This resolution acknowledges the widespread impact of infertility, affecting 1 in 6 people globally, and recognizes infertility as a disease as defined by the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association. It emphasizes that infertility does not discriminate and affects individuals regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or socioeconomic level. The resolution also highlights the particular challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in family building and asserts that everyone should have access to all family building options, including adoption and medical treatments like in vitro fertilization and third-party reproduction.
The resolution identifies cost and lack of insurance coverage as significant barriers to accessing necessary family building options and stresses the importance of raising awareness to remove these obstacles. Consequently, the House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island resolves to join RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association in commemorating “National Infertility Awareness Week” to support those on their family building journey. The resolution also directs the Secretary of State to transmit a certified copy of the resolution to the Rhode Island chapter of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, thereby formalizing the state's participation in the awareness initiative.