Our Choice Coalition Torchbearer Award: A Night Honoring Dr. Caitiln Bernard

In January 2024, supporters from across Indiana gathered for a powerful evening honoring Dr. Caitlin Bernard with Our Choice Coalition’s Torchbearer Award. Held on the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the event brought together advocates, elected leaders, and community members committed to protecting reproductive freedom in a post-Dobbs era.

Interviewed on stage by Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Connie Schultz, Dr. Bernard spoke candidly about the national firestorm she faced after providing care to a 10-year-old rape survivor, the subsequent investigation into her medical license, and why the fight for abortion access cannot slow down. Her message was clear: apathy is not an option, and defending bodily autonomy requires sustained, collective action.

With remarks from Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, a video message from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and a room filled beyond capacity, the evening was both a celebration of courage and a call to action. It reminded us that leadership often comes at a cost, and that standing up for patients and reproductive healthcare in Indiana matters now more than ever.