Reproductive Equity Now Launches Major Digital Ad Campaign to Expand Access to Medication Abortion on Massachusetts Public University Campuses
Ad buy comes ahead of Dobbs v. Jackson decision this summer that is likely to dismantle federal abortion protections
BOSTON (April 25, 2022) – Reproductive Equity Now is investing $50,000 in a digital ad campaign that launches today advocating for legislation to make medication abortion available in Massachusetts public university campus health centers. The digital ads, which target Beacon Hill legislators, public university students, and university administrators across the state, direct people to sign an online petition in support of the legislation, An Act to Ensure Safe, Equitable, and Affordable Access to Medication Abortion Through Public College and University Health Services. The petition will be delivered to legislators upon the ad campaign’s completion in late May 2022.
Medication abortion is safe and effective, and between 600 and 1,380 Massachusetts public university students obtain medication abortion care each year. Currently, thousands of college students in Massachusetts live in “access deserts” where the nearest abortion provider is an hours-long ride away via public transportation.
“With federal abortion protections on trial, Massachusetts has an opportunity and an obligation to lead the way in expanding access to reproductive health care. That can start on our public university campuses,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, Executive Director of Reproductive Equity Now. “No student should have to travel hours on a bus and sacrifice their education, work opportunities, or wallets in order to access health care. By offering medication abortion in campus health centers, we can put an end to these arduous journeys to reach the nearest clinics and make abortion care much easier for thousands of college students across Massachusetts."
"The concept of our bill is simple: we would never find the hurdles that students face when seeking abortion care acceptable for any other form of health care,” said State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, the lead House sponsor of the bill. “As we see anti-choice legislatures in other states acting daily to restrict and ban abortion, this bill represents an extremely important and timely opportunity to improve access to—and destigmatize—medication abortion for students in Massachusetts."
“Massachusetts is home to the most innovative and outstanding public colleges in the country, and now our universities have the opportunity to lead in expanding critical health care on their campuses,” said State Senator Jason Lewis, the lead Senate sponsor of the bill. “College students face a variety of financial, professional, and academic pressures every day; for many, the added burden of an unintended pregnancy or other reproductive health challenges can pose an extraordinary disruption to future plans, aspirations, and opportunities. By expanding medication abortion access to public university health centers, our bill will give students control of their bodies and futures."
The digital ad buy comes ahead of the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson this summer, a case that is likely to dismantle the abortion protections enshrined in Roe v. Wade. While abortion will remain legal in Massachusetts despite what happens in the Supreme Court, access is not guaranteed, especially for the thousands of public university students who must travel for hours via public transportation to obtain medication abortion care. Students in Western Massachusetts and on the South Coast face the steepest travel burdens for care, some traveling up to 84 miles and 13 hours roundtrip to visit the nearest abortion provider.
The legislation, currently making its way through the Massachusetts legislature, was heard by the Joint Committee on Public Health last June and has received an extension order for further consideration by the Committee.
Reproductive Equity Now, formerly known as NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts, is a grassroots organization focused on passing policies to promote reproductive health equity.
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