Reproductive Rights News Roundup – January 24th 2025

Progress Florida
Governor DeSantis has officially called for egregious attacks on direct democracy and citizen-led ballot initiatives.
Among other things, the proposed changes to the ballot initiative process include:
  • Elimination of paid and volunteer petition collection
  • Enabling the Secretary of State to kick an initiative off the ballot
  • Requiring more information be added to the ballot language, including a financial estimate crafted by a panel of 3 chosen by the Governor
  • Creating the ability for a voter to contest an initiative, even after the election
  • Adding a provision for compliance with Article I, section 2 (inalienable rights) of the Florida Constitution, a move many assert is intended to specifically keep abortion off the ballot

Floridians deserve the freedom to make decisions on the critical issues that impact our daily lives. Thanks to citizen-led ballot initiatives, Florida voters have raised the minimum wage, mandated term limits for politicians, protected our beaches from oil drilling, legalized medical marijuana, established a taxpayer bill of rights, created universal voluntary pre-kindergarten for children, and passed many other reforms when politicians in Tallahassee have refused to act.

Stay tuned for updates on this likely legislative battle. In the meantime, tell your Representatives: Florida’s citizen-initiative process is truly by the people and for the people and we should be doing all we can to strengthen this process.

Events & Volunteer Opportunities

Period Packing Soirée w/SoFlo Period Pantry & The McKenzie Project
Period Packing Soirée w/SoFlo Period Pantry & The McKenzie Project
Saturday, January 25th 12:00pm-2:00pm EST
Miami, Florida
Click here to RSVP.

A cartoon person looks through a magnifying class at a computer screen that says "fake"
New Strategies for Fighting Anti-Abortion Pregnancy Centers w/ReproAction
Wednesday, January 29th 3:00pm-4:00pm EST
Click here to register for the webinar.

ARGENTINA: Inspiración para nuestra lucha! Inspiring our fight! Latina Institute
Wednesday, January 29th 6:30pm-8:00pm
Click here to register for the Zoom.

Repro Kit Party w/Florida Access Network volunteers & partners
Repro Kit Party w/Florida Access Network volunteers & partners
Sunday, February 2nd 3:00pm-5:00pm EST
Joy & Liberation Center, Margate FL
Click here to RSVP.

FAN Stand Virtual Information Session (Florida Access Network, a statewide abortion fund)
FAN Stand Virtual Information Session
(Florida Access Network, a statewide abortion fund)
Monday, February 3rd 6:00pm-7:00pm EST
Learn how your business or organization can receive reprokits to help distribute in your community.
Register here.

Repro Shabbat w/National Council of Jewish Women
Repro Shabbat w/National Council of Jewish Women
February 21-22nd
Learn more here.

Commference for Progressive Communications & Digital Professionals May 13th-15th, St. Louis Missouri
Commference for Progressive Communications & Digital Professionals
May 13th-15th, St. Louis Missouri
Early bird registration is now open through 2/19.

Pride at the Capitol w/Equality Florida
Pride at the Capitol
w/Equality Florida
March 18th-19th
Register here for this important opportunity.

Let Us Live Banner
Let Us Live March 
Thursday, March 20th beginning around 8:00am
Click here to register.


News Roundup 

Florida

How Some Christian Group Homes Avoid Florida’s Standards
By Laura C. Morel, Reveal
As religious groups across the country open more maternity homes for pregnant women and teenagers, the nonprofit that oversees some of those homes in Florida is facing renewed criticism from state lawmakers over its practices.

DeSantis’ “kiss of death” for Florida’s citizen-led ballot measures
By Kathryn Varn, Axios
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed changes to Florida’s ballot initiative laws would likely kill the process citizens have long used to amend the state’s constitution, according to direct democracy experts.

In St. Pete supporters of reproductive freedom rally despite the cold
By Seán Kinane, WMNF Tampa Bay
Dozens of people braved the cold weather Wednesday morning to show support for abortion rights on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Pinellas NOW and other groups organized the rally.

After defeating abortion and marijuana amendments, DeSantis wants less power for voters
Editorial, Miami Herald
In the past decade, Florida voters have protected natural lands and water, restored voting rights for some felons, approved medical marijuana, raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour and overwhelmingly gave themselves the exclusive right to expand casino gambling.

National

Cecile Richards, former Planned Parenthood president and feminist activist, has died
By Shefali Luthra, The 19th
Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood and feminist activist, died Monday of an aggressive brain cancer, her family confirmed in a statement.

Biden declares Equal Rights Amendment is the ‘law of the land,’ contradicting archivist
By Jennifer Shutt, States Newsroom
President Joe Biden released a statement Friday saying he believes the Equal Rights Amendment should be added as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution, despite a statement from the archivist of the United States that it cannot.

The Powers Trump’s Nominees Will Have Over Abortion
By Chantelle Lee, Time
As President Donald Trump’s Cabinet and Administration nominees face confirmation hearings, they are set to wield control over a range of departments affecting everything from healthcare to the economy.

First abortion-related bill pushed in GOP-led Congress blocked by Senate Democrats
By Jennifer Shutt, Florida Phoenix
U.S. Senate Democrats blocked legislation Wednesday that would have established penalties for health care professionals who don’t provide medical care for infants born following an attempted abortion, arguing the bill would have kept parents from making decisions about care for newborns delivered early following a fatal fetal diagnosis.

Trump’s federal health website scrubs ‘abortion’ search results
By Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR
On the second day of the second Trump administration, a search for the term “abortion” on the website for the federal Department of Health and Human Services brings up 166 results.

Trump pardons anti-abortion activists who blockaded clinic entrances
By Christine Fernando, Associated Press
President Donald Trump announced Thursday he would pardon anti-abortion activists convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances.

Roe vs. more than Roe: On the landmark decision’s anniversary, a look at abortion rights and limits
By Elisha Brown, Florida Phoenix
Erika Christensen decided to become a patient advocate for abortion later in pregnancy after she had to travel from New York to Colorado to get a third-trimester abortion.

Is Instagram censoring abortion rights accounts?
By Jordan Zakarin, The Progress Report
I was working on a big news roundup today when a few big stories began to break and I began to look into what seemed to be a very clear throttling of an important abortion medication organization.


Job Openings


Men4Choice has opened early applications for their Spring Fellowship Program.
Apply here by January 24th.

Home
Equality Florida
is hiring multiple paid fellow positions for Spring.
Learn more here.

Power to Decide
Power to Decide is hiring a Fellow for Digital Programs ($26/hour) and Director of Research and Evaluation ($108,800-$125,300/year).
Learn more here.

.Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida logo
Planned Parenthood
is hiring a Community Health Educator.
$48,000/year.
Apply by 2/5.

The American Society for Emergency Contraception
The American Society for Emergency Contraception
is hiring a Senior Program Manager with a high preference for Florida.
$90,000-$120,000/year.
Learn more here.
The Global Justice Center
The Global Justice Center is hiring for their Spring & Summer Legal Internship.
18 hours/week, stipend offered for living costs.
Learn more here.

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