DENVER, Colorado — In November, voters get the chance to weigh in on whether or not they want to further protect abortion rights in the state of Colorado. Amendment 79 on the statewide ballot would codify abortion rights within the state constitution.
"Amendment 79 ensures that enshrining access to abortion care, we are keeping that promise that in Colorado we will continue to be a safe haven for everybody in our state," said Aurea Bolaños Perea, strategic communication director for the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, also known as COLOR Latina.
The state legislature previously passed the Reproductive Health Equity Act in 2022, which says that every Coloradan has the fundamental right to use or refuse contraception. It also states that everyone has the fundamental right to continue pregnancy and to terminate it.
While abortion is protected by state law now, it could be overturned in the future by a more conservative-leaning legislature. Enshrining it in the state constitution would mean voters would have to decide to remove it from the state constitution, rather than letting future lawmakers decide.
On Tuesday, nine Latino and Hispanic organizations declared their support for Amendment 79: Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition; COLOR Latina; Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy, and Research Organization (CLLARO); Latina Initiative; Latino Coalition of Weld County; Servicios Sigue; Voces Unidas Action Fund; Voces Unidas de las Montañas; Promotores de Esperanza.
In the 2024 Colorado Latino Policy Agenda, 77% of Latinos polled said they support reproductive healthcare for all, regardless of immigration status. 61% said they support enshrining abortion rights, with another 68% saying they support insurance plans and government-based plans like Medicaid to cover abortions under their policies.
"We are one of the most marginalized groups when it comes to our reproductive freedom. When Roe was overturned over two years, Latinas were the most disproportionately impacted group across the nation," Bolaños Perea said. "Millions of us lost access to care and had now barriers to accessing abortion care."