The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is highlighting the disproportionate impact of abortion bans on Black women in GOP-led states.
Democratic Black women state lawmakers express sadness, distress, but not surprise at these bans, which they say jeopardize women’s health, particularly for Black women who already face alarmingly high maternal mortality rates.
New York Senate President Pro Tempore Andrea Stewart-Cousins stated that abortion bans have exacerbated overall reproductive health problems for Black women, whose abortion rate is the highest in the U.S.
Abortion Laws on Black Women in GOP-Led States (Credits: Reuters)
She emphasized that these bans, especially since the fall of Roe v. Wade, have worsened existing socioeconomic disparities. According to Nourbese Flint, president of All* Above All, abortion restrictions disproportionately affect Black and Brown people.
She noted that abortion coverage bans like the Hyde Amendment impact Black and Latinx individuals the most, as they are more likely to rely on Medicaid, which is restricted from funding abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.
The Hyde Amendment, named after its sponsor, late Illinois GOP Rep. Henry Hyde, is a federal restriction that blocks the use of federal funds for abortions in most cases.
Critics argue that this policy unfairly affects marginalized communities, particularly Black and Latinx individuals, who may face barriers to accessing abortion care due to financial constraints.
