FIU Student Advocates for Reproductive Rights in Documentary

Amanda Gray/ Staff Writer

When FIU alumn Linda Guillotti began her pro-choice advocacy work she never imagined she would one day tell her story publicly, let alone in a documentary.

When the filmmaker and producer Juliana Tafur of the film List(e)n, decided to create a documentary about the importance of listening to each other in today’s world, she contacted the National Organization for Women, Florida NOW, in search of a reproductive rights advocate. Florida NOW chose Guillotti, the former president of National Organization for Women at FIU, for the role.

“They were looking for someone who was pro-choice, who was an outspoken activist for Reproductive Rights,” said Guillotti. “I’d been a reproductive rights and women’s rights outspoken advocate for a while, but I never thought in a million years that I would go out and tell my story to anybody.”

Photo Courtesy of Linda Guillotti

During her undergraduate years Guillotti, double majored in women and gender studies and psychology. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in the School of Social Work, and has dedicated her college career to advocating for human and reproductive rights.

She not only served as the president of National Organization for Women at FIU from 2017-2019, but also organized specific events aimed at restoring human rights to marginalized populations. She has also spoken to numerous different audiences in support of people’s rights. 

Taturf’s was looking to shed light on different topics for the documentary List(e)n by bringing two individuals together to discuss controversial topics. 

When it came to the conversation of pro-life versus pro-choice, Guillotti had the opportunity to enter a discussion with someone with a different viewpoint on abortion.

Guillotti, a survivor of sexual abuse, explains that her story was deeply personal and the thought of sharing it in such a public forum terrified her, to the point she thought of never telling anyone about it.

“As the time went by, I kept wondering if I was going to do this. I was scared,” said Guillotti. “But ultimately, the choice was made. Because having thought about it plenty, I knew that God had placed an opportunity in my lap.”

After making her decision, Guillotti informed Florida NOW, a women’s rights grassroots organization, that she would embrace the role in the documentary.

Florida NOW’s current president Kim Porteous explained while she was not the acting president of the organization at the time, she understands why Guillotti was chosen.

“As you can see, she is a powerful speaker and conveys a sharp and persuasive message. I think the world of Linda and the voice she is for Intersectional Feminism,” said Porteous.

Guillotti recalled her time as a student at FIU being an advocate for women’s reproductive rights.

 “FIU has played an immense role in my development as an advocate”, said Guillotti.

She specifically addressed the FIU Dean of Students Dr. Bronwen Bares Pelaez, professor Sondra Skelaney, Dr. Vicki Burns, Dr. Michaela Moura-Kocoglu, and professor Victoria Gray as people who influenced her role as an activist for women’s rights at the university.

 “Their mentorship, their expertise. The involvement that I found in the classes that they taught were every bit just as important for me in my own experience to become who I am today,” said Guillotti.

The process of filming Guillotti’s part of the documentary took three days due to the unscripted nature of the film. During this time, she engaged in open conversations regarding abortion with a pro-life advocate.

She said her goal was to explain her viewpoint and use the platform to advocate for safe and legal abortions.

“Being a pro-choice activist doesn’t mean that you’re telling people to go out and do abortions or get abortions. It’s saying that there is a need, because it will not end.” said Guillotti. “And, because it will not end due to the dire circumstances that women and girls are facing socially, economically, and financially, and in their homes, it’s going to continue. Making it illegal will only produce, I think, more violence against women.”

Guillotti shared that opening up about her own experiences with sexual violence and having an abortion required vulnerability, especially when engaging in such a personal discussion with someone who did not agree with her.

Guillotti’s personal take away from her vulnerability within List(e)n left an impact on her she mentioned.

“What I did find out through the movie was the fact that we are all basically responding to our life circumstances and that we all can come from a place where we have good intentions,” Guillotti explained.

Tafur shared the specific role Guillotti played in facilitating an honest conversation regarding abortions.

“It was really important to me to bring someone on the pro-life and choice [conversations] to have Linda’s perception and life experience being included because it’s so powerful”, said Tafur.

“As was the case with every single participant who participated in List(e)n, I really wanted to have a strong story that would allow the other person or the person on the other side to see the humanity in their quote-on-quote opponents because I had a theory that by doing that, and by having people really get to know each other and hear each other out, that the hatred would dissolve” said Tafur. 

Tafur also said the film’s exposure of contrasting perspectives is relevant for college students.

“College students [today] have only grown up in a world that’s been polarized and in a country that’s been polarized. They really don’t know anything else but hatred and division, which is really sad and unfortunate,” said Tafur. “The other thing is, even if they knew that these conversations are available and possible, they don’t know how to engage in them. They don’t have the tools to have these conversations”.

Looking to give young people these tools, Tafur founded the program Listen Courageously.

Listen Courageously hosts workshops surrounding the importance of learning how to listen and communicate with others who have differing opinions. Participants engage in two 90-minute sessions where they learn how to listen and see people past the stereotypes of opposite viewpoints regarding social matters such gun violence and immigration.

Guillotti’s impact did not end in the documentary, as she has continued to engage with viewers in Listen Courageously sessions where she tells her story and is a part of the dialogue.

She also expressed the candidness of the film is very timely in the current polarized environment of the United States.

“This is very relevant, not only to this community, but every single individual out there right now that believes that we cannot get along because we think differently or because we choose a different way to express the way that we care about the world.” says Guillotti. “Can we please go to bed at night feeling good about our friends and our neighbors?”

When asked what she hopes FIU members take away from the documentary, Guillotti quickly answers vulnerability and a spirit of togetherness.

“Vulnerability is very important to let you know that I’m putting all my weapons down. My sword, my shield. Everything I can possibly come at you with, I’m going to put down.” said Guillotti. “I’m going to see if you can understand me and see if we can get to understand each other. And we shall continue to do so.”

You can watch the trailer for List(e)n here: https://listencourageously.com/thefilm/  and learn more about Listen Courageously at its website: https://listencourageously.com/