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Abortion in Florida: On the Ballot and Off Limits

The League believes in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy, and we believe protection for reproductive health decisions is a democracy issue. Without the ability to make reproductive decisions for one’s own body, women and those who can become pregnant cannot participate equally in our democracy. This harm will exacerbate societal inequalities and fall disproportionately on people of color and low-income communities already facing egregious obstacles to health care.

PANELISTS & MODERATOR shown below.


DOORS OPEN AT 11AM PROGRAM 11:45-1PM
Hot Topics Overtime in library 1:15PM
Parking Maps below

Join us at Hot Topics as we delve into the recent pivotal rulings concerning abortion rights in Florida. The Florida Supreme Court has made significant decisions, including paving the way for the implementation of a six-week abortion ban and allowing Floridians to vote on whether to enshrine abortion protections in the state constitution.

The court has endorsed the language of a proposed state constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 4, which seeks to safeguard the right to abortion in Florida. This amendment is scheduled to appear on the ballot this November, potentially reversing both bans if approved by at least 60% of voters.

These recent rulings position Florida as one of the most restrictive states in terms of abortion access, sparking a contentious debate over reproductive rights in the Sunshine State, particularly in the upcoming presidential election. With Florida now considered a pivotal battleground, the presidential campaigns view the issue of abortion rights as a mobilizing force among voters.

Panelists and Moderator

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Taylor Aguilera
Taylor Aguilera

Taylor Aguilera

Taylor Aguilera is the statewide organizing director for Floridians Protecting Freedom, the coalition behind the amendment to limit government interference with abortion, which will appear on Florida ballots as amendment 4 this November. Taylor was raised in Polk County. She studied political science at Hillsborough Community College. Her career has focused on supporting issues-based advocacy and electoral campaigns in Florida and Georgia. Prior to her organizing career, she worked in the criminal justice system as a paralegal with the public defender’s office, where she saw firsthand the need for systematic change in her community. That moved her to organize and take action for a better Florida.


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Guerdy Remy
Guerdy Remy

Guerdy Remy

Guerdy Remy is a licensed nurse with a Haitian-American background. She came to the United States when she was 5 and grew up in New York City before moving to Seminole County in 2004. She also is board president of the Florida Access Network, state board

member of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida, chair of the State Campaign Committee and vice president of the Central Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus.

As the vice president of the Seminole County Democratic Veterans Caucus, she is focused on veterans’ increasing unhoused crisis and lack of mental health solutions and assistance. She is currently working as an admissions/medication nurse at a local hospital. Guerdy earned an associate degree from Ulster County BOCES School of Practical Nursing and earned a degree in health service administration from Keiser University.

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Kait Thomson
Kait Thomson

Kait Thomson

Kait Thomson (they/them) is the senior director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida. They hold over a decade of experience in nonprofit and campaign leadership. Hailing from “the sticks,” Kait grew their political chops in New Hampshire’s “First in the Nation” presidential primaries and went on to build multi-state advocacy programs up and down the East Coast with organizations such as NARAL Pro-Choice America and 350.org. They have called Florida home since 2021 and are fired up and ready to win Yes on 4.

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Amy Weintraub
Amy Weintraub

Amy Weintraub

Amy Weintraub is a seasoned, award-winning organizer who has worked most of her adult life identifying, educating and activating citizens toward social justice. She is the Reproductive Rights Program Director at Progress Florida. She is the former chair of the League of Women Voters of Florida’s Reproductive Health and Justice Team and serves as the membership chair of the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area. She also is a leader with the statewide Floridians for Reproductive Freedom coalition. 

Prior to moving to Florida in 2015, Amy lived in her home state of West Virginia where she led efforts within organizations such as WV FREE (West Virginia Focus: Reproductive Education and Equality), Covenant House of West Virginia and Planned Parenthood.

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Dr. Kathryn Berryman
Dr. Kathryn Berryman

Dr. Kathryn Berryman

Dr. Kathryn Berryman is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine and obesity medicine. Her training began at the University of Virginia where she was an honored Jefferson Scholar, followed by medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and then residency and fellowship at The Ohio State University. She joined the AdventHealth team during COVID, after a distinguished career in the military, where she served as a maternal-fetal medicine physician. 

She specializes in complex pregnancy management and prenatal genetic counseling and testing. Caring for women with high-risk pregnancies has driven her passion to support reproductive rights and women’s access to care.

Moderator: LWVOC Co-President Tiffany Hughes  is the owner of KBI Staffing Solutions LLC, a staffing firm focused on economically empowering the community in Orlando's Historic Parramore. She is a community advocate, education advocate, and mentor for high school students with the Take Stock in Children Program. Tiffany is also the 25th President of the Orange County, FL branch of the NAACP, the youngest in their history, and a graduate of Leadership Orlando Class 100 and NAACP 2019 NextGen. She has served on Orange County and City of Orlando boards, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is a steward at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville, FL. Tiffany has a Master's degree from Full Sail University, a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University, and was awarded as a 2023 Woman Who Mean Business honoree and named an Orlando Business Journal 40 under 40 honoree in 2021.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Love events and planning them?  The Hot Topics team would appreciate your help.
Email the Co-Chairs for more information:  Diana Smith or Karen Estrin

Parking Options

PLEASE NOTE: If you have a disability or any additional needs and require assistance in order to fully participate in League activities, please email lwvpat.grierson@gmail.com
You will be contacted to discuss your specific needs.

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Hot Topics Recap


Click to read the complete RECAP of APR 10 event.

If you attended the event or watched it on our Facebook Live stream please consider completing the evaluation linked below:
APR 10 Survey



Slideshow
Apr 2024 Hot Topics The Unshine State Florida's Sunshine Law

RECAPS 2024


APR Recap
The Unshine State: FL Open Records
MAR Recap
Running in Place: Legislative Session Review






FEB Recap
Black History Month
JAN Recap
Healthy Communities

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RECAPS 2023


NOV Recap
AI & Elections
OCT Recap
Maxwell & Maxwell

 

SEPT Recap
Latina Leadership & Legacy
AUG Recap
Superhero Buildings 
June RECAP
Give Me Shelter
May RECAP
Shock and Law: Legislative Session Review

April RECAP
Metro Mayors' Forum
MARCH Recap
A Thousand Disrespectful Cuts: Schools
FEB Recap
Black History Month
JAN Recap
The State of FL's Democracy


Sponsors are vital to our work to empower voters by providing timely information for the benefit of non-partisan civic engagement in our community. To further explore how becoming a Hot Topics Sponsor can align with your business goals, please contact LWVOC Vice President, Lee Rambeau Kemp HERE

A range of sponsorship levels are available.

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The best regular public affairs forum in town, our Hot Topics Luncheons feature speakers and panelists talking about the hottest issues of concern to Central Florida. Open to League members and community guests, your ticket includes a delicious lunch prepared by Cuisiniers to be enjoyed along with food for thought and action. You’ll want to be present in the magnificent and new Winter Park Events Center. Programs are also streamed on the League’s Facebook Live, recorded, and available on the League’s YouTube channel.

Winter Park Events Center

1050 W. Morse Blvd.

Photo courtesy Adjaye Associates