In New York, a constitutional amendment needs to be passed in both chambers of the state legislature during two consecutive sessions in order to be referred to the ballot. A measure called the Equal Protection Clause was passed by the full state legislative body in 2022 and again in 2023, and is set to go to the voters on the 2024 November ballot.
This proposal would amend the New York constitution to prohibit the denial of rights to an individual based on their ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, as well as their sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The language of the Equal Protection Clause currently in the constitution prohibits the denial of rights to a person based on “race, color, creed, or religion.”
According to the New York government website, “Abortion access is available for New Yorkers and for those coming from outside of New York State. In New York, you can get an abortion up to and including 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, you can still get an abortion if your health or pregnancy is at risk.”
For information on those who oppose this more intrusive Equal Protection Clause, see The Coalition to Protect Kids and visit the NY Catholic Conference for helping moms in need.
