Hyde Amendment: Going Back to Basics

Since the inception of the Hyde Amendment, reproductive justice advocates have been organizing to end it. Hyde has served as a racist, classist, and oppressive barrier to reproductive healthcare. Learn more about the history and work that has been happening to end Hyde!

What is the Hyde Amendment?

The Hyde Amendment is a budgetary rider that bars the use of federal funding to pay for most abortions. The government uses Hyde to block millions of pregnant people in the United States from using their benefits to pay for abortion and coerces people to continue a pregnancy if they cannot afford the cost of their abortions out of pocket. Hyde discriminates against those eligible for Medicaid benefits, people whose healthcare comes through Indian Health Services, employees of the Federal government – including current and veteran military employees – people incarcerated in federal prisons, and anyone else who gets their insurance through federal funding.

The Fight Against Hyde

Ending Hyde and its oppressive power over those calling abortion funds has been a central goal of the National Network of Abortion Funds and member organizations for decades. NNAF’s Executive Director, Yamani Hernandez, explains powerfully,

“We must repeal discriminatory abortion policies and demand abortion be fully covered by all health insurance, both public and private, to ensure everyone is free to decide if, when, and how to grow their families free from economic coercion.”

Though insurance coverage for abortion was long stigmatized as politically untouchable, abortion funds, alongside organizations led by the All* Above All coalition and political leaders like Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), have refused to allow the people most affected to be traded away for political gain. All* Above All unites organizations and individuals to build support for lifting the bans that deny abortion coverage, with a vision to restore public insurance coverage so that every person can get abortion care when they need it. Learn more at allaboveall.org.

Victories and A Turning Tide  

Pledging to end the Hyde Amendment is now a central requirement for progressive candidates. Because of the organizing and leadership of women of color, what was once considered untouchable is now a litmus test for 2020 candidates to prove they understand abortion access as a non-negotiable part of racial, economic, and gender justice. The organized resistance of people of color, especially those who’ve been touched by abortion funds, will change the tide of history and lead to the inevitable end of Hyde.

Stick it to the Hyde Amendment

Join the movement to end the Hyde Amendment and show your commitment to hold legislative leaders accountable to all of us by picking up our fresh new “End Hyde” enamel pins. They’ll look great on your jacket, bag, or hat this fall, and make a perfect gift for your favorite abortion funder. Celebrate the organizing leadership of people of color to make Hyde history. Buy your pin, support abortion access, and learn more about the work of NNAF to end Hyde at bit.ly/EndHydePin

All proceeds from the sale of this pin and all items in our online shop support the National Network of Abortion Funds. When you wear your abortion-funding heart on your sleeve by picking up merch from the shop, you’re breaking down stigma and making a powerful statement: funding abortion is a revolutionary act.