Why I’m Voting for Abortion Access
Written by Thania Betancourt Alcázar | Instituto Power
Many people don’t know this, but I wasn’t always in support of abortion rights. Growing up in a Catholic, Mexican American family, I was taught from an early age that abortion was "shameful" and "choice" wasn’t even part of our reality. As a teen during the 2000s recession, I saw many friends experience young pregnancies. Sex education wasn’t offered at my high school, and within our religious Latino households, we were told to wait until marriage rather than learn about contraception options. On top of that, the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic to us in West Phoenix shut down, reinforcing that limited reality. Access to reproductive healthcare in my community was tough even before Roe v. Wade was overturned.
I knew little about reproductive healthcare and had never met anyone who’d had an abortion— until college when a friend opened up to me about her experience. With tears in her eyes, she bravely shared her story, fully aware of my anti-abortion stance. She explained how, for her, abortion was the best decision at that moment in her life. Unsure how to respond, I simply listened. All my life, I had been told that people who chose abortion were “horrible,” yet here was my friend — kind, thoughtful, and doing what was right for herself. She was anything but horrible. I'll be honest: it took time to fully understand her perspective, but eventually, I realized that if I were in her shoes — struggling financially and without the resources to raise a child — I likely would have made the same choice. We were the same age and with $20 in my bank account, I wouldn't have been ready to raise a child either. My friend's experience is one of many in Arizona; it's a story of the intersectionality of the rising cost of living, from housing to healthcare. Access to abortion is an intersectional issue that affects both economic and reproductive justice.
Recognizing abortion as a fundamental right would protect our access to legal abortions from judges and politicians, and that's why I support Proposition 139, the Arizona for Abortion Access ballot measure. Everyone deserves the right to decide how, when, and if they want to start a family. Voting YES on Prop 139 is vital for protecting abortion access across Arizona. The Instituto Power team and I strongly urge you to vote "YES" on Prop 139 and talk about abortion with those around you. If my friend hadn't planted that seed in me, I wouldn't be here advocating for reproductive justice for all.
