Maggie Petroski Fall 2020 Queers for Queer Care Award Runner Up

Hi everyone! My name is Maggie and I am beyond delighted to be the runner up for the queers for queer care award. I live in Ohio with my partner Taylor and our two pet rats Tim and Ernie. I am an episcopalian and a vegetarian as well as a lover of books, cooking, baking, and art. My jobs have been everything from a full-time nanny to a nude art model. I am currently a Montessori preschool teacher, which I am really in love with, but I want to become a birth worker as well (have to keep busy in the summertime too!).

I want to be a birth worker because I grew up hearing about birth from my brave and beautiful mother, who gave birth to me vaginally, without an epidural, while I was in the breech position(!!!)  I grew up hearing this story, and it was really formative for me. I was (and still am) in awe of her strength and determination. As I got older I started to get more interested in birth; I watched birth videos, I listen to “The birth hour” podcast, and I’ve read a  ton of books about birth. It has become something I’m really passionate about, despite not having experienced it myself yet. I think that birth can be such an important and empowering experience, and I want to live in a world where everyone can have the birth of their choice. I think one way to work toward that goal is to become an advocate for people while they give birth.

I wanted this scholarship because I graduated from college this past year and the student debt is looming over my head. Spending money right now is a big risk for us, so to get this scholarship made a huge difference. It was the difference between whether or not I could take these classes, so I’m really grateful for my opportunity to be here. I wanted to learn in this community because of the importance bebo mia places on honoring the stories of minorities as it relates to birth and postpartum. With many of the other organizations I researched, I heard feedback from people that were always very similar to this: “This training is great… except it really ignores the racial/sexual/disabled minority experience”. Well because my plans after finishing this course are to work with a diverse population, that didn’t work for me. If I want to be a birth worker who knowledgeably serves everyone she works with, I want my training to reflect that. I specifically feel that with the right training, I can give exceptional care to the queer community. As I’ve considered my options on birthing and becoming a mother someday as a lesbian, I already know that having kids as a queer person often comes with a price tag. I also understand the importance of finding affirming healthcare providers as a queer person. Especially in rural areas like where I live, it’s so important to find someone you can trust. I want to be around for queer birthing people in my community as a hand to hold, someone who understands them, and as an advocate that they receive the best care.

I also feel confident that bebo mia will give me the knowledge and sensitivity to give care to all people. I feel a responsibility to advocate for people of color and people with disabilities in my community as well. I want to put the power into the hands of every birthing person I serve, and I think that bebo mia is the right community to learn with if that is your goal.

-Maggie Petroski