Sexuality Information & Education Council Applauds SCOTUS Decision, Acknowledges Work Remains to Affirm Abortion Access for All

NEW YORK, June 30 -- The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. issued the following statement on June 29:

The Supreme Court of the United States struck down a restrictive Louisiana law, reaffirming the right to access abortion in June Medical Services v. Russo. Jennifer Driver, Vice President of Policy & Strategic Partnerships at SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, released the following statement in response:

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"Today's 5-4 decision is a critical win in affirming the right to access abortion in the United States. SIECUS is committed to advancing young people's access to the information, education, and care they need to ensure their sexual and reproductive health for life. And that includes access to safe and legal abortion care. Full stop.

We are relieved that the Supreme Court has upheld precedent and allowed Louisianans to maintain access to the few health care facilities that provide abortion services in their state. However, while SCOTUS made the right decision today, our work is far from over. Today's decision will not stop the relentless attacks on abortion rights that are still happening across the country and anti-abortion politicians will not let up anytime soon. But neither will we.

We will continue fighting for access to safe and legal abortion until it is realistically available for all people. We are particularly focused on Black and brown communities both in Louisiana and nationwide. Right now, we continue to face impossible barriers to abortion care amid a pandemic that disproportionately impacts us-and as horrific police violence continues to target us. We will not stop until access to care is truly equitable.

To move the needle forward, we encourage everyone to join us in taking action. Let's call on our members of Congress to protect abortion access and affordability by passing two necessary pieces of legislation: the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) and the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act (EACH Woman Act)."

SIECUS is grateful for today's Supreme Court decision. And we celebrate this win. But at the same time, we must keep working toward the day when everyone in this country can celebrate unfettered access to the sexual and reproductive health information, education, and care that they have the right to receive.