We are committed to protecting our rights to abortion and birth control, while advocating for policies that support parents.
Learn Your Rights & Benefits: New York’s Reproductive Health Act
The Reproductive Health Act guarantees that women in New York have access to abortion services, even in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturning. We are proud to have fought for this critical legislation—access to reproductive healthcare is a fundamental part of the comprehensive care we all deserve. We continue to advocate for New York to remain a beacon of compassion and urgency in addressing women’s reproductive healthcare needs. Get RHA Facts.
Our advocacy for reproductive healthcare and rights has continued to grow. In 2023 we took on discriminatory policies at the Department of Defense. In response to NOW-NYC’s lawsuit filed that year, the Department of Defense announced a new policy on March 8, 2024, eliminating marriage and gamete requirements that previously denied IVF coverage to same-sex couples and unmarried service members. Following this, on April 4, 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs implemented a similar policy update for veterans, ensuring equitable access to IVF coverage. This is a huge achievement for service members seeking to build their families.
In 2024, we worked in coalition to educate voters about New York State’s Equal Rights Amendment which goes further than New York’s Reproductive Health Act, the state ERA enshrines abortion rights in the state constitution. This includes explicit protections against discrimination based on “pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.”
Sex-Education
Sex education can be a powerful tool for teaching students not only about sex, but also healthy relationship skills and decision-making. Did you know that sex education is not currently a requirement in New York public schools?
Equal Rights Amendment
The ERA was first drafted in 1923 by suffragettes, Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman. The ERA which will prevent discrimination on account of sex was the next logical step following the successful campaign to adopt the 19th Amendment, winning women the right to vote. In 2020 Virginia became the 38th state to ratify the ERA. NOW will continue to push for Constitutional protection of women’s rights.
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Reproductive Healthcare
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Healthcare Access