On November 5, 2024, 62% of the voters of New York approved Proposal One (Prop One), a measure that would amend the state constitution by prohibiting the denial of rights to an individual based on their ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, as well as their sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy. The language of the Equal Protection Clause in the New York constitution prohibited the denial of rights to a person based on “race, color, creed, or religion.”
According to a New York government website prior to the passage of Prop One, “Abortion access is available for New Yorkers and for those coming from outside of New York State. In New York, you can get an abortion up to and including 24 weeks of pregnancy. After 24 weeks, you can still get an abortion if your health or pregnancy is at risk.”
The state Board of Elections decided to explicitly NOT mention the word “abortion” in the amendment language, with the aim of not excluding LGBT coverage, trans athletes, etc.
The passed amendment will now allow minors to undergo irreversible medical procedures, erase protections for girls’ sports, empower schools to hide life-altering information from parents, and enshrine late-term abortion in the state constitution.
