Repro Roundup 01.17
2025 is already off to a jam-packed start – but before we dive deep into the work ahead of us, we’d like to reflect on some of our wins, favorite moments, and biggest accomplishments from last year. We’re so excited to share with you our 2024 Impact Report, a comprehensive overview of the progress we’ve made to educate, activate, and advocate for reproductive equity across New England.
We did a LOT in 2024 – built programs from the ground up in New Hampshire and Connecticut, endorsed exceptional slates of candidates in Massachusetts and Connecticut, created a voter education guide in New Hampshire, expanded our Abortion Legal Hotline to Connecticut, and SO much more. We can’t fit all of it in this email – but we did fit it into our Impact Report.
This work would not be possible without the continued support from advocates like you! So thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for fueling this movement and Reproductive Equity Now’s impact across our region.
On to this week’s headlines –
News from New England
→ Announcing Repro Equity Now’s Latest Hires!
We know that the next few years will bring an abundance of new challenges and hurdles to reproductive health care access – and a plethora of new opportunities to advance reproductive equity for our region. That’s why we’re expanding our team at Repro Equity Now to meet this moment. We’re excited to welcome our new Communications Director Marina Chafa, our new Massachusetts State Director Lyv Norris, and our new Research and Policy Advisor Kate Glynn! Join us in giving our new friends a warm welcome, and keep an eye out for more communication from them on how to get involved in expanding repro equity across New England.
→ Kelly Ayotte Pledges to Not Change Abortion Laws in New Hampshire During Her Inauguration Speech
During her gubernatorial inauguration speech last week, Governor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire reiterated a campaign promise of hers: no change to New Hampshire’s abortion laws, even with an anti-abortion majority in the State House. Ayotte claimed that if the legislature sends her legislation that further restricts access to abortion, she will veto it. However, the New Hampshire Bulletin noted that her predecessor, “Sununu, in his 2020 campaign, had said that he wasn’t looking to make changes to the state’s abortion law. However, he ultimately signed a budget into law in 2021 that restricted abortion after 24 weeks.” It is critical that we hold the line, hold Kelly Ayotte accountable to this promise, and keep the pressure on to ensure she does not sign any laws restricting abortion access in New Hampshire, despite the introduction of a 15-week ban and legislation targeting travel for abortion.
→ Governor Healey Takes Continued Action to Protect Abortion in Massachusetts
Last week, Governor Maura Healey announced new funds to support reproductive health care access in the Bay State and the passage of new rules extending Massachusetts’ provider shield law to nurses. The Healey Administration and the Department of Public Health has awarded $1.8 million in state funding to abortion funds and providers. The Board of Nursing has also approved new rules that protect nurses from loss of licensure in the event of hostile out-of-state litigation related to providing abortion care. With new attacks against abortion access on the horizon, we are grateful to the Healey Administration for taking decisive, proactive, creative action to bolster protections for abortion access in Massachusetts.
→ Nutmeggers Speak Up: How Connecticut Can Take Action for Abortion Access
Two excellent opinion articles in the Connecticut Mirror last week highlight local voices advocating for action in Connecticut on reproductive equity! One article calls on Connecticut to join other pro-abortion states in stockpiling abortion medication, and another article highlights the need for more state funding for abortion providers and more comprehensive sexual health education for young people. We have a lot of work to do in Connecticut this year to advance reproductive equity, and we are so inspired by Nutmeggers speaking up and advocating for repro in their communities and local publications. Sign up to get involved so that you too can be an advocate in your community for reproductive equity!
→ Repro Equity Now at INSPIRE!
We joined social justice-oriented teens from across Massachusetts at INSPIRE, a Youth Leadership Institute promoting careers in social justice and community service. We had so much fun talking to teens who are excited about careers in advocacy – especially repro advocacy! It is critical that we build community power and community knowledge in the post-Dobbs era, and ensure that all people – of all ages – understand their rights to access abortion care and their options for obtaining care. The future looks bright with these young leaders.
National Notice
→ Pam Bondi’s Record on Repro
This past week, Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, had her confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. We know that anti-abortion politicians and activists have a close and personal ally in Ms. Bondi. Defending Florida’s extreme attacks on abortion access has been a hallmark of her legal career. During her tenure as Attorney General of Florida, Bondi was a leader of the Susan B. Anthony Society’s “Pro-Life Women’s Caucus,” an organization dedicated to advancing anti-abortion policies in state governments. Also as Attorney General of Florida, Bondi fought to preserve Florida’s 24-hour waiting period for abortion care policy, preventing Floridians from accessing abortion care in a timely manner and imposing arbitrary restrictions on care. Bondi joined several conservative Attorneys General in 2018 in a suit pursuing the destruction of the Affordable Care Act, which would have robbed millions of Americans of health insurance and undone protections for all Americans that guarantee health care coverage for contraception. If confirmed, we know that Bondi will be instrumental in cementing Trump and Vance’s anti-abortion agenda by weaponizing the Comstock Act and prosecuting patients and providers for abortion care. We urge the Senate to reject this nomination.
→ Title IX Protections Under Attack
Last week, a federal court nullified a Title IX rule from the Biden Administration extending gender-based protections in schools to transgender students. A few days later, the House of Representatives passed new legislation further eroding protections for transgender students under Title IX by removing public funding from schools that empower transgender students to compete in team sports. While this legislation has not yet been passed in the Senate and has a long path to becoming law, this is yet another step in the horrific line of attacks against trans students. We must remain vigilant and fight against anti-trans laws at the local level and advocate for state-based protections against continued federal attacks. Check out our TikTok explainer on the updates to Title IX (also on Reels).
→ Upcoming Court Battles: New EMTALA Challenge, ACA, and Parental Consent Laws
Two new suits related to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) – one in support of EMTALA and one calling for the elimination of its protections related to abortion care – were filed last week. A group of Catholic physicians represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom (i.e., the anti-abortion legal supervillains at the heart of the mifepristone case and the ongoing EMTALA battle) are suing the Biden Administration in its last days over guidance that emergency abortion care must be protected and performed under EMTALA. In encouraging news, days later Idaho’s largest hospital filed suit against the state of Idaho over its extreme abortion ban, claiming it contradicts EMTALA and forces physicians to choose between violating state or federal law.
The Supreme Court also has agreed to hear arguments in a case challenging the Affordable Care Act’s preventative services mandate – specifically, the requirement that insurers cover sexual and reproductive health-related services like HIV testing and contraception. This suit has been brought by a pair of Christian small businesses in Texas who believe that HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP) “encourage and facilitate homosexual behavior,” which violates their right to freedom of religion. The outcome of this case could result in the loss of preventative health care coverage for millions of Americans—we’ll be watching it closely.
Finally, the Attorney General of Montana has asked the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of parental consent and notification laws for minors seeking abortion care. Montana’s parental consent law was nullified by the Montana Supreme Court last year, but Attorney General Austin Knudsen is asking the Supreme Court to reverse that decision, which could impact parental consent laws across the nation.
It will be a busy season at the Supreme Court. Make sure you’re signed up for updates with Repro Equity Now so you are the first to know when we host information sessions on these cases and their impact for New Englanders.
→ Biden Admin Withdraws OTC Contraception Coverage Mandate
In the last few days of the Biden Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services has withdrawn proposed guidance requiring that insurers cover over-the-counter contraception (such as the Opill). The Affordable Care Act currently requires insurers to cover at least one method of contraception, but does not specifically name over-the-counter contraception under that, which is often the most accessible form of birth control because it does not require a physician’s prescription. While the Opill is more accessible in that regard, at some retailers it can cost $90 or more for a six month supply, which is not financially feasible for some patients. We’re disappointed to see this proposed guidance withdrawn.
Get Involved!
📍BOSTON and NEW LONDON, CT! Join us at the People’s March!
This Saturday, we’re joining advocates, activists, and community members across the country at the People’s March—we’ll be marching in Boston and in New London, CT, and hope to see you there. In New London, our Connecticut State Director Liz will be speaking about ways we can take action to combat federal attacks on reproductive health care. In Boston, we’ll be tabling on the Common and passing out resources, swag, and Plan B. Come say hello and spend some time in solidarity with our community as we prepare for the incoming Trump Administration.
📍ANYWHERE! Join us for a virtual screening and talkback of Preconceived!
Join Reproductive Equity Now and the State Abortion Access Network for a virtual screening of Preconceived, a new documentary on the dangers of anti-abortion centers, on January 23rd at 7:30pm. After the screening, Reproductive Equity Now President Rebecca Hart Holder will moderate a discussion with the film’s creators and subjects. Sign up today using code “PHF-WDC”.
📍BOSTON! Craft with us at Stitching Our Futures!
Join Company One Boston for Stitching Our Future: A Community Craft Circle for Reproductive Justice at the Civic Pavilion at Boston City Hall Plaza on February 3rd at 3 PM. Come knit hats or tie fleece scarves to donate to Women’s Lunch Place, design your own zine, and make Valentines to share your love for reproductive equity. (All materials provided) RSVP HERE!
📍ANYWHERE! Take Action with Repro Equity Now!
Looking for ways to take action or share with your networks ideas to take action? We’ve developed three one-page guides on how to educate your communities for abortion access, advocate to your legislators for reproductive equity, and invest in the reproductive equity movement. Check them out below and share them with your friends and family!
📍ANYWHERE! Save the Date for Reproductive Equity Now’s 2025 Gala!
Reproductive Equity Now will be hosting our 2025 Gala on May 15th at the InterContinental in Boston, and we would be thrilled to have you join us! Please save the date and keep an eye out for information on tickets and sponsorship opportunities in the coming weeks.
Our Resources
Need to understand your legal rights to provide or access abortion care? Reproductive Equity Now’s Abortion Legal Hotline will help connect Massachusetts-based health care providers and helpers, as well as patients obtaining care in Massachusetts, with free legal advice and resources about abortion access.
Looking for an abortion provider in your area? Our New England Abortion Care Guide allows you to search by zip code for legitimate abortion clinics near you. It even flags dangerous and deceptive anti-abortion centers to avoid at all costs.
Do you want to help advance reproductive equity in your community? Our Win & Deliver Toolkit offers policy proposals and supporting materials to serve as a starting point for municipal leaders looking to move the needle forward on reproductive equity.
Thank you so much for powering this fight. We’re grateful to have you in the movement with us.
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