THE MITTEN MAPquarterly news from the Michigan Abortion and Pregnancy Network

Volume 1, Issue 1March 2015

the faces behind map network

is pro-choice pro-trans?

website to provide central location for resources

Page 2

Page 5

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Michigan Abortion & Pregnancy Network

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who we are

our mission

our projects

greetings from the michigan pregnancy and abortion network

our values

• MAPNetworkisapro-choice,LGBTQinclusivecollaborativeeffortbetweentwoprogressivecollegestudentsinMichigan.

• TheorganizationservespeopleinMichiganinneedofinformationorassistanceregardingpregnancy,abortionorotherreproductivematters.

• MAPNetwork’smissionistoconnectpregnantpeopleinMichigantopregnancy,abortionandotherrelevantreproductiveresources.

• MAPNetworkispro-choice,meaningweprovidenon-judgementalinformationandresourcesonavarietyofpregnancyoutcomes.

• MAPNetworkislesbian,gay,bisexual,transgenderandqueer(LGBTQ)affirming.WeworktodeterminewhethertheproviderswelistonourwebsitearewelcomingtotheLGBTQcommunity.

• MAPNetworkvaluesthebodilyautonomyofpregnantpeople.Wedirectclientstoresourcesbasedontheclient’spreferencesandneeds.

• MAPNetwork’sfirstprojectisourwebsite.ThiscomprehensivecollectionofreproductiveresourcesinMichiganisthefirstofitskind.

• MAPNetwork’sotherongoingeffortisthecreationofadatabaseofsafehomesinMichigantoprovideshort-termhousingand/ortransportationtothosewhomusttraveltoaccessabortioncare.

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meet the founders

kai niezgoda

LexiAchterhofisajunioratCentralMichiganUniversitystudyingsociologyandwomenandgenderstudies.Achterhofiscisgenderandrespondstoshe/her/herspronouns.AchterhofisamemberofSexualAggressionPeerAdvocates,acampusresourceforsurvivorsofsexualviolence.Thestudentactivistisalsoamemberofthepro-choiceregisteredstudentorganizationVoicesforPlannedParenthood.

Lexi achterhof

KaiNiezgodaisajunioratCentralMichiganUniversitystudyingwomenandgenderstudiesandjournalism.Niezgodaistransgenderandrespondstothey/them/theirspronouns.NiezgodaservesasaninterninCentralMichiganUniversity’sOfficeofLGBTQServicesandleadsthetransgenderstudentorganizationTranscend.NiezgodaisalsoinvolvedinStudentsAdvocatingGenderEquality,onefeministactivistgrouponcampus.3

get involvedvolunteer opportunities

open positions

MAPNetworkdependsonvolunteercontributorstoidentifyrelevant,reliableinformationfortheorganization’sonlineresource.

• Thefollowingareasofthesitearestillindevelopmentandrequiremoreadditionsbycontributors:generalpregnancy,adoption,abortionandparentingresourcesandLGBTQ-specificresources.

• Tovolunteertoresearchoneormoreoftheaforementionedtopics,contacttheorganizationatabortionnetwork@gmail.com.

• Contributors’nameswillbelistedontheMAPNetworkwebsite.

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MAPNetworkisintheprocessofbecomingaregistered501(c)3nonprofitorganization.Beforeregistering,wemustestablishaboardofdirectors.

• MAPNetworkisseekingthreetofivededicated,pro-choice,LGBTQaffirmingboardmemberstojoinco-foundersLexiAchterhofandKaiNiezgodainrunningtheorganization.

• BoardmemberresponsibilitiesincludeguidingMAPNetworkonanexecutivelevel,assistingintheorganization’scurrentprojectsandlendingexpertisewhereoneisable.

• Boardmembersarerequiredtomaintaincommunicationwithoneanotherandattendmonthlyboardmeetingsviatelephoneorwebcam.

• Toapply,pleasesendacoverletterandresumetoabortionnetwork@gmail.com.Directanyquestionstothesameemailaddress.

map network site launch: March 27

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OnMarch27,2015,MAPNetworkwilllaunchthefirstcomprehensiveonlineresourceforpregnancyandabortioncareinMichiganatwww.abortionnetwork.weebly.com.Resourceswillinclude:• Pregnancyandabortionresources• Adoptionandparentingresources• InformationonreproductivehealthcareclinicsinMichigan• Ournetworkofsafehomes(temporaryhousingandtransportationfor

thoseinneed,providedbyvolunteers)

Withthehelpofvolunteers,MAPNetworkhopestoexpandthebreadthoftheresourceslisted.PotentialtopicsincludeinformationonsafersexandhealthyrelationshipsandinformationontheLGBTQ-friendlinessofMichiganreproductivehealthcareproviders.

Tosuggestaresourceforthewebsite,contactMAPNetworkatabortionnetwork@gmail.com.Contributors’nameswillbeaddedtothewebsiteasatokenofourgratitude.

www.abortionnetwork.weebly.com

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two causes, one goal: where pro-trans and pro-choice overlapIt’seasytoseetransgenderrightsandabortionaccessasseparateanddistinctissues.Accesstoabortion,orsothestorygoes,isawomen’sissue-nevermindthatnotallwomencanbepregnant,andsomemenandnon-binarypeoplecanbe.

AtMAPNetwork,werecognizetheoverlapbetweentransgenderactivismandpro-choiceactivism.Thesemovements,despiteadvocatingfromdifferentexperiencesandperspectives,shareonefundamentalvalue:therighttobodilyautonomy.

Bodilyautonomyistheconceptthatallpeopleareentitledtomakedecisionsaboutandfortheirownbodies.Fullbodilyautonomyimpliesnoonebutoneselfhasmoreauthorityindeterminingwhen,whereandhowone’sbodymustbeusedforanypurpose.

Therighttobodilyautonomyfortransgenderfolksinvolvesgivingtransgenderpeopleagencyintheir

ownhealthcaredecisionsandrecognizingtherighttogenderself-determination.Therighttobodilyautonomyforcisgenderwomenandotherfolkswhocanbepregnantinvolvesgivingpeoplefullandequalaccesstoarangeofpregnancyoptions.

Theissuesoverlaphere.Sometransgenderfolksareimpactedbyrestrictionsonabortioncareandarestrippedofautonomyalongmultipleaxes.Sometransgenderfolksaresubjectedtoforcedsterilizationinordertotransition.Thesearealsoissuesofchoice.

Fromtheperspectiveoftherighttobodilyautonomy,itisdifficulttobepro-choicewithoutalsobeingpro-trans,orpro-transwithoutalsobeingpro-choice.Innumbers,theoverlapbetweenpeopleaffectedbyanti-choicerestrictionsandtransgenderoppressionissmall.Inprinciple,thesimilaritiesarebothundeniableandcentraltothefutureofpro-choiceactivism.

THE MITTEN MAPquarterly news from the Michigan Abortion and Pregnancy Network

Volume 1, Issue 1March 2015

the faces behind map network

is pro-choice pro-trans?

website to provide central location for resources

Page 2

Page 5

Page 6

Contact Michigan Abortion and Pregnancy Networkwww.abortionnetwork.weebly.comwww.facebook.com/abortionnetworkabortionnetwork@gmail.com