On Monday evening, April 10, 2018, Durham County became the:
14th local government in the country; 2nd local government in the south; and the 1st local government in North Carolina!!
to issue a resolution calling on the federal government to repeal the discriminatory and harmful Hyde Amendment!
The Hyde Amendment is a budget provision in place since 1976 that bars patients from using federal Medicaid insurance to access safe and legal abortion.
Abortion is the only health care targeted in such a political and broad way, and the tentacles of Hyde are long --- it's not easy to find any health insurance in North Carolina, public or private, that covers abortion.
Insurance coverage bans are about playing politics with people's lives, usually starting with those with the least power, such as low-income people, People of Color, immigrant communities, rural people, and young people. We are proud that Durham County stood up to say #BeBoldEndHyde!
We are honored to have a diverse collection of partners who joined this effort, who recognize the economic injustice and threats to safety, health and bodily autonomy imposed by Hyde and other insurance bans:
ACLU of North Carolina Action NC
American Association of University Women of North Carolina
Carolina Abortion Fund
Equality NC
Jewish Voice for Peace – Triangle Chapter
NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina
National Association of Social Workers, North Carolina Chapter
North Carolina Justice Center
North Carolina National Organization for Women
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective
Social Action Committee of Judea Reform Congregation
Southerners on New Ground
We also worked closely with national partners the National Institute for Reproductive Health and All*Above All on this campaign.
We are so proud of Durham County for taking step, in line with their past actions that have positioned them on the leading edge of advancing social justice. We are also proud of our partners, many of whom are not strictly reproductive rights organizations, but have taken the bold step of prioritizing affordable abortion access on their agendas.
You can read the press release here. You can also see video from the Board of Commissioners meeting here (the resolution portion of the meeting starts at 1:08). And stay tuned for our next steps in ensuring affordable access to safe and legal abortion for all (and how you can help)!
#BeBoldEndHyde #BOLDDurham