A lot is happening from the federal government’s impact on Rhode Island to the fight this smallest state is leading against the illegal acts of that administration and in our towns/cities.
Since the start of the 2025 Legislative Session, our executive director Jocelyn Foye and volunteer lobbyist Susan Razza have been engaging and collecting intel on a range of topics, specifically, we are watching over 22 bills that have been introduced around attacks or support for LGBTQIA+ and Abortion/Reproductive Rights.
We are also working in the Protect Our Healthcare Coalition to do all we can to protect Medicaid reimbursements while also building our Bodily Freedom Action League in towns and cities. At the federal level, a budget resolution has been passed in the U.S. House of Representatives, which could cut healthcare funding, with several other significant implications. While the budget resolution is not yet set in stone, it is likely that Medicaid would be targeted to achieve their goals.
As the session progresses we will update you on these bills’ status, and be sure to stay tuned for calls to action to oppose their passage.
This Women’s History Month holds a lot of opportunity to lift up one another and keep being the strong and determined communities we are. Join us!
ACTION STEPS 💌 Introverts & Extroverts Invited
NEWS We Are Watching
2. (State) Attorney General Neronha and Commissioner Infante-Green issue guidance to schools on LGBTQ+ students’ rights and diversity programs: This policy provides “regulations protecting LGBTQ+ students issued by the Commissioner of Education have the full force and effect of law, and Rhode Island schools must continue to abide by these state laws and regulations. These regulations provide that each local education agency must adopt a policy providing “a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory school environment” for transgender and gender non-conforming students that “is consistent with state and national best practices, guidance, and model policies.” These regulations also give the Commissioner of Education authority to enforce the statutory requirements prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression in schools. Rhode Island schools must continue to abide by these state laws and regulations.”
3. (Local) Bodily Freedom Forever Index: CHARIHO
The Bodily Freedom Forever Index (BFFI) showed us that Chariho, the RI school district that represents three RI towns, has turned away from their students. They’re organizing around attacking LGBTQ+ rights and the freedom to read. Think about it. The seven school committee members advancing the Christian nationalist agenda are 0.03% of the total eligible voters in those towns. Three-hundredths of a percent. Unless you, bodily freedom advocates, turn out on March 11th at the Chariho School Committee meeting and meetings soon after, this malevolent minority will set back education in Chariho significantly. This is why transparency is critical to Bodily Freedom at every level of government.
> Join us in this work to do research and organize around school committee attacks.
4. (State) The Womxn Project Collaborates on The Girls Report
Gender equity is at the heart of our democracy, so we collaborated on the 2025 RI Girls Report’s artistic and production 80 page design, spearheaded by Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England and Women’s Fund of RI.
We intend to use this report to build future policy advancement with our focus in reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ freedom. To download the report click here.
5. (State) Advocacy is Love, an Exhibition and Fundraiser
Save the date for March 21, 2025, The Guild Brewery’s Barn, Pawtucket, RI from 6-9pm
This postcard-sized art exhibition provides equitable access for all people to own art. For $40 you can buy unique art of your choice! Our goal is to inspire acts of artivism throughout our community, through access to art and activism resources.
> Learn more
> Attend a Maker’s Date to make a piece with us!
6. (State) Freedom to Read Legislation
Attacks on books and banning of books is a hot topic around the country, not excluding RI. We are honored to be a part of that coalition that is fighting back with two bills and they will be launched tomorrow in the RI State House Library: Learn More
7. (State) Notes from Looking Back, Learning Forward
Saturday was the Looking Back, Learning Forward oral history training. First thank you to everyone who came out. For those not with us, we wanted to give you an update.
We kicked off the morning with an art supply drive to support the creation of fidget doodle boxes for people sharing their oral histories. If you have supplies to donate just email Elvira Orozco, the founded of Now, or Never at [email protected]
We covered some of the history of TWP and the effort to pass legislation to protect the right to abortion in Rhode Island. We also learned more about reproductive justice and how protecting the right is just one piece working towards reproductive justice from forever TWP activists and former board member Jennifer Rourke.
Former State Representative, teacher, and author of Transforming Schools: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching, Learning, and Healing, Marcia Ranglin-Vassell, provided honest reflections on her time serving in the General Assembly and shared the importance of building trauma awareness into our lives, work, and of course this project.
*** Our next meeting will be March 8 at the Bell Street Chapel starting at 10 am. We will start the day by hearing from the project interns. They have been looking back at State House testimony, newspaper clippings, and legislative history from 2017 to 2019, which provides insights for learning and remembrance. This part of the session will start at 10 am and anyone interested in attending can send Jordan an email at [email protected]. This portion of the session will wrap up by 11:30.
Next meeting: March 8, 10 am to 11:30 am
Bell Street Chapel, 5 Bell Street, Providence (Parking is behind the building.)
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