The Feminist Case Against Abortion

FFL President Serrin M. Foster has led Feminists for Life of America since 1994. Under her leadership, FFL successfully advocated benefits for poor and pregnant women through the State Child Health Insurance Program, worked in coalition with other women's organizations to defeat the mandatory "family cap" and other punitive child exclusion provisions in welfare reform, and helped to prevent poverty and coerced abortions due to threats to withhold child support through passage of the Enhanced Child Support Act. Serrin served on the National Taskforce Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, which worked to pass the Violence Against Women Act, and she also testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in support of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, also known as "Laci and Conner's Law." The creator of the Women Deserve Better^® campaign has been an outspoken opponent of pregnancy discrimination and has focused on developing on-campus resources and support for underserved pregnant and parenting students. In January 1997, Serrin moderated the first-ever FFL Pregnancy Resource Forum^SM at Georgetown University, which became a model for the country and in 2010 became the basis for Pregnancy Assistance Fund grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Serrin's landmark speech, "The Feminist Case Against Abortion," has been recognized as one of the "great speeches in history" in an anthology called Women's Rights. Click here for more information.

Sally A. Winn began her tenure with Feminists for Life in 2001 as Vice President, sharing her own experience with an unplanned pregnancy in college and advocating for pregnant and parenting college students across the country. Before coming to FFL, she founded Indiana Democrats for Life in 1996 and soon after co-founded Democrats for Life of America. Sally has also served as the Director of Operations for a therapeutic group maternity home serving pregnant and parenting teens in the Pacific Northwest. She proudly carried on the legacy of our feminist foremothers as Executive Director of the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum in Adams, Massachusetts. Today Sally splits her time between FFL’s office in DC and her home in the Pacific Northwest with her two daughters and continues to serve as Feminists for Life Vice President, moderating FFL Pregnancy Resource Forums^SM and speaking internationally.
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Joyce Ann McCauley-Benner was raped at 20 while working her way through college and chose not to abort, not knowing if her unborn son was the result of rape or of her relationship. She says, "I know what it's like to want to run as far away as possible from a problem, how it feels to hang on to 'if I wasn't pregnant anymore, it would all be OK again.'" Ms. McCauley-Benner, who graduated from college while raising her son, worked on a racial justice task force and has worked with victims of sex trafficking. Today she presents her speech, "Pregnant by Rape?" on college campuses and at Capitol Hill briefings. In addition to her lecture, she moderates FFL Pregnancy Resource Forums. A mother of two sons and current student-parent, Ms. McCauley-Benner lives in the Midwest. Preview Joyce's lecture here.
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Jewels Green discovered she was pregnant at 17 and was pressured into having an abortion that led to depression and a suicide attempt. She then worked in an abortion center much of her young adulthood and became pro-life years later. She offers insider information from behind the closed doors of the abortion industry and unique insight into the highly personal journey of conversion. FFL was the first pro-life organization Jewels joined and worked as a volunteer before coming onboard as the Editor of FFL's magazine, The American Feminist.
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FFL Board Member Jessica O'Connor-Petts became pregnant shortly after graduating from university in 1996 but continued with her plan to move to Washington, D.C. to work in public policy and row competitively. With the loving support of family, friends, and caregivers, she made an adoption plan for her birthson, including four joyful weeks with him after his birth. Ms. O'Connor-Petts later completed an MBA, and works with a management consulting firm in Washington while continuing to row competitively. She also volunteers for a number of organizations that serve birthmothers. Ms. O'Connor-Petts' birthson, his little sister and parents were part of her wedding in 2003, with her birth son serving as ring-bearer. Ms. O'Connor-Petts is available to speak on a limited basis in the Washington area.
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Chaunie M. Brusie became a student mother her senior year of college. She shared her personal story as a pregnant student who challenged the status quo in FFL's 2007 e-series, Chaunie's Journey. After interning with Feminists for Life, Chaunie founded S.U.P.P.O.R.T., a campus organization dedicated to creating resources and support for pregnant and parenting students like herself. Chaunie hosted FFL's first Pregnant and Parenting Students Fair,SM successfully petitioning for more pregnant and parenting resources on her campus. She graduated on time with her bachelor's degree one week before delivering her daughter, and is now pursuing her master's degree in Non-Profit Administration. In 2007 she was awarded the National Association of Pro-Life Nurses Award. As FFL's College Outreach Program Coordinator, Chaunie helped student activists to transform campuses across the nation in support of pro-woman solutions. She has spoken on Capitol Hill and delivered lectures and workshops across the country. Chaunie also serves her local pregnancy center as an advisory board member and a mentor in their mothering program. Chaunie and her husband live in Michigan with their daughters, Ada and Mya. Today she is a labor and delivery nurse who continues to speak for FFL on college campuses, at pro-life events, and at Capitol Hill briefings. Preview Chaunie's speech here.