LWVSPA hosts Dr. Shelley Sella on Her Book: Beyond Limits

Last month, the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area was honored to host an incredibly meaningful and well-attended evening with Dr. Shelley Sella at Tombolo Books. Through her reflections on decades of work in abortion care and the themes explored in her book Beyond Limits, Dr. Sella challenged attendees to think more expansively and compassionately about reproductive healthcare and the realities patients face. One of the most powerful moments of the evening came when she reminded the audience that “there should not be a hierarchy of desperation when it comes to needing an abortion.” Following the discussion, attendees engaged in a thoughtful Q&A and had the opportunity to meet Dr. Sella during a book signing.

Earlier in the day, we were also honored to host a smaller private lunch with Dr. Sella alongside members of the League’s Reproductive Rights Action Team and local reproductive rights leaders from organizations including the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund and Progress Florida. Dr. Sella was incredibly generous with her time, offering thoughtful insight and candid conversation about the realities of abortion care, patient support, and the challenges facing providers and advocates across the country. It was a meaningful opportunity for local leaders and activists to engage directly with one of the nation’s most respected voices in reproductive healthcare and discuss how we can continue strengthening support for abortion access and patient care in our own communities

At a time when reproductive healthcare continues to face increasing political and legal attacks, conversations like these are more important than ever. Events such as this allow our community to come together, learn from experts on the frontlines of care, and approach these issues with greater empathy, nuance, and understanding. The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area remains committed to creating opportunities for education, dialogue, and advocacy around reproductive freedom, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this evening such a success — especially our partners at Progress Florida and Tombolo Books.