The Newsletter of the Deeds Not Words Community

November 17, 2017 | Deeds Digest No. 78

Hello, #ChangeMakers!

Deeds Not Words had a wonderful and impactful week this week. And the momentum behind that impact came primarily from some of our very own amazing, newly-trained advocates who are making their mark on a variety of important issues.

Pictured below are two of our stellar #ChangeMakers, Alie and Sophie who we met on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin just last Spring. Together with the organizations that they represent, Not On My Campus and Voices Against Violence, Allie and Sophie went through our advocacy training program and then helped to pass several laws that improve safety and freedom from campus sexual assault. But they didn't stop there! As you can see from this story in the Daily Texan, Sophie and Allie continue to make an impact on their campus, teaching other students about their rights and helping to create a culture shift there.



And later in the week, two other trained advocates from our team of #ChangeMakers, Madeline and Elizabeth, joined us alongside the Work Strong Austin coalition in advocating for Paid Family Leave for Austin employees at a meeting of stakeholders who are considering adoption of a paid leave requirement for workers throughout the city. Both Madeline and Elizabeth spoke articulately about the need for paid family leave in a gathering of employers who (to put it mildly) need some "convincing" about why paid family leave benefits both their employees and them.  

I'm so proud of these amazing young women, the courage to use their voices proactively, and the very real difference they are making in the world. I often say when speaking to future #ChangeMakers: creating change doesn't require some big grand gesture. Change comes when each of us decides to use our power in whatever way is comfortable to us. Through owning our individual part and by taking small, individual actions, we drive change. And little by little, bit by bit, we create the world we want to see.

So what are you waiting for #ChangeMakers!?! Read below for ways that you, too, can take a small action or two to make a difference. And know that I am behind you all the way!

 Much love,
-wendy

This week’s #ChangeMaker: Robyn Alice McCutcheon

As we celebrate Trans Awareness Week, we are proud to honor Robyn Alice McCutcheon: a brave and inspiring #ChangeMaker who embodies the courage it takes to be your authentic self. Robyn was the first transgender diplomat to serve in the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. Robyn’s transition was facilitated by Hillary Clinton, who was serving as Secretary of State at the time and had instituted anti-discrimination protections for transgender employees. “I was the first State Department employee allowed to change my name and gender marker in our personnel system.” Talk about a trail-blazer!

Robyn has served as an FSO in Kazakhstan for the past few years where she shared the hope of her story and her experience. “My lesbian, gay, and transgender friends in Kazakhstan were enthralled by my story. I was living and breathing proof that the world can and does change for the better ― sometimes stunningly fast.” Although she experienced many ups and downs, including the heartbreaking story of her experience trying to help a young trans woman attend college in the United States, Robyn’s determination to share her journey, stand up for the universal acceptance of humanity in the face of discrimination, anti-immigration politics, and fear, is a bold reminder for us all to keep striving for a better future. Thank you for your service and leadership, Robyn!  

Know a hero making a difference in their community? Send us a picture of someone you’d like to see as #ChangeMaker of the week and share their story. You might just see it in the next Deeds Digest.

Yes, Wednesday was national Thanks, Birth Control Day, but we are thankful for our BC each and every day of the year! We really can't live without our BC, and these five girls are willing to shout it from the rooftops... or, internet, as the case may be. Their stories demonstrate just how versatile the usage of birth control is, providing much more than just pregnancy protection (though that is reason enough to sing it's praises...), it's also a life-saving medication. Congress doesn't seem to get just how important birth control is to millions of women, and their attempts to limit access to it means we have to let them know just how important contraception is to us. So lets keep the national "Thanks, Birth Control Day" momentum going for 364 more days. Share our blog post or share your own story with the hashtag #ThxBirthControl!
Its time for us to call men into the #MeToo movement. After all, women are not the only ones effected by rape culture and sexual assault. When we call men in to participate  not only by sharing their stories of survival, but also by opening up about times when they allowed rape culture to continue (a catcall, allowing a buddy to say something degrading without comment, etc.)  we can further our strides toward ending the normalcy of sexual assault. We at Deeds Not Words are doing our part to call men into the #MeToo movement by working to engage fraternity men, beginning on the campus of Baylor University, who are looking to step up and play their role in ending rape culture. Let's ask the men in our lives to join the charge by reminding them this is their battle, too!
#ICYMI, A trans woman is being forced to stay behind bars at an all male prison in Massachusetts. She has been subjected to demeaning searches where the guards grope her, and is forced to shower in public ― always with an audience made up of her all male prison-mates. This week we celebrated Trans Awareness Week, and while the work of #ChangeMakers in the trans community has already bettered the lives of many trans women and men, we must not forget the injustices and violence the trans community still faces. The struggle for transgender people to gain freedom and protection runs as deep as our prison system. Their visibility must not be forgotten. Until transgender people are recognized and accepted by all levels of society, it's our job to keep lifting our voices in support of our shared humanity! 
Hollywood female powerhouses Emma Stone, Jennifer LawrenceMary J. Blige and more are coming together to call out sexual misconduct in Hollywood and beyond, and are demanding pay equality for women in every industry. In a round-table interview with The Hollywood Reporter, these women share their experiences of sexism and inequality in the industry, (plenty of stories to go around...), and talk about the ability to find hope for the future. They also call out the direct connection between the gender pay gap and sexual misconduct. "If women were paid equally in every industry, this wouldn't be happening," snaps AND claps to that, Emma and the rest of you badass women warriors! 👏👏👏
Roe v. Wade is more than just a Supreme Court decision. It marks the end of the era where women risked their lives to receive an abortion. The harrowing stories of women who received an abortion before Roe v. Wade stand as a chilling reminder of just how much is at stake when laws that limit abortion access are introduced. The new media campaign, created by Moyers and Company alongside Fenton, "No Choice," provides women and men a space to tell these stories, "and think about what America would be like for men and women if Roe v. Wade were no longer the law of the land: if there were NO CHOICE." We are dangerously close to getting there, #ChangeMakers. So watch this film to inspire you to help keep up the fight!
It seems like every time you turn on the news, the screen is flashing the name of another celebrity accused of sexual harassment. Well, Drizzy Drake has ascended from "Six God" heaven to bless us with a sliver of hope. At a recent concert, when the rap star witnessed a man groping a woman in the crowd, Drake called the man out  letting him and everyone else in the room know that sexual harassment is NOT gonna fly at his shows. The crowd reacted with an uproar of support for Drake's #ChangeMaking deed. That's what we call taking things from 0 to 100 real quick. 


 

We would be down with making Thanks, Birth Control Day every day of the year because birth control provides millions of women with peace of mind and the ability to achieve our goals on our own time. What's incredible about birth control is that there are so many different methods, so every woman can find what works for her best. Like seriously, #ThxBirthControl.

Fun Facts
  • Types of birth control include:
    • the pill
    • IUDs
    • condoms
    • sterilization 
    • vaginal ring
    • implants
      • ...the list goes on and on.
  • A whopping 86% of women have used 3 or more forms of birth control by the time they reach their early 40's
  • Women often have to try several methods before finding what is right for their needs and their body. 
Quality family planning is important because... 
  • Providing women full information on all their options regarding birth control (i.e, it's not just the pill!) results in improved effective use and better outcomes
    • Women who are satisfied with their current contraceptive methods are more likely to use them consistently and correctly. 
  • Every dollar spent on publicly funded family planning services saves $7 in federal and state spending on medical care related to unintended pregnancies. 
    • So... We can cut the whole "defund Planned Parenthood" act now, right? 
Not only is contraception a basic right for women, it seriously contributes to making our world a better place ― for women, men and everyone in between.  
 
#ThxBirthControl!


The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy says it best: "The power to decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant is a BFD", and it's why we are saying Thanks, Birth Control loud and proud.
Luckily, The National Campaign has made it easy to turn our love of BC into action. These Deeds show your support for birth control, all while ensuring that affordable access to BC is available to woman everywhere.

Step 1: Tell your boss
  • Talk to your employer. With the current administration's repeated attempts to take away copay-free BC, it's *majorly key* to let your employer know just how important birth control coverage is to you.
     
Step 2: Tell your friends
Step 3: Tell your representatives
  • Remind the administration that birth control needs to stay copay free, before you loose the chance to do so.
    • Use this site that makes leaving your comment easy peasy. 
      • 🚨  The public comment period ends December 5th, so tell everyone you know how important it is to make their voice heard! 🚨
 
 #ChangeMakers, lets remind the world that we won't loose copay free birth control without a fight!
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