The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice is a nonprofit that advocates for abortion and health care policies that make it easier for women to have abortions. 1
It opposes any type of restrictions on abortions including parental notification laws and opposes allowing religious refusals to perform abortions and provide contraceptives. 2 The group also favors offering driver licenses to undocumented immigrants.
The Latina Institute changed its name from “the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health” to the “National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice” in 2019. 3 The Latina Institute has state networks in Florida, New York, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. 4
Social Media Posts
On Dec. 22, 2022, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice posted on its Facebook account, “Abortion empowers us to make the best choices about our bodies, our health and our lives.” It called access to abortion “a gift.” 5 On that same day, it posted on Facebook, “There is no shame in being HAPPY about your abortion.” 6
On Dec. 20, 2022, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice called anti-abortion policies “racist, xenophobic and classist.” 7
Media Citations
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice has been cited in the media by the New York Times several times since 2009 on stories about abortion and contraceptives. 8 The Washington Post has also cited officials from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice on stories on health care and green cards since 2004. 9
Legislative Advocacy
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice advocates for public policy that makes it easier to have an abortion. It advocates against abortion regulations and the Hyde Amendment, 10 which blocks federal funds from being used to pay for abortions with the exceptions for rape, incest or if the pregnancy can endanger the woman’s life. 11
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice advocates against religious refusals to provide abortion and contraception, parental notification laws, state-mandated restrictions on abortion, and crisis pregnancy centers, which it calls “fake clinics that often target communities of color.” 12
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice also is in favor of issuing driver’s licenses and municipal IDs for undocumented immigrants. 13 It also supports the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act, the Women’s Health Protection Act, and Virginia’s Reproductive Health and Protection Act. 14
Funding
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice had its total revenue increase from $3.66 million in 2018 to $7.9 million in 2019, the latest year they had filed a financial report as of Dec. 31, 2022. 15 The extra revenue was due to an increase in contributions and grants. The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice increased its total lobbying expenditures from $56,376 in 2018 to $308,380 in 2019. 16
Leadership
Guadalupe Rodriguez started as executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice in April 2021. 17 She previously worked as the vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte in California. 18 Rodriguez has said she had firsthand experience of alleged systemic racist and capitalist oppression. 19
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas was named the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice executive director in 2011 and held the post until 2021. 20
Gloria Montano Greene is the board chair of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. 21
References
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. What We Do. Policy Advocacy. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/policy-advocacy
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. What We Do. Policy Advocacy. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/policy-advocacy
- Latina Institute. Strategic Plan. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/strategic-plan
- Latina Institute. Strategic Plan. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/strategic-plan
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice Facebook page. Dec. 22, 2022. Accessed Jan. 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/NationalLatinaInstituteforReproductiveJustice/posts/pfbid0JzUEKLcT6MYYFconLRmLywcZbj1EdUf3zMPF68fChLf36aHcSxdRm5WsjR2k17WUl
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice Facebook page. Dec. 22, 2022. Accessed Jan. 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=469640355354795&set=a.420537860265045
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice Facebook page. Dec. 20, 2022. Accessed Jan. 2, 2023. https://www.facebook.com/NationalLatinaInstituteforReproductiveJustice/posts/pfbid02LLE8qeivW4e9P3VSDskktzC5hP9d64KX35BxL7GdnHXhwX9jU6PuyQcLZxT6Ecpdl
- Susan Saulny. “Hispanic Pregnancies Fall In U.S. As Women Choose Smaller Families”; New York Times. Jan 1, 2013. Accessed Jan 2, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/health/us-birthrate-dips-especially-for-hispanics.html
- Elizabeth Williamson. “A Family’s March To Redemption”; Washington Post. April 24, 2004. Accessed Jan. 2, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/04/24/a-familys-march-to-redemption/1d5a2f43-f72c-4e5d-a900-0710442dbcd0/
- [1] National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. What We Do. Policy Advocacy. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/policy-advocacy
- Alina Salganicoff. “The Hyde Amendment And Coverage For Abortion Services”; Kaiser Family Foundation. March 5, 2021. Accessed Dec. 31, 2021. https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-hyde-amendment-and-coverage-for-abortion-services/
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. What We Do. Policy Advocacy. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/policy-advocacy
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. What We Do. Policy Advocacy. Accessed Jan. 1, 2023. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/policy-advocacy
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. What We Do. Policy Advocacy. Accessed Jan. 1, 2023. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/policy-advocacy
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. Form 990. Part I. Summary. Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-1891734
- National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. Form 990. Part II-A. Accessed Jan. 2, 2023. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-1891734
- Gloria Montano Greene. “Excited To Announce Latina Institute’s Next Executive Director”; National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. Accessed Dec. 30, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/latina-institute%E2%80%99s-next-executive-director
- Gloria Montano Greene. “Excited To Announce Latina Institute’s Next Executive Director”; National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. Accessed Dec. 30, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/latina-institute%E2%80%99s-next-executive-director
- Guadalupe Rodriguez. “A Reflection From Lupe M. Rodriguez, Latina Institute’s Executive Director”; National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. Accessed Dec. 30, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/reflection-lupe-m-rodr%C3%ADguez-latina-institutes-executive-director
- Latina Institute. “Welcome To New Executive Director Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas”; Accessed Dec. 31, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/press-release/2021/11/02/welcome-new-executive-director-jessica-gonz%C3%A1lez-rojas
- Gloria Montano Greene. “Excited To Announce Latina Institute’s Next Executive Director”; National Latina Institute For Reproductive Justice. Accessed Dec. 30, 2022. https://www.latinainstitute.org/en/latina-institute%E2%80%99s-next-executive-director