Noise Makers.

“The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” – William James



I’ve been watching the news, much like we all have, with great intrigue of late. The Republican candidate for the office of President is being asked to provide copies of his tax refunds for a large number of fiscal years, and he has declined to offer any more than two years worth. He has stated staunchly that he will not release any more information on the topic, that the American people have all the information they need with regards to his financials, and that this is a matter of private information that need not be discussed further. I can’t help but laugh at this, especially when I consider that this candidate’s party has worked very hard to turn the personal matters of women across the country into a very public debate and yet, very few people are putting their foot down to say “Enough already – you don’t get to make decisions about our bodies any more – end of discussion!” This begs the question: why do Americans tolerate privacy when it comes to money but not to medicine? Why do Americans respect women so little that the privacy of a woman to make reproductive health choices with her doctor must also involve her senator and her senator’s priest? Why do Americans continue to allow the systematic shaming of 51% of the U.S. population?


I was once traveling on a plane from Orlando, Florida after a family vacation, where I found myself sitting next to a woman in her mid 40’s, who was just as chatty as I am. We found that we had plenty in common: she happened to be from Upstate New York, just like me, and she happened to be returning from the Virgin Islands because the beach is her favorite respite, just like me. I felt an instant connection to this woman. I felt she was a kind, compassionate, funny lady and I enjoyed her sense of humor, her stories, and indeed, her attitude in general. I felt safe talking with her about all sorts of things: my recent & tumultuous break up with a man I had felt I’d marry and start a family with, the miscarriage that occurred in the aftermath of that relationship’s demise, the challenges of being away from my family and closest friends during such a traumatic time. I shared intimate stories with this woman, whom I will call Annie, and I did so because my gut instinct told me that she was a safe person to talk with, to share with.


And yet, despite discussing the loss of a pregnancy, the ugliest of break ups, the intimate details of internet dating, and a plethora of other personal experiences, I had to think twice before I answered her seemingly harmless question: “So, what do you do for a living?”


At the time, I was a nurse in the recovery room of an abortion care facility. In addition to my duties as a nurse doing patient intake for procedures, medicating patients, caring for women during their procedures, and preparing women to go home after their procedure with the appropriate aftercare information, I had also begun training as a counselor at this facility. This role saw me talking with women about their choices and how they had come to the decision to terminate their pregnancy, being mindful to ensure that this was the woman’s choice, and not one as a result of coercion from her partner, her family, or any other force in her life. Every day that I came to work, I was forced to walk from my car to the front door of my job through a crowd of protesters, some of whom merely prayed quietly and offered me prayer cards, while others attempted to block my entrance into work while screaming and calling me hate filled names like “Baby Killer”. I knew firsthand how difficult it was to BE a nurse at an abortion care facility and so as a result, I also knew how difficult it was to TELL someone that I was a nurse at an abortion care facility. And so when Annie innocuously asked me what I did for a living, I hesitated with good reason. Here I was on a plane 30,000 feet in the air, and unsure of whether my seatmate would accept my answer with support or opposition. It was a familiar problem for me, because the fact is, it’s not easy to say you work in an abortion care facility and it’s even harder to say you’ve had an abortion in a culture that has turned a women’s intimate choices about her own personal healthcare into a national debate fit for all ears. But why is that?


1.37 million abortions happen in the United States every year, which is roughly 3, 700 abortions a day. 52% of those are performed for women under the age of 25. It is estimated that 43% of all women will have at least one abortion by the age of 45 and that 7 in 10 women of reproductive age are sexually active. 98% of women who have ever had sex report having used at least one form of birth control. 62% of women of reproductive age currently use contraception, which is double that of the 31% of women who don’t use contraception because of issues such as infertility; current pregnancy; post partum; sexually inactive; and those who are actively trying to become pregnant. This leaves 7% - that’s seven percent – of women of reproductive age at risk of unwanted pregnancies.** The numbers don’t lie, really – Women are having abortions. Women are using contraception. Women are having sex. And yet, I still worry about telling a relative stranger that for my job, I help women choose the appropriate birth control for their lifestyle, that I assist women in discussing the realities of their pregnancy & how they will move forward in managing either its continuance or termination, and that I hold women’s hands as they leave the recovery room of a facility safe in the knowledge that they have received quality, legal healthcare with dignity & respect. My voice is stifled because of fear, and its representative of what women who choose abortion must live with every day. And simply put, this is not fair and it must change.


As it turns out, my gut told me that it would be safe to share with Annie what my real job was. So instead of saying to Annie, “Oh, I’m a nurse in women’s health care”, I told her, “I am a nurse in the recovery room of an abortion care facility. I help women before and after their procedures, and I also do some counseling for the facility, which is the first step in obtaining an abortion where I live.” Annie’s face was frozen in a half smile, and for a brief moment I feared that I’d made the wrong choice. And then, a tear rolled down Annie’s cheek. And she shared a story with me that I will never forget and one that I will share with you now:


Annie had a 17 year old daughter who was graduating high school that year. She was excited to be attending a respected state university and looking forward to a career in teaching. Her daughter had a long term boyfriend and it was just after Christmas at the end of the past year that Annie’s daughter & boyfriend came to her to tell her that she was pregnant. Annie shared with me the very raw emotions of learning of her daughter’s unplanned pregnancy: the anger, the sadness, the fear. She asked her daughter what she wanted to do and her daughter stated tearfully & with eyes full of fear and angst that she had talked to a few facilities on the phone about her options and that she believed an abortion was the best decision to secure the best life & future for all concerned parties. Annie did not agree with abortion, but she wanted to support her daughter the best she could and despite the conflict it presented to Annie spiritually, she admitted that it was a relief of sorts that this choice was available to her daughter, whose life seemed ready to crumble into pieces in front of her. Annie prayed for several days about this personal dilemma, and ultimately felt that God would always respect her and her daughter and that through these conversation s of prayer she was able to quiet the fear that society would judge her daughter & family without knowing the monstrous impact a pregnancy would have on her daughter’s young life. So Annie took her daughter to the clinic where she spoke with counselors and had ultrasounds and ultimately solidified her decision to terminate her pregnancy. Annie was, in her words, overwhelmed with a “guilty sense of relief”. And then, like 3,699 other women ever day, Annie’s daughter had an abortion. And Annie told no one. Not her daughter’s father, not her best friend whom she’d known for 20+ years, not the coworker whose sister had also had an abortion and spoke openly about amongst their colleagues. Annie kept her daughter’s abortion deep inside her and uttered nothing about it to anyone. She felt shame building within her spirit and she longed to discuss the situation with someone – anyone, in fact. And then she met me. Annie told me that the minute I told her that I was a nurse in an abortion care facility she knew that God was sending her the affirmation she needed to move forward knowing she had done the right thing for her daughter. She knew in her heart that God was saying to her that she could share this story, how it affected her & her family, and not feel ashamed. She told me, through tears, that when I proudly shared the work I do as a nurse in helping women, she felt a strong connection to not just me and my professional experience, but to her daughter as well. That there were people unafraid to lift their voices and share their stories, gave Annie hope and affirmation that she had nothing to be ashamed of and furthermore that she hoped her daughter was as proud of herself as Annie was for making the choice that was best for *her* and no one else. Annie eventually wiped her tears and thanked me, and we parted ways at the end of our flight with a hug. I will never forget Annie and I know she will never forget me.


But why is this story so unique? Why does it take an isolated place miles upon miles in the air with a stranger to talk about abortion and who or how it has affected your life and the life of those you love, positively? Why do we continue to perpetuate this climate of silence, of shame against those who exercise their freedom of choice? 43% of women will have had an abortion by the time they turn 45 years old. And that’s 43% of women who are being bullied into speechlessness. How will YOU help to remind those 43% that their voices matter? How can we all remind woman that they should not be ashamed for taking spiritual & physical control of their bodies? How will we change the negative culture of shaming women for not only answering God’s call to pray but for listening to his answers and applying that personal interaction as they see fit in their lives? It has been said that oppression can only survive through silence. So if you ask me, it’s time to make some noise.


~ Joey Bellerdine


**Statistics courtesy of The Guttmacher Institute. (http://www.guttmacher.org/sections/abortion.php)

Support Faith Aloud today!

Three Easy Ways to Support Faith Aloud Right Now:

1. Help us with our strategic planning by filling out our survey. It will only take a few minutes. Your opinions will help us shape the future of Faith Aloud.

2. Join our Cause on Facebook and become a member by donating $25.

3. Share our YouTube videos with your friends.

And don't forget to mark you calendars for the Sex and Religion Trivia night coming up on August 28th!

Michael Orlando Changes His Mind!

Today Faith Aloud received the following e-mail from Michael Orlando (see previous posts to catch up on the story). Thanks to everyone who wrote to Mr. Orlando opposing his decision to deny us service based on our political and religious beliefs.


Recently the Orlando family made a public statement that, due to our Pro Life beliefs we would no longer provide services to Planned Parenthood and Faith Aloud because their views did not agree with our family beliefs. Given the family dynamic of our business this decision was made from an emotional place without considering all of the consequences. We have since learned that this Pro Life stance has been considered by some to be an act of discrimination. That was never our intention. Orlando’s has never discriminated against anyone and has a reputation of generosity and fairness in our community. We would like continue supporting our community without discrimination to any organization regardless of their political or religious beliefs. We strongly believe in the values of diversity and equality that have made our country great. While we as a family uphold the values of our faith and will continue to be Pro Life, we will not inflict our beliefs on our customers. We will respectfully offer our catering and facilities to any organization that has an interest in using them despite our differences. We apologize to anyone we may have offended in our previous decision and look forward to serving our entire community equally.

Michael Orlando
General Manager
Orlando's Catering and Event Design
314-842-2877

Letters to Michael Orlando

These are letters that Faith Aloud's Executive Director and Board President have sent to Michael Orlando in response to his decision to no longer serve Faith Aloud:

A Letter from the Rev. Rebecca Turner, executive director of Faith Aloud, to Michael Orlando

May 7, 2009

Dear Mr. Orlando:

I was quite shocked and disappointed to receive your email stating that you would no longer welcome our business simply because we are a pro-choice organization. It is disappointing that you would give in to angry protesters carrying hostile signs about your business rather than supporting the paying customers who were well-behaved.

On the St. Louis Catholic blog, it quotes you as saying you will no longer provide services to Planned Parenthood. We are not Planned Parenthood and never have been. We are an organization of religious groups and individuals. At the banquet were dozens of clergy. There were also many politicians and directors of several other non-profit agencies. They are all quite dismayed to hear of your announcement and many have vowed to remove their business from you.

It seems to me it would have been very easy for you to tell the detractors that you cannot check the political and religious status of your customers. But instead you've publicly declared that you can't serve pro-choice organizations. That list is so much longer than you probably realize.

I am saddened for the position in which you have placed yourself and saddened that we will not be enjoying the excellent services provided by your wonderful staff.

We will have no difficulty finding another banquet center who will welcome our business.

Sincerely,

Rev. Rebecca Turner

Executive Director of Faith Aloud

A Letter from Rev. Krista Taves, board president of Faith Aloud, to Michael Orlando

Mr. Orlando,

I am the Rev. Krista Taves, minister of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Chapel and president of the Board of Faith Aloud. For the last two years, I have attended Faith Aloud's banquet at your facility and was very pleased with the quality of service. I am deeply disappointed with the decision you have made. I can respect our differences of opinion, but your decision to take the profit you made from our loyal patronage of your facility and donate it to those who oppose us is very disturbing and very insulting. You have disrespected those who honored you and trusted you with their business. Furthermore, you have affirmed the disrespectful and abusive behavior of the protestors who met us at your doors. I can certainly respect your belief that abortion is wrong, but the extreme and inhumane tactics of those protestors is a form of violence that should not be condoned by anyone. You have now validated and condoned that violence.

I will do what I can to ensure that many become aware of your decision and I will urge them to boycott your business. I conduct many weddings and am frequently asked for referrals for reception locations. I will explicitly encourage those couples who come to me not to use your

facility and I will tell them why. I will also refuse to officiate at wedding ceremonies held in your banquet facilities. You can be sure that the thousands of Unitarian Universalists in this city will also not be availing themselves of your services.

Rev. Krista Taves

Faith Aloud board president

ORLANDO'S CATERING WON'T SERVE PRO-CHOICE PEOPLE!

Well folks, its official...the rumors are true. Orlando's Banquets and Catering has caved to the pressure of radical anti-choicers and banished Faith Aloud. Michael Orlando, owner of Orlando's Banquet and Catering, has decided to donate all the profits from the Faith Aloud Awards to radical anti-choice causes to "make amends" for serving us. Furthermore, Michael Orlando has made the poor choice of refusing to serve people associated with Faith Aloud. Basically, Michael Orlando has chosen to ban pro-choice people from all of his venues. In his email to us, Michael Orlando wrote, "After much discussion and deliberation with our family who takes a pro-life stance in our community, we feel we must decline the opportunity to host your event in the future. I hope you understand our position."
We wonder how he can ask that we understand his position when he not only doesn't understand ours but has also chosen to ostracize anyone who associates with our position . When emcee extraordinaire and marriage equality activist Ed Reggi talked to Michael Orlando about the decision to ban Faith Aloud, Michael Orlando told Ed, " this is a right as a Catholic business to refuse anyone that goes against their families beliefs."
How does this make you feel? What can you do? Here at Faith Aloud we encourage you to BOYCOTT Orlando's Banquet and Catering. Don't have your event there, don't attend events there, and tell your friends not to go there. If you want to do more, write to Michael Orlando directly and express your disappointment with his choice to refuse those who support choice. His address is Orlando Gardens, 8352 watson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63119.

Earth Day!

Here are a few thoughts from faith aloud about the intersections of Environmental Justice and Reproductive Justice in honor of earth day! ENJOY!

Reproductive justice is not just about abortion, birth control, or family planning. Protecting our planet is an important factor when discussing reproductive and general health. We must be cognizant of our impact upon the planet and fellow human beings, and work to keep our oceans clean, soil fertile, people healthy and our planet safe.


Where does Faith Aloud stand on
Reproductive Justice & the Environment?

We DO NOT support abortion or family planning as a form of population control

We DO support the ability of individuals and families to make environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible reproductive health decisions.

We Do support responsible parenting that recognizes how badly we have damaged the planet and the health risks that presents.

We Do support the consideration of environmental health when deciding if and how to bring children into the world.



And here is how different faiths view the intersection of reproductive justice and environmental justice:

Jewish traditions highlight a relationship between the environment and responsible family planning:
“Human beings are supposed to exercise their power.. and free will to be wise stewards of Creation. They should help to maintain the Order of Creation even while they are allowed to use it for their own benefit within certain limits established by God (Genesis 2:14).” **

Here's what some Christian theologians say:
“Christ demonstrates what it means to be created in the image of God: he does not grasp his equality, but lets it go to become the servant of all. We need to see that the real image.. revealed in Christ, is to be a humble servant. We need to become servants of creation and thus reveal in ourselves the true likeness of God.” (Colossians 1.15 and Philippians 2.6
7.) ***

And religions such as Buddhism also teach:
“..family planning when people feel it would be a burden on themselves or their environment to have more [kids].” ****


Now tell us your thoughts on the intersection of Reproductive justice and the environment! What have you heard your faith say? What spiritual practices do you use to honor the earth and your own body? Let us know by commenting here or emailing events@faithaloud.org

*Levi, Yehuada Leo “Jewish Environmental Perspectives” http:// www.jcpa.org/art/jep4.htm

** Troster, Rabbi Lawrence “Ten Teachings on Judaism and the Environment” http://www.coejl.org/learn/je_tenje.php

***Brown, Jennifer “A Christian Perspective on the environment” http://www.sageoxford.org.uk/brown2.htm

**** Stacey, Dawn M.Ed, LMHC,”What Do Religions Say About Birth Control and Family Planning?” http://contraception.about.com/od/ additionalresources/ss/religion_8.htm

Twitter and You Tube

Hey folks!
Faith Aloud is proud to announce it's very own YouTube Channel and Twitter page. Check them both out!
www.youtube.com/faithaloud and www.twitter.com/faithaloud

See you all this sunday at the Faith Aloud Awards and Tues the 28th at missouri prochoice lobby day!

UPDATE UPDATE!!!

Faith Aloud has been busy! We went with PROMO to the Missouri LGBTQ Lobby Day to work to pass MONA, the Missouri Non-discrimination act which would prevent job and housing discrimination based on sexual identity and gender identity. We also worked to pass the safe schools act which would help keep lgbtq students save in Missouri schools.

Faith Aloud also had a great time at the 13th annual Webster University Drag Ball. It was a great event and many thanks go out to the atendees, performers and the folks at Webster University who made the event a total success.

Also Faith Aloud has been planning a lot of upcoming events!

On April 16th Faith Aloud in conjunction with Naral Pro-choice Missouri will host "WHOSE CONSCIENCE?" at Eden Seminary at 7pm Rev. Rebecca Turner, executive director of Faith Aloud and Pamela Sumners, executive director of Naral Pro-choice Missouri will talk about both the legal and moral perspective of pharmacy-refusal.

Additionally the Fabulous Faith Aloud Awards will take place on April 26th from 6-9pm in St. Louis, Mo. Details are available at FaithAloud.org and on facebook. Tickets are $60 (student pricing is available) and we still have plenty of spots left. Call the office to order! 314-531-5010

Also Faith Aloud is heading to Jefferson City, Mo to Lobby for Reproductive Justice on April 28th! Details at FaithAloud.org

As a last p.s. check out this article that just goes to show you we have a long way to go before we archive justice for all. http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/17848

Ten things for Faithful teens to do before sex PART II

The second part of our sex education Vlog made by the Teen of MY FAITH ALOUD. Check it out below or go to the following you tube website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQg1qtes-pw

My Faith Aloud is always looking for vlog ideas and you can suggest them through email at events@faithaloud.org or via the facebook group. Happy Watching!

One small step in taking religion out of goveremnt

Yesterday President Barack Obama took a step towards taking the morality of former President Bush out of government and out of science. President Obama lifted the federal funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research. This means that for the first time since former President Bush imposed the ban in 2001 scientist in the United States can receive federal funds for doing stem cell research. Scientists in the United States now are free to CHOOSE to study and get federal funding for stem cell research. What a novel idea? A government that allows people to choose? Those who are opposed to stem cell research do not have to do it--they too have a choice, but those who wish to pursuit this type of research are free to do so as well. Hopefully President Obama extends this right to chose to the women of America as well.

300 views and making MONA PASS!

Hey folks just a quick note...our new goal here is to get 300 people to view out youtube ten things video mentioned below...so make sure every teen in your life has seen it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHHIC1liNZ8.....also PROMO wants ot hear your stories about discrimination based on sexual identity. Email your stories here For confidentiality, please email your stories to Stephanie@PROMOonline.org.
You may also call the SWMO Regional Field Organizer, Stephanie Perkins, at 417.291.6569 to talk about your story. or go to Showmenohate.blogspot.com for more info. This information will be used to help pass Missouri Safe Schools Legislation and the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA). Our exec. Director Rev. Rebecca Turner is testifying right now in Jefferson City to help pass MONA so do your part too!

WE ARE IN GAMOUR AND WE HAVE A TOLL FREE NUMBER!

Hey EVERYONE! Guess what? Faith Aloud has made it to the big time! We are mentioned in an article on Glamour.com . It is a great article about the personal nature of abortion. Check it out. Follow the link above or click HERE. We couldn't be more thrilled by this article and we hope it represents a new trend in American thinking about the abortion debate...that there is no debate...just women making their own personal moral decisions.

And if people want help with those decisions, Faith Aloud is here with our brand new nation wide TOLL FREE NUMBER 1-888-717-5010 or as always via our website FaithAloud.org. Faith Aloud will always be the moral and ethical voice of reproductive justice and will continue to work with religious and spiritual communities everywhere to ensure all people have the support, knowledge and freedom to make whatever choices they need to make. Congratulations America...Here's to the new era in reproducitve justice.

TASTE OF CHOICE!!!!!!

FAITH ALOUD PRESENTS: A TASTE OF CHOICE! THIS MONDAY FEBRUARY 2nd! A Valentine's Day themed wine tasting fundraiser!!! to RSVP or for more details please see our website www.FaithAloud.org ! See you there

Stealing our rights

Recently I had a rather traumatizing experience. My car was stolen while I was helping a friend do some filming. I walked out the door of her house and couldn't find my car. At first I thought I must have parked it further down the street than I remembered but, alas, it was gone. But this is a blog about reproductive justice, not my personal life, so I will move on to my point. Everyday in America we leave our right to justice sitting outside, on the street next to the rights or freedoms of everyone else. We always expect it to be there when we wake up in the morning or when we come back from all our various endeavors. But someday it might not be. Even with a president-elect who supports women's right to chose and civil unions for lgbtq folk, we must always be vigilant. If we don't pay attention, our rights could slip away in the middle of the night and we won't know until it is too late. So wake up, pay attention, do something!

Newsweek says what we've always known...

Newsweek's coverstory is something the folks here at Faith Aloud have always known....that there is indeed a religious case FOR Same-Sex Marriage

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081208/pl_politico/16305

TOMORROW!!!

Tomorrow is a very important day in the struggle for justice. A Day without a Gay is a national day of boycott to show the country the power LGBTQ folk and their allies have on our nation.

FOR MORE INFO CHECK OUT THIS BLOG:

http://showmenohate.blogspot.com/2008/12/day-without-gay-st-louis-121008.html

Talking About Silence…

This morning I was aghast to find that an anti-choice group was not only planning some very disturbing actions in schools on October 21^st but also that they were simultaneously undermining the hard work that LGBTQ folks have done with The Day of Silence. The Day of Silent Solidarity is the anti-choice movements spin on The Day of Silence and it will take place this year on October 21^st in schools across the country. Using the same basic idea behind the Day Of Silence, the anti-choicers are telling students to not talk all day long so they can be in solidarity with the 4, 000 “infant voices” that are supposedly silenced each day by abortion. Over sixty schools have been registered in Missouri including Ladue High School and all of the schools in the Parkway district.
Clearly, this action goes against many of the principles we believe in here at Faith Aloud. Firstly, the name invites an obvious and hurtful comparison between the silencing of LGBTQ folks by our government and our homophobic society to the choice some women make to end their pregnancies. Secondly, this day is a clear attempt to use scare tactics to silence the voices of women. Finally, the day of silent solidarity represents only one of many different religious beliefs on the subject of choice.
We here at Faith Aloud think that actions like this shouldn’t go unnoticed or unchallenged. So we have created our very own day of action in response—on the same day…October 21^st 2008. We know this isn’t much notice but we are moving quickly. Aloud to be Heard is our attempt to let the voices of reproductive justice be heard above the din of the religious right. We will be creating a facebook event, as well as a myspace event, and we welcome you to check those out. We will be advocating people to wear purple on October 21^st in response to the red color scheme of the anti-choice action. More updates will come including flyers that you can pass out and possible places to get buttons and stickers in time for the event. You can start by joining the group, and being aware that at schools all across the country on October 21^st anti-choicers will be trying to silence the voices of people who believe they have the right to decide what happens to their body without condemnation from anyone, the voices of people who believe in a compassionate god/goddess that loves all of humanity.
We are also calling for people to use their voices by submitting their stories of choice...whether it be the choice to terminate a pregnancy, undergo fertility treatments, carry a child to term, adopt a child, use a sperm donor or surrogate, or any other story of choice...these stories can be posted anonymously here or sent via email to events@morcrc.org
Many people in this country have had their voices silenced…so let’s speak up because we are ALOUD TO BE HEARD.



dayofsilence.org –LGBTQ Day of Silence
silentday.org-anti-choice website
myspace.com/morcrc