Saturday, March 15, 2025
The South Shore Women’s Alliance, which reconvened last fall ahead of the 2024 election, has been meeting regularly over the last few months, forming committees and discussing important topics that affect a wide variety of people.
Originally founded as a democratic women’s caucus, the group has transitioned to what it is today — a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advocates for issues important to not only women, but also to all voters in general.
The alliance’s work is done through partnerships and activities with students, informative panels, and fundraisers for causes that the group supports. Over its history, the alliance organized a response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida in 2018; hosted a speaker to discuss health care initiatives in New York; organized rallies against abortion bans; and held fundraisers for groups like Planned Parenthood.
During the group’s Jan. 15 meeting, held in the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, the alliance, led by president Claudia Borecky, updated attendees on some initiatives the group is currently working on. Members of the alliance come from Levittown, Wantagh, Seaford, East Meadow, Bellmore, Merrick, Baldwin, Freeport, as well as other communities along the South Shore.
Through its immigration committee, the alliance is involved with a diverse array of immigrant organizations, and is seeking to assist with the immediate needs of community members. In a report distributed to attendees, the group said it is “addressing the need to change the narrative by ending harsh and dehumanizing language that permeates political discourse,” while also working toward encouraging language around immigration that “creates a more passionate society, where everyone is valued and welcomed.”
The alliance has been working with the Elmont Cultural Center to record human-interest stories, which could potentially be transformed into a comprehensive video. It is also working with interfaith organizations to collect and distribute personal and household items for families that live in shelters.
Through its education committee, the alliance is tackling book bans and has expressed interest in legislation in New Jersey that prohibits bans, and provides a “safe haven” where children can go to read banned books. The alliance’s hope is that a similar law could be enacted in New York.
During the alliance’s Jan. 15 meeting, Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of Gender Equality New York Inc., led a PowerPoint presentation on the language of gender in a session called “Gender 101.” Grey-Owens, who was born a male, has been a driving force on behalf of the transgender community over the last two decades.
She spoke about her personal journey, and zeroed in on specifics regarding inclusive terminology and ways to support the LGBTQ+ community. Maria O’Leary, a parent of a transgender child, joined Grey-Owens in the discussion.
“Everyone has the right to define their own gender and their sexual orientation, and that includes the freedom of creating, defining and using new labels that feels authentic and empowering and provides a way to express who they are,” Grey-Owens said. “It’s constantly evolving.
“The important point is that not everyone who aligns with certain aspects or concepts will identify with the labels that we discuss, because each person’s experience is unique,” she added.
Grey-Owens also discussed intersex individuals, often overlooked when it comes to discussions about gender and expression. Health experts indicate that up to 1.7 percent of the population is born with intersex traits — meaning reproductive organs, chromosomes or sexual anatomy different from their biological definition.
Grey-Owens said society likes to “put people in boxes”— but suggested it’s time to get away from that, describing the way people view themselves and categorize themselves as more linear.
“We want to get rid of boxes,” she explained. “The way that we’re going to represent a community of this continuum (gender or identification), of this characteristic, is by basically using a going line — going in both directions.”
The presentation opened up a civil dialogue between attendees and Grey-Owens, who answered questions relating to themes, terminology, and broader ideas that were discussed.
The Jan. 15 presentation was only the first half of Grey-Owens’ “Gender 101” — she’ll be returning for a part 2, on a date that is still being scheduled by the women’s alliance.
The evening concluded with the reading of a poem called “Sense or Censure,” by Harriet Pollack, a member of the alliance who attended the event.
“In essence, we are ‘Earthmates’ with a home on Earth to share — we can live together in harmony if we all choose to care,” she read. “Let’s show that we’re intelligent and also that we’re kind, and make our shared existence the best home humanity can find.”
To learn more about the women’s alliance, how to get involved, and its upcoming meetings, visit its Facebook page, South Shore Women’s Alliance.
