Lawmakers and Advocates Come Together to Urge Decision Makers to Stand with Colorado Women and Families


New coalition launches a campaign pushing state leaders to create policies that support the financial stability and truly meet the needs of women and families.

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United States Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Colorado State Senator Andy Kerr (D-Lakewood) and Westminster City Councillor Maria De Cambra came together on September 2nd with the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), 9to5 Colorado and ProgressNow Colorado to launch the Colorado “Stand With Women and Families” campaign. The campaign is a long-term effort to build political and community power in order to shape the policies that are being enacted in the state and country and to show decision makers that Coloradans want forward thinking ideas that meet the needs of women and families and help Colorado to achieve economic and reproductive justice.

“Economic barriers impact our ability to make our own decisions about health, family, and education. Together we can advocate for the change that is needed,” said Westminster City Councillor Maria De Cambra.

Right now, too many lawmakers are putting political agendas ahead of the needs of Coloradans. We see that at the federal level where cuts are being made to important social programs that help families thrive and limits are put on access to critical health care services based on personal beliefs.

Stand with Women Press Conference 2105 (2)“The Hyde Amendment denies health coverage for abortion care. This means that too many people have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries and paying for health care. This is unacceptable. The EACH Woman Act would get rid of restrictions designed to push abortion out of reach and ensure that each person can make decisions about what is best for themselves and their families,” said United States Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO).

Whether it is policies that withhold health insurance for abortion or the fact that Denver politicians voted down a program that provided funding for a program that ensures low-income women have access to affordable and effective contraception, obstacles are being placed in front of much needed reproductive health services. In the long run, this impacts the financial stability of Colorado women and families.

“Women are more important to Colorado’s economy than ever before. But at the state legislature this year, equality and reproductive rights for women were both under attack. Instead of limiting access to healthcare and refusing to address the growing problem of income inequality, we need to be working to ensure every woman in our state has the freedom and support to get ahead,” said Amy Runyon-Harms, Executive Director of ProgressNow Colorado.

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The Stand With Women and Families coalition is dedicated to fighting against limits that stand in the way of the health and dignity of Coloradans, but also to pushing for forwarding thinking policies that will truly meet the needs of women and families. This is particularly important to women of color who are disparately impacted by barriers to reproductive and economic justice.

“Low-income women, women of color and Latinas face wage disparities and struggle to afford the care we need to lead successful, healthy lives. The Stand with Women and Families coalition is determined to ensure that leaders, stakeholders and elected officials work for more equitable, non-discriminatory labor policies, for living wages, for paid sick leave and for proactive solutions that will help to ensure that we can all thrive,” said Cristina Aguilar, Executive Director of COLOR.