Every person has a story. Your story is what you tell someone about an experience you had. It might be short or long; it might be about an experience that made you happy…or it might be about an experience that made you angry, afraid, or even physically hurt.
The most important thing about your story is that only you can tell it.
Stories are a powerful advocacy tool. They teach, inspire, and give us courage to act. Stories help people remember complex information by evoking feelings, so it’s easier to recall facts and details.
Texas lawmakers have made a lot of decisions about women’s health in the past few years. They have made new laws that diminish women’s bodily autonomy. They have forced women to make hard choices about pregnancies. They have refused to accept federal Medicaid money that would help women get healthy and stay healthy, whether they choose to be pregnant or not.
The Texas Legislature is meeting in session until the end of May, and they are considering dozens of bills that would force more hard choices on women, their families, their employers, and their communities. They also are considering bills that would improve conditions, and help more women get the healthcare they need.
To make wise decisions, legislators need to hear from all kinds of Texas women about their experiences with all kinds of reproductive health, including pregnancy; childbirth; postpartum recovery; abortion; miscarriage; rape; incest; infertility; lack of access to care; and more.
What story do you want to tell Texas lawmakers? What do they need to know about your experiences that would help them make better choices for women’s health?