Friend,

A conservative justice in Alabama just engaged in an unprecedented new
attack against bodily autonomy by ruling that frozen embryos used in the
in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process are children.(1)

This ruling -- in which the justice invoked God as part of his legal
reasoning -- has placed Alabamans looking to start or expand their
families via IVF in horrifying legal limbo and has sent shockwaves across
the country.(2)

And it gets worse: Other states are following suit. Kentucky just
introduced a bill requiring child support for fetuses, and 14 states are
considering “fetal personhood” bills.(3,4) These are all part of the
right’s decades-long strategy to eliminate all reproductive health access
and fully restrict bodily autonomy across the country.

While California isn't at risk of these kinds of bills right now, we are
still a long way away from reproductive parity. We're helping to push for
California Senate Bill 729, Provide Equitable Fertility Coverage, to
require insurance coverage for infertility care, including IVF. And we
need to stand up for the people across the nation who are at risk of
losing access to IVF altogether. We're calling on Congress to pass
legislation that unequivocally protects access to IVF treatments. Every
American deserves the right to have a family, and IVF is a crucial part of
this journey for many.

[ [link removed] ]Join us in urging Congress to act now. Sign our petition to ensure that
IVF remains a safe, accessible option for those who dream of starting a
family.

[ [link removed] ]SIGN ON NOW

Every year, thousands of babies are conceived in the United States using
IVF, with 33% of Americans saying they have themselves used fertility
treatment or know someone who has.(5)

Lawmakers in Alabama are scrambling to create legal exceptions for IVF
while still preserving their draconian laws around abortion and
reproductive health.(6) Meanwhile, this ruling is likely to make its way
to the Supreme Court, with the potential for an outcome that could ban IVF
nationwide.

We know that any decision from the Supreme Court or Alabama lawmakers’
half-hearted attempts to have it both ways will not be enough for
Alabamans hoping to expand their families, nor are they a model for the
rest of the country.

While fertility treatments are not currently under attack in California,
the political turmoil around IVF has ramifications beyond Alabama and
other states considering similar legislation.

From skyrocketing costs to fewer providers and longer wait times to
receive treatment, attacks on IVF nationwide could negatively impact
fertility treatment for all Americans.

Codifying federal protections for fertility treatment will take away a
significant source of anxiety for families already facing the challenges
of growing their families. It will also help turn the tide against the
steady chipping away of bodily autonomy that Republicans have been pushing
forward for decades.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name if you agree that Congress must act now to protect the
rights of people across the country looking to start or expand their
family via IVF.

Yours in the fight for our health,

–Irene, Annie, Angela, Isidra, Mario, Marvin, Alyssa, Jen, and Lindsay
(the Courage team)

[ [link removed] ]SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN

Footnote:
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Courage California (formerly Courage Campaign) makes sure our democracy works for ALL of us by fighting corruption in California politics. We believe the solution lies in exposing and solving systemic problems through strategic organizing, enhancing coordination between progressive organizations, and mobilizing civic engagement from our communities, particularly voters of color, young voters, and self-identified progressives.

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