Actress Halle Berry is calling on women and men to fight for women's rights when it comes to health care and menopause and criticizing California Gov. Gavin Newsom for vetoing menopause-related legislation in the state.
The Oscar winner -- who has become an advocate for menopause care, even launching her own menopause-focused company -- spoke Wednesday at the New York Times DealBook Summit in New York City, telling the audience that the Democratic governor has "overlooked women" and should not be elected president in the future as a result.
After congratulating Illinois for recently becoming what she described as the "the first state to mandate coverage for" hormone replacement therapy -- a medical treatment for menopausal symptoms -- Berry criticized Newsom, who has served as California's governor since 2019 and said in November that he will give consideration to a 2028 presidential bid after next year's midterm elections.
"Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one but two years in a row. But that's OK, because he's not going to be governor forever," Berry said. "And with the way he's overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us in midlife, he probably should not be our next president either, just saying."
The bill Berry appeared to be referring to, AB 432, was vetoed by Newsom in October. The legislation sought to expand insurance coverage for menopausal care and provide incentives to doctors who completed continuing medical education courses in perimenopause, menopause and postmenopausal care, according to its text.
Menopause is the point in a woman's life when she has not had any menstruation for 12 consecutive months, according to the U.S. Office on Women's Health. The transition period before and after menopause can last for up to 10 years and bring many symptoms, including hot flashes, mood changes, depression and anxiety, and difficulty sleeping, as well as significantly affect quality of life for many women.
In a statement to ABC News on Thursday, a spokesperson for Newsom said the governor vetoed the bill because it "would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women and working families."
"The Governor has deep admiration for Ms. Berry’s advocacy and looks forward to working with her and other stakeholders on this critical issue. He shares her goal of expanding access to menopause care that too many women struggle to get," the spokesperson said. "He vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women and working families already stretched thin -- something he’s determined to avoid."
The spokesperson added, "We're confident that by working together this year, we can expand access to essential menopause treatment while protecting women from higher bills."
Berry had advocated for AB 432, according to local media coverage. The actress also advocated for federal legislation in support of research and education around menopause last year, joining lawmakers outside the U.S. Capitol, where she shouted, "I'm in menopause, OK?"
Berry, a mom of two, said Wednesday that women "deserve better" when it comes to their health. She called on women, men and all leaders to "care" about women’s health, and encouraged women in particular to "be bold, be loud."
"Refuse to be diminished during one of the most important seasons of your life. The days of outliving men but doing it in poor health are over. Why? Because we simply deserve better -- we are half the population," Berry said.
She added that she also plans to continue to advocate for women.
"Because at this stage in my life, I have zero f---- to give, and I am going to fight like hell because my longevity depends on it," she said. "The longevity of my daughter depends on it. The longevity of women everywhere depends on it."
