About

About

Who We Are

Pro-Choice Maryland, or PCM for short (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland) is the policy leader for reproductive health, rights, and justice in Maryland.  We work to ensure every individual has the freedom to decide if, when, how, and with whom to form one’s family.

Abortion care will always be essential healthcare,  but it is not the sole definition of reproductive freedom. There should be no barriers to accessing the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Reproductive freedom also calls for the social, economic, and political conditions which allow parenting with dignity, in good health, and in safety.  Access to quality and affordable support services that are vital to healthy parenting influences decision-making about whether and how to start or grow a family.

PCM fights for reproductive freedom, which includes the right for every individual to live and create families free from violence and coercion. This multi-faceted movement intersects with many others that seek to eliminate racial, social, economic, political, and environmental oppression.  We stand firm in our commitment to dismantling institutions that perpetuate white supremacy.  We’re also committed to cultivating a transformative culture with Pro-Choice Maryland’s staff, board, and membership that centers the leadership and demands of those impacted by the issues PCM works on. Together with our allies, we commit to building a future where reproductive freedom is protected for all Marylanders.

Much of our work is done in coalitions, with a focus on supporting direct service providers. We work in coalitions that are guided by the belief that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, income, ability, age, and immigration status, are deserving of comprehensive, affordable, and dignified reproductive healthcare; economic security; quality education; and safe working and living conditions; as well as public health and policy practices which improve their quality of life. Depending on the type of work and wishes of campaign leaders, PCM may follow the lead of other organizations and movements, working behind the scenes, while at other times we are vocal leaders. Regardless, we are always mindful that our allyship is not replicating the work of those already providing services or community-based programming. We state this in recognition that the nonprofit industrial complex can also perpetuate institutionalized racism and other types of harm.

What We Do

  • We engage in outreach, policy research, and coalition-building to identify issues that affect reproductive health, rights, and justice.
  • We create issue-specific campaigns to raise public awareness and organize allies to act.
  • We strategize with local statewide allies, as well as national partners in the movement, about ways to advocate for change.
  • We help develop legislation to advance reproductive health, rights, and justice, and lobby local and state elected officials to pass pro-choice measures or defeat anti-choice bills or ordinances.
  • We organize Marylanders to make sure that lawmakers hear from the pro-choice people they represent.
  • We connect what happens in Maryland, in Congress, and the courts with how it affects one’s ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.
  • We educate Marylanders about important reproductive health issues and policies, learn from community members about which are particular priorities of importance, and offer support to existing allies and advocates seeking reform.
  • We use the political process to endorse and uplift candidates who share our support reproductive health, rights, and justice.

There are two parts to our organization:

Pro-Choice Maryland Action Fund

Pro-Choice Maryland is the policy and political arm of the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement in our state. This is a membership organization, in which supporters can join by paying annual dues.  Visit the PowerPoint from our December 2020 annual membership meeting to learn more here.

Pro-Choice Maryland

Pro-Choice Maryland Action Fund is the research, outreach, and education arm of our movement. The Fund does not engage in direct political activities, but its work in the areas of policy research, organizing, coalition building, and leadership development complement and inform the advocacy strategies of Pro-Choice Maryland.  To learn more about current issue campaigns, visit here.

Our Missions

For Pro-Choice Maryland, the 501(c)3 education arm, our mission is to support and protect, as a fundamental right and value, everybody’s freedom to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices through education, training, organizing, legal action, and public policy.

For Pro-Choice Maryland Action, the 501(c)4 advocacy arm, our mission is to develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee everybody the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and having an abortion.