020 // vote.
Do your research and make informed voting decisions. Make sure you’re getting your information from diverse sources. Seek out experts, and do not get sucked into the zeitgeist of public opinion. (We recommend keeping up with voter guides published by the League of Women Voters in Austin, Texas.) And when you vote, show up for the intersections of identities that exist in your community. Life is a spectrum and access to health care and bodily autonomy affects us all.
december 2020 // plan your 2021.
You are valued and needed. And you did it—you showed up for 12 months and all of those little actions make a difference. Looking toward 2021, how are you going to show up for human rights next year?