Floridians for Reproductive Freedom (FRF), a statewide coalition of 51 organizations, stands with the majority Floridians who believe once someone has decided to have an abortion, access should be available without shame, judgment, or pressure. The FRF Coalition condemns the Florida House of Representatives for ignoring the medical community, health care advocates, and common sense on Friday, April 23 in passing HB 1221, a bill that would ban abortions in cases of problematic fetal diagnosis.
“Abortion bans based on fetal diagnosis do not address discrimination or the needs of people with disabilities. These bills are being promoted by anti-abortion groups attempting to co-opt the mantle of disability rights, and not promoted by disability rights groups,” said Charo Valero, State Manager of the Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice Florida. “Instead, these bans take away an individual’s right to make deeply personal decisions. Laws that restrict access to reproductive health services, including abortion, disproportionately affect Latinas/xs, im/migrant women, LGBTQ, young and/or low-income folks with disabilities by compounding these barriers.”
“There are no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ reasons to have an abortion,” said Amber Gavin, Vice President of Advocacy & Operations at A Woman’s Choice, an independent abortion clinic in Jacksonville. “Decisions about whether and when to continue, end a pregnancy, or to raise a child, are best made by pregnant people, their family, and their health care provider. Not politicians.”
“Politicians should never force anyone to make particular decisions about reproduction, or to become a parent against one’s will,” said Amy Weintraub, Reproductive Rights Program Director for Progress Florida.
The Floridians for Reproductive Freedom coalition will be monitoring the Florida Senate closely in these final days of the session and advocating against passage of the Senate version of the abortion ban, SB 1664.
The Floridians for Reproductive Freedom coalition advocates for equal and safe access to a full range of reproductive health care – from abortion to birth control to evidence-based sex education. Learn more at FloridaReproFreedom.org
