Plus: Kamala Harris calls abortion bans ‘immoral’

Here’s another edition of Hard to Believe It’s Only Tuesday, a weekly roundup of the top headlines, tweets, toks, takes, and more in abortion news. You can always email me (andrea.grimes@gmail.com, or grimesandrea@proton.me for more sensitive inquiries) or DM me on instagram with action items, takes, and news clips. This post is probably too long for email, so click the headline above or head to the HTBIOT page to get the full read in your browser, because you don’t want to miss this week’s Goodnight and Good Dunk!

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I’m looking for new photos to illustrate this newsletter, as the font of Creative Commons options on Flickr is not endlessly self-renewing. Have you taken photos at a public pro-abortion protest or other fun feminist event that you’d be willing to let me publish? I’ll credit folks, of course, and am happy to make a small donation to a cause of the photographer’s choosing if I end up using a pic. So! Send photos my way — andrea dot grimes at gmail com — or tag me wherever your images already exist online, assuming it’s clear you have ownership/permission to share.

The big takeaway: Early voting has begun in Ohio on the repro rights constitutional amendment, Issue 1. 🗳️ Vote yes! 🗳️

The Top Headlines

• “Legislators in 49 states ask SCOTUS to preserve access to abortion pill” (States Newsroom)
• “Abortion opponents are trying to deter people from traveling out of state for care” (The 19th)
• “Indigenous people unite to navigate abortion access after Roe” (The 19th)
• “Reproductive rights advocates say Kari Lake is spreading ‘blatant lies’ about abortion” (Arizona Mirror)
• “22 Democrats Sponsor a Bill That Could Censor Abortion Info From the Internet” (Jezebel)
• “Justice Dept. focuses on violence by protesters at abortion clinics” (WaPo)
• “Advocates: Confusion, fear over [Indiana] abortion ban leads to decline in requests for out-of-state care” (WFYI)
• 👩🏽‍⚕️ What’s happening with clinical abortion care, providers, medication abortion, and such:
  • “North Carolina was a critical abortion access point. Now, procedures have dropped by 30 percent.” (The 19th)
  • “Abortion bans complicate medical training, risk worsening OBGYN shortages” (Hechinger Report)
  • “‘We’re not going anywhere:’ Planned Parenthood continues services after shots fired in Helena” (Daily Montanan)
  • “The ‘abortion queen’ wants patients to have ‘skin in the game.’ Is that restricting access?” (StatNews) — Yes, yes it is!
• 🇺🇸 What politicians and politicos on the national stage are doing and saying about abortion in advance of the ‘24 election:
  • “Ron DeSantis visits Iowa pregnancy resource center, continues his rebuke of Donald Trump on abortion” (Des Moines Register)
  • “Vice President Kamala Harris blasts abortion bans like Missouri’s as ‘immoral’” (St. Louis Public Radio)
• ⚖️ What’s going on with abortion bans, legal challenges, and bills at the state and local levels:
  • Here’s a cool nationwide ballot tracker from Rewire News.
  • 🟢 “Meet the group gathering signatures for a Florida voter referendum on abortion access” (Miami Herald)
  • 🟢 “‘Bans Off’ rally in Akron jumpstarts Ohio abortion rights campaign for Issue 1” (Akron Beacon Journal)
  • 🟡 “Abortion rights and marijuana questions expected to drive Ohioans to polls as early voting begins” (AP)
  • 🟡 “Republican group pushes for exceptions to Missouri’s abortion ban” (NPR)
  • 🟡 “In quick reversal, Ninth Circuit will reconsider Idaho abortion case” (Idaho Capital Sun)
  • 🟡 “SC’s GOP leaders blast latest abortion lawsuit as hypocrisy; both sides await court” (Post and Courier)
  • 🔴 “Fulton County [GA] commissioners reject resolution to fund abortion assistance” (WABE)
  • 🔴 “Michigan Democrats want to ease access to abortion. But one Democrat is saying no” (NPR)
  • 🔴 “Florida’s Republican attorney general will oppose putting abortion rights amendment on 2024 ballot” (ABC/AP)
  • 🔴 “Floridians pushing for a pro-abortion rights ballot measure feel ‘abandoned’ by national Democrats” (NBC News) — This dynamic is so, so devastatingly common between local/grassroots/state-based advocates and organizers, and national political and advocacy orgs.

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The Takes

• Read this Columbia Journalism Review interview with We Testify’s Renee Bracey Sherman on the history of abortion coverage.

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The Tweets/Toks/Grams

• Ohio!!! Early voting is happening now!! Yes on Issue 1!!

new halloween drip just dropped pic.twitter.com/7lSThGvihk

— Abortion Fund of Ohio (@abortionfundOH) October 10, 2023

• From We Testify‘s Renee Bracey Sherman:

They’re openly advocating for forced and nonconsensual sterilization. https://t.co/4IcjemntU8

— Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) October 12, 2023

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The Fuck Are We Supposed to Do About It?

• 👕 SWAG OF THE WEEK! 👕
  • This “yo aborté” swag from We Testify is just perfect for Latinx Heritage Month!
• 🔬 Anywhere, for abortion fund leaders: Participate in a UCSF study!
• 🎓 Chicago: Join the Chicago Abortion Fund for a presentation on abolition and reproductive justice at the University of Chicago on Monday, October 16th.
• 👻 All over: the National Network of Abortion Funds and affiliated funds from all over the country are hosting a cornucopia of events through Halloween. Avail yourself!
• 🤠 Texas: Have 2-4 hours a week to dedicate to abortion advocacy from late October-late November? Sign up for Avow Texas‘s abortion defender program.
• 🇬🇧 London: Join Abortion Rights at the House of Commons for a parliamentary event on abortion criminalization on Wednesday, October 18th.
• 🎓 Boston: Boston University’s If/When/How chapter is co-hosting a repro careers panel on Wednesday, October 18th.
• 👻 Anywhere, for pet owners: The REACH Fund of Connecticut is hosting a virtual Halloween costume contest — donate $5 and a pet pic by Friday, October 20th to enter.
• 🎃 Dallas: The Texas Equal Access Fund’s Halloween Par(TEA) is Saturday, October 21st.
• 💻 Illinois: Apply by Monday, October 23rd for ICAH’s paid, virtual organizing programs for people aged 14-22.
• 💻 Texas, for young people aged 15-24: Apply to join Jane’s Due Process’s 2023 Youth Content Squad. Applications are due Wednesday, October 25th.
• 🤠 Houston: Celebrate the work of Jane’s Due Process supporting young folks’ abortion access on Wednesday, October 25th at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, with a special guest: youth activist Olivia Julianna.
• 🤠 Dallas: The Afiya Center’s 15th anniversary gala — formal rodeo-inspired wear is “encouraged” — is Thursday, October 26th.
• 🧁 Denton, TX: The Texas Equal Access Fund’s Bakers for Babies Bake Sale on Sunday, November 19th benefits their upcoming infant care resource drive.
• 👶🏼 Dallas, TX: The Texas Equal Access Fund’s infant care resource drive is Saturday, December 16th.
• 🦺 St. Louis area: Illinois’ Hope Clinic is looking for clinic escorts. Here’s how to learn more.
• 🚗 Kentucky: The Kentucky Health Justice Network is looking for volunteer drivers and case managers.
• 📱 North Texas: The Texas Equal Access Fund is looking for bilingual Spanish-speaking volunteers for their text line. Here’s where to sign up.
• 📥 Anywhere: Looking for a job in repro? ReproJobs can help you spruce up your resume.
• 🧑🏾‍⚕️ Anywhere, for medical residents training in abortion care: Obstetricians for Reproductive Justice and others will fund residents who need to travel out of state for abortion care training through December 2023 (or retroactively since July 1, 2022). Here’s how to apply.
• 🤠 Texas: Local teen-friendly businesses in in Bryan, College Station, Lubbock, or San Angelo can become pickup spots for repro kits assembled by Jane’s Due Process. Here’s the application form.
• ⛰️ Southwestern Virginia and Appalachia: The New River Abortion Access Fund is looking for volunteers.
• 🗳️ Anywhere, U.S.: Hey Jane x Vote America is a neat new collaboration that helps prep voters to support pro-abortion policies and candidates

• 💸 From your wallet:
  • The IPPF and the Palestinian Family Planning Association are attempting to provide care for tens of thousands of pregnant people in Gaza; learn more here and donate/spread the word.
  • Here’s the verified crowdfunding page for “Ashley,” the 13-year-old mother who was denied abortion care in Mississippi and profiled in TIME magazine.
  • Donate to support the Austin Women’s Health Center and their essential repro health services, including miscarriage management and abortion referrals.
  • Donate $$ and pads to Just the Pill’s mobile clinic.
  • Here’s the verified crowdfunding page for the family of Samara, a 17-year-old in San Antonio and Buckle Bunnies Fund patient who died from repro health complications.
  • The Valley Abortion Group is a new all-trimester abortion facility fundraising to open in New Mexico — donate to the GoFundMe.
  • Donate to the Online Abortion Resource Squad, which supports the R/Abortion subreddit 24/7/365.
  • Donate to Elevated Access, which transports folks for abortion and gender-affirming care.
  • Donate to ensure Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix can keep providing essential abortion care to folks in the Southwest.
  • Find your local abortion fund and donate.
  • Buy something off the wishlist of an independent clinic, abortion fund, or clinic defense group, or donate to support abortion funds. This link distributes your donation to 90+ funds around the country. Or donate to support independent abortion providers.

• 🎙️ Podcasts!
  • Rewire’s Boom! Lawyered
  • Access, a podcast about abortion
  • Repro Legal Defense Fund’s No Body Criminalized
  • The Population Institute‘s rePROS Fight Back

• ✍🏿 Sign and share:
  • Anywhere: Sign this multi-org-backed petition demanding Google stop “collecting and retaining location data and aiding abortion prosecutors.”
  • Anywhere: sign the Fight for the Future petition to demand better digital safety and security on Slack!
  • Anywhere: Sign the RJ Response to Stop Cop City.
  • Anywhere: UltraViolet’s petition calling on pharmacies to provide medication abortion access where it’s legal to do so.

• 🔎 Abortion Resources
  • ⚕️ Abortion providers, rights, and support:
    • Looking for a clinical abortion provider? AbortionFinder and INeedAnA are trustworthy and updated regularly.
    • Here’s the National Immigration Law Center’s know-your-rights-guide to abortion access for immigrants.
    • Abortions Welcome is a “pro-choice spiritual companion for use before, during, and after abortion.”
    • Want to become a practical support volunteer helping folks access abortion? Read this essential FAQ from Apiary first.
  • 📚 Research:
    • New research from Pregnancy Justice looks at the data behind rising criminalization of pregnancy
    • Here’s new research from Gynuity on the safety and effectiveness of misoprostol-only medication abortion.
    • Read Dr. Autumn Asher BlackDeer’s report, “Towards an Indigenous Reproductive Justice: Examining Attitudes on Abortion among American Indian and Alaska Native Communities.”
    • Here’s new research on abortion access for incarcerated folks.
  • 🗣️ Communicating about abortion:
    • Who Not When’s guide to reporting on later abortion is just great.
    • Check out the “Pro Choice, But” campaign to better understand how to talk with folks who are, well, pro-choice … but.
    • Read this guide on using trans-inclusive language from ARC-Southeast and the Transgender Law Center.
    • REPRO Rising Virginia has a thorough guide-via-Twitter-thread to keeping your protest signs fresh.
    • Physicians for Reproductive Health’s wide-ranging messaging guide covers all kinds of topics in repro and abortion care
  • 🚓 Abortion and pregnancy criminalization:
    • Read this solidarity + organizing brief from Interrupting Criminalization and a coalition of repro and anti-criminalization orgs.
    • The Repro Legal Defense Fund and the Community Justice Exchange have an extensive, attractive, and fact-filled guide to abortion criminalization in both English and Spanish.
  • 🏠 Self-managed abortion:
    • If/When/How’s Repro Legal Helpline guide to internet safety.
    • Plan C Pills has published a self-managed abortion field guide in super fun, accessible zine form.
    • The Digital Defense Fund has a useful guide to keeping your abortion private and secure.
    • This gorgeous slideshow from South Texans for Reproductive Justice!
    • Check out the SMAZine from Urge and LiberalJane.

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Goodnight and good dunk — Terrifying! You might even say … uncanny 🥁 !

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That’s all for this week. I’m sure I’ve missed something you’d like to see featured in this roundup, for I am but one woman with a computer and an abortion-news-induced drinking problem. Holler at me — andrea.grimes@gmail.com or grimesandrea@proton.me for more sensitive inquiries, or DM me on Instagram, and I’ll try to add follow-ups as I’m able.

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