Statements in Response to Lawmakers’ Plans to Protect Abortion in the New Hampshire State Constitution
For immediate release:
December 11, 2023
CONCORD, NH - Today, in response to the announcement that Republican and Democratic lawmakers plan to enshrine protections for safe, legal abortion in the New Hampshire Constitution, leaders from New Hampshire reproductive health care providers as well as reproductive health advocates released the following statements.
Sandi Denoncour, Executive Director, Lovering Health Center:
“As one of only two independent abortion clinics in New Hampshire, Lovering Health Center has consistently provided compassionate, inclusive, and trauma-informed care to the communities we serve. With anti-abortion leaders doing everything in their power to confuse, deter, and erode patients of their ability to access care, we must pass this Constitutional Amendment to affirm every patient’s right to receive the abortion care they want and need.”
Jinelle Hobson, Executive Director, Equality Health Center:
“As New Hampshire's longest standing independent abortion provider, Equality Health Center has long met the needs of our communities by providing trusted, compassionate, patient-centered care. As we head into our 50th year as a clinic and continue to navigate a post-Roe world, we must ensure every Granite Stater has the right to access safe, legal and accessible abortion care by passing this Constitutional Amendment.”
Kayla Montgomery, Vice President for Public Affairs of Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund:
"At a time when access to abortion is increasingly under threat, this constitutional amendment is an important and a necessary step to safeguard reproductive rights in New Hampshire and to put the decision in the hands of patients and health care providers - not politicians.
“There are currently no state or federal laws that protect abortion rights in New Hampshire, and the New Hampshire Constitution does not currently include the right to an abortion. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, 22 states have already banned abortion - and without a constitutional amendment in place - New Hampshire could be next.
“Granite Staters have a long, bipartisan history of supporting privacy when it comes to reproductive rights, and this bipartisan proposal represents these Granite State values. We urge lawmakers to act now to pass this constitutional amendment.”
Courtney Reed, Policy Advocate, ACLU of New Hampshire:
"Protecting the right to abortion in state law means trusting Granite Staters and their doctors, not politicians, to make their own personal health decisions. Until the right to have an abortion is protected, the state of reproductive healthcare in New Hampshire is up for grabs every time there is an election. It is long overdue that New Hampshire act decisively to protect abortion rights.”
Christina Warriner, New Hampshire State Director, Reproductive Equity Now:
“New Hampshire is the only state in New England that has not codified abortion protections, putting the Granite State just one election away from eroding abortion access. We must act urgently to pass this Constitutional Amendment to protect abortion and put reproductive health care decisions in the hands of patients and health care providers, not politicians.”
MacKenzie Nicholson, Senior New Hampshire Director for MomsRising:
“The U.S. Supreme Court caused immense chaos, hardship, and cruelty with its appalling ruling overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing states to restrict and ban abortion. New Hampshire moms are, frankly, horrified by what anti-abortion lawmakers are doing in Texas and other states, and we are determined to secure our access to abortion here at home. Since neither our state constitution nor any state laws protect our right to safe, legal, accessible abortion, we need a constitutional amendment to do so. New Hampshire moms will work tirelessly to pass a state constitutional amendment that secures access to abortion care for us now and for the generations to come.”
Linds Jakows, Communications Director, Granite State Progress:
“No matter our race, gender, or where in New Hampshire we call home, the vast majority of us believe in the freedom to decide for ourselves whether and when to have children. But today, a handful of politicians threaten to destroy our freedoms, putting us one election away from a total abortion ban. By going all in to safeguard abortion access in New Hampshire’s constitution, we can make a future where everyone can have privacy, freedom, and individual decision-making when it comes to their reproductive future.”
