Pantsuit Republic

Hey Pantsuiters, HuffPo reported today over 11,000 women have been inspired to run for political office after the 2016 election! Wow! The PSR Podcast is happy to share with you an interview with one of these women, PSR member Tracie Storie, who is running for Round Rock City Council, Place 4. Micheal spoke with Tracie about her background, her campaign, and what she will do if elected. You can find out more about Tracie on her campaign website and on Facebook: http://www.tracie4roundrock.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TracieStorieforRoundRock/ Please take some time to learn about Tracie, and consider supporting her campaign by volunteering, donating, and most importantly, by voting! We want to see progressive values shaping the future of Texas, in communities just like Round Rock. <3 Your friendly podcast team

Hey Pantsuiters, it’s time to VOTE in the Spring 2017 Texas elections! The PSR Podcast is happy to share an interview we did with PSR member Tammy Young, who is running for Round Rock City Council Place 1. Micheal chatted with Tammy about what has motivated her to run, her qualifications for running, and what she will do if elected. You can find out more about Tammy on her campaign website: http://tammyforroundrock.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TammyforRoundRock/ Please take some time to learn about Tammy, and consider supporting her campaign by volunteering, donating, and most importantly, by voting! Round Rock is a beautiful, historic town with some darn fine donuts – let’s make it as progressive as it is delicious! <3 Your friendly podcast team

Hey Pantsuiters, early voting has STARTED for the Spring 2017 elections in Texas! We here at the PSR Podcast are pleased to share the interview we did with Heather Sanders Jefts, who is running for Cedar Park City Council Place 5. Micheal talked with Heather about why she is running and what she will do if elected. You can find out more about Heather on her campaign website and on Facebook: https://www.jeftsforcedarpark.com/ https://www.facebook.com/JeftsForCedarPark/ Please take some time to learn about Heather, and consider supporting her campaign by volunteering, donating, and most importantly, by voting! Let’s make Cedar Park a more progressive place! <3 Your friendly podcast team

Hello Pantsuiters! The podcast team is pleased to announce our interview with Emily Quillen, a PSR member who is running for Place 1 on the Crowley Independent School District’s Board of Trustees! Laura talked with Emily about why she is running and what she will do if elected. You can find out more about Emily on her campaign website and on Facebook: http://www.quillenforcrowley.com/ https://www.facebook.com/QuillenForCrowley/ Please take some time to learn about Emily, and consider supporting her campaign by volunteering, donating, and most importantly, by voting! Let’s support Texas public schools, students, and teachers, and in doing so, support our broader communities. <3 Your friendly podcast team

Hello Pantsuiters! The PSR Podcast is happy to announce our interview with Jessica Camacho, a member of PSR who is running for Place 6 on the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) School Board! Laura talked with Jessica about her qualifications and motivations to run for MISD School Board, and what she will do if elected. You can find more information about Jessica on her campaign website and on Facebook: http://www.jessica4misd.com/about https://www.facebook.com/jessicacamacho4MISD/ If you live in Mansfield, please take the time to learn about Jessica, and consider supporting her campaign by volunteering, donating, and (most importantly!) voting! More than ever right now, we need strong, progressive public schools in Texas. <3 Your friendly podcast team

Hello Pantsuiters! We’re excited to bring you an interview with a PSR member who is running for elected office in May of 2017. Stirling Morris is a Democrat who is running for Plano City Council Place 8. Micheal chatted with him about why he’s running for office and his plans for Plano if elected. You can find more information about him on his campaign website and various social media platforms: Website: http://stirlingmorris.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stirlingforplanocitycouncil/ Instagram: www.instagram.stirlingmorris LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stirlingmorris Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/stirlingmorris Tumblr: www.stirlingmorris.tumblr.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/stirlingmorris Give it a listen, and if you live in Stirling’s district please consider volunteering for his campaign and/or donating! The saying goes, “All politics are local” – let’s turn Texas into a progressive state one local election at a time! <3 Your friendly podcast team

Hello Pantsuiters! After several weeks’ hiatus, the PSR Podcast is back! This week, Susan talks about the feminist concept of ‘intersectionality’. It’s a good one, you don’t want to miss it! <3  

Hello all! In this week’s episode we are pleased to feature an interview with BRAVE Maker Maryam about the BRAVE Communities organization. BRAVE exists to unite students, businesses, nonprofits, and community groups by sharing their stories and voices, so people may understand, embrace, and empower each other to become a more integrated community. Give it a listen! Episode links You can learn more about BRAVE Communities at their website: http://bravecommunities.org/ Mi Familia Vota website: http://www.mifamiliavota.org/ Texas Organizing Project website: http://organizetexas.org/ If you’re interested in registering for ‘All In For Equality Advocacy Day’, here is the link: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EqualityTexas/AllInForEquality2017.html   PSR Candidates Information:       Stirling Morris is running for Plano City Council Place 8! You can find his information below:  Campaign website: http://www.stirlingmorris.com/ Campaign FB page: https://www.facebook.com/stirlingforplanocitycouncil/ Campaign contributions page: http://www.stirlingmorris.com/p/actionhttpswww.html         Tammy Young is running for Round Rock City Council Place 1! Here is where to find her information:

Hello all! In this episode we discuss how a local group called Grassroots Leadership is fighting back against the detention and deportation of immigrants in Texas. If you want to help their efforts and are bilingual (Spn/Eng), they could really use your help! Grassroots Leadership’s website: http://grassrootsleadership.org/ Grassroots Leadership volunteer application: http://grassrootsleadership.org/volunteer-sign-form Remember, if you are a PSR member interested in running for political office, please email Jinny at candidates@pantsuitrepublic.com so you can use PSR’s large FB community as a way to get out your message and help get you into office! If you’re interested in volunteering for PSR’s Texas Legislative Committee’s Texas Senator Tracking Sheet, please email tracklegislators@pantsuitrepublic.com. Committee Hearing for Senate Bill 6 Info (aka, Texas’ transphobic “bathroom bill”): Tuesday, March 7th at 8 am, in room E1.012 at the State Capitol in Austin Tips for testifying against this bill:

Hello Pantsuiters! In this episode we talk reproductive rights and health with members of the lgbtq+ community. Episode Links: San Antonio Express article citing thousands of calls and emails against Senate Bill 6, aka Texas’ “bathroom bill”: http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Patrick-s-office-deluged-with-emails-calls-10943478.php?cmpid=gsa-mysa-result To register for the Trans Texans Lobby Day, go here: http://www.transtexas.org/lobby-day-2017/ The GOP’s “Mainstream Media Accountability Survey” can be found here: https://action.donaldjtrump.com/mainstream-media-accountability-survey/ To read Sillicon Valley Data Science’s analysis of gerrymandering in the U.S., go here: http://svds.com/better-know-districts/ And to look at the accompanying map, go here: http://www.svds.com/gerrymandering/ Finally, here’s Michelann’s piece on intersectional feminism: This essay illustrates the history and current forms of feminism that pertain to the foundational mission and values of Pantsuit Republic Texas. A (very) Brief History of Feminism in the United States   First Wave Feminism In the Victorian era, the middle class white woman was encouraged to be meek and subservient. With the contributions of many in the physical and social sciences (Darwin, Marx, Freud, etc), an awareness emerged among these women that they were in fact intelligent and capable. In the United States, the Suffragette movement, or the fight for women to have the right to vote (and own property), is often referred to as First Wave feminism. Many early leaders of the movement were also abolitionists but later turned a blind eye to lynchings and other atrocities committed against black men. This was engendered in part by resentment that black men were granted the vote before (white) women but was also an attempt to win less progressive women to the Suffragette cause. Women won the right to vote through constitutional amendment in 1920. Both before and after this victory, factions within the movement held different views of sex and race. This continued into the advent of Second Wave Feminism.   Sources and Further Reading: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/25/134849480/the-root-how-racism-tainted-womens-suffrage https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-wave_feminism http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/thackeray/angel.html http://www.biography.com/people/ida-b-wells-9527635#later-career http://www.biography.com/people/susan-b-anthony-194905   Second Wave Feminism After World War II, women were expected to cede their wartime jobs to men and to return to homemaking. Young, unmarried women who chose to work made lower wages and were often fired upon marriage, so employers could avoid investing heavily in those who would eventually leave to raise children. In white middle class families, young women attended college for the purpose of finding a husband. Marriage and motherhood were glorified by a post-war economic boom and the influence of corporate media, which suggested to these women that they would find their greatest happiness in “modernizing” their homes and caring for family needs. The Feminine Mystique, publ

Hello all! In this episode we discuss two issues that are a vital part of reproductive rights: Maternity leave and affordable child care in Texas. Here are the sources we used if you are interested in learning more about this issue: “Fringe Benefits.” Fringe Benefits.Texas Workforce Commission, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.  http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/fringe_benefits.html “PREGNANCY RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE.” Pregnancy Rights in the Workplace. Texas Workforce Commission, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/pregnancy_rights.html “Texas .” Small Business Profile. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/advocacy/TX.pdf Jervis, Rick. “Texas’ maternal death rates top most industrialized countries.” USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, 10 Sept. 2016. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2016/09/10/texas-maternal-mortality-rate/90115960/ “Texas.” The National Campaign To Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017. <https://thenationalcampaign.org/data/state/texas>. WC Vacation, sick and parent leave policies  http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/vacation_sick_and_parental_leave_policies.html Additional links we mentioned in this episode: March for Science official page: https://www.marchforscience.com/ GLAAD’s list of transgender resources: http://www.glaad.org/transgender/resources NatGeo’s ‘Gender Revolution’ documentary webpage: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/gender-revolution-a-journey-with-katie-couric/ FINALLY – here is the ACLU’s ‘Know Your Rights’ infographic detailing what steps to take if ICE agents show up at your door. Please share widely!

Hello all! This week’s episode is very quick, just a summary of the news and a few Calls to Action. If YOU or someone you know is interested in running for local office here in Texas, PSR can help! Please contact candidates@pantsuitrepublic.com. One such member is Emery Betts, who running for Mansfield City Council Place 7. Campaign website: https://bettsforcouncil.nationbuilder.com/ Facebook campaign page: https://www.facebook.com/bettsforcouncil/?ref=bookmarks Donation page: https://bettsforcouncil.nationbuilder.com/donate Club for Growth Survey for Ted Cruz: http://clubforgrowth.org/ted-cruz-tax-survey Donate to Human Rights Campaign here: https://give.hrc.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1954&ea.campaign.id=51848 OR buy some of their merchandise here: http://shop.hrc.org/donate/hrc-donation-starting-at-5.html That’s all for now! Pantsuit On!

  Greetings all! In our fourth episode we continue our focus on reproductive rights and health in Texas. Susan interviewed Rowan Harter, a therapist and sexuality educator in Austin, about sexuality education in Texas, the issues with an abstinence-only approach, and resources for improving the state of sex ed. She also examines the state of contraception access in Texas, looking at existing barriers and potential new ones introduced in the TX legislature.   Sexuality Education/Contraception links: Curriculum for the Unitarian Universalist Our Whole Lives Course: http://www.uua.org/re/owl MTVs It’s Your Sex Life: http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/ Laci Green’s Sex Ed Series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/lacigreen Texas Policy Evaluation Project’s research on barriers to contraception: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/txpep/_files/pdf/TxPEP-ResearchBrief_Barriers-to-Family-Planning-Access-in-Texas_May2015.pdf   Calls to Action You can find MoveOn’s calls to action here: http://front.moveon.org/   PSR MEMBERS ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, AND EARLY VOTING STARTED FEBRUARY 1st! If you live in Frisco, check out Damon Vinci for City Council Place 1! Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/davinciforfrisco/ Donate to his campaign: https://www.paypal.me/vinciforfrisco If you live in Mansfield, Jessica Rios Camacho is running for Mansfield ISD School Board Trustee Place 6! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicacamacho4MISD Website: http://www.jessica4misd.com/ Donate to her campaign: http://www.jessica4misd.com/get-involved If you’re a woman interested in running for public office in the future, Annie’s List provides training sessions: https://annieslist.com/programs/ready-run-local-leaders/ That’s all for now! Keep resisting, keep fighting to make the world a better place. Pantsuit On!

  Welcome to the first bonus episode of the PSR Podcast! In it, Emily chats with Dr. Michelann Quimby, a specialist in cyberpsychology and online engagement, about activism burnout, self-care, and how to stay mentally healthy on the internet. In addition to this episode, Dr. Quimby will be doing a Facebook LiveCast Q&A tomorrow, Saturday February 4th, at 1 pm. You can find the link on PSR’s FB page under the ‘Events’ tab. You can also find Dr. Quimby’s blog here: https://msmichelann.com/. There is all sorts of good, insightful stuff on there, so we highly encourage our listeners to check it out! Pantsuit On!  

Welcome to Episode 3! In this episode we kick off our series on reproductive rights and health in Texas by discussing abortion and PSR’s stance on the subject. Additionally, Laura interviewed PSR’s creator, Dr. Dona Murphey, about our organization and where she sees it headed. Links If you haven’t yet read the Washington Post article detailing how some politicians are hoping to avoid meeting with their constituents, you can find it here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republicans-look-to-avoid-youtube-moments-in-fight-over-obamacare-repeal/2017/01/18/22bb2048-dd12-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html?utm_term=.bfac715c5b11 Here’s some of the coverage on concerned constituent trips to various offices of Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, many of whom are PSR members! Keep it going, keep recording what happens, keep sharing with the media and on social media! http://www.mystatesman.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/austinites-gather-ted-cruz-office-protest-trump-cabinet-picks/PeEG7vCs8S1ZKyohSStTrJ/ http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/32496/ted-cruz-locks-constituents-wont-make-appointments To follow the Women’s March 100 Days of Activism, visit their website: www.womensmarch.com/100/ Here’s the essay on Reproductive Justice by Sister Song: https://www.trustblackwomen.org/our-work/what-is-reproductive-justice/9-what-is-reproductive-justice Thank you for listening! If you have an idea for a show or would like to submit a personal narrative, you can email us at podcast@pantsuitrepublic.com. Pantsuit On! xo