MAY 8 Hot Topics: Abortion in Florida
Diana Smith | Published on 4/16/2024
Abortion Rulings Fuel Discussion at LWVOC’s May 8 Panel
League of Women Voters of Orange County “Hot Topics” Lunch Series
Recent court rulings put reproductive rights on Florida’s ballot and allowed a 6-week ban on abortion. A diverse group of women will discuss the widespread impact of these decisions and how they plan to get a constitutional amendment approved by more than 60 percent of voters this November. The League of Women Voters of Orange County hosts the Hot Topics panel discussion “Abortion in Florida: On the Ballot and Off Limits” on May 8.
Doors open at the Winter Park Events Center at 11:00 for a buffet lunch, and the discussion starts at 11:45 a.m. at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park. A Hot Topics Overtime session is scheduled in the Winter Park Library next door from 1:15-2:00 p.m. for further discussion.
LWVOC President Tiffany Hughes will moderate. Panelists include Amy Weintraub, reproductive rights program director at Progress Florida; Dr. Kathryn Berryman, an Orlando ob-gyn who specializes in high-risk pregnancies; Taylor Aguilera, the statewide organizing director for Floridians Protecting Freedom, the coalition behind the amendment; Kait Thomson, senior director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, and Guerdy Remy, a nurse who has a personal abortion story.
On April 1, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the abortion amendment could go on the ballot in November and allowed a 6-week ban on abortion to take effect in 30 days. The amendment promoted by Floridians Protecting Freedom would provide a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability, estimated to be around 24 weeks, or when necessary to protect the patient’s health as determined by the patient’s health-care provider. The amendment to the state’s constitution must be approved by more than 60 percent of voters to take effect.
Our Hot Topics panel and moderator will discuss the path forward for passage of the amendment, obstacles to approval, barriers that pregnant women face in Florida and the actions their doctors are recommending. Among issues to be discussed:
-A majority in the Florida Supreme Court 4-3 ruling noted that the question of fetal rights, or “personhood,” had not
been settled, which raised the possibility of a new legal challenge to existing law and the amendment.
-Recent polls show that a lot of voters haven’t decided how they will vote on the amendment, although a poll last
November showed 62 percent would vote in favor of it. How will reproductive rights advocates persuade undecided
voters to say “yes” to the amendment?- In May, when the 6-week ban goes into effect, how will pregnant women get the health care they need?
-How will the state’s political parties respond to the amendment fight? And to approval of the amendment if that
occurs?
Tickets are $30 for League members, $37 non-members.
Hot Topics is streamed live on the League’s Facebook page Facebook and is available for viewing live on the League’s YouTube channel. League of Women Voters Orange County - YouTube
Visionary sponsors: Phil and Jennifer Anderson. Bronze sponsors: Lyn and David Berelsman and Voting Voices — Michele Levy, Charley Williams, and Laurie and Richard Wack.
The League of Women Voters of Orange County, Florida, is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.