New polling shows that men of color overwhelmingly support legal abortion.
Eighty-eight percent of black men support full legal abortion, according to a new research from All* In Action Fund and HIT Strategies. Support is slightly lower among Asian American men, at 83%, and among Latino men, 81% of whom support abortion.
More than 80 percent of all men of color believe that support for abortion access is important in their decision about who to vote for in November.
“For too long, the votes of people of color have been taken for granted,” said Nourbese Flint, president of the All* In Action Fund, in a statement.
“Now, with abortion playing a key role in the upcoming election, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only define what we are against, but to move toward a future that includes the communities that are left behind by our current systems . Our research shows that men of color are increasingly prioritizing abortion – now it’s up to us to prioritize their voices and galvanize their support to have meaningful conversations and engage them in the fight for abortion access.”
Since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 21 states banned abortion, while others limited access to the procedure. Louisiana this month reclassified two abortion-inducing drugs as controlled dangerous substances.
The continued battle resulted in medical students choosing not to train in states with abortion bans and health care providers leaving states that restrict care.
“The fight for abortion is often framed as a ‘women’s issue,’ but this concerns all of us,” said Donovan Atterberry, Ohio state manager for New Voices for Reproductive Justice. “When my wife needed an abortion, what mattered was that I could support her in getting the care she needed. When it comes to our fundamental freedoms, men can listen, engage and support the people in our lives to make decisions that are best for them. The more people we raise their voices for access to abortion, the stronger our movement will be.”
All* In and HIT Strategies research shows that while black men support legal abortion at surprising rates, many remain unsure about how the issue affects them personally.
Fifty-one percent of black men feel that abortion restrictions are an issue that directly affects them, compared to 49 percent who do not.
Still, 48 percent of men of color said abortion and reproductive rights are issues that can affect men, and 59 percent said it is important for men to educate themselves on the issue of abortion. Forty-four percent said it is important for men to prioritize candidates who protect reproductive rights and abortion.
“Men of color overwhelmingly support access to abortion and their votes will be critical to electing candidates who protect reproductive rights,” said Terrance Woodbury, CEO and founding partner of HIT Strategies.
“Men of color often see themselves as tacit supporters of abortion rights, but they have the potential to become active agents of change. This presents a great opportunity to mobilize men of color to take an active role in voting for abortion rights supporters this November.”
But men of color are also unsure of their role in defending abortion rights.
Only 38 percent said it is important for men to participate in marches and rallies in support of abortion rights, 37 percent said it is important for men to speak out on social media about abortion, and just 36 percent said it is important for men donate to organizations and candidates. supporting the procedure.
But men of color recognize the impact that access to abortion has on other issues. Fifty-six percent of men of color agree that access to abortion has economic implications and that giving women control over abortion decisions gives them greater economic security.
“Communities of color face some of the most significant disparities in our political and healthcare systems,” said Darryl Banks, co-founder and director of P68an organization dedicated to building black political power.
“That’s why it’s crucial that we oppose political interference in health care decisions. Building political power for abortion access requires all of us, including black men. Together, we have the power, through our votes, to defend people’s freedom over their lives and make it clear that this issue impacts us all.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
