This essay is being re-spotlighted, part of an ongoing Ms. and Groundswell Fund partnership series featuring the voices of grassroots organizers building power at the intersections of gender and racial justice. Its language has also been updated. Author Dusti Gurule is president and CEO of COLOR Action Fund, Colorado’s only reproductive justice political organization, and a recipient of support from Groundswell Fund.
As battles over abortion access and reproductive autonomy continue to dominate state and national political landscapes, Gurule offers critical insight into the political power of Latina voters—and why their leadership is essential to protecting our reproductive futures.
Solidarity has always been at the heart of Latina and Chicana liberation movements. Its thread binds the spirit of our community’s diversity, uniting us in pursuit of a democracy where all individuals and their families can lead safe, healthy, self-determined lives. This collective power lies in our ability to make our voices heard, especially in critical times.
In a post-Dobbs reality, protecting access to abortion is not a matter of choice: It’s essential to the health and well-being of our communities. Latinas are disproportionately impacted by restrictive abortion legislation, and in the wake of a second Trump administration, our coalition grows, transcending state lines. This is a proactive stance for our rights and freedoms.
Consider Florida, where the impact of a six-week abortion ban—among the most restrictive in the nation—has been framed using statistics on its effect on Latinas in particular. Of course, this law has far-reaching consequences for many populations. Floridians were tasked to consider a pro-abortion ballot measure in November that required 60 percent of the vote (rather than just a simple majority); the state fell just 3 percent short of the 60 percent threshold required.
Meanwhile, in Colorado, where my work is focused, 2024 voters took the opportunity to advance reproductive rights by enshrining access to abortion into the state Constitution and repealing the state’s funding ban that disproportionately harms marginalized communities.
Since the repeal of Roe, the burdens of abortion bans fall heavily on people of color, particularly young people and immigrants. Access to abortion care does not just affect those who seek it—it reverberates through the families and communities that have historically faced systemic barriers to healthcare. The conversation around abortion care is a family affair, involving open dialogue and understanding.
Protecting abortion access is not just a matter of rights but also a pivotal issue in democracy itself.
As men of color find their corner in the fight for abortion, and survey findings show that most Latinos support abortion access, families can continue fostering understanding around the importance of reproductive freedom. These conversations help dismantle stigma, encourage empathy, and promote a culture of respect for one’s own choices.
Protecting abortion access is not just a matter of rights but also a pivotal issue in democracy itself. Our democratic power manifests in the impact of our mobilization around vital human rights issues, particularly the pocketbook concerns of working families. Economic issues remain a top voter priority, encompassing policies for affordable housing, transportation and healthcare access. Reproductive justice is clearly intertwined; all people, regardless of their financial situation or insurance coverage, deserve access to the healthcare they need.
Since 2020, the significance of the Latino community as a mobilizing force in elections has become undeniable. Despite perceptions of a rightward shift, we have played a crucial role in securing significant victories. Policy wins in Colorado have included housing, gun reform, tax policy and transit and education funding. The election of Dr. Yadira Caraveo, the first Latina to serve in Congress in the newly minted (and 38.5 percent Latino) Congressional District 8, also exemplifies this growing influence.
Late last year, an annual nonpartisan poll known as the Colorado Latino Policy Agenda found that more than 60 percent of respondents support protecting access to abortion care. This finding is crucial, yet it raises a question: Why are communities of color in Latino and African American neighborhoods, LGBTQ+ voters and voters with disabilities so often treated as an afterthought in the political ecosystem?
Historically, our voting blocs have only been engaged at the last minute, mere moments before significant cultural celebrations and November elections. This margin buffering pattern of engagement reflects a need for sustained, meaningful relationships rather than opportunistic gestures.
The path to liberation is paved with our collective action, and together, we will ensure that our rights are recognized, respected and upheld. This surely includes not only recognizing the steadfast support of Latino voters, particularly in advocating for reproductive justice, but actively engaging with us. This is how a truly democratic agenda will prevail.
