President’s Message

Dear Friends—

March is Women’s History Month. Besides celebrating the crucial role of women in American history, we are reminded of the barriers that still exist to full gender equality. In January, the Kansas Legislature voted to pass a constitutional amendment declaring there is no right to abortion in Kansas, even in even in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger. The Kansas Abortion Fund gave testimony in person at the Capitol, via Zoom, and through a written statement. This flawed and dangerous bill to amend the Kansas Constitution will be voted on by the public in August 2022 and must be defeated.

Let’s be clear: Kansans deserve the right to make their own personal, private medical decisions without legislator interference. Our constitutional right to make decisions concerning our bodies, our lives, and our futures should never be subjected to narrow political manipulation. 

But that’s what it’s come down to now. Every one of us has work to do. Only Kansas VOTERS can determine this historic outcome. Time to energize voters and secure our reproductive rights!

Sandy Brown
President
Gratitude

I am a United States Marine Corps combat veteran and that itself is hard enough. Without you and your fund, I would’ve given up hope. I cannot express how grateful I am. I can live a happy life and wait for the right time to have a baby. I’m so glad you understand. Thank you so much. God bless. Semper Fi.
It’s Up to Us to Protect Abortion Rights
We must ask friends and family to vote against the constitutional amendment on the Kansas 2022 August primary ballot

As Sandy stated earlier in the newsletter, the Kansas Legislature passed a constitutional amendment intended to put our state on the path to outlawing abortion completely. You may remember that the battle over this amendment has been two years long, in part because of objections to how undemocratic it is. We know that over 1.8 million Kansans are registered to vote. Of those, almost 75% of them turned out in the last general election, but only about 34% of them came out to vote in the primary. Despite being well aware of how many fewer people vote in primary elections, the Kansas Legislature has put the incredibly important question of whether we have a right to abortion on the 2022 August primary ballot.

Opponents of abortion rights know how unpopular their position is, and they know that the more people vote on the amendment, the more likely the amendment is to be defeated. That’s where all of us come in. Start having conversations with your friends and family now. If you see an opportunity to help register folks to vote, take it. When you get a chance to speak out about how abortion is safe, normal, and common, do it. Follow our partners who are leading the fight: Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, URGE Kansas, Trust Women, and the ACLU of Kansas. The only thing that can protect our right to abortion in Kansas is thousands of conversations that result in thousands of votes.

Our work won’t be over after August 2022. It’s unacceptable that a lack of insurance coverage puts abortion out of reach for so many people. It’s also unacceptable that disproportionate numbers of low-income people and people of color have abortions in the U.S. Everyone who wants to have a child should be able to, just as everyone who wants to have an abortion should be able to. True reproductive justice will only come when we have abortion-inclusive Medicare for All, eradicate the institutional racism that keeps people of color away from preventive health care like birth control, and pass reparations along with increasing the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. This is our long-term vision, and we’re proud to be working toward it with you one step at a time.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. See you on the internet and (safely) in the streets! 
As part of KAF’s ongoing commitment to ensuring abortion care access for all Kansans, it’s Fund-A-Thon time!

Though we won’t be able to hold our in-person bowl-a-thon again this year, the Kansas Abortion Fund is still asking you to donate to our Fund-A-Thon, or, even better, create your own fundraising team of like-minded individuals to ensure abortion access for all Kansans.

Go to fund.nnaf.org/KAF to donate or start your fundraising team.

KAF will award prize baskets to the teams that raise the most funds!

If you haven’t already purchased any Kansas Abortion Fund swag, our Bonfire t-shirt campaigns are ongoing, and all proceeds benefit the Kansas Abortion Fund. We have both modern and retro designs available in men’s and women’s cut t-shirts, racerback tank tops, and long-sleeved t-shirts.

Remember, KAF shirts make great gifts, too!

Be sure to save the date for KAF’s live virtual Fund-A-Thon event Saturday, April 18!