Plus: Advocates in more states are looking to pass pro-abortion ballot measures in ’24.
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!
The big takeaway: Following an undefeated streak of abortion rights victories at the state level, more and more geographies are getting in on the abortion ballot initiative game. Montana’s looking at a ’24 vote, while in Arkansas and Florida, advocates are facing all manner of nonsense and chicanery from anti-abortion politicians who love democracy so much they think people should not be able to vote on abortion-related issues.
“Abortion Confusion in Texas” (American Prospect) — This is a good rundown of the issues at play and what happened last week with the Texas abortion case before the state Supreme Court. The justices are now considering whether to allow clarifying language about life-saving exceptions to the state’s abortion ban to stand. More from me on this down in the “takes” section below.
Dr. Leah Torres and Robin Marty of the West Alabama Women’s Center are in the Alabama Reflector on why they’re committed to providing prenatal care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, even though the state has banned their clinic from providing abortions: “We understand that these are lives at stake, and the earlier someone is seen the more likely it is that both the pregnant person and the baby will be healthy in the end. It is not lost on us that this is a commitment that we – the clinic who was once responsible for nearly half of the abortions in the state – have devoted ourselves to, when others around us deny these patients care. Hopefully as this crisis grows, more doctors will vow to be just as pro-life.”
I’m over at MSNBC with a look at the breathtaking callousness of the State of Texas’s refusal to clarify life-saving language in abortion bans: “ … it’s appalling that the state is going to such extreme lengths to block these highly limited, extremely specific, incredibly important clarifications around a small but significant subset of pregnancies. Its efforts show how powerfully invested Texas’ highest-ranking politicians are in perpetuating fear over preserving life. It is a ghoulish, cruel tack aimed, very literally, at forcing Texans to give birth or die trying. That’s not “pro-life.” That’s a death wish.“
The Tweets/Toks/Grams
Urgent! The Greenville Women’s Clinic needs support:
🍑 Georgia: There are three, three, three! opportunities to join the Feminist Women’s Health Center‘s Legislative Advocacy workshop(s), on Thursday January 4, Saturday January 6th, or Sunday January 7th, 2024.
🥂 The Carolinas: The Carolina Abortion Fund’s second annual gala is Saturday, February 3, 2024.
🔬 Anywhere, for abortion fundleaders: Participate in a UCSF study!
🦺 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. Here’s where to sign up.
📱 North Texas: The Texas Equal Access Fund is looking for bilingual Spanish-speaking volunteers for their text line. Here’s where to sign up.
🤠 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 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.
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.
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:
Here’s If/When/How‘s new report on the criminalization of self-managed abortion between 2000-2020.
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’sreport, “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.
Goodnight and good dunk — Here’s an on-point skeet from SecularAZ about all the too-little/too-late anti-abortion apologia following loss after loss on state ballot measures and crappy polling numbers:
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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