Results tagged “NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut” from Blog for Choice

There was a great piece that appeared in the Hartford Courant in late December. I know we're all forward thinking, conjuring images of hope and change as we keep our eye on Obama's Inauguration Day, but it is important to remember exactly what we've dealt with the past eight years so we can look forward to the next four:

The story of Bush's eight-year assault on reproductive rights is worth a book, and a week and a half ago, Bush wrote the painful last chapter when he issued an eleventh-hour regulation through the Department of Health and Human Services. The ruling -- with dramatic and drastic results -- allows federally funded health-care providers and others to refuse to give referrals or information about medical procedures, such as abortion, with which they disagree. It's a so-called "conscience rule" and affects nearly 600,000 entities -- including doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, insurers, medical and nursing schools and labs, among others.

The ruling goes into effect Jan. 20, right before Barack Obama takes the oath of office.

The Bush administration tried to seek that one in, but pro-choice America took notice and will not let it go without a fight. We know the regulation is outrageous and out-of-touch, but the good news is that President-elect Obama can reverse it once he gets into office.

So please take a moment to click here and show Obama that you'll support his efforts to restore women's reproductive freedom.

We've said it before, but we'll say it again: The new regulation is a tremendous step backward for women's access to reproductive-health care, including birth control. It means our reproductive freedom is moving further into the hands of everyone but ourselves. Insurance companies could deny claims for the pill, hospitals could refuse emergency contraceptives to rape survivors, and clinics that receive federal funding to care for low-income women could even refuse their patients advice about birth control.

Ninety-eight percent of women use birth control at some point in their lives, and this regulation could affect any of us. We cannot afford to wait until it does. So take action today.

Jillian Gilchrest, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut, had this to say on Bush's last-minute rule and the idea of commonground solutions:

"If you are against abortion, you are against abortion. We support that right, and that's a fundamental difference we will not be able to bridge. I would hope, though, that we can come together on the fact that we need to do something about pregnancies that are unintended.

"There is common ground, but it's things like this -- the way this regulation was passed -- that divide us more."

In the coming months, as activists, doctors, policy makers and others seek to clean up this mess, look to see more of Gilchrist. Oh, and be sure to congratulate her. She and her husband are expecting their first baby in May.

Congratulations Jillian, and onward to a pro-choice 2009!