Issues
Washington has long been a leader in reproductive rights. Read on for a brief history of reproductive rights and NARAL Pro-Choice Washington Reproductive Rights Timeline 1965: Griswold v. Connecticut is handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court, granting married people the constitutionally protected right to use birth control. 1970: Referendum 20 is approved by Washington voters. Washington becomes the first state to legalize abortion by a vote of the people. 1973: Roe v. Wade decision. The Supreme Court rules that a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy is encompassed in her constitutional right to privacy, legalizing abortion in all 50 states. 1984: Initiative 109 is defeated by Washington voters, preserving state funding for low-income women seeking abortion care. Only 16 other states provide abortion funding. 1991: Initiative 120, the Reproductive Privacy Act, approved by Washington voters, codifies the protections guaranteed under Roe v. Wade into Washington state law. 1993: Protection Against Clinic Violence Act is signed into law, making it illegal to interfere with access to a health care facility in Washington State. 1998: Initiative 694 defeated by voters. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is a leader in the coalition opposing what would have been a ban on safe abortions as early as the 12th week of pregnancy, with no exception to protect the health of the pregnant woman. Emergency contraception becomes available to Washington women directly through pharmacists. 2002: Access to emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors in the emergency room is mandated by the Washington State Legislature. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is a leader in advocating for passage and monitoring enforcement. 2004: March for Women's Lives, with over a million participants, becomes the largest public demonstration in American history. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington organizes 2,500 Washingtonians to travel 3,000 miles to DC for the march. 2007: The Healthy Youth Act is passed by the Washington State Legislature. This law requires Washington public schools teaching sex education to include contraception as well as abstinence in their programs. The Pharmacy Board adopts rules that protect access to prescribed medications without hassle or delay. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington organizes thousands of activists in support of these rules. The rules are currently being challenged by a lawsuit. Get informed about important pro-choice and reproductive health issues. Find out what NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is doing in our state around these issues: | 
