Defending Reproductive Justice

Reproductive justice is rooted in the right to bodily autonomy. Yet globally, those rights are under increasing attack as restrictions on reproductive and transgender freedoms advance. These are not separate struggles, but deeply connected ones. As protections erode and are increasingly targeted, it's clear how quickly bodily autonomy can be restricted when politicized. Those at the margins are most affected.

Our film Go Debbie(2018) brings these restrictions into focus. Debbie, a transgender Vietnam veteran, lost her job, her home, and her life savings when she transitioned. Reflecting on her transition, she describes the transformation with striking clarity: “It was like night and day. I was a miserable son of a bitch one week, and the next week I was a happy lady.” Her words capture what is so often lost in policy: the reality of becoming oneself. Debbie’s story does not end with loss. From homelessness to advocacy, she rebuilt a life grounded in visibility. Her journey reveals the cost of exclusion and power reclaimed. In her voice, reproductive justice becomes more than a framework; it becomes a lived experience. The right to one’s body, identity, and future cannot be separated.

Reproductive and transgender rights are not abstract ideals — they are lived realities. As we continue this work, we remain committed to amplifying stories like Debbie’s. 3 Generations continues to support reproductive health and rights, and to bear witness to women’s suffering and resilience. For information about the issues we support and to watch our films, please visit 3generations.org, follow us on social media @3_generations, and connect with us via email. We thank you for your support; we could not continue hearing these stories and demanding change without YOU.

Links:

• Go Debbie(2018) film