Janelle Brennand Armstrong
@janelleba.bsky.social
She/her🏳️🌈. Policy wonk🍁🇨🇦. Feminist. Settler. Treaty person. Anti-racist. Abortion & reproductive rights advocate. Striving to be an ally 🏳️⚧️✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿. Views my own. https://www.thehonesttalk.ca/honest-thoughts/my-recurrent-miscarriages-made-me-even-more-pro-choice/
Pinned
Hi there! I’m new here and am looking for community and fellow activists. I’m a mom of 2 who experienced recurrent pregnancy loss and required four abortion services. I’m passionate about:
- women’s rights and reproductive rights
- queer and trans rights
- Anti-racism and Indigenous reconciliation
- women’s rights and reproductive rights
- queer and trans rights
- Anti-racism and Indigenous reconciliation
Nothing screams “pro-life” and “we value women’s lives” more than allowing pharmacists to refuse to stock the medications that literally save our lives (I’ve taken both, for an ectopic pregnancy and a missed miscarriage). Thanks for being so “pro-life” you’d prefer us dead!
Misoprostol and methotrexate do more than end pregnancies—but anti-abortion pharmacists can now refuse to offer them and still get federal funds.
HHS will allow pharmacies to boycott lifesaving drugs used in medication abortion
Misoprostol and methotrexate do more than end pregnancies—but anti-abortion pharmacists can now refuse to offer them and still get federal funds.
www.motherjones.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Nothing screams “pro-life” and “we value women’s lives” more than allowing pharmacists to refuse to stock the medications that literally save our lives (I’ve taken both, for an ectopic pregnancy and a missed miscarriage). Thanks for being so “pro-life” you’d prefer us dead!
What an icon! One of my most prized possessions is a letter to the editor that said my parents should be ashamed of me (for writing an editorial shaming Ralph Klein for being against gay marriage). That has nothing on this! I aspire to be this badass 😎. Thank you for your service, Julie K. Brown!! 🫡
February 2, 2026 at 1:06 AM
What an icon! One of my most prized possessions is a letter to the editor that said my parents should be ashamed of me (for writing an editorial shaming Ralph Klein for being against gay marriage). That has nothing on this! I aspire to be this badass 😎. Thank you for your service, Julie K. Brown!! 🫡
Five members of the Women Veterans Council, tasked with addressing negative experiences of women in the armed forces (a monumental task), have had to resign due to the negative experiences they say they themselves were experiencing trying to address the issues. Sigh. At least there’s consistency.
Nearly half of members of Women Veterans Council quit
Five of the 12 members resigned after a meeting with the Veterans Affairs Minister, saying there was limited engagement on addressing the needs of female soldiers
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 28, 2026 at 3:47 AM
Five members of the Women Veterans Council, tasked with addressing negative experiences of women in the armed forces (a monumental task), have had to resign due to the negative experiences they say they themselves were experiencing trying to address the issues. Sigh. At least there’s consistency.
A good excuse to rewatch Heated Rivalry 🏒
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stay soft in a world that keeps asking you to harden up.
Pay attention to what steadies you — a quiet moment, a voice, a song — and keep those things close. They ain’t escapes; they’re anchors.
Pay attention to what steadies you — a quiet moment, a voice, a song — and keep those things close. They ain’t escapes; they’re anchors.
January 27, 2026 at 1:11 AM
A good excuse to rewatch Heated Rivalry 🏒
I feel this deeply.
I guess this comes from being a woman unapologetically talking about abortion on the internet and elsewhere for the past decade, but GOD I hate cowardice.
January 25, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I feel this deeply.
Reposted by Janelle Brennand Armstrong
At the end of the day, the Black Lives Matter era was about whether people should be killed in the street, and lots of people decided yeah and put those little blue flags on their cars. It spread to everyone because it stopped for no one.
January 24, 2026 at 4:45 PM
At the end of the day, the Black Lives Matter era was about whether people should be killed in the street, and lots of people decided yeah and put those little blue flags on their cars. It spread to everyone because it stopped for no one.
Federal agents are flat out killing people in the street. As a Canadian watching the US crumble, threaten us and other nations, and go completely off the rails, I really don’t understand. How much worse does it have to get before what’s left of American democratic institutions stop this madness?
January 25, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Federal agents are flat out killing people in the street. As a Canadian watching the US crumble, threaten us and other nations, and go completely off the rails, I really don’t understand. How much worse does it have to get before what’s left of American democratic institutions stop this madness?
So not only do frequently-prescribed beta blockers actually cause HARM in women (and not men), but women are less frequently prescribed treatments that can be life saving, as well.
What does the data say for women who aren’t cis or white? Do we know?
Cis, white women aren’t the default either.
What does the data say for women who aren’t cis or white? Do we know?
Cis, white women aren’t the default either.
To add insult to injury...
Seriously?
Why is this still happening in 2025? The 4th year undergraduates in my cardiology class are aware of this problem. How is it that women are still being under-treated?
Seriously?
Why is this still happening in 2025? The 4th year undergraduates in my cardiology class are aware of this problem. How is it that women are still being under-treated?
August 30, 2025 at 6:54 PM
So not only do frequently-prescribed beta blockers actually cause HARM in women (and not men), but women are less frequently prescribed treatments that can be life saving, as well.
What does the data say for women who aren’t cis or white? Do we know?
Cis, white women aren’t the default either.
What does the data say for women who aren’t cis or white? Do we know?
Cis, white women aren’t the default either.
This is why I came out as bisexual. As a woman married to a man, I could have been forever perceived as straight. But it wasn’t authentic. And visibility MATTERS.
Despite pretty intense biphobia, I don’t regret a thing. I feel empowered, have gained friends & community, and am proud of who I am 🏳️🌈
Despite pretty intense biphobia, I don’t regret a thing. I feel empowered, have gained friends & community, and am proud of who I am 🏳️🌈
For noen kan et lite regnbueflagg bety at vi føler oss tryggere. Man ser flagget og tenker; « her kan jeg passe inn»
En enkel måte å vite at jeg også blir satt pris på.
Veldig fin video
Oslo Pride🌈
En enkel måte å vite at jeg også blir satt pris på.
Veldig fin video
Oslo Pride🌈
May 30, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This is why I came out as bisexual. As a woman married to a man, I could have been forever perceived as straight. But it wasn’t authentic. And visibility MATTERS.
Despite pretty intense biphobia, I don’t regret a thing. I feel empowered, have gained friends & community, and am proud of who I am 🏳️🌈
Despite pretty intense biphobia, I don’t regret a thing. I feel empowered, have gained friends & community, and am proud of who I am 🏳️🌈
Gaëtan Dugas, a French Canadian who was bravely openly gay at a time it was criminal to be so, and who cooperated with health authorities in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, was falsely and unjustly villainized as “Patient Zero”.
Today is the anniversary of his death - a perfect day to watch.
Today is the anniversary of his death - a perfect day to watch.
This superb, insightful documentary tells Gaetan's story.
It's a must see if you wish to know more about the "Patient Zero" story that so unjustly vilified him.
I was young gay man living in Vancouver's West End, so moved to remember so many friends we had in common.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gg...
It's a must see if you wish to know more about the "Patient Zero" story that so unjustly vilified him.
I was young gay man living in Vancouver's West End, so moved to remember so many friends we had in common.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gg...
Killing Patient Zero | Full Film | TVO Documentary
YouTube video by TVO Docs
www.youtube.com
March 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Gaëtan Dugas, a French Canadian who was bravely openly gay at a time it was criminal to be so, and who cooperated with health authorities in the early days of the AIDS epidemic, was falsely and unjustly villainized as “Patient Zero”.
Today is the anniversary of his death - a perfect day to watch.
Today is the anniversary of his death - a perfect day to watch.
Reposted by Janelle Brennand Armstrong
This superb, insightful documentary tells Gaetan's story.
It's a must see if you wish to know more about the "Patient Zero" story that so unjustly vilified him.
I was young gay man living in Vancouver's West End, so moved to remember so many friends we had in common.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gg...
It's a must see if you wish to know more about the "Patient Zero" story that so unjustly vilified him.
I was young gay man living in Vancouver's West End, so moved to remember so many friends we had in common.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gg...
Killing Patient Zero | Full Film | TVO Documentary
YouTube video by TVO Docs
www.youtube.com
March 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
This superb, insightful documentary tells Gaetan's story.
It's a must see if you wish to know more about the "Patient Zero" story that so unjustly vilified him.
I was young gay man living in Vancouver's West End, so moved to remember so many friends we had in common.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gg...
It's a must see if you wish to know more about the "Patient Zero" story that so unjustly vilified him.
I was young gay man living in Vancouver's West End, so moved to remember so many friends we had in common.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gg...
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am watching it now, and just got to the part where it explains that “Patient O (which stood for “Out of California”) was misinterpreted as “Patient 0 (“zero”). It’s so incredibly painful to watch. I can’t believe I am only hearing of this story today. Thank you!
March 30, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am watching it now, and just got to the part where it explains that “Patient O (which stood for “Out of California”) was misinterpreted as “Patient 0 (“zero”). It’s so incredibly painful to watch. I can’t believe I am only hearing of this story today. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing this story. I had never heard of Gaëtan Dugas, or how he was the victim of such stigma and misinformation. His contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS is a wonderful legacy that deserves to be shared widely.
March 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Thank you for sharing this story. I had never heard of Gaëtan Dugas, or how he was the victim of such stigma and misinformation. His contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS is a wonderful legacy that deserves to be shared widely.
I feel old because I don’t know why Hilary Duff has a twin, but otherwise, YES!!! A win for one is a win for us all 💗🏳️⚧️💪
March 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I feel old because I don’t know why Hilary Duff has a twin, but otherwise, YES!!! A win for one is a win for us all 💗🏳️⚧️💪
Reposted by Janelle Brennand Armstrong
Yes, elbows up and all that. But let's continue to work against racism and violence against all Canadians.
Because it doesn't matter how high your elbows are when someone's trying to light your hijab on fire.
(📷 via National Council of Canadian Muslims - IG)
Because it doesn't matter how high your elbows are when someone's trying to light your hijab on fire.
(📷 via National Council of Canadian Muslims - IG)
March 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Yes, elbows up and all that. But let's continue to work against racism and violence against all Canadians.
Because it doesn't matter how high your elbows are when someone's trying to light your hijab on fire.
(📷 via National Council of Canadian Muslims - IG)
Because it doesn't matter how high your elbows are when someone's trying to light your hijab on fire.
(📷 via National Council of Canadian Muslims - IG)
“Tech platforms including Meta, Amazon, Google and TikTok are “systematically suppressing sexual and reproductive health information for women and people of diverse genders.””
Yikes. All the reproductive health gains we’ve made might be rolled back by bad advice from uninformed influencers. 😬
Yikes. All the reproductive health gains we’ve made might be rolled back by bad advice from uninformed influencers. 😬
Canadian gynecologists are warning that social media videos, often misleading and created by individuals with large followings and no medical credentials, are reshaping conversations among their younger patients. The SOGC has called mis- and disinformation on women’s health a “growing threat.”
Canadian gynecologists concerned social media is reshaping perspectives about effective contraception methods
Thousands of posts on social media encourage women to ditch the birth control pill with arguments that are not supported by science
www.theglobeandmail.com
March 23, 2025 at 1:12 AM
“Tech platforms including Meta, Amazon, Google and TikTok are “systematically suppressing sexual and reproductive health information for women and people of diverse genders.””
Yikes. All the reproductive health gains we’ve made might be rolled back by bad advice from uninformed influencers. 😬
Yikes. All the reproductive health gains we’ve made might be rolled back by bad advice from uninformed influencers. 😬
I am so sorry 💔
March 22, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I am so sorry 💔
Amazing.
These are the values we need to protect in Canada. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇨🇦🍁
These are types of leaders we need.
Well done, Premier Kinew.👏
These are the values we need to protect in Canada. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇨🇦🍁
These are types of leaders we need.
Well done, Premier Kinew.👏
March 22, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Amazing.
These are the values we need to protect in Canada. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇨🇦🍁
These are types of leaders we need.
Well done, Premier Kinew.👏
These are the values we need to protect in Canada. 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇨🇦🍁
These are types of leaders we need.
Well done, Premier Kinew.👏
“The reality became clear: Ice detention isn’t just a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s a business…
Companies…receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, which is why they lobby for stricter immigration policies…
The more detainees, the more money they make.”
Companies…receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, which is why they lobby for stricter immigration policies…
The more detainees, the more money they make.”
A must-read:
"We are defined by the love we extend, the courage we summon and the truths we are willing to tell." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
"We are defined by the love we extend, the courage we summon and the truths we are willing to tell." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I’m the Canadian who was detained by Ice for two weeks. It felt like I had been kidnapped
I was stuck in a freezing cell without explanation despite eventually having lawyers and media attention. Yet, compared with others, I was lucky
www.theguardian.com
March 19, 2025 at 11:35 AM
“The reality became clear: Ice detention isn’t just a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s a business…
Companies…receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, which is why they lobby for stricter immigration policies…
The more detainees, the more money they make.”
Companies…receive government funding based on the number of people they detain, which is why they lobby for stricter immigration policies…
The more detainees, the more money they make.”
So let me get this straight:
1) They are doubling down on this fentanyl fallacy;
2) One of Trump’s top aids recently said Canada is covering up fentanyl labs;
3) If they call fentanyl a WMD, they can justify invading Canada.
Anyone else having flashbacks to the invasion of Iraq?
Terrifying.
1) They are doubling down on this fentanyl fallacy;
2) One of Trump’s top aids recently said Canada is covering up fentanyl labs;
3) If they call fentanyl a WMD, they can justify invading Canada.
Anyone else having flashbacks to the invasion of Iraq?
Terrifying.
SCOOP—Trump plans to issue an executive order designating fentanyl as a "Weapon of Mass Destruction," per copy of EO reviewed by me. Source at State speculates purpose is to designate cartels as terrorist orgs/justify military ops in Mexico/Canada.
Context/full text of draft only on The Handbasket:
Context/full text of draft only on The Handbasket:
Trump to declare fentanyl “Weapon of Mass Destruction," per draft EO
A copy of the draft was obtained and reviewed by The Handbasket.
www.thehandbasket.co
March 19, 2025 at 1:44 AM
So let me get this straight:
1) They are doubling down on this fentanyl fallacy;
2) One of Trump’s top aids recently said Canada is covering up fentanyl labs;
3) If they call fentanyl a WMD, they can justify invading Canada.
Anyone else having flashbacks to the invasion of Iraq?
Terrifying.
1) They are doubling down on this fentanyl fallacy;
2) One of Trump’s top aids recently said Canada is covering up fentanyl labs;
3) If they call fentanyl a WMD, they can justify invading Canada.
Anyone else having flashbacks to the invasion of Iraq?
Terrifying.
While grieving my second ectopic pregnancy, I learned that Ohio legislators wanted women and their doctors to be considered murderers for not relocating ectopic pregnancies to the uterus, despite the fact that relocating an ectopic pregnancy is impossible.
A great way to support grieving women!
A great way to support grieving women!
March 17, 2025 at 4:35 AM
While grieving my second ectopic pregnancy, I learned that Ohio legislators wanted women and their doctors to be considered murderers for not relocating ectopic pregnancies to the uterus, despite the fact that relocating an ectopic pregnancy is impossible.
A great way to support grieving women!
A great way to support grieving women!
FYI, for clarity — while Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) does fund pay equity projects (e.g., WAGE has funded the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity), pay equity within the core public administration, RCMP and CAF is being led by Treasury Board Secretariat, not WAGE. Here is more info:
Pay Equity - Canada.ca
Ongoing updates on the implementation of the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act and Regulations will be posted on this website.
www.canada.ca
March 16, 2025 at 8:21 PM
FYI, for clarity — while Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) does fund pay equity projects (e.g., WAGE has funded the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity), pay equity within the core public administration, RCMP and CAF is being led by Treasury Board Secretariat, not WAGE. Here is more info:
Let’s keep it this way, Canada.
This is what “Elbows Up” is all about. This is what we are defending. This is who we are.
🇨🇦🍁🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
#elbowsup
#canpoli
This is what “Elbows Up” is all about. This is what we are defending. This is who we are.
🇨🇦🍁🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
#elbowsup
#canpoli
Canada, Denmark and Sweden have been named among the most progressive and inclusive countries in the world.
Canada named among top countries with social purpose
A study by U.S. News & World Report has ranked Canada third on a list of the top countries with social purpose.
cultmtl.com
March 15, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Canadians — listen to these voices. There’s a whole slew of them, and they are our experts in making Canada what we want it to be — a diverse, equitable and inclusive nation.
That’s my Canada. A nation that defends not just our sovereignty, but our country’s values as well.
#elbowsup
#canpoli
That’s my Canada. A nation that defends not just our sovereignty, but our country’s values as well.
#elbowsup
#canpoli
"Gender equality demands dedicated leadership, accountability, and sustained attention—none of which can be adequately achieved when it is treated as an afterthought within a larger, unrelated ministry."
Read more: www.criaw-icref.ca/statements/j...
Read more: www.criaw-icref.ca/statements/j...
Joint News Release on Minister of WAGE - CRIAW
Canadian Government Eliminates Minister for Women and Gender Equality Amid United Nations Women’s Rights Summit For Immediate Release New York UNHQ – It is unacceptable that the new Canadian Prime M...
www.criaw-icref.ca
March 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
