Halle Berry publicly called out California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday after he vetoed a bipartisan bill designed to expand health coverage for women experiencing menopause.
The actress accused Newsom of ignoring women’s health and questioned whether he deserves to be president.
Berry delivered her remarks on stage just moments before Newsom appeared at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit. She told the audience that the governor has dismissed a health issue that affects half the population.
Berry noted that she spent two years pushing for legislation meant to support women as they experience menopause and perimenopause.
The bill, known as the Menopause Care Equity Act, would have required health insurers to cover treatment related to symptoms commonly experienced during hormonal changes.
She said the bill also mandated continuing education for doctors who treat menopausal women. Berry emphasized that most medical training lacks basic instruction on menopause care and women are left uninformed or misdiagnosed.
Berry argued that Newsom’s decision to twice reject the bill shows a disregard for women’s needs. She added that such a stance should disqualify him from serving as president, according to the Daily Mail.
“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,” Berry said after describing the bipartisan nature of the legislation.
She then told the audience what she believes that says about his leadership. “The way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either,” she said.
Berry has been outspoken on menopause since she revealed her own misdiagnosis. She told lawmakers last year that she spent a decade in perimenopause without knowing it because her doctor incorrectly assumed she had a sexually transmitted disease.
Berry has since become an advocate for improving women’s medical education and removing stigma around menopause. She has said her goal is to make sure women receive accurate information and support as they age.
Berry reminded the audience that nearly every woman will go through menopause at some point. She added that symptoms such as fatigue, hot flashes, mood swings, and hair changes are normal, yet many women receive little guidance from doctors.
Berry said cultural attitudes contribute to the problem. She criticized the expectation for women to look young forever, calling aging a natural stage that should not be ignored or mocked.
Berry shared that she personally feels pressure to remain youthful to stay relevant in her industry. She argued that society devalues women as they age and that lawmakers should not reinforce that trend through policy decisions.
Berry concluded her remarks by calling on leaders to treat women’s health with the same seriousness as any other major medical issue. She said the country cannot afford to overlook women who make up half the population and carry most family healthcare responsibilities.
