With over 20-years of experience in the film industry, award winning creator Lisa Cunningham utilizes digital media to appeal to diverse communities. Currently Cunningham is the director of digital communications for the Black Women’s Health Imperative and she was selected by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to serve on the inaugural LGBTQ Advisory Board for the City of Atlanta. You can see her on the Black Women Lead stage at the Howard Theatre on June 15 in DC discussing Me.Period or catch her on the OWN livestream airing also on June 15. Below she shares her thoughts on health equity, representation, and Pride.
Gender Avenger: Why was it important to you to make your most recent documentary now?
Lisa Cunningham: Let’s face it, menstruation and puberty are topics that have long been met with silence and stigma, particularly within the Black community. By shining a light on these experiences (in this case) through the lens of Black mothers and daughters, we can challenge the taboos surrounding menstruation and empower young people to embrace their bodies and navigate this transformative stage of life with confidence. The timing is significant as conversations around all aspects of health are gaining momentum. Networks like OWN and media companies like Essence are now making health a hot topic which creates an opportune moment to address the specific experiences of Black women and young menstruators.
Gender Avenger: How has the menstrual equity landscape changed for the better, for the worse?
Lisa Cunningham: As with a lot of issues there has been both progress and challenges. On a positive note, there is a growing recognition of the importance of menstrual equity. I’ve witnessed these initiatives firsthand like the Positive Period program with the Black Women’s Health Imperative and even followed the national conversation with states like California passing a law requiring public colleges to provide free menstrual products to students. But we can’t talk about menstrual equity without also focusing on menstrual education and de-stigmatization. Unfortunately, there are those who are trying to politicize this topic. A bill has been introduced in Florida which would prevent teaching about menstruation and other sex education topics in elementary school. Laws like these would of course disproportionately impact people of color. It is therefore vital to address these intersecting issues within the menstrual equity movement.
Gender Avenger: Black Women Lead is a celebration and honoring of Black women’s leadership. Why is this visibility important now and who is a Black woman you look up to?
Lisa Cunningham: I believe what we are realizing at this moment is that we can take 2 steps forward and what feels like 5 steps back at the same time. I honestly never thought Roe V Wade would be overturned in my lifetime. That’s why visibility and advocacy is more important than ever. I look up to heroes like Byllye Avery, the founder of the Black Women’s Health Imperative, who helped put the term “reproductive justice” on the map as a pioneer in the movement. She went on to produce a documentary in the 80’s titled On Becoming a Woman which would inspire me to create the project Me. Period. which focuses on Black Mothers empowering themselves to have open and honest conversations with their tweens and teens about menstruation and puberty. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of persistence, resilience, and collective action. Also, I am grateful we have organizations like All In Together who continue to uplift and celebrate Black women leaders paving the way for a more inclusive future where the leadership and expertise of Black women are fully recognized and valued.
Gender Avenger: As we head into Pride month, what are the issues we should be focusing on to support this community?
Lisa Cunningham: Knowledge truly is power. I want people to understand that in 2023 there are currently 29 states in this country with no anti-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ individuals in areas such as employment, housing, healthcare, and public accommodations. I literally did a Ted Talk about it in 2019 and sadly we are still here facing these challenges. Also, the assault on the transgender community needs our continuous attention. Now more than ever we must promote inclusive policies that respect gender identity, provide access to healthcare and affirming transition-related care, and combat the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by the transgender community. As so many corporations begin to wave the rainbow flags in solidarity we must go beyond surface-level statements and incorporate concrete steps such as equitable hiring practices, inclusive workplace policies, and financial investments in the LGBTQ+ community.
