Latishia James-Portis

Latishia James-Portis

Latishia James-Portis is a chaplain gone rogue who uses her skills to help create a culture of consent and transformative justice by day, and not-so-secretly trying to solve our country’s empathy problem by night through her consulting practice Empathic Solutions. She is the assistant director for Prevention and Response at Spelman College. As vice president of the board for All-Options, she serves as a Faith Aloud clergy counselor. You can keep up with her on Twitter or at www.latishiajames.com.

[Tiny Black girl wearing sunglasses and a polka dot dress waves, while a Black woman, also wearing shades, holds her hand and smiles.]

My Mother Died From AIDS. My Tribute to Her Is That I’m Not Ashamed of It.

Latishia James-Portis

Thirty years of World AIDS Day, and stigma still kills. But how can shame win if we are willing to be open about that which plagues us?

[Photo: Book cover for the book Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice]

In ‘Trust Women,’ A Christian Ethicist Talks Abortion—And She’s Not Shaming

Latishia James-Portis

This book by Rebecca Todd Peters will pave the way for more accounts that connect faith and reproductive justice, but it also shows how hard it is to escape the access focus of reproductive rights.

Ministries of Presence and Support: How Clergy Can Become Abortion-Rights Advocates

Latishia James-Portis

Half a century ago, a group of clergy formed to help people seeking abortions, even though abortion was illegal in the United States. Today's faith leaders can follow in their footsteps by becoming advocates in clinics, statehouses, seminaries, and their places of worship.

YWA 2013 Nominee: Latishia James

Latishia James-Portis

I believe my purpose in life is to assist in the development, healing and empowerment of young girls, women and the LGBTQ community to reconcile their sexuality (sexual trauma/assault, sexual orientation, sexual expression) with their spirituality (morality, creator, divine, purpose in life).