The Trump administration’s decision Friday to roll back an Obama-era mandate on employers to include birth control in health insurance coverage is drawing intense backlash online, inspiring the hashtag #HandsOffMyBC.
More than 55 million women currently have access to birth control without a co-pay because of the current mandate, and the Trump administration’s new rule could lead to hundreds of thousands of women losing those benefits, the New York Times reports.
The decision to roll back the federal mandate comes during a week when abortion rights are also in the news cycle, as Rep. Tim Murphy, who has been vocal in his anti-abortion views, is resigning after reportedly asking his mistress to have an abortion, according to the Washington Post.
Many on Twitter expressed their disapproval of the rollback on social media.
“Limiting options for both birth control and abortion turns women into slaves of reproduction. This is f—ing war,” tweeted journalist Lauren Duca. “Dear men, especially those who enjoy sex (!), the battle for reproductive rights is your fight too. Step it up.”
“This administration just rolled back birth control coverage for American women. In 2017,” tweeted Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).
See more reactions below.
Dear men, especially those who enjoy sex (!), the battle for reproductive rights is your fight too. Step it up.
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) October 6, 2017
This administration just rolled back birth control coverage for American women. In 2017. https://t.co/aLZLrpFOCg
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 6, 2017
Birth control is not health care alone. It's the right of women to control their bodies, plan their families, chart their futures. For many women, it is prohibitively expensive to access the best method for them. It is beyond belief that this is still up for debate. #HandsOffMyBC
— Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) October 6, 2017
99% OF WOMEN USE BIRTH CONTROL AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIVES. It’s basic, preventative healthcare. #HandsOffMyBC
— NARAL (@NARAL) October 6, 2017
I'm a Christian. This is not about my religious freedom. This is about controlling women's sexuality. That's all this is. #HandsOffMyBC
— Charlotte Clymer ?️⚧️?? (@cmclymer) October 6, 2017
Employers have absolutely no business in private health decisions. This new rule is unacceptable. #HandsOffMyBC
— Center for Reproductive Rights (@ReproRights) October 6, 2017
Disgraceful that in 2017 we must still explain: birth control is health care! @POTUS rule takes that away. #HandsOffMyBC #MenForChoice pic.twitter.com/AIlSPObs8i
— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) October 6, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump just stripped birth control from countless women by allowing employers to deny us coverage. Unconscionable. #HandsOffMyBC pic.twitter.com/vl7hj6CisD
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) October 6, 2017
We cannot roll back progress. Shame on POTUS for this dangerous rule, sets our country backward & limits women’s #reprorights. #HandsOffMyBC https://t.co/KZFpdFZnZv
— Rep. Ted Lieu (@RepTedLieu) October 6, 2017
This is unacceptable. We have to make our voices heard. #HandsOffMyBC https://t.co/ipIxf1wm6d
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@SIfill_) October 6, 2017
If you're going to grab pussy, I think you should be responsible for taking care of said pussy. #HandsOffMyBC https://t.co/1IgInS2roG
— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) October 6, 2017
Access to birth control should be a woman’s choice. Not her employer’s. #MenForChoice #HandsOffMyBC https://t.co/S8QhVQVBLy
— Ruben Gallego (@RepRubenGallego) October 6, 2017
Trump Admin wants to make birth control about ideology, but let’s be clear: for women & fams it's about being healthy & financially secure.
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) October 6, 2017
If your religion says giving 62M women access to birth control is wrong
But making access to guns easy, allowing kids to die is right…
You may want to get a new religion#HandsOffMyBC
— Alt Fed Employee (@Alt_FedEmployee) October 6, 2017
Access to birth control affects decisions women make every day—like whether to start a new job or how much a family can save for college.
— U.S. Senator Al Franken (@SenFranken) October 6, 2017
But today, the Trump Administration announced it will give employers the power to deny women birth control coverage.
— U.S. Senator Al Franken (@SenFranken) October 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/AGSchneiderman/status/916347050626834435
Kinda ironic that politicians are trying to make abortion rates go down by withholding birth control from women. #handsoffmyBC
— Vinay A. Ramesh (@vinaytion) October 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/EdKrassen/status/916348066311045121
Disgraceful. This will allow any employer – even if they aren't religiously affiliated – to immediately stop covering #birthcontrol. https://t.co/lwOlBSW3As
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) October 6, 2017
This is a shameful assault on women's health. #BirthControl is NOT controversial. 9 in 10 women use contraception at some point in life. https://t.co/lwOlBSW3As
— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) October 6, 2017
BIRTH CONTROL PILLS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT SEX, BUT GOOD TRY, THINLY-VEILED MISOGYNISTS (PART 789): https://t.co/VoYF6a73Nk
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) October 6, 2017