STATEMENT FROM NARAL PRO-CHOICE COLORADO ON STATE’S “D+” GRADE IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 15, 2009 Contact: Toni Panetta
303.394.1973, ext. 17 STATEMENT FROM NARAL PRO-CHOICE COLORADO ON STATE’S “D+” GRADE
IN REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS DENVER (Jan. 15) – Colorado earned a “D+” grade in the 18th edition of Who Decides? The Status of Women’s Reproductive Rights in the United States released today by Washington, D.C.-based NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation. Toni Panetta, political director of Denver-based NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, released the following statement regarding Colorado’s assessment: “Colorado’s D+ grade on reproductive rights shows that regardless of voters’ overwhelming rejection of Amendment 48 last fall, work still needs to be done to ensure all Colorado women have access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care services. In November, 73 percent of Colorado voters agreed that abortion is a personal, private decision that must remain safe and legal. They were the first in the nation to repudiate the so-called ‘personhood’ concept that would establish legal protections for fertilized eggs, attack the use of birth control and threaten other important life decisions. Elections matter: With their votes, Coloradans sent a clear message that they want elected officials to stop politicizing women’s health and instead promote policies that will reduce unintended pregnancy – and therefore the need for abortion. “When anti-choice President Bush was inaugurated in 2001, Colorado was graded as a ‘C’ state. Colorado’s current D+ grade demonstrates the pervasive impact of eight years anti-choice appointments and policies. With the inauguration of pro-choice President-elect Obama less than a week away, there will be opportunities both in Washington and in Colorado to change the tone of the debate over reproductive rights and reproductive health care. We can unite behind commonsense, common-ground policies to improve and protect women’s health and privacy. “The pro-choice majority in Colorado’s Congressional Delegation will represent our state’s mainstream pro-choice values in Washington. Here in Denver, the 2009 legislative session marks the third consecutive session with pro-choice majorities in both chambers, as well as a governor who has prioritized reducing unintended pregnancies as part of his Colorado Promise. Despite today’s D+ grade, Colorado has made strides to ensure women and their families will have access to emergency contraception, accurate and comprehensive sex education, and the family planning services they need to prevent unintended pregnancies. NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado will continue to lead the way in advancing similar policies.” Who Decides is the nation’s most comprehensive report on reproductive rights and reproductive health care with analysis of legislation and court decisions related to these issues. The report’s release comes as the country prepares to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision, Roe v. Wade, on January 22. Who Decides and additional updated information can be found at www.ProChoiceAmerica.org/whodecides. Additional information about the national landscape on reproductive health and reproductive rights can be found at http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/news/press-releases/2009/pr01152009_whodecides.html. NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado (NPCC) is the political leader of the pro-choice movement in Colorado. NPCC has more than 30,000 supporters statewide and works to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive health choices, including preventing unintended pregnancies, bearing healthy children and choosing legal abortion. ###
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