Business Leaders Speak Out Against Restrictions on Abortion, Reproductive Health Care

With a full-page ad in the New York Times today, leaders from more than 180 companies made a strong show of support for reproductive health — including access to safe and legal abortion. Executives from a range of industries — including financial services, retail, technology, and utilities —  with a combined  workforce of more than 100,000, signed on to "Don't Ban Equality." The statement is supported by CEOs from Bloomberg L.P., Square, Zoom, Atlantic Records, Yelp, Warby Parker, H&M U.S., Amalgamated Bank, Endeavor, Godfrey Dadich, Eileen Fisher, Glossier, Postmates, Blavity, and more. Together they affirm that restrictions on access to abortion and other forms of reproductive care services threaten the health and economic stability of their employees and customers — making it bad for business.

National organizations that protect and expand access to reproductive health care, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Center for Reproductive Rights, have seen a strong uptick in companies wanting to respond to recent attacks on reproductive health and rights. This follows an alarming trend of abortion bans passing in states across the country, which has sparked mass grassroots outrage. As a result, these organizations have helped organize businesses with headquarters in 17 states to declare that restricting reproductive rights, including access to abortion, goes against the values of their companies and hinders efforts to promote equality in the workplace, putting their businesses, communities and the U.S. economy at risk.

Statement from Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director, ACLU:

“The ACLU is proud to stand with these business leaders who are saying loudly and clearly – access to reproductive health care, including abortion, is essential for their employees’ equality in the workplace and their lives. Their statement today shows that the business community won’t sit on the sidelines while politicians continue to try to take away our reproductive rights. Together with the ACLU and its over 3 million members, activists, and supporters, they have shown their commitment to speaking up and fighting back.”        

Statement From Dr. Leana Wen, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“We are grateful and inspired to have so many business leaders standing with us proudly and publicly to oppose these dangerous, unprecedented attacks — raising the alarm about the chilling effect on their employees and the communities where they do business. People across the country are outraged — politicians have no place in our personal health decisions. And now more than ever, we must stand together to declare that reproductive health care, including abortion care, is necessary for all people to live healthy, successful lives.”

Statement from Ilyse Hogue, President, NARAL Pro-Choice America:

“The vast majority of Americans, 7 in 10, believe that abortion should be legal — and understand that access to reproductive healthcare is fundamentally linked to economic security and professional opportunity. NARAL applauds the business leaders signing the #DontBanEquality letter for taking a stand on behalf of their employees, customers, and communities, and affirming the mainstream view that women deserve to be able to make private, personal medical decisions without politicians interfering. As anti-choice politicians are escalating attacks on these fundamental freedoms, we encourage the entire business community to join us in protecting access to reproductive health care in the critical months and years to come.”

Statement from Nancy Northup, President and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:

“A woman’s ability to access reproductive health care is critical to her autonomy, economic success, health, human rights, and empowerment in the workplace. Reproductive health care is a human right for all, no matter who you are, where you live, or your profession. When a woman’s reproductive rights and freedoms are under attack, the health and well-being of our society is in jeopardy. It is critical we join together as advocates, business leaders, and consumers to make clear how important access to reproductive healthcare is to our society as a whole.”