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Entries by Steph Black
Activist Offering: Who’s behind the anti-abortion movement? Review of Battleground film
It’s been ages since I’ve had time to write a regular column for The Progressive, but I am so happy that I could write this one! I spoke with director Cynthia Lowen about her latest documentary, Battleground. It follows the anti-abortion women behind the fall of Roe. It’s also now available to rent on iTunes! […]
Voting pro-choice is a Jewish value
The midterm election is right around the corner and abortion is on the ballot. Even if you aren’t in a state where you’re voting on an amendment, you can vote for politicians who are openly pro-abortion. For Jewish Women’s Archive, I wrote about the Jewish values of voting and created a ritual for voting pro-choice. […]
Lilith Magazine published my Sixth and I Rosh Hashana Speech!
It was such an honor to give my Rosh Hashana speech on abortion, big feelings, and RBG, during Sixth and I’s Rosh Hashana Service last month. It’s also an incredible honor to have my speech published on Lilith Magazine’s website. Read my speech on Lilith’s website and watch my speech here.
A Ritual for Reproductive Justice: My latest for Jewish Women’s Archive
“We end the Jewish year 5782 with fewer rights than when we began. The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the oppressive Supreme Court has catalyzed a new generation of abortion activists, who are now joining forces with those who’ve been on the frontlines for years, even decades. “With the New Year approaching, I decided […]
Presenting at Take Root 2022 on op-ed writing and pitching!
I am *beyond* excited to be presenting my op-ed workshop at this year’s Take Root conference! I’ve wanted to attend this conference for years and now I not only get to learn from some stellar repro folks, I get to join them! Want to attend with me? Register for my session on October 16 at 11 […]
Guest appearance on F*ck Wellness:
Y’all I had an amazing conversation on the latest episode of the F*ck Wellness Podcast! We talked religion, wellness, and, of course, abortion! “There are necessary reasons and justifications for having an abortion and those are Jewish reasons and those are embedded with Jewish values and Jewish intention.” Give it a listen. More about the pod: […]
Speaking out against a 15-week abortion ban in Richmond
Washingtonians stand with Virginians against abortion bans! Gov. Youngkin threatens to introduce an unpopular and evil 15-week abortion ban during a special session On Wednesday. I drove 2 hours down to Richmond to speak out alongside some badass pro-abortion activists and advocates. Together we made it clear: we would not let Governor Youngkin sneak in […]
jGirls+ Magazine Retreat: Feminism, Judaism, and New York—oh my!
This weekend was the fourth jGirls+ Magazine retreat. The teen editorial staff traveled to New York to gather in person for the first time and began building our community for this year. Let me tell you, these teens are changing the world. I was blown away by how openly they share their passion for feminism, […]
Jezebel: Stop interviewing anti-abortion propagandists
The other week, I proudly added my name to an open letter by Physicians for Reproductive Health to the media, urging journalists to stop giving equal airtime to anti-abortion propagandists. Today, Jezebel covered the letter that was signed by over 600 providers, journalists, and activists. This comes during a time of an extreme increase in […]
Sign-on letter: Dear media, don’t give airtime to anti-abortion extremists!
As a writer, I am incredibly proud to sign this letter by Physicians for Reproductive Health to the media. No, we do not have to give equal airtime to anti-abortion extremists who peddle lies. “We know your reporting standards are to cover “both sides” of any debate. Allow us to be clear: Medicine and science are not […]
Presenting at the Women’s March Convention on writing op-eds!
Our words have the power to change the world. And I truly believe that the words that will come from the group of feminists in my workshop will do just that. Over 100 women and nonbinary folks attended, “Writing the Feminist Future You Want to See,” and I had a BLAST. This group asked intelligent […]
Speaking with National Youth Poet Laureate Alyssa Gaines
The arts have the power to connect and heal. No one knows this better than National Youth Poet Laureate Alyssa Gaines. I spoke with her about her craft, how her words are speaking truth to power, and how young people are responding to the end of Roe. National Youth Poet Laureate Alyssa Gaines Speaks […]
Mr. Nice Jewish Boy of DC 2022
A few weeks ago, an editor from one of my all-time favorite publications, Alma, reached out to see if I could cover a local DC event. I had never heard of the Mr. NJB pageant, but I was immediately sold. Getting to watch queer Jews celebrate themselves and our community for an evening with my […]
Activist Offering Roundup
Being a columnist is a dream come true. In the last few months, I’ve had the opportunity to write about things I could only dream about because pitching every idea that crosses my mind would take eons. Now, as a regular contributor to The Progressive, I have the freedom to cover the topics I choose […]
Practical Support in Print
Practical support is community care! This is my first full-length column to be printed in a magazine and I’m honored that it could be about something as critical as practical support. Practical support, the logistical aspects of getting patients across the threshold of an abortion clinic, has never been more important since Roe was overturned. […]
Finally mourning Roe on Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av is right around the corner. On this day of mourning, commemorating the destruction of the temples, I’m going to finally take time to mourn everything we’ve lost since Roe fell. “As a result of the Supreme Court’s recent decision, millions of people will go without abortion care they need to protect their lives […]
Testifying to the DC Council in support of abortion rights
Thursday, I had the opportunity to testify to the DC Council in support of two critical amendments that protect those who help abortion seekers in the District. Specifically, these amendments protect people who aid those who self-manage their abortions or those who help abortion seekers from out of state, especially from states where abortion is […]
Interview with SELF: Hoarding Plan B
I spoke with SELF about all the reasons why hoarding Plan B isn’t useful—and can actually be harmful to those who need it. “In fact, Steph Black says that planning to stock up on Plan B and act as ‘some sort of Plan B fairy’ is potentially doing more harm than good.” Please consider buying […]
Have you heard of EukiApp yet? I can’t believe I had the chance to talk to NBC about the incredible things that Euki does, especially in the wake of Roe being overturned. Digital security is paramount and Euki provides–and then some. Hearing Lester Holt say my name wasn’t too shabby either! I can’t stress enough […]
The United States of Abortion Access
July 4th. What could be more American than lemonade, popsicles, and…abortion pills! I had a blast spending my Fourth of July with Hannah Ruth, some badass activists, and the whole Shout Your Abortion team in front of the Supreme Court giving out information about abortion pills. We patriotically aided and abetted abortion! The Supreme Court […]
Talking Roe v. Wade with i24 news
The fall of Roe will have devastating consequences for those who need abortions in the United States. In the wake of the decision, I spoke with i24 News about what we’re going to see in the next few months. Watch the segment from June 24th, the day that Roe fell. Watch the segment from a […]
Mourning the loss of abortion and queer rights
Friday morning, Roe fell. By Monday morning, I was legally married. As a queer abortion activist, I wrote about how I’m holding space for the loss of abortion rights and the future loss of queer rights. My latest for The Advocate is live: How Queer People Can Mourn and Continue to Fight for Abortion for […]
Roe is over. Here’s how to help people seeking abortions.
How can you help abortion seekers right now? I wrote about different ways we can all take action in my latest column for The Progressive Magazine. The quick and dirty: take care of yourself, learn about reproductive justice, learn about SMA, write an op-ed or LTE, join a PSO, become a monthly donor to your […]
Your period-tracking app is not your friend.
DELETE YOUR PERIOD TRACKING APPS. My latest article for Rewire News Group came out just an hour before Roe was overturned this morning. The period-tracking apps on your phone can potentially aid in criminalizing people accused of having an abortion. As of today, keeping these apps is not worth the risk. For a period tracking […]
Period products are disappearing from shelves. What is going on?
The tampon shortage is more than an inconvenience: it’s a matter of reproductive justice. The price of menstrual products is 10% higher than it was last year. They can’t be purchased with food stamps. And Amazon is selling a box of 30 tampons for $60. What the hell is happening? I explain in my latest […]
How states are stepping up to protect abortion rights
Right in time for Supreme Court opinions, my latest column for The Progressive Magazine is live. I desperately needed good news this week with the Dobbs decision looming, so here is a roundup of the states working to protect abortion rights. The Activist Offering: While Some States Chip Away at Abortion Access, Others Are […]
More birth control won’t stop the need for abortions
There has been a slew of calls for people to immediately start birth control since the news broke less than a month ago that Roe is falling. Yes, doing everything you can to prevent an unwanted pregnancy–especially if you live in a state that is hostile to abortion–is critical. AND!!! Focusing solely on prevention is […]
Abortion is Oklahoma is on its way out
The most extreme abortion ban in the country could go into effect at any moment. This is not a drill. What’s happening in Oklahoma is extremely concerning but clinics are refusing to close their doors. Modeled after the notorious SB8 in Texas, this bill goes much further and outlaws abortion from conception. Theoretically, this is […]
