University Administrators Must Support Students Affected by COVID-19 Campus Closures
(Washington, DC) — Statement by Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity on the recent spate of university campus closures across the nation due to the COVID-19 pandemic: “We call on university administrators to consider and find ways to meet the health and other needs of students impacted by sudden campus closures amid COVID-19 concerns. For millions of young people, campus food programs, health services, and housing are essential life-saving resources. For many, these services are the only safety nets they have. Colleges and universities must prioritize young people of color and those who are low-income, first-generation, and LGBTQIA+. As we manage the spread of COVID-19, we must center young people and all who face homelessness, food insecurity, and the loss of healthcare access…. Read more »
Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice Organizations Show Solidarity During Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice Organizations Show Solidarity During Domestic Violence Awareness Month Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Week of Solidarity Campaign to highlight marginalized survivors, as well as connections to reproductive justice Washington, D.C. (October 14, 2019) – From October 14th, 2019 through October 18th, 2019, as a part of the October Domestic Violence Awareness month, reproductive health, rights, and justice advocates, and other social justice allies, will be launching a Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Week of Solidarity Campaign highlighting survivors from communities most often overlooked, as well as highlight/lift up the connection between IPV and Reproductive Justice. how IPV is connected to reproductive justice. “Everyone deserves the chance to live a safe and healthy life, free from state and interpersonal violence,” said Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director… Read more »
Statement from URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity Executive Director and Board of Directors
Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director: “URGE envisions a world where each of us can live, love, express our gender, create families, and enjoy sexuality with liberation, joy, and dignity. Essential to this vision is ending sexual and gender-based violence, harassment, and abuse, and addressing the disparate impact of these harms on young people, women and femmes, queer and trans folks, and people of color. As a survivor of sexual assault, I know the pain of these kinds of trauma, and how hard it is to speak up. We at URGE extend our support and solidarity to all survivors, those who tell their stories and those who do not. “Any allegation of sexual misconduct, harassment, or abuse should be investigated and addressed, in collaboration with those who have come forward. These… Read more »
Young People in the South and Midwest Celebrate the EACH Woman Act
Washington, DC (March 12, 2019)– In response to the newly introduced legislation, the EACH Woman Act, Kimberly Inez McGuire, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued this statement: “In a time of conservative attacks on our health and rights, the EACH Woman Act presents a bold and proactive vision for ending the bans that deny abortion coverage. The Hyde Amendment, which the EACH Woman Act would erase, was created to take abortion access away from low-income people and people of color. Young people are among those most harmed by bans on abortion coverage, and we applaud the EACH Woman Act and thank the brave lawmakers leading this visionary bill. “Today’s bicameral introduction of the EACH Woman Act is a progressive and necessary step in to ensure… Read more »
Young Voters Surge at the Polls Across the Nation
WASHINGTON Young people (18-29) voted in record numbers in the 2018 midterms, and tipped the scales in crucial races in a year of narrow margins, according to a new report from URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, “The Young People’s Election: Casting Votes. Building Power.” Highlights include: Young people registered to vote at record rates with early voting for young adults surging 188 percent since the 2014 midterm elections. Nationally, voters aged 18 to 39 tripled their early voting rate since 2014; in Texas and Georgia, the number of early young voters doubled from 2014. One-third (31%) of young people (18-29) turned out to vote in the 2018 midterm election, up from 21% in 2014, representing the highest level of participation among youth in the past quarter-century. “The 2018… Read more »
URGE Advocates Celebrate Pro Medica Transfer Agreement with Capital Care Network
Toledo, Ohio – URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity activists are celebrating a big win for abortion access in Toledo. On Monday, February 12, 2018 ProMedica, a non-profit health care system in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, signed a transfer agreement with Capital Care Network, ensuring that the last surviving reproductive health clinic that provides abortion care remains open. Over the last seven months, hundreds of activists in northwest Ohio have worked tirelessly to encourage the CEO of ProMedica, Randy Oostra, to sign a transfer agreement with Capital Care Network. The legally required but medically unnecessary agreement ensures that Capital Care, the only clinic in Toledo offering abortion for thousands of patients in the region, remains open. Moments before the agreement was signed, 50 advocates showed their support by rallying… Read more »
URGE READY TO MOBILIZE OVER INAUGURATION WEEKEND AND BEYOND
Washington, DC – In anticipation of protests happening during and after the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity issued the following statement: “Throughout 2016, we have seen people-powered movements take action and take to the streets in support of the issues that matter to them. Young people have been on the front lines of these movements, standing up for their values and sometimes putting themselves at risk to do so. Since the election of Donald Trump, those who have been devastated by his Electoral College victory have been looking for ways to resist the impending agenda that will threaten racial justice, reproductive rights, gender equity, LGBTQ liberation, economic security, and so much more. The Women’s March on Washington is one of the events that… Read more »
KANSAS DECISION TO DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD PUTS POLITICS ABOVE THE HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE
In response to the recent decision by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to terminate Planned Parenthood’s participation in Kansas Medicaid, Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued this statement: “We are deeply disappointed that the Kansas authorities have made the politically motivated decision to block Planned Parenthood’s participation in Kansas Medicaid. This decision will surely keep young Kansans from critical healthcare services. Young people are less likely to have health insurance and more likely to have low-paying jobs. The healthcare available at Planned Parenthood is affordable partially because of Medicaid reimbursements. Protecting Medicaid reimbursements helps to ensure that young people do not have to go without the healthcare they need. This announcement comes just weeks after the Center for Medicaid Services issued… Read more »
YOUNG ACTIVISTS LAUNCH NATIONAL #ABORTIONPOSITIVE CAMPUS TOUR
Washington, DC April 1, 2016 — URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity and All* Above All announced a National #AbortionPositive campus tour to build support for abortion access for all. The tour, visiting 10 campuses in 5 states, will allow students to learn about restrictions in their state and take action to improve abortion access in their communities. Specifically, participants will show their support to end bans on abortion coverage for low-income people nationwide. This tour comes at a critical time for the reproductive justice movement. Recently, the Supreme Court heard Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the most consequential abortion case since the 1990s, and a decision is expected in June. More broadly, 1,024 abortion restrictions have been created since Roe v. Wade, with 25% of those bills enacted… Read more »
EACH WOMAN ACT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD FOR ABORTION ACCESS
Washington, DC July 8, 2015 — In response to the newly introduced legislation, the EACH Woman Act, Kierra Johnson, Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, issued this statement: “Today, new legislation was introduced into the House of Representatives that will be a huge step forward for increasing access to reproductive healthcare, especially for young people. The EACH Woman Act, introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee and 70 co-sponsors, will ensure that someone struggling to make ends meet will be able to make important, personal decisions based on what is best for their circumstances, not how much money they make. For too long, politicians have interfered in our health decisions by denying insurance coverage for abortion care. For young people, who are more likely to be low income… Read more »
