Halle Berry Slams Newsom on Menopause Bill

Halle Berry is not holding back when it comes to advocating for women’s health. The Oscar-winning actress recently took aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom, strongly criticizing his decision to veto bipartisan legislation aimed at improving menopause care – not once, but twice. Berry didn’t just stop at criticizing the policy; she suggested this action disqualifies him from future political aspirations.

A Call for Women’s Health Equity

Speaking at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit, Berry delivered a powerful message. “Here in my home state of California, my own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill not once, but two years in a row,” she stated. She didn’t hesitate to add, “But that’s alright; he won’t be governor forever.”

Berry emphasized that women’s health issues, particularly menopause, are not trivial matters to be dismissed. She directly linked Newsom’s actions to his potential presidential ambitions, stating, “By neglecting women—half the population—and dismissing us during midlife, he really shouldn’t be our next president either.” This strong stance highlights the frustration many women feel regarding healthcare access and understanding during midlife.

The Menopause Care Equity Act

For two consecutive years, California lawmakers passed the Menopause Care Equity Act with bipartisan support. This crucial bill sought to ensure that health insurance plans would cover treatments for perimenopause and menopause symptoms, mirroring coverage for outpatient prescription drugs. It also aimed to implement new medical training requirements for doctors, addressing the concerning lack of formal education on menopause in the medical field.

Despite its passage and the clear need it addresses, Governor Newsom vetoed the bill both times, with the most recent rejection occurring in October. This decision has been met with widespread disappointment from advocates who view it as a significant setback in addressing the healthcare disparities women have long faced.

Continued Advocacy and Collaboration

Berry’s commitment to this cause extends beyond public statements. She joined forces with Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Dr. Pauline Maki, a leading menopause researcher, to co-author an op-ed for Time magazine. In it, they criticized Newsom’s veto as a betrayal of his commitment to women, writing, “It’s infuriating that women in California have to keep waiting for proper healthcare when we were so close to making real progress.”

This unified front underscores the widespread frustration and the urgent need for better healthcare access and understanding for millions of women navigating menopause.