Latinas Condemn Supreme Court Decision on Contraception

Religious liberty, critical health coverage for 4.9 million Latinas in danger

(NEW YORK ) – Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that some employers will be allowed to deny insurance coverage for the full range of safe, effective contraceptive methods, Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH), released the following statement in response:

“We are deeply disappointed in today’s decision, which deals a serious blow to Latina health and religious liberty. It is terribly concerning that this decision opens the door for bosses to interfere with the personal healthcare decisions of their employees. 

“Like the vast majority of women, Latinas need and support affordable contraception. No boss should be making personal healthcare decisions for their employees, and denying coverage for contraception effectively denies women this important healthcare. In fact, the overwhelming majority of Latinas, including Catholic and other Latinas of faith, use and support contraception to help plan and prevent pregnancy. We’ve been fighting hard to dismantle the barriers Latinas face in accessing quality, affordable healthcare, and allowing employers to interfere undeniably takes us backward.

“This fight is not over. Latinas have been fighting for a long time for our human right to healthcare, and we’re going to keep fighting until that right is a reality for every woman, regardless of where she lives or works, her income, or her immigration status.”

NLIRH will be participating in a press conference to discuss what the Supreme Courts decision in the Hobby Lobby case will mean for women of color and their communities, tomorrow @ 1p.m. (EDT) via telephone. Details below:

SPEAKERS: Elizabeth Taylor, executive director of the National Health Law Program; Miriam Yeung, executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; Linda Goler Blount, president and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative; and Jessica González-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. 

WHEN and WHERE: July 1, 1 p.m. EDT via phone. Dial in: 800.786.5819

INTERVIEWS AVAILABLE: All speakers will be available for interviews. Spanish speaking spokespeople will be available for interview after press conference.

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 26 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.