A note from our President:
Buzzfeed recently published an article regarding racism and bias in the reproductive rights sector, including the experiences of staff and board at NARAL. In the time since the article was posted, I have been in conversation with members of our staff — both past and present — our Board and with allies. I am honored by all of these conversations and many of these stories are evidence of our failures and blindspots and proof that we must continue to change in order to truly live our values. I am deeply sorry to those both named and unnamed who were harmed at or by our organization. I take responsibility for where we have failed to live up to our commitments, and I take responsibility for moving us toward a more equitable and just future. This statement and the timing of it is reflective of our priority in listening before speaking.
I am also both proud and honored by the efforts of our amazing staff and board members — particularly those who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), gender non-binary and trans — who have poured themselves into the work of transformation at NARAL. This includes the work of those individuals who serve on our internal DEI committee. Their work is crucial to the transformation that is necessary and ongoing in our organization, our movement and our country. At the same time, we are acutely aware that the work of holding us to account and moving us forward should not be the responsibility of those who have been harmed by oppressive systems, and those of us with privilege and power must focus on eradicating pervasive systems of racism and oppression within our organization and our movement. We should be judged by our actions and our discipline in upholding our commitments.
We are committed to doing the hard work to ensure our staff experience a workplace where they are valued and supported and where we can have brave and honest conversations in a safe space. We recognize that these conversations are challenging and we honor the courage it takes for people to speak up and we have and will continue to provide resources to support our staff’s mental health and well-being, including access to paid time off.
Our Board plays an important role in this work and I know firsthand how seriously they take this responsibility. The Board has been actively working to make sure the commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is central to our mission and long-term planning. For that work to be successful, we know the staff experience and recommendations must inform it. We will also work to ensure the staff has the opportunity to learn directly about the Board’s role and their commitment to equity and justice.
As the President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, I recognize that we must grapple with not only current harms but also decades of past harms as well. Dismantling white supremacy entrenched in institutions that have existed for decades is no simple feat. But it is imperative, both strategically and morally, to our quest for reproductive freedom for every body. There’s no way to adequately address the question of abortion access without addressing racial and economic disparities in our healthcare systems and the structural racism so pervasive in this country, as well as barriers non-binary and trans people and other members of the LGBTQIA+ community face in accessing affirming care.
We welcome this opportunity to be held to account and to use this moment to propel us forward as we strive to make sure principles of anti-racism and inclusion guide our daily work both internally and externally. Thank you for those who are with us in this journey and for the perspectives and experiences you’ve shared and will continue to share.
