Dan Savage, co-founder of our current Human Rights beneficiary It Gets Better Project, talks about the heartbreaking inspiration for the first It Gets Better video, the suidice of Billy Lucas, and his hope that the project will help LGBT teens everywhere. 

Dan recently started a new It Gets Better show on MTV--click here to learn more. 

Current Natural World beneficiary Population Connection sends this report from their annual advocacy weekend, Capitol Hill Days. Population Connection educates young people about unsustainable population growth, informs constituents across the country about their congressional representatives' stances on population growth and family planning, and works directly with Congress and the White House to inform family planning policy and funding levels. 

Each spring, more than 100 enthusiastic and motivated Population Connection activists arrive in Washington DC for our annual advocacy weekend, Capitol Hill Days. The weekend consists of renowned speakers, advocacy training, and interactive informational sessions, culminating in lobby visits on Capitol Hill. Throughout the event, participants get the unique opportunity not only to gain insight into the important issues of women’s empowerment and global family planning, but to lobby their representatives directly on behalf of sound family planning policy and increased international family planning assistance. 

Capitol Hill Days has made a profound impact on many of our participants, some of whom were previously unaware of population issues. Lehigh student Karina Licea describes the experience as nothing short of life-changing: 

“It really opened my eyes about issues that I was so uninformed about beforehand. I am not exaggerating when I say that it was a life-changing experience, and hopefully one that will help me change other lives later on.… I’m really excited to share what I learned through Population Connection.” 

Every year, we are encouraged and humbled by the dedication that these young activists bring to our cause. Capitol Hill Days is a wonderful way to educate and inspire the next generation of population activists as we continue to fight for a sustainable and healthy global population. 

First-quarter 2012 human rights beneficiary Center for Reproductive Rights gave us this report about how they are using the funds contributed by members of Foundation Beyond Belief. Members donated $7,505 to Center for Reproductive Rights last quarter.

Thank you so much for your generous contribution to the Center for Reproductive Rights. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support we received FBB members for women's reproductive rights! This is a critical time for the Center, and your gift means so much.

The Center is the only organization using constitutional and human rights law globally to defend and advance women’s essential reproductive rights. With the generous support of FBB members, the Center has:

• Protected women in North Carolina and Oklahoma from invasive, unnecessary ultrasounds and biased “counseling.” 
• Ensured that doctors in Kansas could continue providing constitutionally protected reproductive health services to their patients.
• Pushed the U.N. committee to condemn Brazil for its horrific treatment of a young mother who died needlessly, establishing that all states have an obligation to guarantee access to maternal health services.
• Advocated for access to affordable contraception for women across the globe.

These are just a few pieces of the legal framework the Center is now building to restore our hard-won reproductive rights at home, broaden protections for reproductive rights and health in international law, and win access to affordable contraception for women everywhere. This movement wouldn’t be possible without your commitment to the Center.

Thank you again for your generous gift, and for choosing to stand with us on the front lines. We truly appreciate the support we received from FBB members at this important time in our movement. 

Sincerely,
Nancy Northup
President and CEO