UTA Will Reimburse Employee Travel Expenses for Reproductive Health Services

United Talent Agency has promised to reimburse its employees for travel expenses relating to reproductive health services that are not accessible in their states of residence, according to a memo obtained by Variety.

In the memo, UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer wrote, “We’re doing this to support the right to choose that has been a bedrock of settled law for almost half a century. Several states have already introduced restrictive legislation, and the draft Supreme Court ruling leaked yesterday, if it comes to pass, could make abortion illegal in more than half of the country.”

More from Variety

• Power of Women New York 2022: Music Executives Making an Impact Include Kara DioGuardi, SB Projects' Jules Ferree

• Studios Vowed to 'Rethink' Filming in Georgia if Abortion Ban Was Upheld. Now What?

• Howard Stern: Supreme Court Justices Who Ban Abortion Should Raise Every Unwanted Child

On Monday, Politico published a leaked majority draft opinion from the Supreme Court that revealed the justices have privately voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has protected basic abortion rights in the United States since its 1973 ruling.

Hollywood talent agencies often take up the mantle of social justice causes championed by clients. In 2017, UTA was among several other agencies to participate in the walkout event #DayWithoutAWoman, in response to Donald Trump’s presidential election. The company also held events tied to the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd.

Read Zimmer’s memo in full below:

As threats against women’s reproductive rights grow, we’re introducing an important new benefit. Going forward, UTA will reimburse our colleagues for travel expenses related to receiving women’s reproductive health services that are not accessible in their state of residence.

We’re doing this to support the right to choose that has been a bedrock of settled law for almost half a century. Several states have already introduced restrictive legislation, and the draft Supreme Court ruling leaked yesterday, if it comes to pass, could make abortion illegal in more than half of the country.

UTA has a long history of giving generously through our Foundation to organizations that support women’s reproductive health care, which we will continue to prioritize. Also, in the coming weeks, the Foundation, DEI and WIG will be providing educational resources, programming, and opportunities for discussion. For more details on this new healthcare benefit, please reach out to HR.

Matt Donnelly contributed to this report.

Best of Variety

• Molly Shannon's Memoir 'Hello Molly' Is Already an Instant Bestseller on Amazon

• 2022 Primetime Emmys Awards Season Calendar: The Governors Balls are Back After Two Years

• What's Coming to Disney Plus in April 2022

Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.