Reproductive Freedom

As a child of a single mother and an attorney who has long worked alongside low-income women, Lydia Edwards is a fierce defender of bodily autonomy and reproductive healthcare. With national threats escalating to reproductive and gender-affirming care, she has taken decisive, proactive action in the Massachusetts Senate—as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, she co-led the passage of the landmark “Shield Act 2.0.” Lydia is unwavering in her commitment to ensuring safe, legal access to reproductive services—keeping Massachusetts a bastion of freedom, privacy, and equitable care.

How Lydia Has Delivered

Co‑sponsor & Strategist behind Shield Act 2.0 (S 2538)

In June 2025, Lydia helped drive Senate passage of S 2538, strengthening the original Shield Law. The legislation blocks state agencies and law enforcement from cooperating with external investigations into legally protected reproductive or transgender care, safeguards patient data, protects providers’ licensure, and ensures hospitals offer emergency abortion care without interference.

Vocal Senate Advocacy & Leadership

As Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Lydia used her position to champion Shield Act 2.0 on the Senate floor—emphasizing the need to shield patients and healthcare workers from politically motivated threats and out‑of‑state intrusions .

A Long-Standing Pro–Choice Champion

Lydia's advocacy began on Boston City Council, where she joined colleagues in urging the codification of Roe-era abortion rights. She also backed progressive paid family leave policies covering all pregnancy outcomes—including abortion and miscarriage—and earned endorsement from Reproductive Equity Now PAC for her leadership on reproductive equity.