Abortion

Recognizing the need for compassionate approaches to reproductive health decisions.

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The courage of “&” in reproductive rights

Restricting access to abortion is a complex issue that touches on deeply held beliefs about the value of life. While it’s essential to acknowledge and respect the life of the unborn, decisions surrounding pregnancy should ultimately rest with women, their families, and their physicians — not politicians. The courage of “&” means recognizing the importance of supporting both the unborn and the women who carry them, ensuring that all voices are heard in this deeply personal matter.

Financial security

Restrictive abortion laws carry real financial consequences for women, families, and healthcare systems. Delayed or denied care can lead to emergency interventions, higher medical costs, lost income, and long-term health complications. Families facing pregnancy complications or miscarriage may be pushed into medical debt or forced to travel long distances for care. When access to contraception and preventive healthcare is limited, unintended pregnancies rise, placing additional financial strain on households already struggling. Supporting comprehensive reproductive healthcare is not only a moral issue, but an economic one that affects workforce participation, family stability, and healthcare costs statewide.

Human dignity

Human dignity requires that women not be treated as vessels or suspects under the law. No one should be forced to carry a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. No woman should be denied life-saving care because a physician fears prosecution. No family should face criminal scrutiny after a miscarriage at home. Medical procedures like D&Cs, which are standard care for miscarriages and pregnancy complications, must remain accessible so women are not subjected to unnecessary trauma, pain, or risk of death. Respecting dignity means trusting women and doctors, protecting privacy, and refusing to let the state micromanage bodies in moments of profound vulnerability.

Real solutions

• Reduce unintended pregnancies through prevention: Expand access to affordable birth control, comprehensive sex education, and reproductive healthcare that have been proven to lower abortion rates without coercion or punishment.

  
  

• Protect medical decision-making in emergencies and complications: Ensure physicians can provide timely, evidence-based care for miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and life-threatening complications without fear of criminal or civil penalties.

  
  

• Safeguard women from criminalization and surveillance: Prevent laws that penalize women for miscarriages, pregnancy outcomes, or private medical decisions, and protect patient privacy from government intrusion.

  
  

• Support families before and after birth: Strengthen prenatal care, maternal health services, paid leave, childcare access, and economic supports so choosing to carry a pregnancy does not come with unnecessary risk or hardship.

  
  

• Keep politicians out of the exam room: Establish clear legal boundaries that respect medical expertise and family decision-making, rather than imposing one-size-fits-all mandates disconnected from real-world healthcare.