6 Organizations Centering Abortion Access for Latinos

Blog

6 Organizations Centering Abortion Access for Latinos

September 19, 2022

We take time every year between September 15 and October 15 to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month, the state of sexual and reproductive health care access among Latino communities, barriers to quality health care faced by some Hispanic people, and the work of Hispanic people and organizations to improve the health of their communities. 
 
In light of the Supreme Court's recent abortion decision—which not only rolls back generations of reproductive rights, but also jeopardizes the reproductive health of generations to come— knowledge about and access to abortion within Hispanic communities is more essential than ever.

Here are six movements centering abortion access for Hispanic and Spanish-speaking folks: 

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice

The Latina Institute is a national organization fighting for equal access to reproductive health. With a goal to center and uplift Latinas/xs voices and reclaim power over their own communities, their work recognizes that Latinas/xs face unique barriers that “are rooted in racist, misogynist, and homophobic ideology reinforced by government policies, cultural institutions, and even in our own homes and communities.” The Latina Institute is transforming systems by building an activist base, advocating for policy change, and pushing cultural change forward. Check them out to learn more about how they are aiming to fuel a larger reproductive justice movement for health, dignity, and justice. 

California Latinas for Reproductive Justice

California Latinas for Reproductive Justice is another reproductive justice organization that centers uplifting the experience of Latinas/xs folks. CLRJ focuses on four core strategies to advance their mission—policy advocacy, community engagement, community-informed research, and strategic communication. Their work acknowledges and “emphasizes the intersection with other social, economic, and community-based issues that promote the social justice and human rights of Latina/x women and girls and the Latinx community as a whole.” Check out their Speaking Story program to hear from their community.

Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) 

COLOR is a community-rooted nonprofit working to increase access to resources for Latinas/xs to take care of the health of their minds, bodies, and spirits. In particular, their work supports all Latinas/xs’ power to decide their own futures and make their own decisions. In 2021, COLOR held the first annual Colorado Latino Policy Agenda to hear from community leaders across the state. They found that the majority of Latino/as believe in protecting abortion access. The organization is also based in Colorado—a state where there is no ban or limit on abortion based on how far along in pregnancy you are. In response to the recent overturning of Roe v Wade, COLOR Political Director Christina Soliz declared, “This is why we protected our right to abortion here in the state by leading the passage of the Reproductive Health Equity Act, and now that the Supreme Court has cleared the way for bans across the country, we’ll continue to lead in building a future where reproductive healthcare is safe, accessible, and without shame.”

Frontera Fund

Abortion is completely banned in Texas with very limited exceptions because of a law that went into effect July 1, 2022. That’s why the infrastructure that Frontera Fund provides is so critical. Frontera Fund is an abortion fund that provides financial and practical support for folks in the Rio Grande Valley—a city with a population that is over 98% Hispanic or Latino/a. Unfortunately, as of September 2022, this organization has temporarily paused offering services. But you can still donate to their efforts while they take the time to evaluate how they can work compliance with the law in a new landscape for abortion access.

Catholics for Choice (Español)

There are over 30 million people in the US who self-identify their religion as Catholic and their ethnicity as Hispanic or Latino/a. That’s why Catholics for Choice, a DC-based advocacy organization, recently launched a Spanish site that understands and raises awareness of the unique barriers Hispanic Catholics may face when accessing abortion care. Their work includes combating anti-choice/anti-rights movements that target this population, recognizing disparities in health insurance coverage, advocating for access to bilingual and culturally competent medical providers, and re-positioning teachings so that folks can make informed and responsible decisions about their bodies.

AbortionFinder (en Español)

We know that figuring out where and how to get an abortion can be confusing, complicated, and overwhelming. To help, we created AbortionFinder. And to ensure that it can help the most people, we made it available in Spanish as well as English. With the most comprehensive, national database of abortion providers, AbortionFinder helps individuals nationwide find the provider that can best meet their needs based on their location, age, and how far along in pregnancy they are. The site is totally confidential; we never share personal user information.

It’s time to shift conversations among friends and loved ones to talk broadly about supporting abortion access and supporting people who have abortions. Talking is power and simply talking about sometimes tough subjects can help to reduce and dispel stigma around them.