Past Events
The Turn Away Play.
On July 16, 2026, Martha’s Vineyard Sexual Wellness, MVSwell, co-hosted TheTurn Away Play with Reproductive Equity Now, REN, in Edgartown’s Historic Old Whaling Church.
What an evening! The cast of local actresses, along with American actress, producer, and political activist Amy Brenneman was directed by Kevin Ryan of Island Theatre Workshop.
The play was based on a ten year, 1000 women, scientific research by Dr. Diana Greene Foster, PhD, at the University of California, San Francisco, and written by her sister, Leslie Greene. The audience became part of the play, as we were “cast” as Dr. Greene’s university class, played by Ms. Brenneman.
We listened to real-life stories about abortion care, those who chose it and those who were turned away, and came away with a deeper understanding that abortion care is essential, life-saving medical care. We were reminded that every person knows their own circumstances best and should be able to make decisions about their body with the advice of a doctor.
The play also had plenty of humor. We followed Dr. Foster’s research assistants as they interviewed pregnant people about their histories, experiences, and needs. The women conducting the interviews were also navigating their own sexual lives and experiences as young women, and all was shared on stage in a wonderful theatrical way.
The play moved between Dr. Greene’s research, personal stories, and interviews with people calling into a phone bank. The audience was asked questions about reproductive health care and challenged to think about how quickly we can fall into preconceived ideas about what is right and wrong, what a pregnant person should or could do.
The play was followed by a panel conversation with Elizabeth Barnes, President of The Women's Centers, Claire Teylouni, Interim Executive Director of Reproductive Equity Now, REN, and Emily Gold, Director of Medical Services of Health Imperatives, the island’s Reproductive Health Care Clinic.
Hopefully, we all walked away with a deeper understanding that the government has no business making decisions about our bodies. These decisions rightfully belong to individuals, together with the medical professionals they trust.
The audience was invited to remember that four years ago, June 2022, the Supreme Court eliminated the 50 year federal constitutional right for people to have an abortion. The right to receive health care if a pregnancy became dangerous or is the result of rape or incest. The right to assert the same control over their bodies that men possess. The consequences have been dire and in some ways unexpected.
MVSwell and REN hope that this play helped to activate the island’s community to VOTE, vote to expand and protect reproductive rights. And, if you are a visitor, please bring this experience home to your community.
We were very pleased and excited to see over 200 people in the Old Whaling Church’s pews and even more pleased to have raised over $ 22,000 for the continuation of our important work and the many Reproductive policies and offers that REN works toward in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
Our 5th annual lip sync Contest was just amazing. We were back at the PA Club with two nights of very talented performers and enthusiastic audience members. We also had generous community sponsors, Cape Cod 5 Bank, Island Insurance, Megan and Chuck Landeck, and Morning Glory Farm.
Thanks to all, we met our budget target and exceeded the amount for an net income of $10,324.00 What happened at the PA Club that weekend was monumental!!
Each and every act was amazing, crowd pleasing, costumed to perfection, lip synced to no fault, energetic, and absolutely phenomenal, each and every one including Abby Bender and Mac Young who kept everything in order and started the whole show with the entrance and song that “set the stage”.
This fundraiser brings our community together and offers the opportunity for MVSwell to give 'More Information' about our important programs, as well as generous dollars to support our programs.
Next year friends, #6... see you on stage if not before.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VIDEO OF PANEL DISCUSSION
SHORT VIDEO CLIPS FROM PANEL DISCUSSION
EDUCATION AND ETHICS 3:25 min. Efforts on the island and the ethical impact of providing medical care to women in states with abortion restrictions.
BLACK AND BROWN MATERNAL HEALTH 3:30 MIN. This clip specifically address the positive impact doulas have on Black and Brown pregnancy outcomes.
GREATEST NEEDS 8:18 MIN. Focuses on the greatest needs faced by reproductive and maternal health professionals.
SHIELD LAWS 17:49 min. Help people access abortion care across the country by protecting providers in states where abortion is available. Current anti-abortion legislation in many states hinder access to abortion care, gender affirming care, and threaten reproductive health.Find out more about Massachusetts' shield laws, offering a model in protecting reproductive health care.
MAP (Medication Abortion Access Project) 11:28 min. Provides abortion pills by mail to people in states with abortion restrictions.
WAMPANOAG REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 3:08 min. Focuses on the challenges faced by the Wampanoag tribe when trying to access abortion care and what we need to turn this around.
ABORTION ACCESS LANDSCAPE 8:09 min. Details on abortion access across
the country and the impact limitations on access are impacting people's health.
Report from our event OUR BODIES NOT YOURS.
A panel of Massachusetts reproductive health experts provided powerful data and stories about national and local abortion access as well as how maternal health is being impacted by restrictive laws across the country. The sold out event held at Stillpoint in West Tisbury on July 27 th was moderated by documentarian, Dawn Porter, documentarian Trilogy films who opened with a moment of silence to ground participants and recognize the importance of the following discussion. Dr. Maureen Paul, Medical Director of the MAP (Massachusetts Medication Abortion Access Program) began with an overview of where we are today. Dr. Paul reminded us that abortion access was eroded prior to the Dobbs decision with the Hyde Amendment and 1300 abortion restrictions also called trap laws. in states across the country. “However, the Dobbs decision profoundly exacerbated already existing inequities by revoking the constitutional protection of access to abortion to everyone, allowing states to completely ban abortions some of whom implemented criminal laws against providers,” explained Dr. Paul. Prior to Dobbs, about half of abortions in the U.S. were medication abortions. Now it’s about two thirds. Ultimately, the number of abortions in the U.S. increased due to the heroic efforts of patient navigators, abortion funds, the people helping people travel, and the clinics that
stepped up to the plate – some staying open until midnight to accommodate the influx.” Dr. Paul explained medication abortion is a safe and effective way to end pregnancy. At the MAP, people are asked to pay on a sliding scale starting at a minimum of $5, which can be waived upon request, although the cost of sending the pills is $150. The conversation continued with information about efforts that begin in 2020 to codify abortion protections in Massachusetts prior to the Dobbs decision. “A legal right is not the same as an accessible one,” said Clair Teylouni, Policy Director, Reproductive Equity Now (REN). “Legislative efforts focused on how to improve access, protect providers, and gender affirming care. In 2022, REN worked closely with a receptive legislature to pass a powerful shield law that says the federal government or other states cannot reach in and impact what the state has deemed legally protected. Nyssa Duarte, RN, clinic nurse and wellness program coordinator, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and founder of Noepe Wellness, shared the importance of accessing aspiration abortions (suction abortion which is easily done during the first trimester) on the island. “Communal care is essential to Wompanoag people and having to go off island to get aspiration abortions adds hardship to everyone, but especially the Wampanoag tribal community,” noted Ms. Duarte. “We’re working on expanding access through our clinic to medication abortion.”
Dawn Porter highlighted how Black and Brown people are disproportionally impacted by these regulations. She turned to Ndidiamaka Amutah Onukagha, PhD, MPH, Founding Director, Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, to speak to this issue and share more about her work.“My research looks at the intersection of race, gender, and inequities, with the understanding that accessing healthcare for Black and Brown people can be dangerous,” said Ms. Amutah Onukagha. “We’re an academic based center, but all of our work is community facing.” She highlighted how the recent “Momnibus” bill allowed Massachusetts to be a leader in the maternal health space.After about an hour of discussion, attendees asked questions about safety, abortion access on the island, and what the future holds. Representatives from the MV Hospital were invited to the event, but none attended. Attendees were told aspiration abortions are now provided up to 10 weeks at the hospital. Everyone was asked to support the organizations represented at the event by donating to MV Sexual Wellness (formerly MV Friends of Family Planning) which will distribute the proceeds.