People in Colorado are now free to make their own reproductive health choices after Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) into law.
Efforts to restrict and criminalize abortions in the United States are intensifying, which restricts access and increases suffering — especially for people of color. That is why we were vocal supporters of the legislation to modernize Colorado laws to protect reproductive rights as fundamental rights.
This new law allows any person the right to choose or refuse contraception; gives any pregnant person the right to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion, and affirms that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent rights under State law.
RHEA is particularly important because there was nothing explicitly protective of abortion access in Colorado law.
Our partners at the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) led this fight at the Capitol, and we are proud to have supported them. We are also proud of the many members of our community who participated in this year's Latino Advocacy Day to tell the governor and lawmakers to support Reproductive Justice.
This is the latest of what we expect to be many examples of showing up, and having our voices heard by lawmakers.
Thank you to everyone who lent their voice to the fight.
Alex Sánchez is President and CEO of Voces Unidas Action Fund and Voces Unidas de las Montañas