National Coalition to End Child Marriage
End Gender-Violence Zonta Says NO!
US Women at the UN
Core Message All New Yorkers deserve the freedom to control our own bodies, lives, and futures without government interference including our right to abortion.
Prop 1 is a constitutional amendment that puts the power in the hands of New Yorkers, not politicians. This November, vote YES on Prop 1 to protect abortion rights and our freedoms. Our Message for New Yorkers
Shared Value:
● All New Yorkers deserve the freedom to control our own bodies, lives, and futures without government interference, including our right to abortion. And no New Yorker should be discriminated against or taken advantage of by those in power.
Define the Problem by Focusing on Abortion:
● Many of us took it for granted that our reproductive freedom would always be protected. When Roe v. Wade fell, we were shocked, and we realized our rights aren’t as safe as we thought. Since then, reproductive rights like abortion, contraception, and IVF have been under attack across the country.
Raise Urgency:
● That’s why we need to pass Prop 1: to make sure our reproductive rights, including abortion, are permanently protected here in New York, so we can never be caught off guard again. Prop 1 cements these rights so they cannot be rolled back by out-of-touch politicians in the future.
Prop 1 is the Solution:
● And Prop 1 doesn’t stop there: it also closes loopholes in the state constitution to make sure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, pregnancy status, disability status, or whether someone is LGBT. Because those in power shouldn’t be able to take advantage of any New Yorker, especially the most vulnerable among us.
LGBTQ Messaging:
● As backward politicians and courts across the country are narrowing and rescinding reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights, New Yorkers can protect them by passing Prop 1.
● No New Yorker should be targeted by the government because of who they are or who they love. Prop 1 will guarantee people what we want most: our fundamental rights, without political interference.
● Prop 1 will ensure that a judge could never take away custody of a child based on a parent’s sexual orientation, and that gay couples who work in the public sector — like teachers and firefighters — can get the same healthcare benefits as straight couples.
● This November, New Yorkers have the opportunity to vote Yes on Prop 1 to protect our rights and freedoms, including protections for LGBTQ+ communities and abortion rights.
Age-based Discrimination Messaging:
● Right now, the NY constitution includes protections for race and religion, but it does not include age. That leaves our seniors vulnerable, and Prop 1 would fix that.
● Passing Prop 1 would block public sector employers from discriminating against older New Yorkers when it comes to hiring, promotions, and pay.
● It would also ensure that older New Yorkers have the access they need to vote.
Q&A
Q: Why do we need to pass this amendment in New York, where abortion is already legal?
Until Roe was overturned, most people thought the right to abortion was protected. Now, we see states around the country banning abortion and rolling back our rights.
New York’s current laws can be changed or rolled back depending on who is in the state legislature or Governor’s Mansion. A staunchly anti-abortion candidate came close to winning the Governor’s Mansion for the first time in decades — and had pledged to put people who wanted to roll back abortion rights in charge of our health system. We need to act now. New Yorkers must vote this November and make sure our rights are not left to out-of-touch, anti-abortion politicians who want to restrict our rights and freedoms.
Q: What are some of the specific impacts of what Prop 1 will do?
● It helps women who have been victims of domestic abuse hold their abusers accountable in court.
● It makes sure the government cannot discriminate against older New Yorkers or pregnant New Yorkers when it comes to hiring, promotions, and pay.
● It ensures that older New Yorkers and those with disabilities have the access they need to vote.
● It would protect access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, birth control, and IVF, by making sure that politicians can’t pass abortion bans or restrict reproductive healthcare options.
Q: Won’t this amendment make sure boys are playing on girls’ sports teams?
That’s just not true – the amendment does not change existing law. Let’s be clear – this is a narrative being pushed by politicians using a small handful of innocent kids as political pawns to divide New Yorkers and distract us from what this amendment is actually about: protecting the right to abortion and guaranteeing our personal freedoms. The amendment simply stops LGBT New Yorkers from being discriminated against. If pushed on locker rooms: That’s a lie. This amendment does not control who uses what locker room; this is just another dangerous lie meant to divide and distract us from what this amendment is actually about.
Q: Will this amendment allow minors to consent to gender-affirming surgery?
No. These claims are false and just not credible. In New York, parental consent is already required for minors to receive any medical procedure related to gender-affirming care, and this amendment does not change that. It will NOT allow young people to have surgeries without their parents’ consent. This is a narrative being pushed by politicians using a small handful of innocent kids as political pawns to divide New Yorkers and distract us from what this amendment is actually about: protecting the right to abortion and guaranteeing our personal freedoms. The amendment does not change the existing laws. It simply stops LGBT New Yorkers from being discriminated against.
Q: Will Prop 1 change our immigration process/exacerbate a migration issue?
The protections in this amendment have nothing to do with our country’s asylum or immigration laws. They are simply about closing loopholes in the state constitution to make sure that all New Yorkers are protected against discrimination from the government, no matter their race or ethnicity. In fact, several other states have protections for national origin in their state constitutions — including conservative states like Texas, Florida, and Louisiana.
Q: Will Prop 1 allow non-citizens to vote?
No — this is completely false. People saying otherwise are trying to divide and distract us from what this amendment is actually about: simply making sure all New Yorkers have their basic, fundamental rights and freedoms protected.
Q: What about all the unintended consequences of the amendment?
Isn’t it written vaguely? The amendment is straightforward: it closes loopholes in the state constitution to ensure that no New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government. It does not hand out special rights to anyone and doesn’t change common sense laws on the books. This amendment is about protecting the rights we currently have – including the right to abortion – and not leaving them up to out-of-touch politicians in the future.