Who will prosper from ridding the state of those diseased or disabled among us? NY thinks its economy will benefit. NY thinks taxpayers will benefit. The injustices against vulnerable human beings in the name of equality and autonomy in NY are appalling. 

WHAT CAN WE DO? WHAT ARE WE DOING? 

We can give up or we can march forward, smarter and stronger. 

“Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity.”– Lou Holtz

There is nothing more worthwhile than fighting for life. No human being has value unless all human beings are valued from conception to natural death.  

The fight for life in the face of visceral hostility demands engagement at every level of influence within law and culture, and with all stakeholders, politicians, organizations and everyday people.  

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY

While FCLNY is missioned to educate the public on the impacts and root causes of publicly sanctioned lethal violence, we do our legally permissible fair share of lobbying, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to impact our current NY legislature considering pro-abortion majorities comprise both legislative chambers. FCLNY cannot get involved in electoral politics, because we are a tax-exempt nonprofit, the same reason why our ability to lobby is limited. Despite this, FCLNY has successfully helped thwart the passage of Assisted Suicide and even more Abortion Expansion bills pending in both the NY Assembly and Senate, so far this year. 

In anticipation of our 2023 NY Bills Packet, discussed at the FCLNY-sponsored legislative luncheon in Albany this spring, an attorney working in the NY Assembly said this about our lobby efforts: “We strongly value the thoughts and opinions of Feminists Choosing Life of New York … and your input regarding legislation.” 

Proposed ‘Equal Rights’ Amendment to the New York State Constitution

There is near no better opportunity to effectively lobby in NY, than now.

Amending the NY Constitution is a three part process. In order to take effect, a proposed amendment must first pass the NY Legislature twice and then go before the people of NY for ratification by a referendum vote. Since Roe’s overturn, the majority of state legislators in NY have twice voted favorably to amend our state constitution with the ‘Equal Rights’ Amendment. This amendment is now ready to be presented to New Yorkers for approval in the 2024 general election. 

If the amendment to the NY Constitution is approved in November of 2024, abortion will be officially codified in NY. Abortion rights will be woven into the fabric of our neighborhoods, communities, towns and cities.

Perhaps, most poignantly,  the “right” to kill unborn children will be sewn into the hearts and minds of FUTURE GENERATIONS AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND PRACTICES. 

If the amendment to the NY Constitution is approved in November of 2024, children in utero will be completely and utterly dehumanized and denied any and all protection from extermination.

If the amendment to the NY Constitution is approved in November of 2024, all unborn children, regardless of age, sex, disability, gender or race, will be at risk of lethal violence. Living preborn children will be in danger of death more than ever before in human history.

If the amendment to the NY Constitution is approved in November of 2024, all commonsense standards regarding abortion and the well-being of women will be in jeopardy.

If the amendment to the NY Constitution is approved in November of 2024, all NY bills addressing abortion, except to further expand, protect and deregulate abortion will more likely than not be considered “unconstitutional” including abortion related requirements such as: parental notification, informed consent, wait periods, health department tracking, reporting and publishing of abortion complication data, pre-chemical abortion ultrasounds, and annual or random health department inspections for all abortion providing facilities. 

• As serious as NY’s government is to ratify this amendment, we must be to defeat it.  FCLNY aims to organize a brilliant, creative, effective initiative to defeat this deadly amendment. 

• This is a final chance to RECLAIM LIFE in NY. Its not too late to turn the tide. There is hope! But we must act now. 

• FCLNY is dedicated to establishing a well-financed campaign to defeat the resolution to amend NY’s Constitution.

Your financial contribution matters.

Women’s Alliance Against Violence & NY’s RHA 

Many of you donated to help FCLNY organize, manage and fund a team of lawyers to explore the legality of NY’s RHA, shortly after its passage. As a result of your support and the research and dedication of the lawyers, the Women’s Alliance Against Violence filed an unprecedented, historic legal challenge to this horrific state abortion statute, on behalf of plaintiff-victims, Smith et al vs. Hochul et al. 

As expected (per the usual course of pro-life litigation), the lower federal district court dismissed the case. On April 21st, less than six weeks ago, the attorneys timely filed a Notice of Appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, on behalf of unborn children, positioning the lawsuit one step closer to the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeal involves the rights and interests of viable unborn children under the Fourteenth Amendment to U.S. Constitution, right-to life issues the Dobbs decision overturning Roe left open for resolution. 

FCLNY could not have served as the brainchild of this lawsuit without the support of so many of you. We will keep you updated as this important case continues to progress through the courts. 

MEDIA OUTREACH & COMMUNITY ENCOUNTERS

Influencing from the bottom up rather than the top down, especially in light of relationships between special interests and political campaigns and agendas in NY and elsewhere, is often more arduous to accomplish. 

By July, FCLNY will have reached over one million people. We are expected to reach nearly three million by the year's end. Through our TV and radio appearances, published essays, press coverage, and social media and website campaigns as well as our participation in diverse community encounters– we are raising up the pro-woman, pro-life feminist voice!

Currently, we’re working to air several Public Service Announcements covering a range of life topics on radio stations in each of our six NY regions.

In early spring, FCLNY helped inspire the creation of a state-of-the-art Pro-Life Feminist Public Relations Firm, headed by a most experienced, innovative PR consultant. We are in the process of coordinating with this firm to more widely spread the pro-woman, pro-life message and to regularly appear for commentary on major news outlets covering issues relevant to the consistent life ethic. 

We need your help to elevate our VOICES! Please donate.

The encouraging input from those we touch is humbling.

• One woman recently messaged this from our website, where our reach has more than DOUBLED so far this year,

 “Hello, I had not heard of your group before. It was a breath of fresh air to learn about your organization.” 

• Another comment: 

“Thank you for sharing truth. We need to hear this, read this, be reminded of this.” 

• Another:

 “I appreciate how you approach the pro-woman aspect of the abortion issue. I FANGIRL over you all and your amazing work and I wish more organizations did the things you do.”

Please donate towards these efforts. 

GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS & PROJECTS THAT EMPOWER

Poverty, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking are serious drivers of abortion. FCLNY is committed to our on-going efforts to address these root causes in our abortion laden state.

• FCLNY continues to co-host, with Angels of Mercy, our monthly Peer Support Group- The Monarca Project. Survivors of trauma are experiencing the time together as “resonating” and “impactful.”  FCLNY is grateful for your support, which has allowed us to carry this project forward and help women break free from cycles of abuse and neglect.

• FCLNY continues to distribute Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking (DVAST) Hotline Posters to Planned Parenthoods and Community Healthcare Centers across NY. Laws in NY that require the posting of DVAST hotlines in these places are still non-existent, despite studies showing the link between Domestic Violence, Sex Trafficking and Abortion. FCLNY’s efforts to spearhead polices regarding DVAST hotlines have been productive and are on-going.   

• FCLNY continues to distribute our four resource indexes throughout the state; the Pregnancy Resource Centers Index-NY, the Adoption Resource Index-NY, the Bread & Bed Resource Index-NY and the Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking (DVAST) Resource Index-NY. We also disseminate other vital resources for women, especially underserved women that are pregnant or vulnerable to experiencing unplanned pregnancies. 

We cannot do this without you.

Chemical abortion in NY promises to increase exponentially with the aggressive pro-abortion NY Legislature and Governor. 

• FCLNY created and launched a Family Pharmacy Campaign that includes a petition for people to pledge their support of independent pharmacies that do not sell abortion pills.

• FCLNY developed an index outlining NY’s independent pharmacies, which are less likely to become abortion pill dispensaries. We are urging people to use them as an alternative to chemical abortion peddling CVS, Walgreens and Rite-Aid. 

• FCLNY is writing, with the help of our resident pharmacist and advisory board members, to each independent pharmacy with carefully researched analysis outlining why they should NOT PROVIDE WOMEN AND GIRLS chemical abortions and thanking them, where appropriate, for deciding not to do so. 

FCLNY has targeted several areas in NY where the populus is on edge regarding the abortion issue. We are planning to put up billboards in these areas that say: Stop Calling Violence Healthcare: Abortion Kills Human Beings.

Please help us implement these vital efforts. Donate today.

FILM INVOLVEMENT

FCLNY continues to increase the impact of our film involvement by nurturing key partnerships with influencers in film media. We are in the process of developing vignettes, commentaries, and movie theater events that showcase the pro-life feminist voice, and life-affirming choices.

SCHOLARLY EVENTS

FCLNY has elevated the banner of DIALOGUE in our state and across the nation. We hosted two more scholarly discussions this winter along with other diverse non-profit organizations.

• Reframing Agency Part I and Part II. Part I included presentations on The Rights & Responsibilities in Contemporary Sex Culture at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Speakers included Erika Bachiochi, author of The Rights of Women: Reclaiming a Lost Vision, Christine Emba, columnist with the Washington Post and author of Rethinking Sex: A Provocation, and American anti-abortion activist Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa.

• Part II included conversations on The Future of Intimacy After Dobbs, featuring Louise Perry, author of The Case Against the Sexual Revolution, and Helen Roy, host of the popular podcast GIRLBOSS, INTERRUPTED. 

Your support is crucial.

FCLNY is currently planning a live summer Webinar, with social media influencer, Monica Snyder, and a ground-breaking 2024 convention, with leading pro-life feminist scholars in Seneca Falls, NY. Stay tuned for these paradigm shifting events. 

We need your support! We cannot continue our efforts to dispel misleading narratives regarding matters of life and death without you. It is the false, violence promoting attitudes and behaviors within our culture that is fueling the fire against vulnerable people within our state. We are non-violent feminists, promoting peaceful, practical solutions.  

WE ARE EXPANDING OUR SUPPORT ACROSS NY!

FCLNY is building grassroots and organizational support across NY.

• We are recruiting new supporters and volunteers.
• We are firming up a myriad of outreach opportunities, including at fairs, festivals and on college and university campuses. Our summer interns continue to be essential for this outreach.
• We’re scheduling presentations at both secular and religious organizations.
• We’re conducting canvassing drives in public forums.

We now have multitudes of diverse FCLNY supporters spread across NY, of various ages, races, genders, religions, political affiliations and ethnicities- from all walks of life. We are SPREADING OUR MESSAGE AND RECLAIMING PRO-LIFE FEMINISM. The pro-life feminist movement is growing. 

In addition, we have incredible new FCLNY board members and staff:

• Kartina Wilson, MBA, a child and family social worker,
• Dr. Desjamebra Robinson, M.Div., a womanist theologian and doctor of wellness therapy,
• Imani Ackerman, BS, grant writer and youth program director,
• Emily Cappello, BS, our delightful operations manager and outreach coordinator.

We can continue our work in NY with excellence and vigor if everyone chips in to help us accomplish our great mission. Most pressingly now: A solid campaign to defeat the proposed amendment to NY’s Constitution.

For the sake of future generations, will you donate to this tremendous work to protect pregnant mothers and their children in New York?

Gratefully yours,

Carol Crossed and Michele Sterlace

FCLNY is recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity by the IRS. Gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law. Upon request, a copy of the latest annual report can be obtained by FCLNY or Office of Attorney General by writing to Charities Bureau at 28 Liberty St., 15th Floor, NY, NY 10005