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State Democratic lawmakers vow to protect abortion rights amid Supreme Court leak

Both the state House and Senate passed House Bill 5414 in April and has to go through several departments before heading to the governor's desk.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut’s statute has included abortion rights for women for more than 32 years.

However, amid the leak of a draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion on Monday night that could see Roe v. Wade overturned, state Democratic lawmakers are signaling they will continue to fight for a woman’s right to choose locally.

Wearing a mask of the late justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, a state champion for women’s issues, told FOX61 they are ready to fight.

“I want you to know that the Governor and I and our partners in the legislature are your line of defense,” she said.

RELATED: Here are the states likely to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned

Gov. Ned Lamont on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to sign a bill into law that would reinforce abortion protections in the state.

Both the state House and Senate passed House Bill 5414 in April, which would protect medical providers and patients seeking abortion care in Connecticut, including those who may be traveling from other states that have outlawed abortion. The bill would also expand the type of practitioners eligible to perform certain abortion-related care.

“We’re going to fight for women’s rights and reproductive rights,” he said.

The governor said he is proud to stand up for access to reproductive healthcare and reproductive freedom and vowed to “never waiver on the right to choose.”

“As soon as this bill is transmitted to my office, I will sign it into law,” Lamont said.

Lamont has also joined Tuesday a coalition of 17 governors calling for Congress to take immediate action to protect reproductive rights and access to abortion. In a letter to Congressional leaders, the governors are calling on the U.S. Senate to pass the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021.

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Meanwhile, Connecticut’s constitutional officers are gearing up for the political battle of a lifetime. They said there is an appetite to go even further to protect abortion rights with an amendment to the state constitution. It’s a process that would take years.

“I am horrified by this leaked opinion, but I am more horrified by what we are about to see happen to women across the country in the coming days,” remarked State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest of West Hartford.

The Democratic lawmakers who gathered in the Capitol’s North lobby warned that an attack on abortion rights by a conservative court now may lead to the discrimination of the LGBTQ community and people of color later.

“This draft decision would set us back almost a century,” remarked State Rep. Matt Blumenthal.

The advocates and activists stood in solidarity with the democrat lawmakers, some of whom shared their personal stories of abortion.

“My abortion was not traumatic, but constantly being told how I should feel about my abortion is,” said Liz Gustafson of Pro Choice Connecticut.

RELATED: Biden, Harris issue statements on leaked draft opinion that shows Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade

State Sen. Republican Leader Kevin Kelly addressed the issue Tuesday afternoon, saying he didn’t not to comment on the “merits of a hypothetically leaked document.”

“What we can say is in the state of Connecticut a woman’s right to choose has been determined both by statute and court law to be a settled issue,” said Kelly.

Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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