Folks,

This International Women’s Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on women’s rights in our country, and how we can uplift women. I recognize this year’s celebration may not feel like one, especially at a time when our freedoms and autonomy are being stripped away one by one.

I’ve spent much of my career advocating for women’s rights and reproductive freedom — from demanding healthcare providers cover birth control in the 90s, to opposing every single law restricting abortion access in our state legislature, to signing on as a co-sponsor to the Women’s Health Protection Act. I do this work for all women, because women’s rights are human rights.

We’ve made some progress since I began my career in public service, and it’s important that we never lose sight of how far we’ve come, so we can build on what we’ve learned from past battles and achieve true equity for all women.

When Roe v. Wade was overturned, I — like so many across the country – was heartbroken. However, that moment served as a grim reminder that we have much more work to do to truly secure women’s liberation. Though we’ve suffered a blow to our movement, it is up to us to get back on our feet and fight harder than ever before.

Our opponents may be dead-set on denying women equity and justice, but I will never stop fighting for women in North Carolina, and across our country.

Today is an opportunity for each of us to recommit to standing up for women in every space, from the workplace to the doctor’s office. That’s how we can uplift women everywhere — by standing together and never giving up in this fight.

I hope you’ll join me in helping build a future where women are truly equal, no matter who they are, where they live, or how they choose to live their lives.

Thank you,

Deborah