URGE Executive Director Kimberly Inez McGuire Speaks At EACH Act Press Conference
(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Thursday, January 26, 2023, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity Executive Director Kimberly Inez McGuire (she/her/ella) joined All* Above All and several Members of Congress at a press conference announcing the re-introduction of the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act in the 118th Congress. These were her remarks:
“Good morning,
“Let me start by thanking my friends and colleagues at All* Above All as well as our bold legislative champions in the people’s House – Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, and each of their staffs. I am proud today to be here with each of you to applaud the re-introduction of the EACH Act, which works to ensure that all of us – regardless of our insurance coverage or income level – can access the care we need.
“My name is Kimberly Inez McGuire, I use she/her/ella pronouns, and I’m honored to be here as the Executive Director of URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity. URGE is a proud partner of the All Above All campaign and a reproductive justice organization building power with young people in the south in the Midwest.
“We stand here in the midst of a human rights crisis caused by the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, and predictable enactment of abortion bans in 17 states and counting. As we fight the enemies of health and justice, it’s more important than ever to remember what we’re fighting for a world where reproductive justice and abortion justice are made real for everyone.
“Just this past week, URGE launched Abortion Bans Are Racist — a campaign that tells the truth about abortion bans and who they harm the most: young Black, Indigenous, AAPI, Latine, youth, queer, and trans people of color. Young people of color are more likely to need abortion care, less likely to have insurance coverage for abortion, and least likely to be able to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to get the care they need. And make no mistake: we know that the same politicians who pass dangerous abortion care and coverage bans are the same ones who use their power to attack our ability to vote, harm trans youth, and over-police communities of color.
“As a queer, Latina, single mom, I know that we must continue to fight boldly for abortion justice so that we can access abortion and other reproductive health services without shame, stigma, criminalization, or political interference like the racist Hyde Amendment. As we celebrate the re-introduction of the EACH Act, let us find joy and celebrate this moment as a revolutionary act. Let us remember that we must continue to be bold and that we still have much work to do.
“This is a fight that we will win. We won in Kansas, we won in Kentucky, we will win everywhere, and for good.”
