Washington, DC– The Secular Coalition for America has released a statement in response to President Trump signing an executive order reinstating the “global gag rule” (also known as the Mexico City policy). The order prohibits international aid groups receiving federal funds from providing access to, or information about, abortion care.
Statement by Larry T. Decker, Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America
“By reinstating the global gag rule, President Trump has turned his anti-choice rhetoric into a reality. Receiving federal funds to perform international aid work should not require passing an ideological litmus test. By cutting off access to the full range of reproductive health options, this cruel and unnecessary policy will only endanger women and jeopardize public health. President Trump has no right to decide what medical information women, in the United States or abroad, have a right to know. The revival of this policy comes the day after the 44th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and just two days after millions of people, including Secular Coalition for America staff and supporters, participated in the international Women’s March. By reinstituting this policy, President Trump has shown a callous indifference to American law and public opinion. The Secular Coalition for America condemns the reinstatement of this inhumane and anti-choice policy.”
Contact: Casey Brescia, [email protected], (845)-380-6201
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The Secular Coalition for America is the nation’s premier advocacy organization representing atheists, humanists, agnostics, and other nontheists. Its mission is to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all. The Secular Coalition represents 19 voting member organizations.
