The victor tells the stories. Women deserve the opportunity to tell their own stories. Sullied Bride Productions is a film production company created by women to utilize film and media as a means to tell our stories. Sullied Bride Productions; “Telling our stories, ourselves.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryan G. Thompson, the event coordinator for the groundbreaking Virginia Black Film Festival. The Virginia Black Film Festival featured international and domestic filmmakers across all genres of film. In attendance at the event was April Woodard the host of the Coast Live, Mayor Donnie Tuck, Representative Bobby Scott, renowned actor Clifton Powell, and many more notable individuals. The Virginia Black Film Festival was a landmark event to put the Hampton Roads area on the map for filmmaking. After such an amazing experience attending the festival, I wanted to learn more about what motivated Bryan G. Thompson to take on such an important endeavor.
First, I had to ask how he got his start in film?
“In 2008 I started acting in independent films, while still on active duty. I got my first idea for a movie while deployed. When I returned, I decided to find a local filmmaker in Hampton Roads and together we collaborated on my first script. The project was never created, but we did make a trailer. That experience both positive and negative, motivated me to continue to pursue my goals. This led me to create my first short “Noventa” (filmed in Norfolk) and that led to a number of other successful projects.”
Next, I wanted to know what inspired him to host a film festival in Hampton Roads and who have been his biggest supporters?
“Hampton Roads is where I began producing content. After ten successful years running a festival in Miami, I returned to Miami for family reasons and decided to apply my skills to elevating the film community in Hampton Roads.”
His biggest supporters have been Maverick Entertainment, who was a major sponsor for the Virginia Black Film Festival, Hampton University as a venue sponsor for the event, BET who spread the word about the festival, and Blessed Ministries for strategic and spiritual guidance.
There were so many highlights at the Virginia Black Film Festival such as April Woodard from the Coast Live hosting the Gala, the screening of the film Kemba, and a panel discussion with the real-life Kemba Smith, but I wanted to find out what was the highlight for Bryan G. Thompson?
“There were so many highlights, Clifton Powell, the fact that Maverick was there to make acquisitions, and the entire awards gala were excellent highlights for the event.”
Bryan G. Thompson
Finally, I wanted to know about his plans for the future?
“I will be continuing to produce projects that I find meaningful.”
Recently, Bryan G. Thompson premiered his new film Clutch, which is a sequel to his film Dirt. Clutch depicts issues regarding human trafficking and corrupt police officers. It features a strong female character working alongside a clever detective in an action-packed thriller as they navigate a criminal underworld in their quest for justice. The Virginia Black Film Festival was a wonderful experience, and I was so blessed to have the opportunity to meet the mind behind the event, Bryan G. Thompson. To keep up with upcoming projects from Bryan you can follow him on Instagram @bryangthompson and Facebook Bryan Thompson. The Virginia Black Film Festival is currently open for new submissions!
June Daguiso embarked on his journey as a filmmaker over eighteen years ago and never expected that one day he’d receive three film nominations at the Oscars. Currently, his film Saving Ana, has been nominated for Best Original Song, Best Picture, and Best Actor. When he began making films his goal had never been to…
When did rape become a bad word? Obviously, rape is a bad thing, but why all of a sudden are words pertaining to rape, sexual assault, and violence against women being bleeped out in the same way as an f-bomb? People don’t want to talk about these types of issues, but now Big Tech has…
How a DMV Independent Filmmaker got his Film into the Oscars
June Daguiso embarked on his journey as a filmmaker over eighteen years ago and never expected that one day he’d receive three film nominations at the Oscars. Currently, his film Saving Ana, has been nominated for Best Original Song, Best Picture, and Best Actor. When he began making films his goal had never been to become rich or famous, but to create art. It all started when he was teaching martial arts and one of the students asked him to do the choreography for an action film. June played a minor role in the film and had a fight scene with the lead actor. He discovered a love for filmmaking and took more jobs in the industry as a boom operator. As he worked on other film sets, he started to believe that he could do a project of his own.
When he proposed the idea of making his own movie, June faced discouragement from people who told him that he should just stick to what he was good at. However, June was not going to allow anyone to limit what he could do now that he had found his passion in life.
June produced his first project, Full Circle, an action film that he wrote and directed himself. While making this project he met Frank Cisco Anderson and Charles Robinson- a 2003 Grammy winner- who worked on the soundtrack. The music brought instant notoriety to the film as it received two Grammy nominations in music. June continued writing, producing, and directing films and his work became well known in the DMV, (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia) area. His second film, Collide, also received Grammy nominations in music. June refused to limit himself to action films. He has done work in all genres from drama, to suspense, to horror, to comedy.
His film, Saving Ana, which is currently in the running for the Oscars, is a drama about human trafficking. This serious subject matter was a topic June had been working on for years. The film covers issues of church hypocrisy, racism, and the family estrangement that often opens vulnerable people to being trafficked by predators. Saving Ana won accolades in over a hundred international film festivals for Best Original Song, so June said “Why not try for the Academy?”
Denis Walter Smith entered Saving Ana into the Oscars and the film was nominated not only for Best Original Song, but it also qualified for Best Picture and Best Actor. June knows being qualified for three categories at the Oscars is a huge accomplishment because oftentimes it is very difficult for filmmakers to get noticed. He is always looking to improve his work and to keep making films for the love of being creative. June has completed his next script, The Road to Absolution. He looks forward to filming this summer, in New York, the DMV (Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia), and is even recruiting actors from Mississippi. His journey as a filmmaker began with a simple dream. June did not allow anyone to deter him and he was able to get his film into the Oscars with three nominations. Now the dream lives on as June continues making more films.
When did rape become a bad word? Obviously, rape is a bad thing, but why all of a sudden are words pertaining to rape, sexual assault, and violence against women being bleeped out in the same way as an f-bomb? People don’t want to talk about these types of issues, but now Big Tech has found a way to increase the taboo around sexual abuse by deplatforming, demonetizing, and generally censoring any type of discussion around the topic. Censorship of discussion concerning rape and violence against women online has now become another means to silence victims. Then after silencing victims, politicians like AC Cordoza are making decisions that further impose on women who may have to suffer the consequences of rape related pregnancies. AC Cordoza voted for HB212, which would require mandatory counseling for abortion, potentially forcing a sexual assault victim to have to justify her decision to end a rape related pregnancy to a committee of medical professionals. In contrast, Dr. Jarris Taylor who is running for delegate in the 86th district trusts women to exercise sovereignty over their own bodies.
“Abortion is on the ballot, and we have to make sure that Virginia remains a safe haven for reproductive healthcare in the South. Politicians should have no place to stand between a woman and her doctor.”
Dr. Jarris Taylor, Candidate for Delegate in the 86th District
Censorship of sexual assault occurs constantly in the way people deem hearing about it as the incorrect time. Society remains blissfully ignorant to the silent suffering of many women by making sure that speaking out against sexual assault is never the right time. The assertion that there is a time and a place for everything is a form of censorship. In reality, the phrase “there is a time and a place for everything,” is a polite way to translate what people really mean, “I don’t want to hear it.” Although sexual assault is extremely common, impacting 1 in 4 women, talking about violence against women is considered inappropriate, even if it directly affects a woman someone knows personally.
Rather than deeming the topic too upsetting to hear, talk of sexual assault and violence against women needs to be discussed in regular social situations. Talking about sexual assault should NOT be censored online. Words like rape, sexual assault, or abuse should NOT be bleeped out like expletives. Big Tech censorship of violence against women goes beyond bleeping ‘trigger words’. It includes deplatforming and demonetizing anyone who discusses these issues openly. The censorship also extends to the creation of content.
In the preproduction phase of the independent film, Natalie’s Abortion-which shares the story of a sexual assault survivor-the production was denied insurance coverage by Entertainment Sport Promotion (ESP) because the film involved a rape scene. Without event insurance, the film production was unable to secure film locations or protect the people involved in filming from liabilities. Essentially the refusal to insure the film, because of the rape scene was a way to censor and halt the entire production of Natalie’s Abortion before it began.
The insurance company asserted that they would not cover a rape scene since it would be acted out directly. However, the sexual violence women have experienced at the hands of predatory men is never implied but something woman have experienced graphically. The purpose of showing the graphic nature of the crime to audiences is to confront the reality of rape. Society can be quick to offer unsolicited opinions concerning rape, unwanted pregnancy, and abortion, but at the same time are unwilling to face the horrific nature of sexual assault. This willful blind-eye to the graphic nature of sex crimes then translates to the decision-making process of politicians regarding the reproductive rights of women. In order to continue with the production of Natalie’s Abortion, the company was able to find a different insurance provider. However, the censorship of the film did not stop.
After completion of the film, Natalie’s Abortion faced more censorship from Big Tech when Amazon deemed the film as having inappropriate content and removed the film from its streaming service. Amazon used the vague terminology “offensive content.” When asked what specifically qualified as “offensive content” Amazon offered no clear answers. Reviewing the content of Amazon Prime’s catalog, the streaming service features movies which contain full frontal nudity and extended rape scenes. In the film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo there is an extended rape scene, which graphically details a woman chained to a bed and being violated, compared to Natalie’s Abortion where the rape scene only lasts a few seconds with a brief flash of implied nudity.
Although Amazon Prime is a private company, since it is operating in the public commercial domain for sales, all of its actions are still governed by Federal Law which protects First Amendment Free Speech violations. Deeming the content of Natalie’s Abortion as offensive compared to much more graphic film content indicates politically motivated censorship on the part of Amazon. Amazon stonewalled when its policy of “offensive content” was challenged. Amazon used the size of their company to crush Natalie’s Abortion just as it was beginning to generate a large audience, censoring Constitutional Free Speech.
Representatives are elected to official positions to protect citizens from having their rights striped away by large companies. The House of Delegates represents the districts for legislative purposes, and serve as liaisons between business owners within the Commonwealth and larger conglomerates, such as Big Tech. As elected officials, Delegates have the authority to mediate between companies like Amazon and the common people concerning topics such as censorship. However, challenging Big Tech censorship cannot be fulfilled when Delegates like AC Cordoza only uses his position to impose legislation to police the bodies of women. Not only does Dr. Jarris Taylor support the reproductive rights of women, but he will not the censor the voices of victims.
“Abortion is on the ballot, and we have to make sure that Virginia remains a safe haven for reproductive healthcare in the South. Politicians should have no place to stand between a woman and her doctor,” Dr. Jarris Taylor, Candidate for Delegate in the 86th District.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryan G. Thompson, the event coordinator for the groundbreaking Virginia Black Film Festival. The Virginia Black Film Festival featured international and domestic filmmakers across all genres of film. In attendance at the event was April Woodard the host of the Coast Live, Mayor Donnie Tuck, Representative Bobby Scott, renowned…
Gaslighting is a form of psychological torture where the perpetrator denies reality so vehemently that the victims doubt their own sanity. This tactic of abuse is often utilized by narcissists to deny any culpability for their actions. However, gaslighting can occur in a church setting where the pastoral leadership and the overall attitudes of congregants…
Michael Jackson had a vision for his film Moonwalker to coincide with the release of his album Bad so he bought his own studio to bring this vision to fruition. It seems simple, but the fact that he had the power as an individual to create a studio production incited numerous personal attacks against him. …
ArLynn Parker remembered the anticipation of applying and being accepted into college as a senior in high school. This was a parallel between her and the character she portrays on screen. Both were young women at a great precipice in their lives trying to establish their own identities. However, ArLynn’s character, Tanya, enters the fight of her life after suffering a devastating violation. In the film Then Sings My Soul, she plays an eighteen-year-old who is on trial for killing her stepfather in self-defense. ArLynn, in her break-out role, admired the candidness of the character and the way in which she stands up for herself against the odds. Film and entertainment have been her creative outlet since obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing with a minor in Theater from Old Dominion University. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts and Playwriting at Hollins University. As a rising film star, ArLynn has already received nominations for Best Actress and Best First Time Actress for Then Sings My Soul. Now, she is looking forward to using her talent to express herself, continuing to learn and grow along the way.
However, ArLynn’s character, Tanya, enters the fight of her life after suffering a devastating violation. In the film Then Sings My Soul, she plays an eighteen-year-old who is on trial for killing her stepfather in self-defense.
Trailer – Then Sings My Soul
Then Sings My Soul will Premiere on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at the Fort Monroe Theater in Hampton. Doors open at 2:00pm and the Film Begins at 3:00pm. Tickets are available on Eventbrite for $10.50
You can purchase multiple tickets on Eventbrite, but since it’s a group and senior citizens I can offer a discount rate at $9.00 with paper tickets. Please email me at sulliedbride@gmail.com so we can make the arrangements.
Gaslighting is a form of psychological torture where the perpetrator denies reality so vehemently that the victims doubt their own sanity. This tactic of abuse is often utilized by narcissists to deny any culpability for their actions. However, gaslighting can occur in a church setting where the pastoral leadership and the overall attitudes of congregants deny the reality of abuse. Biblical concepts such as love and forgiveness are often sprinkled on top of abusive behavior as a way to shift the blame to the victim and deny the reality that many so-called Christians are actively engaged in abusive behavior at church. Here are three phrases often found in Christian Gaslighting.
“I’m sensing a lot of bitterness from you.”
A married man tries to forcefully give a kiss to a young woman at the threshold of her apartment after helping her move. The young woman reports this incident to her pastor and the married man distances himself from the church for a few weeks. However, after this brief withdrawal the man returns to church and is allowed to hold a leadership position on the deacon board. When word of his offense begins to spread, his wife instigates a narrative that the young woman was chasing after her husband. The people in the church begin to antagonize the young woman and accuse of her behaving promiscuously. When the young woman makes a complaint to her pastor about how she is being treated, the pastor simply replies, “I’m sensing a lot of bitterness from you.”
Accusing someone of being bitter also negates any responsibility the leadership has in dealing with the problem.
The accusation of bitterness places blame on the young woman for simply being upset about the situation. It criminalizes her response to being mistreated, even though it is perfectly reasonable for her to be upset about the events that transpired. Accusing someone of being bitter also negates any responsibility the leadership has in dealing with the problem. The pastor failed to take appropriate action against a married man trying to forcefully come on to another woman. The pastor also failed to intercede between the people in the church when a false narrative spread through the congregation. In addition to the pastor, the people themselves lacked any accountability in terms of their response to the false narrative. Rather than take any pains to investigate whether or not the accusation of “promiscuity” was true or find out what had actually occurred, the church folk attacked the victim.
With the pastor being in a position of power, the claim of “bitterness” would appear to be an accurate assessment of the situation. The power dynamic between the pastoral leadership and the young woman would make it difficult for her to recognize that labeling her as “bitter” while the church fails to address the situation with married man is abusive. Instead, she will be more likely to internalize the label of bitterness and doubt herself. She becomes the blame for the situation as the church denies any culpability in mishandling abuse within its institution.
The reality about bitterness is that bitterness is not actually a sin. Pastors often preach about bitterness to create a narrative that bitterness is a sin, but the Bible never lists bitterness as a sin. In the book of Ruth, Namoi had experienced widowhood and the loss of her two sons. Grief stricken she no longer wanted to be called Namoi, but Mara—meaning bitter. This bitterness was not counted towards her as sin, but instead she was granted renewed hope through the kinsman redeemer, Boaz who married her daughter-in-law and raised up an heir in the name of her departed son. This child in the name of a bitter woman turned out to be in the linage of Messiah.
Another example about bitterness can be found when God sent Ezekiel out to prophesize. Upon receiving the word of God in his mouth the Bible describes Ezekiel going out, “in fury and bitterness.” If the direct word of God to a prophet causes bitterness, it is clearly not a sin. Redefining bitterness as a sin is a means to criminalize people for reasonable emotions and gaslight them into believing they are at fault when the church fails to uphold its values.
Was Adam Gaslighting Eve when he shifted the blame for sin entering the world to her? Read Sullied Bride to find out more!
“Can you ever forgive this person?”
The day I funeralized my father I had to deal with a whirlwind of emotions from anger, to grief, to confusion. From the moment he took his last breath, I had been running nonstop handling the funeral arrangements and cleaning the literal and metaphorical messes he left behind. My sleep had been plagued with a week of night terrors, memories from the past, and constant flashbacks to the vacant stare in my father’s eyes after witnessing the life depart from his body. The chaos had overtaken so much of my life that I was hardly prepared to deliver my remarks when called upon during the funeral service. While mulling over what I should have said after the fact, I had an uncle -by marriage- complain about the food that had been selected for the repast. For everything that I had been through during the lifetime of my father and the shear misery that accompanied his death, all my uncle could think about was how the food I selected didn’t suit his palette. Not only was he presumptuous enough to make my father’s funeral about his taste, but he had the gall to complain about it aloud where I could hear him.
From the way he said it, I knew his words were not a slipup of social protocol, but a deliberate complaint against my decision-making process for the funeral. He spoke with the arrogance of someone who had become accustomed to saying whatever he wanted because as a senior there wasn’t anyone older than him to inflict consequences for being out of line. In addition to age, this uncle also had the protection of social status. He had once graced the cover of Ebony magazine for a historic accomplishment being one of the first Black police chiefs in a major Southern city. Snapping at him meant attacking the embodiment of years of Black progress.
Yet, to have overcome such racial boundaries, he clearly understood the effect of disrespect and should have known better than to openly complain about food the day of my father’s funeral. I lit into him saying, “Considering how this is my father’s funeral, maybe I wasn’t concerned about what you think, and it’d be better for you to just keep your mouth shut!” Rather than this uncle recognize these angry words as a rebuke for his inappropriate conduct at the funeral, he took offense. He later complained about my reaction and declared that I was no longer welcome in his house. He sent his wife to demand and apology from me. During a separate hostile change of words, I was confronted with more Christian gaslighting, “Can’t you just forgive?”
I was attacked with forgiveness as a way for this uncle to deny the reality of his wrongdoing. My reaction to his tasteless remark was used as evidence against me.
I was attacked with forgiveness as a way for this uncle to deny the reality of his wrongdoing. My reaction to his tasteless remark was used as evidence against me. The insistence that I should just forgive was an attempt to make me doubt my own character. When dealing with narcissistic behaviors such as gaslighting, victims often find themselves apologizing to the offender. Victims are often made to feel as though they are bad people for simply wanting to be treated with basic courtesies.
In Christian gaslighting the accusatory question, “Can’t you just forgive,” is designed to make the victim feel as though they are a bad person for being hurt or seeking vindication. It denies any reasonable expectation of upright behavior from others, and it pressures victims to apologize to offenders. However, Yeshua (Jesus) made it clear that forgiveness is not just a means for offenders evade responsibility for their actions. Luke 17: 3 “Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.”
Yeshua (Jesus) instructed his followers to rebuke someone who sins. By definition, a rebuke is a sharp disapproval of a behavior. Therefore, the common complaint from a Christian gaslighter that the problem was “the way you said it,” is not applicable to rebuking sin. After the rebuke, forgiveness only takes place if he repents. To repent is to express sincere regret and to turn from the behavior. Without changed behavior and sincere remorse, the expectation of forgiveness is only manipulation from a Christian gaslighter.
“That’s something you need to go to God about.”
Christie, a character in the film The Curse of EVE, felt uncomfortable with the church she was attending with her husband. She did not like the environment or the way the pastor dismissively responded to her theological question. She suggested going to another church her husband rebuffed the idea. When she expressed her upset about the situation her husband flippantly replied, “That’s just something you need to go to God about.”
Telling someone to go to God about a situation is a way perpetrators deny their contribution to a problem. Rather than acknowledge any responsibility in the problem a Christian gaslighter will deflect the blame onto the victim by claiming “your problem is with God, not me.” The perpetrator uses God as a scapegoat rather than acknowledge the effect their actions have upon others. The Scriptures make it clear that a relationship with God cannot function as a substitute for respectful interactions with other people. Matthew 5:23-24 So if you are offering your gift at the Temple alter and you remember there that your brother has something against you, leave your gift where it is by the alter, and go and make peace with your brother. Then come back and offer your gift.
Telling someone to go to God about a situation is a way for a Christian gaslighter to shift the blame to the victim.
God does not even want an offering from someone who has offended their brother. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the one who committed the offense to reconcile with the one with whom they have offended before going to God. Telling someone to go to God about a situation is a way for a Christian gaslighter to shift the blame to the victim. The one who committed the offense is directly responsible to make peace with the person they have offended; not deflect by sending the offended party to God.
Gaslighting is a tactic to exert power and control over another person by undermining their mental state. Perpetrators gaslight as a way to deny their abusive behavior and blame the victim. Christian gaslighting involves the misuse of biblical concepts, such as forgiveness, to deflect responsibility and condemn the victim. Christian gaslighting can take place on an institutional level with pastoral leadership failing to handle misconduct properly, and it can occur personally with a perpetrator using Christianity to deny their abusive behavior. However, anyone can overcome Christian gaslighting through understanding how the Scriptures apply to abusive situations and by actively confronting religious institutions about their erroneous theology.
Michael Jackson had a vision for his film Moonwalker to coincide with the release of his album Bad so he bought his own studio to bring this vision to fruition. It seems simple, but the fact that he had the power as an individual to create a studio production incited numerous personal attacks against him. Typically, when an artist has a vision they face an uphill battle where they have to work through the ranks of executives within the studio to convince the corporate heads to support the vision. During this process the studio enforces compromises, steals from the artist, or shuts the idea down entirely. As a result, the studio executives make the final determination of what constitutes as art.
If a major production company only wants to portray people of color as ignorant thugs, they selectively fund people who represent that image. Michael Jackson on the other hand, presented a whimsical story in Moonwalker, which defied the stereotypes portrayed by the large studios. As an individual he had the financing and following to put forward a different image without having to cower to the studio system. An individual with the capacity to create studio level productions was always a threat to the elites who want to control what audiences see. In order to destroy the power of an individual with a divergent vision, the media launched a systematic smear campaign against Michael Jackson. The intent of the attack was to destroy his fan base through character assassination, with the hopes that without the support of the people Michael would lose his personal financial backing—an economic tort.
These malicious media attacks plagued Michael Jackson his entire life and have continued even postmortem as retaliation for going against the will of the elites behind the media.
Although Michael Jackson is no longer here physically, he always declared, “my message is Love,” which lives forever. This is the same message of the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) who cited the second greatest commandment was, “to love your neighbor as yourself.” Hate divides us. Love unites us. Through the power of love a united fan base of people supported Michael which enabled him to stand up to the studio system and create art in a way that no one had seen before. With the power of love a united fan base can honor Michael Jackson’s legacy by supporting artists in a way that makes them more powerful than studio executives. If the people as a whole stop reading tabloids and click-bait-lying-articles the elites could not utilize character assassination as a weapon against free-thinking artists. If people focused their attention on unique artists with integrity, rather than cooperate assembly line mass productions, the studio executives would lose their grip over the audience’s attention. The media that attacked Michael Jackson can be held accountable with the power of love when we make the media responsible for how it treats everyone. With the power of love we can “make that change.”
When I got married everyone in my congregation commented on how I did things “the right way.” Both of us were virgins on our wedding night. Among those first awkward moments together in the first week I had a dream about the baby we would conceive. I saw myself washing this beautiful little girl’s hair in the bathtub. She had my eyes, a playful smile, and curly brown hair. My own mother had experienced the same type of vision before I was born. She had seen me before I even came into the world.
This resonated with the pro-life messages in church referencing Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. To have an abortion was to kill the person that baby would become and believers had to fight for those lives. I fought for that little girl I saw in my dream. I stayed in the marriage for as long as I could because I knew marriage was holy. However, my husband was treacherous to me and it got to the point where staying would have ended my life.
I was bombarded with messages about how God hates divorce. When I read the Scriptures myself I found that there was more to the issue than just divorce. Malachi 2:14 The LORD is acting as witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her. God hates divorce because the man has broken faith with his wife, not because a wife divorced to escape mistreatment. The Scriptures go on to say that when the two become one it is to seek a seed from God. I had a vision of that seed from God, my daughter, the baby that was aborted when my husband broke faith with me.
I couldn’t help but think about what I had lost when a well-known Messianic Rabbi “J Con-Artist” came to my congregation as a guest speaker to deliver a fiery sermon against abortion. Yet, standing right behind this Rabbi “J Con-Artist” was my ex-husband on security. His sermon defended unwanted pregnancies with no consideration for rape but did not include my seed which was killed by the man standing on the pulpit with him. I sent this Rabbi “J Con-Artist” a letter describing my revelations about marriage and the seed from God only to receive a form letter in return saying that he did not have time to answer directly. It was understandable that a well-known Messianic Rabbi could not respond to everyone. However, what bothered me was that this Rabbi “J Con-Artist” was willing to preach a pro-life sermon designed to stir people to vote a certain way, directly effecting the treatment between a woman’s legs, yet he could not address me straightforwardly.
His sermon defended unwanted pregnancies with no consideration for rape but did not include my seed which was killed by the man standing on the pulpit with him.
In the film, Natalie’s Abortion, what stood out to me was the scene when the pastor passionately preached a pro-life sermon to defend unwanted pregnancies but made no distinctions between a seed from God within the Covenant of Marriage, and a violation from rape. Although, the pastor in the film made valid points about the sinister Eugenics movement and the money-making schemes of Planned Parenthood, the pastor lacked insight into how harmful his message could be to someone who had an abortion due to a rape related pregnancy. I believe God will restore that seed that I lost when my husband broke faith with me, and it is my prayer that believers will gain more perspective in what it means to be pro-life; which is to defend the rights of the woman in the marriage to protect a seed from God and recognize that all seeds are not from God.
Judgment against Amalek included the death of infants
1 Samuel 15:3 Now go, attack Amalek and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.
Contrary to the Bible, the pro-life argument would seek to save every aborted baby, but the pro-life stance refuses to acknowledge that abortion may prevent the next Hitler from arising.
Most pro-life arguments focus on the idea of saving innocent babies. However, in the Bible the state of infancy does not define innocence or exempt a baby from the death penalty. When God pronounced judgment against the nation of Amalek even babies nursing at the breast were to be put to death. This is because the people of Amalek were so evil that even their babies could not be redeemed. In the biblical account, Saul failed to carry out this order and as a result Haman, a descendant of Amalek, later rose to power and attempted genocide against the Jewish people. There are also speculations that Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazis who lead the genocide against 6 million Jews, was descended from Haman an Amalekite. Contrary to the Bible, the pro-life argument would seek to save every aborted baby, but the pro-life stance refuses to acknowledge that abortion may prevent the next Hitler from arising.
Life Begins at the First Breath
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Adam did not become a living being until the breath of life entered his nostrils. He had been formed from the dust, but the formation did not define life—it was the first breath. Death is defined when a person stops breathing. A person who was never breathing cannot be considered dead, because without taking a breath a person was never alive. Babies form in the womb, but life enters when that baby takes a breath.
Injuring a fetus resulted in a fine, not the death penalty
Exodus 21:22 If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no series injury, the offender must be fined
The Old Testament is explicit; an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and the cost of life is life. The penalty for murder is the death sentence. Yet, the punishment for causing the death of an unborn child is a fine. This means that God does not consider the unborn child as a fully developed life. If a baby in the womb was considered a life, then the consequence would be death. Calling abortion murder is contrary to the way God views an unborn child.
The Seed of the Wicked is Cut Off
Psalms 37: 28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved forever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
The Hebrew word for seed, זרע (zerah) refers not only to lineage, but also the literal seed, semen, from a man. In the womb the seed from a man fertilizes an egg which develops into a baby. To cut that seed off is to put a stop to that baby from forming. Putting an end to the seed of the wicked is an act of justice. Wicked men rape, and fighting to protect the seed of the wicked-rape related pregnancies-is fighting against the justice that God provides.
Erectile Dysfunction is from God
Psalms 69:24 May their eyes grow dim so that they cannot see; may their loins collapse continually.
This is a prayer for the loins of the wicked to fail. Although the pro-life movement claims that all pregnancies are from God, the psalmist correctly identifies the gender directly responsible for unwanted pregnancies. When the loins of the wicked collapse, through erectile dysfunction, their wicked seed is prevented from coming in contact with a woman. Receiving an answer to this prayer, for the loins of the wicked to fail, is the most biblically accurate way to prevent an abortion.
When the loins of the wicked collapse, through erectile dysfunction, their wicked seed is prevented from coming in contact with a woman.
Natalie’s Abortion, tells the unshared story of a woman who has to deal with a rape related pregnancy, abortion, and the constant bombardment of society’s unsolicited opinion about her decision. The story shows the ultimate triumph of a rape survivor as she finds her own voice and takes the power back in her life. This film was censored on Amazon, but is now available for viewing on Vimeo. Sharing our support for survivors—no matter what our political belief or religious background—can make or break a community’s ability to better process opinions on abortion, and address what they perceive as right or wrong behavior instead of forcing moral opinions that can trigger trauma for someone who has experienced sexual assault or a rape related pregnancy. These are tough subjects, but my intention is to share a story of survival that can uplift everyone and shift the conversation towards justice for all women. You too, can be part of this movement by simply watching Natalie’s Abortion on Vimeo and sharing it with your friends. Thank you for your support.
April is sexual assault awareness month. One in four women has suffered the trauma of sexual assault by men, and society has failed women in terms of seeking justice against male perpetrators. In addition to this, many victims struggle with an unwanted rape related pregnancy. Polarization of politics has made the topic of abortion a Left or Right wing issue. Rather than show compassion to a victim under pressure from the harrowing ordeal of forced conception, people are more inclined to promote their personal political views.
The film, Natalie’s Abortion is not a Left or Right wing film. It is not a pro-life or pro-choice film.
Natalie’s Abortion is a film which tells the story of a woman who is forced to deal with rape, a grueling sexual assault examination, an incompetent law enforcement system, unwanted rape related pregnancy, abortion, and the unsolicited political opinions of society. The film shows the ultimate triumph of a rape survivor as she finds her own voice and takes the power back in her life. While she is on this journey the fundamental question is put forward, “Should the seed of the wicked go forward?”
While she is on this journey the fundamental question is put forward, “Should the seed of the wicked go forward?”
Beyond politics the real question concerning sexual assault, rape related pregnancy, and abortion is, “Should the seed of the wicked go forward?” I invite you to share a story of survival that can uplift everyone and shift the conversation towards justice for all women in support of survivors for sexual assault awareness month. You can watch and share Natalie’s Abortion on Vimeo.com
Anytime you seek to do something different you will encounter haters who will criticize you, your dreams, and your accomplishments.
I’ve never fit into a type so my whole life I’ve always had a barrage of haters spewing their venom at me. The advice I was always given was, “not to let people push your buttons.” On the surface this seemed like great advice, but it never held the haters accountable. If someone knows that something is hurtful why do they make it their purpose to do it? The advice to not let a hater push your buttons is like telling someone not to let a robber burglarize your house. Shouldn’t the thief know stealing is wrong, just like a hater should find out how to love? Yet, how would haters learn to be any different if they’ve never been called out?
To keep pressing forward in a world full of haters people have to be retrained in how to interact with one another.
To keep pressing forward in a world full of haters people have to be retrained in how to interact with one another. People tend to believe and follow what they see, so media has been a means for me to put a different message into the world.
When it comes to domestic violence rather than preach to the woman, ‘know the signs,’ why not challenge the way communities respond to an abuser instead.
The Curse of EVE available on Vimeo.com
On the controversial topic of abortion instead of making it a political left or right issue why not examine the sovereignty a woman has over her body from a biblical point of view.
Natalie’s Abortion available on Vimeo.com
Putting forward different ideas has come with a certain degree of hate, but it has also inspired others in a new way of thinking. This is why I was so honored to receive the 2022 award for Woman Filmmaker at the World Music and Independent Film Festival (WMIFF)!
Overcoming haters involves building a group of people who support each other. Founded by June Daguiso the WMIFF is a gathering of independent filmmakers from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) for the opportunity to celebrate our contributions to film and collaborate to do something different. The event was filled with fine dining, fashion, dancing, and most importantly love for film. The best way to challenge haters is to create an environment without hate. I was so happy to receive the WMIFF Woman Filmmaker award during women’s history month because it reminded me of everything anyone can accomplish when living without hate.
Whatever your dream is, film or otherwise, you deserve the opportunity to tell your story yourself. Please Subscribe to our newsletter, Sullied Bride Speaks, to stay up to date on our next stories, and if you have a story you’d like to share email us at sulliedbride@gmail.com
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