Supporting Reproductive Justice and Bodily Autonomy

Pride At Work has repeatedly stated our unequivocal support of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy for women and all child bearing individuals.We are committed to a quality health
care system that meets the needs of all of its citizens and affordable abortion care is an essential component of this health care system. Since about three in ten child bearing individuals will have an abortion in their lifetime, it is one of the most common medical procedures in the United States. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures in the United States.Aspiration abortion, for example, causes no complications in 99 percent of cases, and medication abortion causes no complications in more than 99.9 percent of cases, making it safer than Tylenol, Aspirin and Viagra.

Abortion is an essential component of health care because it provides all child-bearing individuals the ability to plan and space their pregnancies which clearly improves a person’s physical, psychological and economic well being. For example, evidence shows that persons who have a wanted abortion are better able to maintain a positive future outlook and achieve their aspirational life plans. Similarly, evidence clearly demonstrates that if a person seeks an abortion and access is delayed or denied, they are at greater risk of experiencing adverse health and economic outcomes.

Abortion is an essential component of health care for persons with lower incomes.A five-year examination of the effects of unintended pregnancy on women’s lives by ANSIRH (Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health) found that the main reason people terminate their pregnancies is because they can’t afford to have a child.

Abortion is an essential component of health care for persons who face medical problems, for example, an individual who is diagnosed with cancer in the middle of pregnancy and must make a choice between obtaining an abortion or forgoing lifesaving chemotherapy. Abortion is an essential component of health care for young teenagers who become pregnant, for example, a teenl who must make a choice between obtaining an abortion or running the risk of enduring severe, lasting damage to their physical health.

Abortion is an essential component of health care for persons who experience major problems in pregnancy. For example an individual who finds out that their fetus would only live for a few hours past birth and carrying that pregnancy to term might severely damage their ability to bear other children in the future.

The recent Dobbs Decision issued by the Supreme Court is one of the most egregious rulings in the history of the court. It will undoubtedly be viewed along with Plessy vs. Ferguson and

Dred Scott vs Sanford as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions under the long lens of history.

With these considerations, Pride at Work makes the following resolutions:

  • We affirm our denunciation of the Dobbs Ruling, and announce our commitment to obtaining reproductive justice (e.g., including equal access to affordable contraception, comprehensive sex education, freedom from sexual violence, and surveillance and accountability of systems to prevent reproductive human rights abuses) for childbearing individuals with particular emphasis on individuals from marginalized communities.
  • We will urge local, state, and federal policymakers to safeguard the reproductive rights of all childbearing individuals, by codifying reproductive justice and bodily autonomy into law where these statutes do not exist, and strengthening these laws that are already in existence.
  • We affirm the rights of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy to all childbearing persons, regardless of race, disability, age, sex, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.Submitted by Pride at Work National