News & Updates

Media Inquiries

If you’re a member of the media and looking to speak with an expert at Reproductive Equity Now, contact our press team at press@reproequitynow.org!

If you have a general question or comment, please email info@reproequitynow.org.

Hartford Courant | CT pharmacists can now prescribe birth control; Plan B in vending machine at UConn
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Hartford Courant | CT pharmacists can now prescribe birth control; Plan B in vending machine at UConn

“Access to contraceptives gives people the ability to control their own reproductive destinies and make personal decisions regarding if, when, or how to start their families,” Liz Gustafson, Connecticut state director of Reproductive Equity Now, said. “By eliminating the need for a visit to a healthcare provider to obtain a prescription for birth control and allowing people to receive the prescription directly from their local pharmacy, pharmacist prescribing will help increase access to contraception for those who face the greatest barriers to care.

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As Trump Admin Prepares to Bolster Religious Refusal Laws, Reproductive Equity Now Urges CT to Protect Providers Offering Health Care Information, Emergency Abortion
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As Trump Admin Prepares to Bolster Religious Refusal Laws, Reproductive Equity Now Urges CT to Protect Providers Offering Health Care Information, Emergency Abortion

On Monday, the Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Dr. Dorothy Fink released a statement announcing that the Department will be reevaluating its regulations and guidance pertaining to federal laws on conscience and religious exercise. These laws, which advocates expect the Trump administration to prioritize and bolster, have been used to deny patients basic reproductive health care services, including abortion. In response, Reproductive Equity Now Connecticut State Director Liz Gustafson released the following statement.

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Reproductive Equity Now Statement on New CT Regulations To Expand Access to Contraception
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Reproductive Equity Now Statement on New CT Regulations To Expand Access to Contraception

By eliminating a multi-step process to acquire hormonal or emergency contraception and allowing people to receive the prescription directly from their local pharmacy, pharmacist prescribing will help increase access to contraception for those who face the greatest barriers to care,” said Liz Gustafson, Connecticut State Director of Reproductive Equity Now.

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Jezebel | Dr. Oz, Who Thinks All Abortion Is ‘Murder,’ Could Now Have Power Over Abortion Access
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Jezebel | Dr. Oz, Who Thinks All Abortion Is ‘Murder,’ Could Now Have Power Over Abortion Access

Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, told Jezebel the risks Oz poses at CMS expand beyond abortion to the full range of reproductive care. “By putting an anti-abortion, anti-woman TV doctor in charge of [CMS], Trump is directly threatening access to contraceptive care guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act,” she said. Holder warned that Oz’s nomination jeopardizes “our nation’s worsening maternal health crisis, and he is threatening reproductive health care services for low-income people across our country.”

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CT Insider | Connecticut launches free abortion legal hotline in response to Trump election
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CT Insider | Connecticut launches free abortion legal hotline in response to Trump election

"This hotline will be a lifeline in a second hostile Trump administration…the fight to defend abortion access is local. It is based here in our states and our communities, and information is power," Hart Holder said. "To put information in the hands of patients and providers is to fight back. People will always need abortions, and it is up to all of us to ensure that they can continue to get the care that they deserve. Connecticut has time and again stepped up and proven itself to be a place that will meet the moment and now is no different."

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WFSB | CT’s attorney general, pro-choice group launch abortion access hotline
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WFSB | CT’s attorney general, pro-choice group launch abortion access hotline


“After Tuesday’s presidential election, we know there is a lot of confusion, fear, terror, and grief,” said Becca Hart Holder, Reproductive Equity Now.

When Roe versus Wade was overturned, women from states with restrictions and bans started coming to Connecticut.

This year, Connecticut saw a 150 percent increase in out-of-state patients. These laws protect abortion care and protect records of patients seeking an abortion.

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Law360 | Conn. AG Building Abortion Rights 'Firewall' With Firms' Help
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Law360 | Conn. AG Building Abortion Rights 'Firewall' With Firms' Help

Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, said Friday that more attorneys are needed from all practice areas.

"We have needed help on healthcare law, on tax law, on real estate and asset protection. People who specialize in telehealth have been incredibly important," Hart Holder said. "Employment law is another one. The range of questions that we get is huge."

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Hartford Courant | CT debuting 24-hour abortion legal hotline; Tong: ‘What’s happening there … may very well happen here’
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Hartford Courant | CT debuting 24-hour abortion legal hotline; Tong: ‘What’s happening there … may very well happen here’

“Right now, patients need our support, providers need our guidance,” Hart Holder said. “This movement demands bold, innovative, tenacious, state-based leadership, and that’s why we are so proud to be fighting back against the chaos and confusion that anti-abortion politicians have sowed with a new resource to support patients, providers, and helpers here.”

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The Brazilian Times | Connecticut lança linha direta para apoiar mulheres em busca de aborto
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The Brazilian Times | Connecticut lança linha direta para apoiar mulheres em busca de aborto

Rebecca Hart Holder, presidente da REN, sublinhou a importância do serviço neste momento, afirmando que “após a eleição presidencial de terça-feira, há muita confusão, medo e até luto. Os pacientes precisam de nosso apoio, e os provedores necessitam de orientação.” Ela também destacou que a situação atual exige liderança estadual forte e inovadora para proteger os direitos reprodutivos.

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Law.Com | Law Firms Join Abortion Legal Hotline
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Law.Com | Law Firms Join Abortion Legal Hotline

Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, said the Connecticut abortion legal hotline is free and confidential, and is an expansion of the Massachusetts hotline.

Holder said that they have heard questions such as: "'I'm an abortion provider helping a patient traveling from out of state. How do I protect the patient? And how do I protect myself?' 'I'm a patient traveling for care? How do I know I'm safe? Where can I go to make sure I can access legitimate care?' 'I'm the parent of a young person in a banned state, and I need to get them abortion care. How do I do it?'"

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