Photographer, organizer, and activist Brittanny Taylor speaks to The Woman Project on her perspective of reproductive freedom in Rhode Island.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Brittanny Taylor and I am born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island. I am a lifestyle photographer (https://brittannytaylor.com/) and social media consultant for small business owners and entrepreneurs. I co-founded The Branding Edit (https://thebrandingedit.com/), a visual storytelling studio, with my two best friends. I am COO of The Lady Project (http://www.ladyproject.org/) , a non-profit founded in Providence six years ago and earlier this year I joined the executive board of RI NOW (https://www.rinow.org/) as their communications co-chair.
2. How do you incorporate artistic practices and forwarding womyn’s causes like with your work in Lady Project and RI Now?
Being a photographer I want to show off people’s personalities and expressions through photos but with The Lady Project, I shared women’s stories through words as the editor-in-chief for The Lady Project Blog. It was important to me to share the stories of women, from their day to day existence to the larger life events that deeply impacted them. With RI NOW, I would love to share the experiences of women in Rhode Island on our social media to spread awareness of how legislative matters like the passing of the Reproductive Health Care Act will positively effect the lives of the women of our community.
3. TWP has been working to pass a bill that codifies Roe V Wade into RI state law. We are interested in the ways that Reproductive Freedom impacts your life and the work that you do?
To me it is just common sense that a woman has the right to choose what she does with her own body. Sadly, it is not common sense to a certain group of people. I have always had access to reproductive health be it through my insurance (that I pay out of pocket for) or by going to Planned Parenthood when I didn’t have insurance.
4. What is the best way to educate people on this issue? I think talking about our personal experiences will help people understand the gravity of the situation. Going back to my work on The Lady Project Blog, I shared stories that left people thinking “wow, it’s not just me who has gone through this.” When people don’t know anyone personally who will be effected by a lack of reproductive freedom, it’s easier for them to not want to understand it or have the desire to learn more. When they have access to the stories, it is amazing how much empathy can start to build and understanding of something outside of themselves can grow.
5. If people wanted to get involved in The Lady Project, what is an easy access to that community for our community? You can learn more about The Lady Project at http://www.ladyproject.org/. I would love for women to join us at a member meet up which we hold every third Wednesday at New Harvest Coffee at The Arcade at 6pm. People can join RI NOW at https://www.rinow.org/join
