NARAL Pro-Choice America

NARAL Pro-Choice America (pronounced "Nay-ral") is a United States group that favors reproductive rights, including the right to legal abortion, and engages in political action to oppose restrictions on reproductive rights and expand access to women's reproductive health care. NARAL is often used as a short form of the name.

Related Topics:
United States - Abortion - Political action

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The group was founded in 1969 by Bernard Nathanson, Larry Lader and Betty Friedan as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws. After Roe v. Wade, the 1973 case where the US Supreme Court guaranteed the Constitutional right to privacy in reproductive decisions including abortion, it first changed its name to National Abortion Rights Action League then to National Abortion & Reproductive Rights Action League, and then dropped the long form entirely. The acronym, is no longer officially used.

Related Topics:
1969 - Bernard Nathanson - Larry Lader - Betty Friedan - Roe v. Wade - Constitution - Acronym

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NARAL Pro-Choice America uses numerous tactics to lobby for increased reproductive freedom, both in the U.S. and overseas. It engages in lawsuits, donates money to pro-choice politicians through its political action committee, and organizes its members (especially through Internet communication and email) to contact members of Congress and urge them to support NARAL's positions. In addition, NARAL sponsors special events, most notably the March for Women's Lives in 2004. NARAL's longtime leader was Kate Michelman; however, she announced her retirement in 2004. Nancy Keenan, formerly the Montana state Superintendent of Schools, is now the President of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Related Topics:
Lobby - Lawsuit - Political action committee - Internet - Email - Congress - March for Women's Lives - 2004 - Kate Michelman - Retirement

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NARAL Pro-Choice America is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, and has approximately 30 state affiliates. It has been criticized by some political activists, both for supporting pro-choice Republicans such as Lincoln Chaffee, and for supporting moderate or conservative Democrats.

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NARAL Pro-Choice America also does public education and tracks state and national legislation affecting women's health and reproductive rights.

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