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A day after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Tory Burch condemned the decision and many fashion and retail executives have remained silent.
The longtime activist published an emotional letter to his employees on social media this afternoon, becoming one of the few top industry leaders to speak out about the ruling itself. (Dozens of companies have made more general statements about covering the travel costs of employees who must leave the state in search of safe abortions.)
“I am outraged by the Supreme Court’s decision that overturned the Roe v. Wade decision and stripped women of their constitutional right to make informed and safe choices about their bodies..While this decision affects all American women, it disproportionately affects women of color, young women, and low-income communities. My heart goes out to women looking for risky alternatives in states where they cannot afford it. ” Birch, executive chairman and chief creative officer of her eponymous company, wrote in her letter:
The designer said the company is reviewing its benefits plans to ensure that access to abortion and reproductive health care is “free from barriers” for employees who must travel out of state.
Birch, who last week held an “Embrace Ambition” summit focused on key women’s issues, called on employees to vote to elect officials who stand up for equality. “We encourage you to register, research candidates, and embrace your power as a citizen.”
Tory Burch and Julianne Moore at the 2022 Embrace Ambition Summit hosted by the Tory Burch Foundation on June 14th. Credit: Tory Burch
The majority of comments on Birch’s Instagram post (one where she posted the letter) were positive as of Saturday afternoon.
However, it is clear that some leaders are reluctant to speak out for fear of losing the support of their customers, employees, or political leaders who are content with the Supreme Court’s ruling. Abortion remains one of the most divisive societal issues, even in an era when many CEOs have spoken out on other important topics like racial equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and gun control.
But Birch was never afraid to stand up for women and ended his letter with these words:Promoting the active participation of women is our guiding principle. This decision has been a huge setback for women, but we know that we need to remain unfazed and step up more than ever before. We believe in a world where we can and where we are not punished for our choices.”
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