Howard Brown statement on Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade

Today, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. As a result, several states across the country are already poised to restrict and ban access to abortion. Healthcare is a human right, and that includes access to comprehensive and affirming sexual and reproductive healthcare. As an LGBTQ+ community health center that is committed to serving all patients regardless of ability to pay, we know that far too many barriers already exist that prevent people from accessing sexual healthcare in particular. Restricting access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare will only worsen disparities in pregnancy-related health risks and death, especially among marginalized and low-income communities. Today’s ruling also sets a dangerous precedent for rolling back other fundamental civil rights not explicitly laid out in the Constitution—including access to contraceptives, interracial marriage, and LGBTQ+ rights. This is especially concerning given the recent surge in legislative attacks on necessary and life-saving gender affirming care. It is clear that attacks on reproductive justice are also attacks on racial justice and LGBTQ+ liberation. We stand in solidarity with communities across the country mobilizing to protect access to care, and Howard Brown will continue to advocate for increased access to comprehensive and affirming healthcare services in the Midwest and across the country. We believe that everyone should be able to access the healthcare that they need, and that patient autonomy and body sovereignty must be upheld in healthcare.