Take Action: Repeal Hyde
¡BASTA! 30 Years is Enough:
The Repeal Hyde Campaign
For 30 years, low-income women on Medicaid have been unjustly prevented from accessing one of the safest and most important
procedures a woman can have—an abortion.
Under the Hyde Amendment, first passed in 1977, the federal government will not cover abortions for women on Medicaid except in cases of rape, incest and life endangerment.
A total of 33 states provide public funding for abortion in the limited cases of life endangerment, incest or rape, although a few of these states have exceptions for cases of fetal anomalies or severe health problems. More.
The Hyde Amendment particularly affects low-income women and women of color. Abortion is an important option for Latinas, research shows that they represent 17-20% of women having abortions.
Approximately 25% of pregnancies among Latinas end in abortion, compared to 18% of white women.
Without financial support, abortion through safe and legal channels may be inaccessible for low-income and immigrant Latinas.
Bringing Hyde Home: How Hyde negatively affects women in our community
We want to hear from you!
We're requesting your stories about how the lack of medicaid funding for abortion or other obstacles have affected you or someone you know.
Share your story and help break the silence around abortion in the Latino community. All submissions will be entirely confidental. All identifying information will be changed for website post.
To submit stories, email Miriam@latinainstitute.org.
In honor of women
like Rosie Jimenez:
A Latina college student who was unable to pay for a legal abortion, became the first woman to die from a back alley abortion after the passage of the Hyde Amendment.
What Our Activists Are Doing:
Past Hyde events:
Latinas Organizing for Reproductive Equality (LORE) hosts:
History thru Voices
Wednesday, October 11th at 7pm
Chicago, IL
Their event included a discussion about access to reproductive health care, a talk by special guest Judith Arcana (author of the book "What if your mother" and former JANE activist), and information about the Hyde campaign and LORE's continuing efforts to achieve reproductive justice for Chicago Latinas.
For more information email LatinaLORE@gmail.com.
A Candlelight Vigil to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Hyde Amendment
Thursday, October 26th at 6:00pm
Kit Carson Park in Albuquerque, NM
A candlelight vigil in honor of all women who have died because they did not have access to a safe and legal abortion. Sponsored by NM Latinos for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice NM, Young Women United, NM Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
Photo Gallery:
Coming soon! Photos from Hyde Campaign events.
The Hyde Amendment in YOUR State
States have the option of providing public funding for abortion in situations beyond the narrow Hyde Amendment exceptions as long as the state pays for the abortions through state-funded programs. Nevertheless, public funding for abortion at the state level is extremely limited.
State by state information about Medicaid funding
NLIRH is proud to be a co-sponsor of the National Network of Abortion Funds' Hyde 30 Years is Enough Campaign.
LEARN MORE:
- Repeal Hyde Coalition partners and the campaign, visit their website www.hyde30years.nnaf.org
- Contact the Latina Institute's Repeal Hyde Campaign at Miriam@latinainstitute.org or call 212-422-2553.
What YOU can do
1. EDUCATE people in your community about the Hyde amendment and its negative effects.
2. EMAIL or CALL your Federal and/or State representative and urge them to repeal the Hyde Amendment.
3. ATTEND one of the regional events being planned by our Latina Advocacy Networks.
4. DONATE to your local abortion fund and help women in need get access to abortion services (go to www.nnaf.org for more information).
5. PARTICIPATE in our Postcard Challenge!
Join the Postcard Challenge!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the postcard challenge!
On January 23, 2007 we delivered 2500 postcards to over 150 Senators and Representatives from 31 states.
Thank you to all the organizations and individuals who dedicated their time to bringing people's voices to Congress.
Congratulations to the winners of the postcard challenge, the Colorado activists, and particularly the women of COLOR (Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights) for their amazing push. They brought in over 300 postcards!
Photos from the delivery coming soon!
Resources / Tools
- Hyde Fact Sheet (bilingual)
- Latina Immigrants and Abortion
(en español) - Latina's & Abortion Access
(en español) - NLIRH Repeal Hyde Action Guide
- State by state information about Medicaid funding
- NNAF Hyde Campaign Flyer
- Nat'l Asian Pacific American Women's Forum Hyde Fact Sheet



