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We are both relieved and encouraged by the recent Supreme Court decision in the case of Allen v. Milligan. The Court's ruling to reject Alabama's congressional voting map, which diluted the power of Black voters, is a significant step in the right direction for voting rights and representation in our country.
It's now been weeks since Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 140 into law. The bill outlaws gender-affirming care for transgender minors in Georgia. In the time since, as a Black, queer, gender-nonconforming Gen Z woman living in Atlanta, I've been building community with my LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual) friends and family. Atlanta has typically felt like a safe place to be myself. With Pride Month starting, we should be celebrating. Instead, we are grieving the loss of our youth’s bodily autonomy. We are asking ourselves: "What's next?" What does the future hold for all of us in Georgia and across the country?
June 1 marks the start of Pride Month, a month of celebration across the country for the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the month and beyond, IGNITE will be celebrating LGBTQ+ leaders/activists, uplifting voices, increasing awareness and sharing ways to take action to support the LGBTQ+ community. Keep reading to learn more.
As an IGNITE Fellow, I am proud to say that being involved in my community has been one of the most exciting and engaging experiences of my life. As a college sophomore in Houston and an immigrant from Venezuela, I have been blown away by the diverse and dynamic community that exists here. From volunteering at local events to advocating for social justice, I have been able to make a real impact and connect with people from all walks of life.
Every day, millions of people with periods miss out on different aspects of everyday life due to a lack of menstrual products. Period poverty, or the inability of menstruating individuals to access or afford menstrual hygiene products, is largely to blame and has been linked to health problems, school absenteeism, and employment issues.
Happy Earth Day, everyone!
"We are pleased to see today’s Supreme Court overruling the efforts of lower courts to restrict the mailing of abortion pills. A ban would have disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, gender expansive people, and other marginalized groups. While this ruling is a relief to many, it is by no means the end of the long-running struggle to restore abortion access in America. Gen Z voters will continue to show up at the polls in a decisive way as judges seek to regulate their bodies through the courts. Abortion access remains a top issue for Gen Z women-identifying voters. In Kansas, in Wisconsin, in Chicago, and across the country—time and again, it has catalyzed Gen Z to mobilize. A majority strongly believe they have the right to make decisions about their health and their bodies, and they believe deeply in reproductive justice. IGNITE will continue to advocate for policies that support reproductive justice in America."
(Sacramento, CA, April 17—For Immediate Release)—200 Gen Z women will lobby their elected representatives in Sacramento today on key issues and legislation related to their political priorities.
My favorite member of One Direction is Harry Styles. I like Cheez-itz and women's empowerment. I'm also the founder of a media company created by and for young disabled people. You’ll notice these things are all incongruent to each other. But to me, they are all the things that make me the young disabled person I am. Other people, or rather, mainstream media, would tell you that I spend all my days crying into my Cheez-itz because of my disability. But honestly, that could not be farther from the truth.
As an organization dedicated to empowering young women to pursue political office, IGNITE is deeply concerned about the recent expulsion of Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, two young Black state reps, from the Tennessee legislature, after they participated in a protest over gun control. The move sets a dangerous anti-democratic precedent for removing young people of color from political office and deterring others from aspiring to hold these seats of power. It is unacceptable for lawmakers to silence the voices of their constituents, especially those who are marginalized and underrepresented in our political system.