Confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett Jeopardizes Reproductive Rights, LGBTQ Rights, and Access to Healthcare

Yesterday the Senate confirmed president Trump’s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court, shifting the balance of the Court even further to the right and putting at risk our health and rights for years—perhaps decades—to come.

At a time when the Senate should have been passing a Covid relief bill, Mitch McConnell was more interested pushing through a nominee who threatens Americans access to health care. This process was unprecedented as more than 60 million people have already voted in the 2020 election and voting ends in 7 days. Instead of giving the American people a say in the future of the court, Senate Republicans rushed through Amy Coney Barrett.

Barrett replaces Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a fierce defender of women’s rights and reproductive rights. Justice Barrett’s record show she’s no Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Her appointment to the Supreme Court could have a tremendously adverse impact on abortion rights, birth control access, LGBTQ rights, civil rights, voting rights, the Affordable Care Act and so much more. While this is an enormous setback for reproductive rights and justice, there will be many more fights to come. As advocates of equality, justice, and reproductive freedom for all, we must renew our commitment and resolve. The struggle is far from over.