FLOOR SPEECH: Delegate Guzman Speaks in Support of Reproductive Justice
Reporters, I wanted to be sure you had this audio and the following transcript of Delegate Guzman’s remarks on reproductive justice delivered on the virtual floor of the House of Delegates earlier this week.
Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise today for a point of personal privilege.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
As we approach the end of Black History Month, I wanted to recognize the 16 Black women, including retired Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, now-Congresswoman Maxine Waters, civil rights activist Dorothy Height, Donna Brazile and then-Planned Parenthood President Faye Wattleton, who in September 1989 signed the first collective statement advocating for equal access to abortion. The piece was called “We Remember: African-American Women are for Reproductive Freedom”. It was published following the Supreme Court case Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, which gave states the right to place some limits on abortion care.
I also wanted to recognize the Black filmmaker Dawn Porter whose 2016 documentary “Trapped” shed light on the racial politics of abortion in the South and the disproportionate impact that TRAP laws have on low income women and women of color. The impacts of Webster and of TRAP laws, which are designed to shut down abortion providers by imposing burdensome regulations, have been devastating to Black and Brown women.
Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt found that undue restrictions are unconstitutional, but we have a Supreme Court that could overturn that case and for that matter that could overturn Roe v. Wade. Control of the White House and Congress swings back and forth between those who believe in reproductive freedom and those who would rather see women die than to have control over their bodies, because when we have control over our lives we are a threat to the status quo.
South Carolina just last week passed a law effectively outlawing almost all abortions, which is currently being challenged in court and which will absolutely disprorportionately impact Black women if it were to go into effect. While I believe the South Carolina law will be found unconstitutional, Roe v. Wade may not always be there to protect us.
And so it is up to us, Madam Speaker, and up to every member of this body and the people who elect us to ensure we have and keep strong protections for our reproductive freedom, which must be viewed through the lens of reproductive justice for women of color. That fight has been largely led by the Black women of the General Assembly. Madam Speaker, the pastor spoke this morning about resilience, and I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge every woman in the General Assembly who stood up and resisted, and persisted, to fight even when we were in the minority and constantly under attack.
We are proud to stand with the Black women in this body now that we are in the majority and were able to pass the Reproductive Health Protection Act, and we must remain vigilant and pro-active if we are truly going to make this Commonwealth a more equitable place for all Virginians. And this year we are proud to remove Virginia’s ban that prevents health insurance plans that include abortion coverage from being sold on a health exchange, also led by women in this body. Madam Speaker, representation matters.
Finally, I will just end by saying that I was a teen mother. My parents supported me, and I said I did not want to marry the father of my baby, but many in my community shamed me. I never regretted having my daughter with me every step of the way, but it was my choice. And because of that experience, I will always fight for other women, especially Black and Brown women, to have both the freedom and access to make their own choices as I did when I was a teenager. Madam Speaker, our fight for reproductive freedom will continue, and this majority will continue to be the voice of the voiceless and marginalized communities.
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Delegate Elizabeth Guzman is a social worker, public administrator, and second-generation union member who represents the 31st District in the House of Delegates, which includes parts of Prince William and Fauquier Counties. She is the Chair of the Social Services Subcommittee and the Vice Chair of the Education Committee.
Delegate Guzman holds a master's degree in social work and a second master's degree in public administration. As a division chief for the City of Alexandria’s Dept. of Adult Services, she oversees a $20 million budget for a 200-person operations staff serving some of our most marginalized populations, including our seniors and people struggling with substance use disorders.
Delegate Guzman and her husband, Carlos, live in Dale City with their four children and her mother, Gregoria.
