More than 20 years ago, the FDA approved the drug mifepristone, a safe and effective pill used in medication abortions. Today, abortion pills are the most common way to terminate early pregnancy, but an unprecedented case before a federal judge in Texas threatens access to this vital medication and could have dire consequences for bodily autonomy and freedom of choice nationwide – even in states where abortion is protected.
A crucial election is upon us. Early voting has begun in dozens of states, and on November 8th the American public will participate in a midterm election where abortion is on the ballot like never before. And despite attempts to pit concerns about the economy against access to abortion, the reality is that abortion is an economic issue. For example, women denied an abortion are significantly more likely to live in poverty years later.
Long before this summer’s Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, people of color working to make ends meet have encountered numerous obstacles to abortion access. Decades of restrictions – including insurance coverage bans, bans on medication abortion, inhumane policies that target immigrants, and more have pushed abortion care out of reach even in states where it’s legal.
The Dobbs decision has unique impacts on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Our analysis finds more than a quarter of Asian American and Pacific Islander women ages 15-49 live in the 26 states that have banned or are likely to ban abortion.
We knew this was coming, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Whole Women’s Health Organization reversed a nearly 50-year legal precedent established in Roe v. Wade: that abortion is a fundamental constitutional right. The Court in Dobbs upheld the Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, and ruled that states have the right to restrict or ban abortion access entirely.
Mississippi Abortion Ban Challenges Medical Ethics
As Texas implemented its egregious abortion restriction, Mexico finally decriminalized abortion. The move is a major victory for Mexican people and advocates, and a sign of change and hope for those living in other countries, particularly in Central America, where abortion is prohibited altogether.
This week marks 31 years of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. However, despite the promise of this law and the progress made in the last two decades, ableism continues to permeate society, resulting in socioeconomic, health, and other inequities.
In many ways, Biden has women — and especially women of color — to thank for his victory in the 2020 election. And by selecting the first woman and person of color to serve as Vice President and nominating a record number of women, including nine women of color, to his cabinet, the Biden Administration has signaled a willingness to prioritize women and the issues that impact us.
We need to strengthen Medicaid. With a new administration and Congress moving on key legislative priorities, now is the time. Strengthening Medicaid means increasing access to abortion and reproductive care. Abortion access is often an afterthought among the health advocacy community, but without abortion access, Medicaid coverage cannot ensure the overall well-being of people that may become pregnant.
Although Roe v. Wade granted the right to access abortions, the reality is that many people, particularly people of color, face barriers that inhibit their ability to exercise this right.
Our laws and policies should protect and provide opportunity to everyone living in our country. We should ensure that women and families can thrive in a safe and healthy environment. This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, celebrate survivors by telling your senators and representative we refuse to wait any longer.
We want to elevate Latinx Heritage Month to recognize the effects that compounding factors, such as barriers to health services, income inequality, limitation to public transportation, environmental exposures, and immigration status have on reproductive health access.
Legislators and anti-abortion activists across the country are becoming increasingly explicit about their goal of overturning Roe v. Wade and prohibiting people from accessing abortion care.
Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has withheld federal funds for abortion care for women enrolled in Medicaid and other health insurance through the federal government except in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment. This pushes abortion care out of reach of millions of women, particularly women of color.
No one should be denied opportunity, dignity, happiness or respect because of where they live or work or how much money they make. But because of our country’s punitive and inadequate policies, that is precisely what happens every day to people deciding if and when to parent.
Over the past couple of years, the Trump administration has aggressively sidelined science in policymaking – whether by suppressing or misrepresenting evidence, undermining federal grants, or selecting unqualified and conflicted appointees to lead agencies and programs. As a result, our nation’s public health and well-being are suffering.
Tuesday’s elections brought some mixed results around abortion rights. While Oregon turned out in a big way to reaffirm abortion access for everyone regardless of income, a majority of West Virginia and Alabama voters paved the way for increased abortion restrictions in both states. As with all abortion restrictions, these measures will have the most impact on low-income women, young women, and women of color in these three states.
At a time where reproductive rights face an existential threat from nearly all levels of government, voting can help ensure a future where all women have access to the reproductive health care they need.
In the last few months, we stood alongside our allies across the country to oppose the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court because we knew the dire threat he poses to women and families. …
