Feminists for Nonviolent Choices

Feminists for Nonviolent Choices is an organization headquartered in Rochester, NY dedicated to spreading the pro-life feminist philosophy that all humans, regardless of circumstances or location deserve to live without violence from conception to natural death. We write, speak and act to promote peace through opposition to all types of violence including abortion, domestic abuse, euthanasia, capital punishment, unethical science, poverty and war. Since 1989, FFNVC has been an active voice in the community. We invite dialogue and reexamination of commonly held beliefs regarding choice, women's equality and the women's movement itself by highlighting the pro-life perspective of early feminists active in the suffrage movement such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. FFNVC hosts educational community events annually featuring local and national experts dealing with current significant life issues. The 2019 event, co-sponsored with Nazareth College Public Health Program explored the effects of poverty on the lives of our young and its relationship to violence. John Strazzabosco, author of " Ninety Feet Under", was our featured speaker. The 2018 event featured the film "Babies Behind Bars". In dialogue with local members of the Judicial Process Commission the audience explored the pros and cons of babies being allowed to stay with their mothers in prison. The 2016 series offered a screening of Lives Worth Living followed by a panel & Q&A session with disability rights advocates. TEDx speaker Karen Gaffney addressed students at a local high school to a standing ovation. The 2015 series featured actress Margaret Colin sharing her pro-life philosophy with students at a local high school, an audience at the Little theatre and with women at a luncheon held at the Susan B. Anthony house. The 2014 series highlighted the public health impact of the sexual objectification of women. It included an art exhibit on "women countering the culture" at The Brainery Gallery, an interview on WXXI and a Skype presentation at Writers and Books by the internationally acclaimed journalist and the Australian "Face of Feminism," Melinda Tankard Reist. A film showing of "Sexy Baby" at the Little Theater was followed by a panel discussion with women's health professionals. In 2013, FFNVC explored the issue of sex-trafficking and its impact on women and children with Laura Lederer, former Senior Advisor on Trafficking in Persons in the Office for Democracy and Global Affairs of the United States Department of State. The series included lectures at several Rochester area universities with a co-sponsorship by Amnesty International and a showing of the award winning documentary, "Not my Life" with a Q & A with Academy Award Nominee producer Robert Bilheimer. In 2012, FFNVC explored the problem of China's "One Child Policy" and sex-selective and forced abortions with Reggie Littlejohn, founder and president of "Women's Rights without Frontiers". Again, the series included several university lectures and a showing of the award-winning documentary "It's a Girl" which highlights the current gendercide of unborn and newborn girls in China, India and around the world. In 2011, FFNVC hosted Jennifer Lahl of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, who revealed the dark side of the IVF (in-vitro fertilization) industry and its inherent exploitation of women and the use of their eggs as a commodity. As part of this event, FFNVC premiered Ms. Lahl's documentary "Eggsploitation" which later went on to win the prestigious Indy Award for best documentary. The choice of topic stemmed from FFNVC's 2009 legal challenge against the New York State Health Dept. and the Empire State Stem Cell Committee for their decision to compensate women for their egg donations for embryonic stem cell research. FFNVC is a consistent voice which has advocated for women through working for a raise in the minimum wage, a strengthening of domestic violence laws, enactment of protection for unborn victims of violence and legislation forbidding the payment for egg donations for embryonic stem cell research. Generous donations from caring people enable us to continue our mission to educate the public about pro-life feminism, the Consistent Life Ethic and non-violence as an avenue towards lasting peace in our city, country, and world. Contributions pay for speakers' fees, venue rentals, travel, and advertising. FFNVC strives to use each dollar responsibly and effectively. We also accept donations of office supplies, printing services, travel points and most importantly, your time. Thank you for considering Feminists for Nonviolent Choices as recipient for your donation dollars during ROC the DAY!

We focus on: Education

Where we are: Monroe