Portland Democratic Socialists of America to Host a Film Screening and Discussion About Reproductive Justice

The feminist branch of Portland Democratic Socialists of America presents "Being There,” a documentary short film directed by Jan Haaken that features the work of abortion providers in Portland, Oregon, and tells the story of their ties to the larger medical community. Guided by anti-stigma research, the film shows how abortion is part of a continuum of care and how anti-abortion stigma within the health care system affects the lives of providers, many of whom are viewed as "rogue physicians" in their professional fields.

The event will take place on Sunday, April 2nd, from 7-9pm at SEIU 503: 6401 SE Foster Rd, Portland. Childcare will be provided free of charge on site.

Following the screening of the film, there will be a moderated discussion featuring a panel of activists and the filmmaker to explore different feminist politics around abortion rights, some of the history of organizing around reproductive rights in Oregon, looking at reproductive healthcare through an intersectional/social justice lens, and the current campaign around Oregon HB 3391—a bill endorsed by DSA that also is part of a national movement for reproductive justice.

Moderator

Stephanie DeGooyer, Assistant Professor of English and Women’s and Genders Studies at Willamette University.

Panelists

Jan Haaken is professor emeritus of psychology at Portland State University, a clinical psychologist, and documentary filmmaker. She has published extensively in the areas of psychoanalysis and feminism, the history of psychiatric diagnosis, the psychology of storytelling, group responses to violence and the dynamics of social change. She is currently working on a series of documentary films focused on reproductive health care internationally.

Johanna Brenner is an American feminist and sociologist whose writing and thought is in the socialist-feminist vein. In 1981 she began teaching in the sociology department at Portland State University where she served from 1982 to 2005 as coordinator of its women's studies program. She is now emeritus professor. Brenner has contributed to New Left Review, Monthly Review and other periodicals. In 1993 she worked with Catherine Sameh and Kathryn Tetrick to open In Other Words Women's Books and Resources.

Cordella Hopson is an activist and social worker who has a long history of organizing around childcare and communities of color in Portland. She has worked with the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition for Justice and Police Reform to advocate for community oversight as well as Self Enhancement, Inc., a non-profit that is dedicated to guiding underserved youth to realize their full potential through academic, sports, wellness and job shadowing programs.

Zeenia Junkeer is the Director of Equity and Community Engagement for NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon and a primary care Naturopathic physician, working to identify ways to make health care more accessible for communities of color through the practice of culturally affirming and responsive care. Junkeer describes her work as “at the intersection of advocating for equitable preventative health and wellness practices and culturally appropriate support for communities disproportionately affected by poverty, marginalization and oppression.”

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The Portland Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is part of the country’s largest socialist organization. We seek to build progressive movements for social change while establishing an openly democratic socialist presence in the Portland-metro area and in coalition with socialists across Oregon. We are socialists because we share a vision of a humane social order based on popular control of resources and production, economic planning, equitable distribution, feminism, racial equality, and non-oppressive relationships.