National Field Organizer at NLIRH Stephanie J. Alvarado has an article in the Huffington Post about why she is Pro-Access.
The word ‘abortion’ is always one that stirs debate. But it shouldn’t. Here’s why.
I was recently asked if I was pro-life, or if I was pro-choice. You know what I answered, “I’m pro-access.” I’m pro-access because terms like ‘pro-life’ and ‘pro-choice’ are antiquated and assume that all women have a choice to begin with, when in reality, many women have limited access to reproductive health care because so many restrictions are set in place. Women should be supported to actually have a choice to begin with, and the fact that we’re in the 21st century, still having this debate, is something that I find remarkable.
As a 24-year-old proud Latina woman and daughter of immigrants, I am part of the fastest growing demographic in our country. It’s why I’m so passionate about the issue of abortion, and why I devote my days to protecting a women’s legal right to choose in my work with the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health — the only national Latina health and reproductive justice organization in the United States.
Some people ask me if I’ve had an abortion, and if that’s what led me to this line of work. To that I respond ‘no,’ but here’s what drew me to devote my time to one of our nation’s most divisive issues. Since I was 14 years old, I have always recognized my agency in fighting for social justice issues in my community. From being a young student organizer until present day, my life has always been connected to fighting for those who are marginalized and underserved. I am motivated and strengthened by the stories that our activists share with me on a daily basis about the constant struggle it is for them to be able to attain quality and affordable reproductive health care. It is a fight faced every day simply because we are women.
Read the full article here.
