Feminist Friday – Be Bold Edition, February 2021

WELCOME to the BE BOLD edition of NOW New Jersey’s monthly FEMINIST FRIDAY Newsletter in celebration of Women’s History Month in March!

Senate or Bust! We are soooooo inspired by Assembly Member Valerie Huttle’s BOLD MOVE to take her case to the voters! Since Senator Loretta Weinberg announced that she will not seek re-election, both Assembly members in the 37th legislative district have been vying for the Democratic party’s nomination. This week, Huttle declined to participate in the Bergen County nomination process citing arm-twisting and decks stacked in favor of her opponent. This is highly unusual in a state where running “off the line” could eventually cost her a safe Assembly seat! Bold move, Valerie – we enthusiastically applaud you in taking on the male-dominated party structure of New Jersey politics. NOW NJ PAC has already endorsed Valerie Vainieri Huttle for New Jersey Senate!

Why is this important? Women running for office face barriers at every turn. They are held to a higher standard than their male counterparts and face sexism with regards to their appearance, their dress, their voice, their qualifications – the numbers in this article tell the story really well. This year we are finally seeing female candidates unapologetically choosing to run as their own authentic selves, and it is truly BOLD.

“If the sexes and all people are to be equal, abortion has to be actually accessible and not just technically legal.” – poet Amanda Gorman (find the link to her video in What We’re Watching below)

Join us on March 3 at Noon for a virtual rally in support of the  #ReproductiveFreedomAct.

Register NOW

Want to have some fun? And make an impact? Thrive NJ Coalition Abortion Access Subcommittee is creating a  VIDEO to support the passage of the Reproductive Freedom Act – RFA – (S3030/A4848), and we want your help!

You are invited to participate by creating a short 20 second video of yourself reflecting on reproductive rights, equity, and/or access in NJ that responds to the following prompt:  “I support a Thriving New Jersey because…” Video details and submission form are here: . The deadline for entries is 12PM Monday, March 1, 2021. The final, edited video will be revealed at our RFA Virtual Rally so be sure to sign up at the link above!

 MOURNING A FEMINIST ICON — The legendary Ivy Bottini, creator of the NOW logo, passed away this week at her home. As an integral part of NOW, she was special to so many. Bottini helped found the first chapter of NOW in New York City and served as the president of the New York NOW chapter as well as the National Board. Following her time in NOW, she became increasingly involved in the gay rights movement. To learn more about her legacy, read about her in Veteran Feminists of America.

NOW BREWING IN TRENTON…

Let me be blunt — It has been a long road for advocates and legislators but finally Cannabis is legal in NJ. The implementation will likely still take at least a year so you will not be able to walk into a store and buy anytime soon. However, marijuana arrests will be halted immediately. Another point of note is that the bill significantly changes how underage drinking is handled by law enforcement as well. Governor Murphy was trending on Twitter as the news was announced during his COVID press conference.

NJ Board of Medical Examiners votes to repeal abortion restrictions — The State BME has proposed new rules that will allow advance practice clinicians, like nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to provide abortion procedures. This translates into greater access to abortion care, particularly for communities already facing significant systemic, economic, and logistical barriers to care and will allow these trusted providers to play a greater role in expanding access to abortion care. The rule-making process requires the state to advertise a 60-day comment period, during which opponents and supporters can submit written statements. To express your support, click on the button below and send in your comment before March 5.

Act NOW

ON YOUR RADAR…

NOW NEW JERSEY IN THE MEDIA

In(mate)justices continue at Edna Mahan — NOW-NJ is calling for more than just answers after reports surfaced of inmates being attacked by officers on the night of January 11, 2021. NOW-NJ highlighted the failure of the Department of Corrections to institute reforms and protect the inmates. We demand full accounting of the events of January 11 and 12. NOW remains committed to ending all forms of violence against women and strongly holds that these victims deserve justice.

South Asian (Under)Representation in Trenton — This week Senate Majority Conference Leader Vin Gopal (D-11) endorsed NOW New Jersey President, Anjali Mehrotra, in her bid for LD21 State Assembly. Citing her grassroots background and the need for South Asian female representation in the Assembly, Sen. Gopal said, “Anjali’s voice for real policy changes will be imperative in moving District 21 forward.”

IN THE NEWS NOW…

Hillary Clinton Thinks a White House Gender Council Is a Crucial ‘First Step’ —  New York Times

New Zealand schools will offer free menstrual products. Where is the US on period equity? Far behind, experts say. — USA Today

It Could Be the Most Diverse Oscars Ever, but the Problem Isn’t Solved — New York Times

The face of the Perseverance landing was an Indian American woman — CNN

‘The Sky’s Not Even The Limit’: Cancer Survivor To Become Youngest American In Space — NPR

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING NOW…

Intergenerational Feminism — Fed up with the sexist and toxic status quo at her high school, a shy 16-year-old finds inspiration from her mother’s rebellious past and anonymously publishes a zine that sparks a school-wide, coming-of-rage revolution. Based on the novel by Jennifer Mathieu and directed by Amy Poehler, Moxie is sure to be a hit. Watch the trailer here and check out this New York Times interview with Poehler on her inspiration. Coming to Netflix on March 3!

Speaking of Gen Z feminism, we came across this gem by none other than United States Inaugural Poet, Amanda Gorman. She originally performed “Eight Reasons to Stand Up Against Abortion Bans Today,” in 2019 for NowThis News and last month Ms. Magazine published a feature on the piece. The power, poise, and eloquence of the poem are unmatched.

MEET THE TEAM

Joseph Shelley, Membership Vice President

What made you join NOW? Equity and social justice issues have always been at the forefront of my political activism. NOW offered me the opportunity to focus on a multitude of issues that drive me at once: abortion access, pay equity, as well as racial and environmental justice. When I realized that my progressive ideals matched so closely with NOW’s, it was an exciting chance to join an established force in grassroots activism and do my part to further the causes that motivate me while pushing for feminist legislation and electing feminists up and down the ticket.

What feminist issue would you like to see addressed that is not getting enough attention? I have learned so much since joining NOW and I have become really motivated to continue to learn more and more through my journey into feminist activism. As a cis male, something I have always had a sense of, but never fully grasped, was access to menstruation products. During our Fall series of webinars, I was really blown away by the work our panelists were doing in menstrual equity and believe this is a crucial issue that should be at the forefront of all efforts for a more equitable society.

What’s your new quarantine hobby? I once read a joke that the hardest part of being an adult is having to decide what to cook for dinner every night. I’ve taken quarantine as a challenge to improve my culinary skills. Whether that is learning more of my partner’s recipes from her native Eritrea, or just putting a spin on classics, I’ve really enjoyed cooking more and more and making healthier fun, flavorful meals. Our new favorite is a recipe for Jalapeno Curry Turkey Burgers, yum!