Groundbreaking research into Latino voters’ attitudes on abortion found that large majorities of Latinos hold supportive views, want it to remain legal and accessible, and would support a friend or family member who needed one.
So why aren’t Latinos talking about abortion more?
Abortion stigma is the pervasive societal belief that abortion is shameful. It is personified by disorderly and sometimes violent protesters outside clinics who scream in women’s faces and wield gruesome signs. We see this stigma in policy, when Medicaid coverage for the procedure is singled out and banned.
A woman afraid to share her story may be isolated from loved ones who would’ve supported her. This is especially true in Latino communities, where open conversations about sexuality are still considered taboo.
At the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, we believe the most effective way to counter abortion stigma in the Latino community is to humanize it. To that end, we have launched Yo Te Apoyo/I Support You, a bilingual campaign that aims to disrupt abortion narratives in the Latino community through bilingual PSAs and digital engagement.
The campaign features photos and videos of Latinos telling stories about abortion and poses a simple question: "There are hundreds of reasons Latinos support loved ones who have considered abortion. What’s yours?"
By showing how positive and freeing open discussion of abortion can be, the campaign encourages those who are already supportive to be loud and proud.
Elianne Ramos, senior director of comms and public affairs, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
