Reproductive Rights
From the passage of Roe v. Wade to the current post-Roe landscape, NWLC has fought for reproductive health care, including abortion access and birth control.
Abortion Demonstation at the Democratic National Convention (1976-07-13/1976-07-13) by Bettye LaneNational Women's Law Center
1970s
Roe v. Wade formed a cornerstone of NWLC's advocacy on reproductive rights.
In 1973, the same year as Roe v. Wade, NWLC made a commitment to protect poor and institutionalized women from experimental contraception testing.
A year later, NWLC filed another case that was successful in securing new Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) regulations that protected poor women from involuntary sterilization.
Birth Control Illustration (2020-11-18/2020-11-18) by National Women's Law CenterNational Women's Law Center
1980s/1990s
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, NWLC continued to work to improve access to contraception and support reproductive rights.
Unveiling of Sojourner Truth Bust (2010-03-08/2010-03-08) by Speaker of the House Nancy PelosiNational Women's Law Center
2000s
With the turn of the century, access to birth control was still not a guarantee. In 2001, Jennifer Erickson filed a suit against her employer, Bartell Drug Co., for their refusal to cover prescription contraception.
NWLC served on Erickson’s legal team, and the case ended in a landmark decision that it was sex discrimination for health insurance companies to exclude prescription contraception.
In 2004, NWLC partnered with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to provide access to reproductive health services to African American communities.
Hands off My Birth Control (2011-02-26/2011-02-26) by Women's eNewsNational Women's Law Center
2010s
In 2014, NWLC launched our CoverHer hotline, which provides guidance to callers who are struggling to afford or access birth control.
Protestors in front of the U.S. Supreme Court (2016-03-02/2016-03-02) by National Women's Law CenterNational Women's Law Center
In 2021, the Supreme Court Case California v. Texas threatened to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which would have been devastating for women relying on the ACA for health care. As allies for women’s health, NWLC raised awareness about this issue.
Video about the importance of Abortion (2012-02-28/2012-02-28) by National Women's Law CenterNational Women's Law Center
Abortion Saves Lives (2019-05-23/2019-05-23) by Charles Edward MillerNational Women's Law Center
Healing from the Present, and Looking Toward the Future
In 2022, an overly politicized and extremist Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, decimating our constitutional right to abortion.
Fueled by anger, hope, and a clear vision for our collective reproductive rights, freedom, and health, NWLC has prepared to fight on all levels–in court, in state and federal policy, and in our culture– to ensure that the right to abortion is restored, protected, and accessible for anyone who needs it.
Protestors Supporting LGBTQ+ Rights by National Women's Law CenterNational Women's Law Center
In the coming years, NWLC will be fighting for LGBTQ rights in health care, including LGBTQ people's access to fertility treatments.
In September 2021, NWLC filed a class action lawsuit, along with co-counsel Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP, challenging Aetna’s discriminatory practices against LGBTQ+ policy-holders seeking fertility treatments.
Rally with Signs by NWLCNational Women's Law Center
In 2021, NWLC launched our Destigmatizing Abortion series, a narrative campaign that provides positive messaging and effective alternatives to use when talking to our communities about why we should all fight for abortion access.
Stop the War on Women by NWLCNational Women's Law Center
