In my latest episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Colorado State Senator Joyce Foster, as part of my eight-week series titled The Wisdom of My 80-Year-Old Friends. Joyce has been in politics for decades, with a long track record of fighting for women, underrepresented communities, and those who have been marginalized. She’s a powerhouse who’s worn many hats—from a city council member and council president to a Colorado State Senator. Toward the end of our chat, I asked her, as I often do with my guests, to share a “nugget” of wisdom for the listeners.
But what unfolded was something entirely unexpected.
The topic of reproductive health came up, and Joyce decided to share something deeply personal and poignant—a story she hadn’t told publicly before. As a young woman in Chicago, she became pregnant. She explained that she chose to have an abortion.
In Joyce’s words, “I did not write about it in my book. I did not tell my mom.” Touch me profoundly because when I was 18 years old I got pregnant and I too had an abortion.” I did not tell my mom nor did I share about it in my book Oh God of Second Chances.
Why did we kept that experience private for so long? Like many women we felt the sting of shame. Not shame from our choice, but from society’s conditioning—the sense that there must be something inherently “wrong” with our decisions. The secrecy, the silence, the weight of it all had kept us quiet. But here, with the current political climate and relentless attacks on reproductive rights, Joyce and I felt it was time to speak our truth.
The right to make choices based on what’s best for our own lives, bodies, and futures is essential.
Today, the responsibility of unplanned pregnancies is still disproportionately borne by women. Less than one-third of teenage mothers receive any form of child support, vastly increasing the likelihood of turning to the government for assistance. Many young women who don’t complete high school and face unplanned pregnancies are pushed into a cycle of poverty, with a 60% chance of living in poverty, according to a staggering statistic from our Colorado State demographer. When we strip women of the ability to make informed decisions about their bodies, we’re not just limiting them; we’re shaping the course of their entire lives—and often, limiting their chances to escape poverty.
Look, I know our country is divided on this issue. But today, with Senator Foster, I declare this: women must have the right to choose what’s best for their lives and futures.
In the words of Barack Obama, “Don’t boo, VOTE!” With Election Day just around the corner, I urge you to take a hard look at the ballot. Your vote is your voice, and it’s never been more important to make sure your vote and you voice echoes powerfully and clearly.
lIsten my podcast with Joyce Foster https://christybelz.com/newpodcast/second-changes-with-joyce-foster/
Do not miss my next conversation with the amazing trailblazer of historic preservation Dana Crawford https://christybelz.com/podcast/
