News & Updates
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Governor Lamont Announces New Programs That Are Expanding Access to Contraception in Connecticut
“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.
Reproductive Equity Now Slams Trump's Executive Order Attacking Access to Health Care for Transgender Youth
Last night, President Donald Trump issued an executive order seeking to end gender-affirming medical treatments for people under the age of 19. In response, Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder released the following statement condemning the President’s actions, and reminding the public that the fights for transgender health care and abortion access require a coordinated and integrated response.
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.
Trump signs order to reinstate ‘global gag rule’ on abortion aid
“Reinstating the Mexico City policy will have deadly consequences for people across the globe,” Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, said in a statement. “The United States is a vital partner to healthcare providers and organizations around the world, and robbing those frontline providers of their ability to provide the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, and even information about people’s options, will result in people losing their lives to pregnancy complications.”
Reproductive Equity Now Launches 2025 New Hampshire Legislative Agenda
Reproductive Equity Now is today announcing its agenda for the 2025 New Hampshire legislative session. The organization’s priorities are aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in the state, affirming the right to abortion care, and defending against continued anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ attacks.
Reproductive Equity Now Launches 2025-26 Massachusetts Legislative Agenda
Reproductive Equity Now is today announcing its agenda for the 2025-26 Massachusetts legislative session. The organization’s priorities are aimed at standing up to federal attacks on reproductive health care, expanding access to care for patients, and further protecting abortion and gender-affirming care providers.
Reproductive Equity Now Statement in Advance of Public Hearing on Proposed New Hampshire Abortion Ban
Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder released the following statement today as the House Judiciary Committee prepares to hold a hearing on HB 476, a bill banning abortion care in New Hampshire after 15 weeks.
Reproductive Equity Now Statement on Trump's Reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule on Abortion Care
“Trump is not satisfied with the United States’ appalling maternal mortality statistics; he is intent on worsening maternal health care on an international scale. The decision to reinstate this policy is appalling and morally depraved.”
Bay State Banner | Ahead of the Trump administration, state pursues action to protect reproductive health care
Rebecca Hart Holder, president of the Boston-based nonprofit Reproductive Equity Now, called the grants a reflection of the values state leadership holds.
“These organizations are doing essential work to care for Massachusetts patients, and those traveling to our state for care,” she said in a statement. “These investments underscore the Commonwealth’s commitment to reproductive freedom in a post-Roe world.”
Seacoast Online | Is new NH bill a travel ban on abortions or sex trafficking prevention? What politicians are saying
Rebecca Hart Holder, the president of Reproductive Equity Now, called it a “travel ban” in a press release.
“Despite their false claims, 'abortion trafficking' simply does not exist,” Holder said. “Travel bans are about one thing: control. Controlling our bodies, movements, and freedoms. Travel bans are the next step in anti-abortion extremists’ playbook to make essential reproductive health care unattainable, especially for young people.”
NBC Boston | With Trump back in office, where do women's reproductive rights stand?
"The goal here is to control the flow of information," Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder said. "We know that the Trump administration does not want women to know how to access comprehensive reproductive health care, so I'm disappointed. I'm not surprised."
Ahead of House Hearing, Reproductive Equity Now Releases Statement on Proposed Abortion Travel Ban
Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder released the following statement today as the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee prepares to hold a hearing on HB 191-FN, a bill to ban transporting young people for abortion care.
The Day | New London rally speakers encourage crowd to create a 'firewall' against Trump plans
“We’re just two days out from Trump and his reality-tv appointed cabinet,” Gustafson said, urging the state to create a “firewall” of opposition. “And their plans can be summed up by ‘regression.’ We need every single person in this fight.”
Boston Globe | With Trump’s return to the White House, there’s good reason to be worried
“Overturning Roe was not the endgame, but the midpoint in a quest to end abortion in all 50 states, and more broadly strip us of our bodily autonomy,” said Rebecca Hart Holder, head of Reproductive Equity Now.
As Massachusetts Legislative Session Gets Underway, Reproductive Equity Now Makes Three New Hires
Reproductive Equity Now announced three new hires this week: Lyv Norris will begin as the organization’s Massachusetts State Director, Marina Chafa will serve as Communications Director, and Kate Glynn will work as a Research and Policy Advisor. These advocates will be critical to the organization’s legislative and organizing efforts as the Massachusetts 2025-26 legislative session gets underway.
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.
WGGB | Getting Answers: reproductive rights in Massachusetts
“We are concerned about what Donald Trump is going to do in a new administration. He does pose an existential threat to abortion care in every single state, including in Massachusetts,” added Rebecca Hart Holder, CEO of Reproductive Equity Now.
Commonwealth Beacon: Second Trump term has Mass. abortion advocates on edge
“I don’t believe them for one second,” Rebecca Hart Holder, president of Reproductive Equity Now, said on The Codcast. “The goal is a federal abortion ban. ‘Leave it to the states’ is a nice talking point from Justice Alito. If we’re to leave it to the states – which I don’t believe we should, I believe that there should be a national right to abortion – but if we’re really going to leave it to the states, then they should leave Massachusetts alone and let us do the important work that we need to do to protect access to care.”
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.”
In Depth New Hampshire: Grief, Determination, and Community on Transgender Day of Remembrance
In addition to Equality Health Center and Black Lives Matter NH, this year’s observance was also sponsored by ACLU-NH, 603 Equality, Seacoast Outright, Reproductive Equity Now, NH Youth Movement, and the NH Queer Consortium.