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A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 22 February 2023
Democratic governors form alliance on abortion rights

Continued from Front of pregnancy but also said
after the Dobbs decision
That includes, organizers that abortion would remain
said, sharing model statuto- legal in his state. He en-
ry language and executive dorsed candidates in the
orders protecting abortion November elections who
access, ways to protect favored further restrictions
abortion providers from but also supports adding
prosecution, strategies to exemptions to the current
maximize federal financ- law for victims of rape and
ing for reproductive health incest.
care such as birth control, Lujan Grisham acknowl-
and support for manufac- edged that the alliance
turers of abortion medica- cannot make national pol-
tion and contraceptives icy or even impose policy
that face potential new across state lines. But she
restrictions from conserva- said there’s practical value
tives. in having executives and
Lujan Grisham noted the their staffs have a formal
launch comes as a federal framework to communi-
court in Texas considers a cate.
challenge to the nation- She noted that New Mex-
wide availability of medi- ico lawmakers now are
cation abortion, which now California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 10, 2023. California Gov. Gavin considering how to affirm
accounts for the majority of Newsom speaks in Sacramento, Calif., Jan. 10, 2023. abortion access with a stat-
abortions in the U.S. Associated Press ute, even though she and
In a statement, Newsom consin. cess in states controlled by Food and Drug Administra- others believe the state’s
called the effort, which he The alliance has secured its Democrats, tighter restric- tion of medical abortions. constitution already estab-
and his aides spent months initial funding from the Cali- tions or practically outright Still, Newsom aides said the lishes the right.
organizing, “a moral ob- fornia Wellness Foundation bans in those controlled by group would welcome Re- “The problem is everyone
ligation” and a “firewall” and the Rosenberg Foun- Republicans. publicans, though they de- keeps challenging those
to protect “fundamental dation, not-for-profits that For example, 22 Democrat- clined to name any GOP constitutional interpreta-
rights.” often steer money to pub- ic-run states have weighed executives that Newsom tions,” she said. “We’re go-
The group includes execu- lic health efforts focused on in on the Texas challenge or other Democratic gov- ing to codify equality on
tives of heavily Democratic disadvantaged communi- to medical abortions that ernors might be recruiting abortion rights, reproduc-
states like California, where ties. was filed by many of the to the consortium. Indeed, tive rights and care in as
voters overwhelmingly ap- While the organization same litigant states that a handful of Republican narrow as possible way.”
prove of abortion rights, is billed as national and worked together to over- governors support abortion New Mexico’s process,
but also involves every nonpartisan, the makeup turn the 1973 Roe v. Wade rights broadly. she said, could become
presidential battleground underscores that abor- ruling that legalized abor- Lujan Grisham mentioned a model for other similarly
state led by a Democrat, tion access since Dobbs tion nationwide. A similar New Hampshire Gov. Chris situated states.
including Govs. Gretchen has settled essentially into contingent of Republican- Sununu, who has sent mixed Governors’ offices in the
Whitmer of Michigan, Roy two Americas that broadly led states has filed briefs messages on the issue. Su- alliance also have started
Cooper of North Carolina, track the platforms of the in the Texas case urging nunu signed a state budget working with advocacy
Josh Shapiro of Pennsylva- nation’s two major parties. a judge to reverse a de- in 2021 that included a ban groups that back abortion
nia and Tony Evers of Wis- That means greater ac- cades-old approval by the on abortion after 24 weeks access.q

Mississippi Senate passes limit on

transgender health care

approval Tuesday to a bill governor of Utah recently lawmakers are insisting that
that would ban gender-af- signed a ban on gender- they know what’s best for
firming care in the state for affirming care into law, transgender youth and ig-
anyone younger than 18. and judges have tempo- noring the recommenda-
House Bill 1125 will go to Re- rarily blocked similar laws tions of every major medi-
publican Gov. Tate Reeves, in Arkansas and Alabama. cal association,” Matar
who is running for reelec- The vote in the Mississippi said. “Patients, along with
tion and has indicated he Senate came less than a their health care providers
will sign it into law. In 2021, week after transgender — not politicians –- should
Reeves signed a law to teenagers, their families decide what medical care
Marchers voicing objection to House Bill 1125 prohibiting ban transgender athletes and others who support is in the best interest of a
transgender-related healthcare in Mississippi for people under from competing in girls’ or them protested against patient. I know from years
the age of 18 walk from the State Capitol to the governor’s women’s sports. Nationally, the bill. Jensen Luke Matar, of working directly with
mansion following a rally at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., in
support of trans youth Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2022. conservatives are push- executive director of the trans youth in Mississippi
Associated Press ing dozens of proposals in Mississippi-based Transgen- that they need support,
statehouses to restrict trans- der Resources Advocacy love, and affirmation – not
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The gender athletes, gender- Network and Services Pro- this brazen political attack
and MICHAEL GOLDBERG Republican-controlled Mis- affirming care and drag gram, denounced the bill that cuts off their access to
Associated Press sissippi Senate gave final shows. The Republican in a statement. “Mississippi life-saving care.”q