Recent Updates: Teach-ins, repro news, and more

August 2, 2024

We have some exciting upcoming events, opportunities to get involved, and other news in the landscape of LGBTQ+ rights and reproductive freedom. Check out this wrap of all things new at Gender Justice!

Crisis Pregnancy Center Teach-In

We are teaming up with the Minnesota Abortion Action Committee (MNAAC) to bring back another teach-in on the anti-abortion fake clinics known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers.

Participants will learn about:

• What crisis pregnancy/anti-abortion centers are and how to identify them
• How crisis pregnancy centers are connected to broader right-wing and anti-abortion movements
• How you can take action to combat the harms of crisis pregnancy centers

The teach-in will take place virtually over Zoom on Wednesday, August 21, at 6:30 p.m, and you can sign up to join us here!

PFund Revitalization Campaign

With the sudden closure of Rainbow Health, one of Minnesota’s largest queer-serving nonprofits, the LGBTQ+ community in Minnesota faces significant gaps in vital services. Trusted LGBTQ+ organizations are stepping up to fill these gaps swiftly, but we need your support. Donations to PFund’s Revitalization Campaign will support the critical work provided by The Aliveness Project, Family Tree Clinic, and other trusted, community-led organizations.

PFund Foundation, born out of the early AIDS crisis, raises and distributes essential operating funds for critical LGBTQ+ organizations, and you can learn more and donate to the Revitalization Campaign here!

Now Accepting Applications for Law Student Interns

Gender Justice is now accepting applications for Fall and Spring Semester Legal Interns! During your internship, you’ll assist with ongoing Gender Justice cases. You will also learn about the legislative and policy advocacy, administrative advocacy, public education, organizing, outreach, and coalition work that accompanies our litigation.

You can read more and apply here!

New Reproductive Justice Policy in Hennepin County

We applaud the action by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to cease prosecuting pregnant people for drug use. Rather than focusing on criminalization, the office will instead redirect their efforts toward providing support, treatment, and prenatal care—truly a meaningful and important step towards reproductive justice.

“Punitive measures and coercion only serve to strip pregnant people of their bodily autonomy, jeopardize pregnancy outcomes, and make families less safe,” says Jess Braverman, Gender Justice legal director. “The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office is taking a positive step towards decriminalizing pregnancy and dismantling the health care to prison pipeline.”

Find Us at August Pride Events!

Pride month might have been in June, but this August, we will be at more local Pride events, and we hope to see you there! You can find us at:

• Range Iron Pride: Saturday, August 10 – Iron Trail Motors Event Center, Virginia MN
• Fargo-Moorhead Pride: Saturday, August 10 – Bluestem Center for the Arts, Moorhead MN
• POC Pride: Sunday, August 18 – Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis MN
• Duluth-Superior Pride: Saturday, August 31 – Bayfront Festival Park, Duluth MN

If you attend, be sure to find the Gender Justice table and say hello!

P.S. August 13 is a primary election day, remember to mark your calendars!