5 Dedicated Organizations Fighting For Reproductive Rights
Even after decades of progress in the women's and LGBT rights movements, reproductive liberties continue to be threatened by the draconian policies of Republican lawmakers. Fighting for reproductive justice, the organizations listed here are working to ensure that everyone can have the safe and easy access to contraception, abortion, and any other healthcare they require. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
5 Groups Working Toward Reproductive Justice
| Organization | Mission |
|---|---|
| SPARK | Build new leadership, change culture, and advance knowledge in Georgia and the South to ensure individuals and communities have resources and power to make sustainable and liberatory decisions about their bodies, gender, sexualities, and lives |
| Reproductive Health Access Project | Work directly with primary care providers, helping them integrate abortion, contraception, and miscarriage care into their practices so that everyone can receive this essential health care from their own primary care clinicians |
| NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri | Protect every person's right to access the full range of reproductive health options, including but not limited to preventive care, family planning, sexuality education, prenatal and postnatal health care, and accessible, legal abortion |
| Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice | Elevate the moral power of faith communities to ensure that all people can access the reproductive health care they need |
| Feminist Women's Health Center | Provide safe, accessible, and compassionate abortion and gynecological care to all those who need it without judgment |
What is Reproductive Justice?
A Brief Summary of Roe v. Wade
The case began in 1970 when "Jane Roe" - a fictional name used to protect the identity of the plaintiff, Norma McCorvey - instituted federal action against Henry Wade, the district attorney of Dallas county, Texas, where Roe resided. The Supreme Court disagreed with Roe's assertion of an absolute right to terminate pregnancy in any way and at any time and attempted to balance a woman's right of privacy with a state's interest in regulating abortion. The Court then attempted to balance the state's distinct compelling interests in the health of pregnant women and in the potential life of fetuses. It placed the point after which a state's compelling interest in the pregnant woman's health would allow it to regulate abortion "at approximately the end of the first trimester" of pregnancy. With regard to the fetus, the Court located that point at "capability of meaningful life outside the mother's womb," or viability. On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled (7–2) that unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional. In a majority opinion written by Justice Harry A. Blackmun, the Court held that a set of Texas statutes criminalizing abortion in most instances violated a woman's constitutional right of privacy, which it found to be implicit in the liberty guarantee of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Legacy of NARAL
In Depth
Since Roe v. Wade adjudicated in 1973, activists have had to fight to ensure it isn't overturned by conservative politicians. With access to healthcare in the United States restricted, those identifying as women or LGBTQ are most affected by these destructive policies. Luckily, there are a few organizations that work for reproductive justice. In no particular order, here are a few institutions that advocate for a woman's right to choose and better healthcare for all.
At #1, we have SPARK, an organization based in Atlanta, Georgia. Its mission is to fight for reproductive justice in the Southern United States, explicitly centering Black Women and Queer and Trans People of Color. SPARK compiles many resources for those wishing to know more about women's health, such as infographics on Medicaid expansion and the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for LGBTQQ African-Americans.
The organization's Trans Leadership Initiative is a grassroots mobilizing effort to engage young people of color to become leaders in their community. They work to build connections, create trans-positive policy/legislation and health-specific programming that speaks to local issues, and engage participants in advocacy and education efforts.
The organization's Trans Leadership Initiative is a grassroots mobilizing effort to engage young people of color to become leaders in their community.
Up next, at #2, we have the Reproductive Health Access Project. Based out of New York City, it is an organization that works directly with doctors, helping them integrate abortion, contraception, and miscarriage treatment into their practices so that everyone can receive these essential services from their primary care clinicians.
In 2012, the Reproductive Health Access Project launched the Gaps Fellowship to provide family physicians offering care in critically underserved areas with intensive guidance to integrate abortion into their clinical practice. The fellowship is a one year program; however, support from the organization continues beyond the first year. Fellows receive financial help to cover set-up costs, access to legal counsel, and more.
Coming in at #3, we present NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri, a grassroots reproductive justice organization in the state. It works to protect every person's right to access the full range of health options, including but not limited to preventive care, family planning, sexuality education, prenatal and postnatal treatments, and accessible, legal abortion.
It works to protect every person's right to access the full range of health options, including but not limited to preventive care, family planning, sexuality education, prenatal and postnatal treatments, and accessible, legal abortion.
NARAL has two main initiatives in the state of Missouri: the Reproductive Freedom Front, which is a community of volunteers and activists who work to make legislative advancements toward ensuring reproductive freedom for all Missourians, and the Clinic Escort Program, designed to counteract anti-choice protesters, who often position themselves outside of abortion clinics.
The #4 entry is the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. This nonprofit unites and empowers faith communities who wish to advance women's health rights, regardless of income, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or background. It provides many opportunities for groups and individuals to learn, discuss, and advocate for reproductive justice.
The coalition mobilizes and equips clergy and religious leaders from across Ohio to support every person's ability to access a full range of reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion. Also, it works with clinics to host blessing ceremonies that honor patients and health providers' work. Through prayer, music, and ritual, the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice tries to celebrate their essential service to the community.
Also, it works with clinics to host blessing ceremonies that honor patients and health providers' work.
Last up, at #5, we have the Feminist Women's Health Center, based in Atlanta, Georgia. This organization provides a range of healthcare services, including abortion, birth control, emergency contraception, and HIV testing. The center aims to make its facilities safe and welcoming to the LGBTQIA+ community and offers a number of trans health initiatives.
The Feminist Women's Health Center is home to several community programs. The Lifting Latinx Voices Initiative focuses on addressing comprehensive reproductive and sexual health issues faced by families of Latin American origin. Its advocacy program works to achieve local and state-level policies that bring about reproductive justice in Georgia.
