Denver, CO – One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Coloradans and their families, denounces the Supreme Court majority opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade today.

“I myself am a descendant of a great grandmother, who died giving birth to my grandfather, because their white hospitals wouldn't treat her,” said Nadine Bridges, One Colorado Executive Director (she, her, hers). “She was seen as not worthy, less than and today, we are still seen that way. The policing of bodies is not new to poor folks, Black people, Indigenous folx, and the Latinx community. These inequities are pervasive in the structures under which our society operates. It’s no coincidence that the same people calling for the inspection of young bodies to determine whether or not they can play on a sports team and the incarceration of families who support these young bodies, are the same folks working to control our personal sexual and reproductive health decisions and incarcerate those who dare to defy them. We must stand in defiance. Together, we must disrupt these systems of power and take control of our own choices. We must refuse to allow anyone to treat any of us as not human or whole!”

Overturning Roe v. Wade is an attempt to undermine and violate our reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. These restrictions disproportionately impact communities of color and lower-income individuals, who have been systematically marginalized and cut off from accessing quality, affordable health care. The LGBTQ+ community is also impacted by these destructive decisions as some lesbian, bisexual and transgender people also get pregnant and may seek to terminate those pregnancies. Reproductive justice and LGBTQ+ equality go hand-in-hand in the fight to access quality, affirming healthcare. Bodily autonomy is at the core of the LGBTQ+ movement, and the inclusion and participation of our community is essential in the work to advance bodily autonomy and end gender-based oppression. Queer folks continue to fight for the freedom to live in our own bodies and do with them what we choose. Our work is to create a world where we can all live a life free from discrimination, violence and harassment, no matter what our bodies look like, where we live, or how we identify. Justice Thomas makes specific mention of re-examining Obergefell, the Supreme Court case that made marriage equality the law of the land in 2015: "For that reason, in future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell." While Colorado has some of the best protections for LGBTQ+ people, One Colorado continues its work to fortify these protections against attacks at the federal level.

During the 2022 legislative session, One Colorado supported the Reproductive Health Equity Act (HB22-1279) which codifies abortion access in Colorado state law. We urge folks to take action, donate, and follow the lead of reproductive justice organizations in Colorado such as Cobalt, COLOR, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, and others.