Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are some common questions and answers about NARAL Pro-Choice New York and the reproductive rights movement in New York State. If you do not find what you're looking for or need additional information, please contact us. |
| 1. |
What Does it Mean to be Pro-Choice? |
Being pro-choice does not mean being pro-abortion.
To be pro-choice means to support every woman’s fundamental right to make her own choice about pregnancy and child-bearing, including abortion. It also means believing that we need to do more to give women a broader range of reproductive choices, including better access to contraceptives and responsible sexuality education.
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| 2. |
What is Roe v. Wade? |
| On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court voted 7-2 to strike down a Texas law prohibiting abortion, citing that it violated a woman’s right to privacy. This landmark decision is known as Roe v. Wade.
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| 3. |
When and why was NARAL founded? |
| NARAL Pro-Choice America (formerly the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) was first founded in New York in 1969 with the goal of ensuring access to safe and legal abortion, effective contraceptive options, and quality reproductive health care. In the decades since then, NARAL has expanded its mission to include affiliate organizations in several states, including NARAL Pro-Choice New York.
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| 4. |
Is Choice Really Threatened? |
| Federally, Congress has banned access to abortion for virtually every woman who depends on the federal government for her health care, including Medicaid recipients, women in the military and military dependents stationed overseas, women in federal prisons, Native American women, federal employees, and even Peace Corps volunteers. Anti-choice lawmakers have used the appropriations process to restrict access to reproductive health care, here and abroad, at virtually every turn.
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Choice in New York? |
| In 1970, New York was the first state in the country to repeal all restrictions on a woman’s right to choose, and to this day, is one of the few states that has imposed no restrictions on abortion access. New York provides Medicaid coverage for abortion, requires insurance companies to provide contraceptive coverage, and minors do not need parental consent to have an abortion. However, every year, anti-choice legislators try to introduce restrictive legislation.
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| 6. |
What is Emergency Contraception? |
Sometimes referred to as the "morning after pill," emergency contraception (EC) is a method of birth control that can prevent pregnancy up to 120 hours after unprotected sex. It is a safe and effective method of birth control that prevents pregnancy by delaying or inhibiting ovulation. It will not work if you are already pregnant, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections or HIV/AIDS. For more information about EC visit http://www.backupyourbirthcontrol.org/. To find an EC provider in your area visit http://www.not-2-late.com/.
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