Health Equity

We believe everyone, no matter where they live or how much money they have, should have access to basic health care.

For far too long, health care has only been accessible to some. The overturning of Roe v. Wade has only deepened already devastating health disparities. 

Historically marginalized communities have worse access to reproductive health care—as a result, they also experience worse health outcomes. People of color have health disparities disproportionately higher than their white counterparts, regardless of income. In South Dakota, the infant mortality rate among babies born to Black people is 2 times higher than the rate for white babies. Over half of counties in South Dakota are considered maternity care deserts where there are no birth centers, obstetric providers, or hospitals with obstetric care. 

LGBTQ+ people’s reproductive health needs often go unmet by a system that has traditionally marginalized such care. Doctors who discriminate (even unknowingly) leave patients of color with worse health outcomes. And LGBTQ+ people of color face even greater risk of bias and harm from medical providers.  

Health disparities are policy choices—and there are policy solutions.  

Everyone has a right to health care, and your zip code shouldn’t dictate the care you can access. We want to build a world where everyone has access to the health care that is best for their bodies and futures in their own communities. This means access and affordability of abortion care, LGBTQ+ care, IVF, birth control, cancer screenings, and all elements of sexual and reproductive health care.