The US Supreme Court ruling overturning federal legality of abortion is causing an uproar. Also in the games industry and criticized the verdict across the board.
It was a bang last week when the US Supreme Court, with the votes of conservative judges, overturned the federal legality of abortion, handing the administration to the states, some of which immediately rushed to blanket abortion bans. The settlement, which has been known as Roe vs Wade since 1973, was long considered a milestone in US legislation.
The panic is now great, because the new decision now gives the states the opportunity to completely ban abortion and make it a punishable offence. Women from such states now only have the option of having abortions performed in other states where it is still legal.
The Supreme Court ruling has been heavily criticized and game developers and publishers are no exception. Companies like Bethesda, Niantic, Ubisoft, Bungie, Naughty Dog, Guerrilla and many more have spoken out against the new regulation on social media in recent days.
https://t.co/DXKcGmPJp0 pic.twitter.com/ti64jXB0m7
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) June 24, 2022
But the support goes even further. Bungie said, “As we continue to expand our digital-first jobs to additional states, we will now introduce a travel expense reimbursement program for each employee, which can be used if they or a dependent do not have access to where they live receiving health care.”
Microsoft’s message is clear: “We continue to do everything we legally can to help our employees and their enrolled dependents access critical health care – which already includes services like abortion and gender-affirming care – no matter where they are in.” reside in the U.S. This benefit has been expanded to include travel assistance for these and other legitimate medical services when access to care in an employee’s geographic home region is limited.”
Activision Blizzard had already started a similar program in June. Electronic Arts is working with its healthcare provider to soon offer eligible US employees expanded travel healthcare benefits.
