The cause was complications of a pulmonary embolism, a spokesman for the family, Eric Sondermann, said. In 1967, Mr. Lamm, a Democrat, was the chief legislative force behind Colorado’s legalizing abortion in cases when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, the woman’s health was threatened or the baby would most likely be born handicapped. By 1970, 13 states had followed Colorado’s lead and passed their own liberalizing abortion laws. “I decided that would probably be the end of my career, but it just seemed to me outrageous that you would force unwilling women to have unwanted children,” Mr. Lamm told The Associated Press in 1996. “I just can’t not fight for what I believe in.”

Source: International New York Times July 30, 2021 23:48 UTC