The AAUW Florida Public Policy Issue Forums
On September 14, the AAUW Florida kicked off our Public Policy Education Forum with a discussion on reproductive rights in our state. Reproductive rights are a critical part of our AAUW public policy agenda. Control over one’s reproductive life is central to women’s economic security, promotes preventive health care, and teaches people how to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections. As such AAUW supports choice in determining one’s reproductive life and that these personal decisions should be made without government interference.
Reproductive rights are under attack nationally and in our state. On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This decision upheld Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban and reversed nearly 50 years of precedent. And here in Florida, Governor DeSantis signed into law a bill this past April that banned abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Currently, the Florida Supreme Court is hearing a case in which the State has argued that Floridians have no state constitutional right to abortion and therefore politicians could ban abortion entirely. Unless the court blocks the 15-week ban, the law signed by DeSantis that bans abortion at six weeks in pregnancy will automatically go into effect 30 days after the court issues its decision.
It is within this context that Moné Holder, Senior Director of Advocacy & Programs at Florida Rising, led an incredibly informative and important discussion about the work of Floridians Protecting Freedom-- a statewide campaign of allied organizations and concerned citizens working together to protect Floridians’ access to abortion as reproductive health care and defend the right to bodily autonomy.
Moné shared information on citizen-led ballot initiative, the “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion.” This initiative seeks to create a constitutional amendment that would protect Floridians’ freedom to access abortion. Since launching the campaign on May 9th and launching the paid petition collection effort on June 1st, the campaign has collected over 600,000 petitions - putting it at the halfway point for the number of raw petitions need to qualify to get on the 2024 ballot.
And as of September 8th, the campaign met the numbers needed to qualify for Supreme Court review. The campaign reached 297,600 petitions validated with the state of Florida - this is not only over a third of the way to the goal, but also means that within the next 30 days the Attorney General will notify the Supreme Court that they must review the ballot language. This is a major milestone in the campaign.
AAUW members can connect to this campaign in a variety of ways—collect petitions, donate money, and educate others about the importance of reproductive rights. Here are a series of links to connect with the campaign.
Gender Studies and DEI Initiatives at Colleges
Nov. 2 2023
Dr. Elizabeth Brown, Past President of the United Faculty of Florida, University of North Florida
Florida 2024 Legislative Preview
Nov.16, 2023
Dr. Pat DeWitt, AAUW Co-Public Policy Director and Public Policy Committee Members
Public Education and Book Bans
Jan. 11, 2024
Dr. Marvin Dunn, Professor Emeritus at Florida International University and Miami Center for Racial Justice
Gender Pay Gap and Economic Security
March 7, 2024
Dr. Mary Gatta, AAUW FL Co- Public Policy Director and Director of Research and Public Policy, National Association of Colleges and Employers
Voting Rights
April 18, 2024
Debbie Chandler, Co-President, League of Women’s Voters. Florida
You will need to RSVP for each session individually. Once you RSVP you will receive a Zoom link for the session. If you have any questions, contact Mary Gatta, Co-Public Policy Director, AAUW Florida at gatta.mary@gmail.com
To download and register for sessions, click HERE:
