Beyond Roe: The past, present, and future of abortion access

Beyond Roe: The past, present, and future of abortion access, and what Jewish tradition teaches us 

With the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, America is at an inflection point. Will ours be a government where one particular view of religious liberty dominates, or will our courts affirm the right for religious minorities to practice our faith free from governmental imposition?  

Judaism has supported abortion as an ethical choice or even an ethical imperative under certain circumstances since antiquity, and the American Reform movement has held an explicitly pro-choice position since 1975 while the WRJ (Women of Reform Judaism) have been active in supporting reproductive rights since at least 1935. It is critical that we educate ourselves at this moment so that we can be effective advocates for the right to choose–which also means advocating for our own religious freedom. Please join us as we hear from several experts in the field and get up to speed on issues related to abortion access in the United States.    

Dr. Eleanor Drey, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco: Dr. Drey has been medical director of the Women's Options clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital for over 20 years. She is a tireless advocate for increasing abortion access and high-quality care, particularly for underserved patients. Her clinical work and research in abortion care has had a major impact on improving reproductive health in the Bay Area and beyond.  

Jessica Pinckney Gil (she/her) is the executive director of ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, a Reproductive Justice organization funding abortion and other reproductive healthcare. ACCESS removes barriers and builds the power of Californians to achieve reproductive justice. Jessica oversees the organization’s work to combine direct services, community education, and policy advocacy to promote real reproductive options and access to quality health care for people in California. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, the Guttmacher Institute, and SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW (Board Chair) and the Advisory Boards for the California Abortion Alliance, Black Feminist Future's Constellation Network and the California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom and remains a relentless advocate and activist in her spare time. 

Elizabeth Gill is a Senior Staff Attorney for the Gender, Sexuality & Reproductive Justice Program at the ACLU of Northern California and the National ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project. Elizabeth has been at the ACLU since 2008, and she leads litigation and advocacy in California and around the country related to ensuring the equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and on reproductive justice and gender equity. 

Teens with a parent encouraged.

Space is limited. Registration required.

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