The Newsletter of the Deeds Not Words Community
April 22, 2021 | Deeds Digest No. 186

Hey #Changemakers,

Our bodies are being attacked through every angle in the legislature this session. From limiting our voting rights, to preventing doctors from providing life-saving care to trans youth. But I want to talk to you right now about a bill that is attacking our right to a safe and legal abortion.  

There are currently 7 anti-abortion bills moving forward in the legislative process. Within the slate of bad bills, there’s HB 1515— the worst anti-abortion bill filed across the country.  We need to do everything in our power to stop it from receiving a vote in the House next week. 

What is HB 1515?

🚨  This is an extreme and dangerous bill that would outright ban abortion in the state before most people even know they are pregnant.

🚨  It will create petty and harassing lawsuits against anyone who helps patients access abortion care.  

  • This includes: Doctors, hospitals, nurses, family members, friends, or anyone who helps a person get an abortion could be sued.

  • Helping can be defined as: sending your friend a text talking about abortion as a viable option, driving your friend to a clinic, etc. 

🚨  There is no exemption for rape/incest

  • This means that a SANE nurse or whoever provides a SAFE exam— that suggests abortion as a viable option to a survivor— can be sued by the rapist.  

🚨  Creates a hard pathway for litigation for providers 

  • Abortion litigation is usually against the State, but this bill does not have any state enforcement.

🚨  It is part of a national strategy to create bad precedent for other States, with the end goal of potentially overturning Roe v. Wade. 

Texans need real meaningful action to recover from the energy crisis and this pandemic. What we don’t need is attacks on our right to a safe, legal, time-sensitive abortion. 

It’s imperative that we make our voices heard by calling the Texas House Speaker to tell him you do NOT support HB 1515 and help stop it from moving forward in the legislative process. Call now at (512) 463-1000 and click here for our script on what to say when you call. 

We need to speak up now more than ever, Changemakers. 

In Solidarity,
Andrea Reyes, Deeds Not Words Political Director 

Watch our latest Deeds Debunks Episode!

Our amazing chapter of Changemakers at UT Dallas were featured in our latest episode of Deeds Debunks! Our digital series tackling misinformation around issues YOUth care about, this quick video breaks down why CPC’s (Crisis Pregnancy Centers) are harmful to vulnerable people coming to seek actual resources and help. Instead, CPCs often give out biased misformation to dissuade them from seeking an abortion. 

🌟 Click here to learn more and watch on our IGTV! 🌟
 

End Tampon Tax: #TXLege Update

Last week HB 321, a bill to remove the tampon tax, received a hearing in the Ways & Means Committee! Our friends @ TX Menstrual Equity Coalition signed up in record numbers to provide testimony! 

Unfortunately, our prematurely unmasked Capitol is still restricting how young people across TX can show up in person. But that didn’t stop us!

We asked you, #Changemaker to sign on if you support ending the tampon tax, and you delivered! So far this week we received over 400 signatures in support of ending the tampon tax. We sent this over to Rep. Howard’s office in support of her bill, AND your signature is helping us get this bill noticed! 

Let’s keep making noise by contacting the Chair of the Ways & Means Committee Rep. Morgan Meyer at (512) 463-0367 or on Twitter at @MorganMeyerTX and ask for HB 321 to receive a vote!

George Floyd Trial Verdict: Derek Chauvin Found Guilty on All Counts

It’s difficult to imagine deliberating on what video footage clearly showed the world last summer. Nearly a year after George Floyd was killed in police custody, sparking an unprecedented social justice movement across the country, the police officer who kneeled on his neck for nearly ten minutes was found guilty of all three counts against him. Chauvin pleaded not guilty on all counts and may face up to 40 years, but the duration of his sentence has not yet been announced. Philonise Floyd, Floyd’s brother, called the ruling “historic.” Although this does not make up for the irreparable harms of police violence on Black communities, nor does this ensure justice or change, it is a hopeful step in the right direction for accountability. 

Here’s more of what’s inspiring us…

Texas lawmakers advance bills blocking access to gender-affirming health care despite opposition from LGBTQ Texans, medical associations

Under a slate of legislation moving in the Texas Senate and House, transgender youth in Texas won’t be able to receive gender-affirming healthcare until their 18th birthday. This would prevent a transgender child in Texas from pursuing puberty blockers, hormone treatment or surgery for the purpose of gender confirmation. Not to mention, taking this a step further with bills that block healthcare providers from performing gender-affirming surgery or prescribing hormones to anyone under 18, and even revoke their medical licenses if they do. Despite the Texan families and medical associations vocalizing the harms of such measures, these bills are moving through the legislative process.

Here’s more of what has us fired up…

📢  Banner Challenge Alert! 📢

Merge your Art and Advocacy with a creative tool for action! As we mentioned, HB 1515 is on the fast track to the Governor’s desk. We still have a chance to stop it! Next week this bill is hitting the House Floor for a vote. After you call your Rep. and Speaker Phelan, take action by following our toolkit below! 

Click here and use our toolkit to create a banner using this graphic created by our Art Director. Follow her @edithvalledesign!  



This Friday at Rush Hour, if you’re comfortable, head to a populated spot and safely drop your banner! Snap a picture, tag us @deedsnotwords, and post on social using the hashtags #TXDeservesBetter and #StopHB1515

#Changemaker of the Week: Carla Ramazan
 

Carla is our campus organizer at the UT Dallas chapter of Deeds Not Words, where she is leading her campus on issues of menstrual equity and reproductive rights! Read more about their recent achievements.

“UTD Deeds is honored to have received a Worsfold Grant. We will use the funds to implement menstrual equity initiatives on campus to ensure that everyone has access to such hygiene products at UTD. Additionally, our chapter enjoyed contributing to the “Deeds Debunks” series with an episode about crisis pregnancy centers. Such centers pose a real danger to public health and prevent people from being able to medically informed decisions about their pregnancies. It felt empowering to film this segment and have it be shared widely on Deeds Not Word’s social media.”

We see you, Changemaker! 👏

The Legislative Session is officially in full swing! Support of our work during this time will help us reach our goal of training 150 young people on how to provide testimony so they can make their voices heard!
🎉 Support our Changemakers 🎉
Share
Tweet
Forward
Unsubscribe from this list     Update subscription preferences

Copyright © 2016 Deeds Not Words, All rights reserved.
Deeds Not Words
PO Box 6009
Austin, TX 78762