Far from DC, repreoductive rights focus of NJ event
Play a 'call ot action' in face of Trump;s return
By: Hannan Adely
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... As milions of americans tune in to watch hte inauguration of an ew president, colloeen Renee Lis' attention and time will be focused elsewhere. On Monday [01/20/2025] seh will send out reminders aobut her play "destigmatized," showing that evening in Hoboken, run through linmes and cehck on cast members' readiness.
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She does not mind missing the presidential festivities. In fact, she planned it that way.
..... The play, featuring true stories about women's reproductive rights, will serve as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey and a "call to action: as those rights are potentially at risk in a new Trump administraiton, Lis said.
..... "We are giving people an outlet, a place to go, an alternative either than doom scrolling rather than staying at home and watching a person, a convict, get inaugurated as president a second time, Lis said.
..... "Instead of marching with sings, like we did in 2017," she added, "we are going to immediately jump to do proactive things to advance our mission, which is trying to restore at a federal level the right for a women to choose what she does with her body."
..... The event takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. at the Mile Square Theater, and features five excerpts from the play, which features turn stories on topics including abortion, sexual assault, contraceptives and health care.
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Speakers will talk about ways that people can take action to protect reproductive right, such as writing to lawmakers and supporting local clinics, Lis said. The event is open to the public for a suggested donation of $20, but reservations are recommended, and available at destigmatizedshow.com .
..... Women's advocacy and health groups are concerned that the United States in Trump's second term could further roll back abortion access and health services, especially as Republicans are seated as the majority in the House and Senate.
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Republicans have called for cutting funding cuts to groups that provide information on abortions; bans on the abortion pill; restrictions to in vitro fertilization; insurance exemptions for birth control; and criminal charges for women who obtain abortion where it is outlawed and for those who help them.
..... Some states have already imposed such restrictions, after the Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that established the constitutional right to abortion.
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Since then, 12 states have imposed a total abortion ban, while others have imposed restrictions on when a woman can receive one. Some Republicans have called for a federal abortion ban, although Trump said he would veto it and that the matter should be left up to states.
..... Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan New Jersey wants to remind the public that the organization continues to provide to serve their communities.
..... "We trust our patients and our communities to make decisions about their health, their families, and their futures," said Bradeden Perdue, director of marketing and communications. "We're going to be here for our communicates that we serve, and our health centers are going to continue to provide the care. Really, the message we're looking to send is that will never change, no matter what's happening at the state level, the national level, or the global level.
Taking no chances
.... Amid concerns about a potential ban or limits on medial abortion, Governor Phil Murphy announced Tuesday [01/14/2025] in his State of the State address that New Jersey will stockpile the abortion pill.
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Advocates have also called for state lawmakers to pass legislation introduced in New Jersey that would quarrier carriers to fund reproductive health including abortion.
.... Lis said she despaired after the overturning or Roe v. Wade, possible because of the conservative swing of the U.S. Supreme Court, an event that inspired her to write," "Destigmatize." She urged people not to be complacent.
..... "When you fight so hard for something and are not successful," Lis said, "you might feel complacent or want to throw your hands up, coming together on the 20th is a way to galvanize ourselves in that mission to continue fighting for a women's right to choose."