URGE, Planned Parenthood Alabama, Yellowhammer Fund Take to State Capitol to Advocate for Reproductive Justice Issues
(Montgomery, AL) – On Thursday, April 27, 2023, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity brought the fight for reproductive justice to Alabama legislators’ doorstep. URGE Alabama partnered with Planned Parenthood Alabama and Yellowhammer Fund to bring together young people from across the state to lobby legislators to support HB 17 and oppose HB 208.
BACKGROUND
HB 17, introduced by Rep. Christopher England, would repeal the current law that makes it a misdemeanor to induce an abortion, miscarriage, or premature delivery. This bill would be a crucial step toward decriminalizing pregnancy outcomes for Alabamians. HB 208, also known as the Pregnancy Resource Act – introduced by Rep. Jamie Kiel, would provide a tax credit to taxpayers who donate to anti-abortion centers or crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in Alabama. CPCs are facilities that stigmatize abortion and shame and pressure pregnant people into carrying their pregnancy to term although they often arrive seeking information about abortion care. There are at least 56 CPCs across the state.
COURTNEY ROARK (THEY/THEM), URGE, ALABAMA POLICY & MOVEMENT BUILDING DIRECTOR
“Too often, young people are shut out of the political process. We’re told to sit on the sidelines while decisions are made for us by those in power. But we know that in order to truly win on our issues, young people must be at the forefront of conversations about our lives. Today, we are at the State House, specifically to support HB 17 and oppose HB 208, but more broadly to move forward the Reproductive Justice agenda to decriminalize healthcare and pregnancy outcomes.”
SHANTE WOLFE (SHE/HER), URGE, SOUTHEASTERN STATES FIELD DIRECTOR
“It’s important now more than ever to provide a space for young people to let officials know where they stand on critical issues that impact their lives. Today, young people came together in Montgomery to remind elected officials that they deserve better.”
STEPHEN STETSON (HE/HIM), STATE DIRECTOR, PLANNED PARENTHOOD ALABAMA
“We are pleased to lend the support of Planned Parenthood to URGE and our other allies across the state who are fighting for sensible changes to our policy landscape. It’s not just our organizations and members that are doing the work, but poll after poll shows that regular folks support access to health care, so it’s going to be good for people to express those strongly-held views to lawmakers.”
HEIDI MILLER (SHE/HER), DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, YELLOWHAMMER FUND
“Yellowhammer Fund is pleased to join URGE AL’s Advocacy Day 2023! YHF supports HB 17 because Alabamians should not be jailed for their abortions and pregnancy decisions. We support all pregnancy outcomes including self-managed abortion, and we deserve to have the right to choose what’s best for our bodies and our families free of government interference. YHF opposes HB 208 because anti-abortion centers are coercive, and their services are stigmatizing and harmful. Pregnant people and parents should be able to access basic necessities without fear of judgment or shame, and that’s why YHF provides supplies like diapers, wipes, household supplies and more via our Family Justice outreach.”
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URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity is a national nonprofit organization that works to build young people’s power around reproductive issues by centering the leadership of young people of color who are women, queer, trans, nonbinary, and people of low income across the South, Midwest, and California.
Planned Parenthood Southeast believes in the fundamental right of each individual to have access to high-quality, non-judgmental health care and prevention-focused education regardless of the individual’s income, marital status, race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, faith identity, or immigration status. Our mission is to provide comprehensive sexual health care through the provision of reproductive health services, education, and advocacy.
The Yellowhammer Fund is a 501(c)3 abortion advocacy and reproductive justice organization serving Alabama, Mississippi, and the Deep South.
