Jessica González-Rojas and Lynn Paltrow on Abortion Rights Activism
January 25, 2013
As we note the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Bill discusses the fierce challenges facing the reproductive rights movement with Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Lynn Paltrow, founder and Executive Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. Though a majority of Americans now believe abortion should be legal in most cases, anti-abortion forces showing no sign of relenting. A study by the Guttmacher Institute reported that state legislatures passed 92 provisions restricting a woman’s access to reproductive health care in 2011 — a number four times higher than the previous year.
“What’s happened is that women are beginning to recognize that what’s at stake is more than abortion,” Paltrow tells Bill. “It is their personhood — their ability to be full, equal, constitutional persons in the United States of America.”
A fierce defender of women’s right to choose, Paltrow has worked to oppose abortion restrictions and the prosecution and punishment of women who wish to bring their pregnancy to term. With substantial experience in litigation and strategy, she’s held prominent roles including senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project, Director of Special Litigation at the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, and Vice President for Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of New York City. Paltrow’s work has been published extensively in numerous media outlets, law reviews, and medical journals. Her most recent study, “Roe v. Wade and the New Jane Crow,” was published in the American Journal for Public Health.
Paltrow is the recipient of the Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellowship, the Georgetown Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship, and the Justice Gerald Le Dain Award for Achievement in the Field of Law. In 2005, she was selected as one of 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women’s eNews. Paltrow obtained her undergraduate degree at Cornell University and her law degree from New York University School of Law.
González-Rojas is a prominent spokesperson for the Latina community on issues of reproductive justice. She has contributed to numerous media outlets including National Public Radio, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times. In 2009, she was honored by El Diario/La Prensa as one of the “Mujeres Destacadas” (Women of Honor).
Prior to joining NLIRH, Gonzalez-Rojas served on the New York State Democratic Committee for the 29th Assembly District from 2002-2006. During her service, she was awarded a Proclamation for Community Leadership by the New York State Senate and Assembly.
González-Rojas is an Adjunct Professor of Latino and Latin American Studies at the City University of New York’s City College and has taught courses on reproductive rights, gender and sexuality. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at Boston University and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
“What’s happened is that women are beginning to recognize that what’s at stake is more than abortion,” Paltrow tells Bill. “It is their personhood — their ability to be full, equal, constitutional persons in the United States of America.”
Lynn Paltrow
Women's Health Advocate
Lynn Paltrow is the founder and Executive Director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women. A champion of women’s health issues, Paltrow combines her legal expertise with grassroots activism to secure reproductive rights for pregnant women. Her advocacy focuses specifically on the most vulnerable, including low-income, minority, and drug-using women.A fierce defender of women’s right to choose, Paltrow has worked to oppose abortion restrictions and the prosecution and punishment of women who wish to bring their pregnancy to term. With substantial experience in litigation and strategy, she’s held prominent roles including senior staff attorney at the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project, Director of Special Litigation at the Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, and Vice President for Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood of New York City. Paltrow’s work has been published extensively in numerous media outlets, law reviews, and medical journals. Her most recent study, “Roe v. Wade and the New Jane Crow,” was published in the American Journal for Public Health.
Paltrow is the recipient of the Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellowship, the Georgetown Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship, and the Justice Gerald Le Dain Award for Achievement in the Field of Law. In 2005, she was selected as one of 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women’s eNews. Paltrow obtained her undergraduate degree at Cornell University and her law degree from New York University School of Law.
Jessica González-Rojas
Reproductive Health Rights Advocate
Jessica González-Rojas is the Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, which works specifically to advance the reproductive and health rights of Latina women. As a leading national advocate for Latinas, she directs the research, field and advocacy operations for the organization in New York and Washington, D.C. During the five years she spent on the strategic management team at NLIRH, Gonzalez-Rojas played an instrumental role in forging key partnerships with other members of her community on a national level, working with the immigration, sexual health and rights and anti-violence movements.González-Rojas is a prominent spokesperson for the Latina community on issues of reproductive justice. She has contributed to numerous media outlets including National Public Radio, The Boston Globe, and The New York Times. In 2009, she was honored by El Diario/La Prensa as one of the “Mujeres Destacadas” (Women of Honor).
Prior to joining NLIRH, Gonzalez-Rojas served on the New York State Democratic Committee for the 29th Assembly District from 2002-2006. During her service, she was awarded a Proclamation for Community Leadership by the New York State Senate and Assembly.
González-Rojas is an Adjunct Professor of Latino and Latin American Studies at the City University of New York’s City College and has taught courses on reproductive rights, gender and sexuality. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations at Boston University and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
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