MERJ Newsletter 3/2/2026
Other books we’ve read, and strongly recommend:
Men and Abortion: Lessons, Losses, and Love, by Arthur B. Shostak, Lynn Seng, and Gary McLouth
Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty, by Dorothy Roberts
Abortion: Our Bodies, Their Lies, and the Truths We Use to Win, by Jessica Valenti
Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way to Think About Abortion, by Gabrielle Blair
Comics for Choice, ed. Newlevant, Taylor, and Fox
You’re the Only One I’ve Told: The Stories Behind Abortion, by Dr. Meera Shah
Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice, by Silliman, Gerber Fried, Ross, and Gutiérrez
Reproductive Justice: An Introduction, by Loretta J. Ross and Rickie Solinger
A letter from MERJ’s co-founder
This Is a Warning Sign: Men Must Pay Attention to the Surgeon General Nomination
Dear MERJ Community,
What’s happening around reproductive health policy right now demands men’s attention—and action.
President Trump’s nominee for U.S. Surgeon General, Casey Means, has a documented record of public opposition to core components of reproductive healthcare.
In past interviews, Means has:
Referred to hormonal birth control as a “disrespect of life.”
Framed contraception as something that “shuts down” women’s “life-giving nature.”
Repeated myths about the pill and IUDs in language commonly used by anti-abortion activists.
Suggested that doctors may not provide adequate “informed consent” conversations about hormonal birth control—terminology frequently used to justify medically unnecessary restrictions on abortion care.
The Surgeon General is not a symbolic role. It is one of the most influential public health positions in the country. The office shapes federal guidance, national messaging, and public trust in science-based healthcare.
When a nominee questions the legitimacy of widely used contraception—used safely by millions of birthing people—that signals a broader effort to normalize skepticism about reproductive healthcare.
We’ve already seen coordinated efforts to:
Redefine common contraception as abortion.
Allow employers to refuse contraceptive coverage.
Push misinformation about the safety of birth control.
Introduce legislation that chips away at access under the guise of “protection.”
This is not about partisan politics. It’s about whether medical science or ideology drives national health policy.
As men, we must recognize that contraception access affects our families, economic stability, and the ability to plan for our futures. When reproductive healthcare is undermined, birthing people carry the disproportionate burden— silence from men helps enable it.
MERJ exists because reproductive justice requires male leadership, not passive agreement.
If you believe health decisions belong to families—not political appointees—now is the time to:
Join us at MERJ
Donate to Reproductive Health and Justice Organizations In Your State
Read More: Jessica Valenti's Substack
In solidarity,
The MERJ Team
📖 5 Minute Power Read from Slate:
“You Don’t Need an Emergency Fund. You Need an Abortion Fund.”
Small excerpt: “I know a woman, a friend of a friend, who went into credit card debt for an abortion. Another who asked an estranged parent for the money. (They said no, and it further damaged the relationship.) Then there was my student who told me that she had been carefully saving for a down payment on a house, but had to use it to travel across multiple states to get an abortion. After the procedure and travel costs were accounted for, she had spent thousands. And yet, she was one of the lucky ones. She had the money. Many women do not.
I teach women about their money for a living. Lately, I’ve lost count of the stories about the impossible financial choices women are making just to access an abortion. As lawmakers take increasingly hostile stances against reproductive rights, it’s only going to get worse. This is why, as a finance educator, my most critical piece of financial advice for 2026 is this: Build a personal abortion fund.”
🎥🍿 Podcast Power Watch Recommendation:
Documentary short film, 2026 (34 minutes)
From their YouTube page description: “‘Men4Choice: Off The Sidelines’ is a documentary exploring the past, present, and future of Men4Choice, a national organization founded ten years ago with a mission to organize men as active allies in the fight for reproductive freedom. Beginning in a bar and growing into a nationwide movement, the film follows how Men4Choice activates, trains, and mobilizes thousands of young men each year to support access, bodily autonomy, and reproductive freedom. Through personal stories, organizing footage, and reflections from leaders and partners in the reproductive rights movement, Off The Sidelines highlights the critical role men can play in showing up, taking action, and unconditionally supporting women and impacted communities. This documentary is for anyone interested in reproductive freedom, allyship, civic engagement, and grassroots organizing, and offers a call to action for young men ready to move from passive support to meaningful involvement at the local, state, and federal levels.”
💸 Amazing Organization to Support:
Luminosas Wellness Collective is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, community-driven clinic providing inclusive, trauma-informed, and holistic reproductive and sexual health services. On their website, they write, “We center equity, compassion, and cultural responsiveness, and we train the next generation of providers to continue our transformative, non-judgmental, patient-first approach.” Notably, they also offer all-trimester abortion care, writing, “Emphasizing dignity and patient autonomy, LWC ensures individuals can safely access this crucial service without judgment.”
Please donate to support their important and inspiring non-profit work!
📚 MERJ Book Club!
If you’re interested in joining one of our future book discussions, email us at action@endthepatriarchy.org, and we’ll be happy to invite you!
Birthing Liberation: How Reproductive Justice Can Set Us Free
by Sabia Wade, “The Black Doula”
Originally published March 7, 2023; notes below from Bookshop.org page.
Birthing Liberation presents reproductive justice as the pathway to equity and the birthplace of liberation.
Sabia C. Wade, renowned radical doula and educator, speaks to the intersections of systemic issues--such as access to health care, house transportation, and nutrition--and personal trauma work that, if healed, have the power to lead us to collective liberation in all facets of life.
Collective liberation rests on the idea that in order for us all to have equity in this world--from the safety of childbirth, to the ability to bring a baby home to a safe community, to having access to resources, safety, and opportunities over the long term--we must all become liberated individuals.
Birthing Liberation creates a path to social and systemic change, starting within the birthing world and expanding far beyond.
“Every individual should have the freedom to choose what is best for themselves.”
Help and Resources to Share with Anyone Needing an Abortion: (from ifwhenhow.org)
Find a local clinic by using the National Abortion Federation map.
If you have questions about your legal rights and self-managed abortion, the Repro Legal Helpline is a free, confidential source for legal advice and information. Visit ReproLegalHelpline.org or call 844-868-2812.
If you are under 18 and need information about your rights to an abortion, you can message or call our Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812. You can also read more about your rights on our Judicial Bypass Wiki.
If you have been arrested, contacted by the police, or fear you may be arrested for a self-managed abortion, our Repro Legal Helpline can provide immediate legal advice and support, and our Repro Legal Defense Fund can help with bail and legal fees. You can call our Repro Legal Helpline at 844-868-2812, and for help with bail and other fees, visit ReproLegalDefenseFund.org.
Medically-reviewed, step-by-step directions for how to self-administer a medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol can be found on the Hey Jane website.
