Real Rights, Reel Change
A Night of Reproductive Rights in Cinema
Watch the Panel Discussion
EngenderHealth and Women’s Voices Now (WVN) are proud to present a film screening event centered around sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) on May 8, 2024, at the Silver Screen Theatre at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, CA. This evening promises to be a confluence of cinema and social advocacy, starting with an exclusive VIP cocktail reception at 6:00 PM, followed by the main program at 7:00 PM, which features a curated selection of poignant films that echo the SRHR theme.
The lineup includes films like “Code Red” and “Someone You Know,” each offering a unique lens on the complexities of SRHR in different contexts. From narratives on the struggles with menstrual stigma to the life-saving roles of doulas in maternal health and the heartbreak of trying to attain abortion care, these films are sure to ignite meaningful discussions and deepen understanding of the vital issues at stake.
An Interactive Experience
Following the screenings, an expert panel discussion will offer insights from filmmakers, activists, and community leaders, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and solutions. The event aims not only to showcase EngenderHealth’s pivotal work in global reproductive health and WVN’s dedication to amplifying women’s voices through film, but also to engage and expand our community of supporters in Los Angeles and beyond.
This is an opportunity to be part of a critical conversation on SRHR, transcending continents and cultures, highlighting our shared commitment to advancing the rights, health and voices of women and girls worldwide. Join us in shaping narratives and driving change!
The Panelists
Tracy Droz Tragos is a documentary filmmaker, known for exploring deep personal and social issues, such as family dynamics and women’s lives. A Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner, her films include “Plan C,” “Rich Hill” and “Abortion: Stories Women Tell.” Tracy’s work highlights her commitment to impactful storytelling, supported by her academic background with a bachelor’s from Northwestern University and a master’s from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Senait Admassu is the founder of the African Communities Public Health Coalition in Los Angeles, a vital resource for African descent immigrants in community social mobilization and mental health services. Senait holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from USC and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from UCLA. She is instrumental in facilitating culturally appropriate trainings and has various roles including Vice Chair of the Western Region against Female Genital Mutilation Task Force and member of the LA Boarder Taskforce.
Gabrielle Brown serves as the Program Manager for the Maternal and Infant Health program at Black Women for Wellness. Raised in Leimert Park, her passion for Reproductive/Women’s Health began in high school. Gabrielle earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Administration from California State University, Northridge, and a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Her work focuses on empowering women of color through health education and resources.
Jack Qu’emi (they/them) is QTPOC based in California. They’ve spent the better part of the last decade advocating for trans inclusivity in reproductive health spaces and has a career in sexual wellness. When they’re not getting weird on the Internet, Jack enjoys wonderfully mundane activities like incense shopping and the company of their cats.
The Films
Entering womanhood isn’t always easy. When encountering periods, women and young girls often have to “go with the flow”. Presenting scientific facts and personal experiences with a comedic edge, “Code Red” de-stigmatizes period talk. A youth-made film in the Girls’ Voices Now program. (6 min)
In Mozambique, sexually active women play a game of roulette with their health. Only 1 in 5 women use contraception and more than 1 in 10 women between the ages of 15 and 29 are HIV positive. (5 min)
A childhood filled with laughter and friends, singing and games—cut short by the circumciser’s knife. In her early teens, Messania walked the same path as millions of other young girls around the world, first undergoing female genital mutilation to make her marriageable before she was married off to a stranger many years older than herself. Listen as Messania tells her story from her rural Kenyan home to see how this strong woman—who could have remained just a statistic—found the determination to escape abuse, challenge harmful cultural norms, and sing a new song of freedom, for herself and for girls like her everywhere. (20 min)
Rebyrth is a film about an Atlanta-based Doula working to save the lives of Black mothers as they journey from their pregnancies into motherhood. The role of a doula is to act as a guide in each stage of childbirth, tethering mother and baby to the earth as they move together through space and time. It’s a connection that goes beyond the physical realm. The work of a doula is an ancestral and spiritual process that culminates with the world’s greatest gift — LIFE. (6 min)
Today in America, approximately 1 in 4 women will have an abortion before the age of 45. Trans men and nonbinary people have abortions too, though their experiences are rarely reflected in statistics. There are no abortion services in at least 90% of U.S. counties. Only a handful of states offer abortion services after the first trimester, and now with Roe v Wade overturned, the barriers to getting an abortion will only get worse. (21 min)
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