We’re almost three weeks into Pride Month 2025 and if it’s been hard for you to feel like celebrating, we’re right there with you. As we read the news, it seems like there’s a new attack on our LGBTQ+ siblings, abortion is back at the Supreme Court and everyone’s healthcare every day is getting worse. Day over day assassinations, war games, our neighbors being kidnapped by the “government,” it’s a lot.
I’m going to admit, I have struggled to email you weekly for just the shear volume of what is happening, but our eyes and attention are on action in this moment. We are back, in a short attention span style with pointed local actions we can take to keep our eyes on how to defend bodily freedom in Rhode Island.
We want to be proactive and thoughtful about where opportunities exist to continue to expand access to the full range of information, support and services that people need to manage their reproductive health and bodily freedom for themselves and their families.
AND, we’re paying attention to issues at the federal level and aware of how they are going to impact us, and as soon as July 1, the new fiscal year. Coalitions and local actions are going to be more important than ever. And for that, we have a plan for the 39 towns and cities to work together starting in August.
Join us in the important actions below and sign up to get active in your local politics. (And if writing is your strength, let me know. I could use a little help getting our news to you most succinctly.)
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Under the radar (but not everyone’s, see Steve Ahlquist here), the obscure powers and processes that recommend judges, lifetime appointments (only in RI, BTW), are recommending our local Brett Kavanaugh, Michael McCaffrey, to be Associate Judge of Rhode Island District Court, then in position to be next on the RI Supreme Court.
(Former) Senator McCaffery is openly hostile to bodily freedom in all its forms. He fought same-sex marriage in RI and successfully thwarted efforts to ensure abortion rights were not secure for years in RI. He waged war against marriage equality legislation, reproductive rights and abortion access for years. McCaffrey resigned the State Senate seat in preparation for joining his sister and brother-in-law as RI judges.
McCaffrey’s efforts to deprive Rhode Islanders of free exercise of their rights to bodily freedom were resoundingly rejected by us. Now McCaffrey seeks to impose their idiosyncratic beliefs on Rhode Islanders from the bench. Once they are on the bench, we will have little recourse.
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Eyes on Rhode Island: July 8The Senate seat for District 4 was held for 20 years by the late Senator Ruggerio, a DINO (Democrat in name only) – also known as a “Blue Beard” (iykyk) – who openly opposed Democratic causes, including same sex marriage and some issues around abortion access, during his tenure.
District 4 is mainly North Providence and we need your help getting door hangers into the neighborhoods to highlight the Bodily Freedom Forever Index so people know who they are voting for.
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Lets Bring Back the ProtestThe Womxn Project was named the Grand Marshal of the 2025 Rhode Island Pride Parade set to take place on Saturday, June 21 at 8PM. As a grassroots organization committed to advocating for bodily autonomy and equity, The Womxn Project is proud to uplift the spirit of resistance and protest that Pride Month is rooted in.
During the parade, TWP will be joined by advocates and organizations to condemn the Congressional budget bill that passed with $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplaces over the next decade.
Beyond low- and moderate-income people who depend on this coverage, this bill also attacks immigrants and transgender people of all ages who will lose access to necessary care. In Rhode Island, 309,000 children and adults depend on $2.3 billion in federal funds (66% of total spending) for Medicaid. Healthcare is a human right.
The naming of Grand Marshal is a huge honor which we do not accept lightly. Now more than ever, action is needed IN ADDITION TO celebration. We wear and call for radical joy and radical rage, coexisting so we can build a more inclusive future where democracy and health are intertwined together.
Other things you can do!
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The Freedom to Read Act Goes to the Governor’s DeskYesterday, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed H5726 Sub A, the Freedom to Read Act, which gets it one step closer to passing. This was the hardest hurdle for the bills future passage. TWP is thrilled to see so many activists all over RI stand up for the freedom of speech, our first amendment right, be acknowledged.
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Ally = Show the Heck UpAllies, it’s time to put your bodies on the line. Started showing up confidently but now that hate is spewing our way and dignity isn’t offered to every person in this country, we need to standup. Join us and give them heck.
Join us in school committee, town halls and state house and light a fire under their ass. TWP is known for making political discourse accessible through art and spectacle. We’re known to teach civic engagement by doing and you learn along the way. We are here to stay. So join us in a way that feels safest to you.
