By Carol Tannenhauser
On Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul stood in front of the Women’s Rights Pioneers Monument in Central Park to affirm abortion rights and announce her agenda to make sure New York State remains “a safe harbor” for those seeking abortion care. This comes after Texas implemented the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the nation, and the United States Supreme Court refused to block it.
Located mid-park at 68th Street, the monument in Central Park is quickly becoming a gathering place for political rallies and announcements, particularly those focusing on women’s rights.
“Abortion access is safe in New York,” Hochul said. “The rights of those who are seeking abortion services will always be protected here. To the women of Texas, I want to say I am with you. Lady Liberty is here to welcome you with open arms.”
You can hear part of Hochul’s speech here:
We’re New Yorkers. We stand tall. We fight hard. We let people know that we have their backs.
The right to an abortion is the law of the land. I’m going to keep fighting to strengthen that right. pic.twitter.com/uQFknJDuSW— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) September 16, 2021
The governor was flanked by U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney.
“The recent law in Texas…is not just unconscionable, it’s unconstitutional,” Gillibrand said. “At the federal level, we must pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would create federal protections against state restrictions that fail to protect women’s health and intrude upon personal decision-making. Here in New York, we luckily have a governor who understands and champions fundamental reproductive rights. I stand ready to support Governor Hochul’s efforts to ensure that providers, patients and the people of New York have the best information about abortion care and the resources to get the care they need.”
New York state passed legislation two years ago that would insure abortion stays legal in the state even if Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Hochul’s agenda was outlined in a press release:
Plan to Ensure the Right to Abortions in New York State
In an effort to ensure the right to abortions in New York State, the Department of Health will develop a webpage on the provision of abortion care, complete with a Patient Bill of Rights. This will include information on abortion care in New York State, patients’ rights to abortion care within New York State, and links to identify providers who offer abortion services.
DOH will convene a group of experts to develop and issue a guidance document on the provision of abortion care in New York State. This will include collaboration from American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, National Abortion Federation, National Institute for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts, New York Civil Liberties Union and clinical providers with an expertise in abortion care. Webinar on guidance document and clinical considerations will be open to providers across New York State and recorded for ongoing availability on the DOH website.
Guidance for Individual Provider Discretion Under Reproductive Health Act
The New York State Department of Health will develop guidance with an emphasis on clarifying the full scope of individual provider discretion under the Reproductive Health Act, and the definition of the term “commencement of pregnancy” as it relates to abortion care. The New York State Abortion Guidance Document will be shared with all New York State clinical providers able to perform abortion in New York State via the Health Commerce System.
Regulatory Updates
The Department of Health will enact regulatory updates including to allow for provision of services via telehealth. These updates will ensure that medication abortion is more easily accessed during telehealth visits, and with the goal of making this an option irrespective of the pandemic.
Recognizing that national attention on abortion issues may make misinformation more likely to spread, the Governor also wrote a letter to Facebook urging the company “to provide information on any current efforts to mitigate the spread of abortion misinformation online, and to take new action to combat misinformation about abortion laws, regulations, and availability, as it had about COVID-19, vaccines, and voting rights,” the release said.
Outgoing Manhattan Borough President and Democratic City Council candidate from the UWS, Gale Brewer was on hand to support the new governor. “While other states are cracking down on reproductive rights with needless and extreme laws, here in New York State Governor Kathy Hochul is taking action to ensure that we remain a beacon of hope,” Brewer said. “All reproductive health, including abortion must be legal, safe, accessible, and affordable. That’s what today’s announcement by Governor Hochul aims to promote.”
Great article. Thank you.
We fought hard to get these “rights” and it looks like we will have to fight harder to keep them..This is America..
The right to stop a heartbeat…the right to kill the unborn…
Its not a heartbeat. There is no heart in a 4 week old embryo.
There are no valves. There may be early electrical activity. Try learning some biology before parroting political nonsense.
NY allows abortion up to 24 weeks. A babys heartbeat CAN be detected as early as 3-4 weeks . Please put down your tv remote and actually read a medical journal dear.
I would agree. At the very least the article uses the more accurate verbiage of “abortion rights” as opposed to “pro-choice”. Clinics and doctors are conveniently found to make the choice to abort an unwanted pregnancy but oddly arent sought to prevent the unwanted pregnancy. Of course the argument will be offered that not all women have such choices..because clearly they simply arent as bright apparently not knowing that when you engage in unprotected intercourse ..you just might get pregnant (eyes rolling). Abortion is a convenience and a way to avoid taking responsibility for your ” choices”…lets call it for what it is.
EVER HEAR OF “RAPE”? “CHILD-MOLESTING?” “PARENTAL OR SIBLING SEXUAL ABUSE”? SHOULD ONE BE FORCED TO BEAR THE RESULTS? I SAY NO!
AND MY BODY SHOULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY POLITICIANS. IT IS MINE!
I would like to point out that “my body/my right” is essentially the same slogan used by the anti-vaxxers. Just an observation.
I suppose your argument would have weight if the majority of abortions were due to incest and rape, but they’re not. Also, the notion it is “my” body and no politicians can tell me what to do is not viable. It is “your” body , but you can’t drink and drive,etc. The “it’s my body ” argument is once again evading responsibility. If it’s “your body”, then take responsibility for it. Yes. That’s right: make a choice to not be pregnant before the fact; not after.
Where and what time is the NYC Womwn’s March on 10/2?