Heidi Sieck is a civic entrepreneur and a powerful advocate for reproductive freedom and gender equality. As founder and chief empowerment officer of #VoteProChoice, Heidi has created a platform that arms voters with comprehensive information about candidates’ stances not only on reproductive rights, but also on the broader issues of healthy communities and economic equity in the context of reproductive justice.
#VoteProChoice is the most widely used, progressive pro-choice voter guide program in the United States, having engaged more than 85 million voters over the past eight years.
Heidi emphasizes that reproductive rights are not solely a women’s issue; they impact individuals of all genders and communities at large, and when women have the agency to make choices about their reproductive health, they can fully participate in society and contribute to positive change.
Having been on the forefront of protecting reproductive rights in the United States for the past 30 years, Heidi describes the overturn of Roe v. Wade as a “multi-decade political strategy.” She explains the concerted effort that began in the 1980’s to take over the judicial system and stack benches with conservative, anti-abortion leaning judges and justices.
“There was an organization that focused on state legislatures that started to turn out templated pieces of legislation in the state legislatures that were meant to attack access to abortion at all levels as well as start generating unconstitutional abortion bans that would eventually roll up to the Supreme Court as these new Supreme Court justices were being nominated,” she says.
“We lost Roe v. Wade in a situation where we should never have done so. This should never have happened. And it is not because people were not flagging the emergency,” she says.
Despite the devastating blow to reproductive freedom represented by the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Heidi believes there is reason for hope. She emphasizes that only about 18% of the entire electorate believes there should be an absolute criminalization of access to abortion. Also, the majority of voters are on the same side of other pressing issues, including climate change, reproductive rights, gun control, voting rights, and democracy. By mobilizing individuals who are committed to these shared values, Heidi believes it will be possible to create a groundswell of support for progressive change.
Significant change, she says, starts at the local level. While national politics often grab the headlines, Heidi emphasizes the importance of focusing on state and local races, which have a direct impact on communities.
Her call to action – get informed, and get engaged.
With over 93,000 races on the ballot in 2023 alone, there are numerous opportunities to engage in creating positive change. Whether it’s connecting with city council members, supporting state legislative candidates, or running for office, you can make a meaningful difference within your community. Heidi reminds us, “That is where the power is.”
Visit www.VoteProChoice.us for voter resources, to learn more about the candidates, and to support the work of Heidi and #VoteProChoice.
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