Our commitment to Black lives beyond this week, this month, and the foreseeable future
We have spent the last couple of weeks listening and reflecting on what it means to be a sexual and reproductive health organization during the Black Lives Matter movement.
We're a team of three women whose mission is to empower women and vagina-havers with the resources they need to take control of their health. Bottom line: Ovee treasures life and one’s right to live theirs to its complete potential.
Modern gynecology stole that right from Black enslaved women when they were abused by "The Father of Gynecology" who experimented on them against their will.
Our healthcare system strips that right from Black cis women and Black trans people time and time again with neglectful and discriminatory care.
Police brutality snatches that right from Black children, mothers and fathers, too, when they decide someone is a threat because they had a fake $20 bill, are wearing a hoodie, are going for a run... while Black.
We would be hypocritical not to take a stand for Black lives. Reproductive health is trans health is black health is health.
We mourn the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, and countless others murdered by the police. We are disgusted by the historical, state-sanctioned violence inflicted on Black people and the protestors who demand their lives matter.
We are in awe of the power of people and their righteous anger: first-time protestors, seasoned activists, online organizers, educators and healthcare professionals and more, rising up together and demanding more. Demanding that Black lives don’t just matter, but that they’re cherished, celebrated, held dear.
This requires the investment of time, resources and money in Black talent, Black-owned businesses and Black communities. Here’s how Ovee plans to do that:
Hire Black writers and creators to contribute to our website
Increase the items in our shop sold by Black-owned businesses
Creating a long-term plan to provide supplemental sexual education resources at schools, especially schools which are underfunded and neglected, schools that are predominantly attended by children of color.
Donating funds to a Black-led and community-focused charity each month
Run an internal audit of our communications materials and content to ensure it is representative and inclusive
We all have a lot of work to do, within our organizations and within ourselves. And it's due time.
With peace, love and solidarity,
Maddy, Jane + Courtney
PS: Know someone who would be a great contributor? Send them my way, maddy@ovee.me.
PPS: Know a Black-owned business that would be a great addition to our shop? Send them to jane@ovee.me.
PPPS: We're always improving ourselves and looking for ways to better serve our community. If we missed something, fucked up in the past, or anything else, please reach out and let us know. 💖
