FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Friday, January 28, 2022
More than 30 groups have come together to form a statewide campaign to leverage their collective strength to push for the passage of the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act in 2022.
(Providence, RI) – Statement by The Womxn Project on the launch of a new campaign bringing together dozens of groups representing a range of priorities, constituencies and expertise together to push for passage of the EACA:
“It is often said that together we are strong. Activists and advocacy organizations rose up and secured protection of the right to abortion, but the right is not real when people can’t afford care because of politicians continue to put obstacles in the way.
Rhode Island has long-standing policies in place that take away health benefits for abortion in state health programs. The Equality in Abortion Coverage Act would address these harmful bans, but lawmakers continue to drag their feet in spite of huge public support. That’s why today, more than 30 organizations from across the state are coming together to announce the launch of a statewide campaign aimed at pushing for passage of EACA this year.
Research shows that restricting coverage for abortion not only impacts health outcomes, but has long-lasting, negative impacts on well-being and financial security. If someone needs an abortion and cannot get one because they are denied coverage, they are at increased risk of intimate partner violence.
At a time where we continue to struggle with economic recovery in the midst of ongoing impacts of the pandemic, coverage bans exacerbate ongoing financial distress including medical debt, and an increased chance of eviction. Further, abortion bans disparately impact the people who already face health disparities and greater social and economic inequity. Black, Indigenous and people of color are among those most harmed by these restrictions on affordable access to abortion care.
The ability to seek health care should not be predicated on who you are, where your benefits come from, or how much money you make. It is way past time that we take action to make sure that when a person needs to end a pregnancy, they will have access to safe, affordable medical care.
The Campaign for Equal Abortion Coverage is committed to leveraging our collective strength. Together, we are educating, organizing and mobilizing our networks in order to get rid of the arbitrary and archaic limitations on health coverage for abortion. We are urging swift passage of the EACA in 2022 – and we will not stop until we see this through.”
Campaign for Equal Abortion Coverage members:
ACLU of Rhode Island
Alpert Medical School Medical Students For Choice
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Amnesty International, RI Chapter
Brown College Democrats
Brown University’s Department of Family Medicine
The College Dems of Rhode Island
The College Democrats at Roger Williams
Coyote RI
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders
Haus of Codec
House of Hope CDC
Latino Policy Institute
LBGTQ Action RI
League of Women Voters, RI Chapter
Physicians for a National Health Program – RI Chapter
Providence Democratic Socialists of America
Reproductive Health Access Project RI
Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians
Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Rhode Island Democratic Women’s Caucus
Rhode Island Healthcare Access and Affordability Partnership
Rhode Island Medical Society
Rhode Island National Organization for Women (RI NOW)
Rhode Island Working Families Party
SHIP, Sexual Health Includes Pleasure
SISTA Fire
Sojourner House
South County Huddle
SURJ-RI
Unitarian Universalist Church of South County- Social Justice Team
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
The Womxn Project
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Harshita Ganesh and campaign members are available for interview by request.
“Essentially, we are allowing for the right to be taken away from people based on their income or the type of insurance that they use. This is not right – and given the fact that we know women of color are more likely to use Medicaid benefits, it is downright discriminatory.” – Harshita Ganesh, Board Member of The Womxn Project