Press Release California
Press Release
NARAL Pro-Choice California, ACLU California Action, and Equality California Issue Statement on University of California Regents Decision to Amend Affiliation Policy to Address Discrimination
For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 24, 2021
Elliott Kozuch, NARAL Pro-Choice California
Phone: 202-486-3789 Email: [email protected]
Joshua Stickney, Equality California
Phone: 405-315-4151 Email: [email protected]
Brady Hirsch, ACLU of Northern California
Phone: 415-621-2493 Email: [email protected]
UC Regents have affirmed that UC affiliations must be non-discriminatory and center patient care
Virtual Meeting—Yesterday, the University of California (UC) Regents met to review a proposed policy to address contracts that govern affiliations with facilities that subject UC Health medical providers and trainees to harmful restrictions. Chair John Pérez proposed an amendment to protect patients from discrimination and UC providers from participating in discriminatory care at these facilities. The Board voted in support of the amended proposal and will advance the final proposal language in 60 days.
NARAL Pro-Choice California, Equality California, and ACLU California Action released the following joint statement:
“Chair John Pérez’s amendments are a positive step towards addressing the concerns of advocates, students, and thousands of Californians who have been clear that everyone deserves comprehensive, evidence-based care that is free from discrimination. We are glad that the Board of Regents took it upon themselves to hold the UC Health system to stronger standards for their affiliation agreements. We are thankful to Chair Pérez for his leadership and look forward to engaging with the UC Office of the President and Regents as this language is finalized and returns to the Board of Regents for final approval.”
State Senator Scott Wiener, author of SB 379, issued the following statement:
“The Regents’ action [yesterday] is a very positive direction for UC’s affiliation policy. It has the potential to significantly expand access to reproductive and gender-affirming care and to ensure UC physicians can exercise their own professional judgment in providing care. I look forward to seeing the fully developed policy, but [yesterday’s] action is a positive step forward.”
NOTE TO MEDIA: Spokespeople—including UC providers, trainees, students, and reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ equality advocates—are available for interviews and background related to this vote. Please reach out to any of the above media contacts.
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For over 50 years, NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates and chapters have fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom—including access to abortion, contraception, and paid family leave—for every body. NARAL is powered by its more than 2.5 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 7 in 10 Americans who believe every person should have the freedom to make the best decision for themselves about if, when, and how to raise a family.