The densely landlocked state of Colorado shares borders with seven other states, five of which either ban abortion completely or have highly restrictive abortion laws. Since Roe’s fall by the Dobbs decision, abortion restrictions have tightened in surrounding states leaving Colorado as a safe haven for abortion seekers, especially those needing to end complex pregnancies later in the term.
Dusti Gurule, president and CEO of Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and co-chair of Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom, has been fighting for reproductive justice movements in the state for over two decades. Gurule noted that the initiative consists of simple, intuitive language, something that they worked hard to achieve.
The measure reads as follows:
“The right to abortion is hereby recognized. Government shall not deny, impede, or discriminate against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance coverage for abortion.”
“We worked really hard to get to that point—it’s very clear what it will do when we pass it,” said Gurule.
Reaching Coloradans on abortion issues requires an intersectional approach, according to Gurule. “But even within that, particularly for the Latino community, when we talk about the issue as an issue of justice—in that we should all have not just the autonomy but the resources to be able to take care of ourselves—they understand, and they are with us.”
Just over 60 percent of Latinos are likely to support strengthening abortion rights in Colorado by allowing state-funded insurance to cover abortion costs, according to the 2023 Colorado Latino Policy Agenda.
Gurule noted that just five years ago, state lawmakers were unlikely to talk about expanding abortion care in Colorado unless they leaned heavily progressive. This has since changed.
“Our work isn’t just about abortion, it’s not just about the election, it’s about all of the things that comprehensively help us move the needle—and I feel like we have really changed our state and our ecosystem and even how elected officials talk about abortion care,” said Gurule.