On May 1st 2020, Thistle interviewed Denice Traina, Co-Chair of the Georgia Green Party and member of the team that decided to sign the Declaration on Women’s Sex-based Rights, a document that has thousands of international signatories.
Thistle and Denice discuss Denice’s political career with the Greens, her take on the Lavender Caucus and their support for bullying and silencing tactics within the Green Party and her reasons for why she stands strong in support of women’s and children’s rights.
From Denice: “I have been an advocate for my community on many issues demanding nuclear non-proliferation, immigrant rights, access to transportation, women’s healthcare , chemical-free food security , election integrity, opposition to the Iraq war and other wars for over 30 years in Georgia since returning from service in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, South America. I relocated from my home of origin, Oak Park, Illinois to California and then South Florida before attending the Medical College of Georgia receiving my BS degree in Physical Therapy and later an Masters in Health Education. I realize now that my earliest political awakening occurred when I attended an all female Catholic high school. The Sisters of Notre Dame and lay professors were no slouches when it came to encouraging debate and discussion on issues ranging from abortion to democratic rule in the US. Rounded out by language arts, music and poetry I was a participant in what I recognize as a privileged middle class upbringing. Moving to the South has given me a reality check on the incredible need for reform in many areas of our society. Since I take my role as partner, mother, grandmother seriously I intend on continuing my participation in efforts to bring Green values like grassroots democracy, environmental justice, feminism, racial equality and peace initiatives forward in my community to the best of my ability.”
CORRECTION: Denice Traina contacted us to tell us she was mistaken about Winona LaDuke still being a member of the Green Party. LaDuke ran with Ralph Nader as a Green in 2000 but has not since been a Green.