Quick signature: Tell Congress to protect access to IVF! SIGN NOW

Dear Friend,

Heartbroken. Ragey! And just down right fed up! I have been barely able to gather my thoughts since the Alabama Supreme Court dangerously ruled that frozen embryos are children, pushing us further into a dystopian future.

→ SIGN our letter to Congress calling on them to protect access to IVF and the full range of reproductive health care for families in Alabama and across the country!

What’s happening? By a vote of 7-2 the Alabama Supreme Court dangerously ruled that under state law frozen embryos are children and therefore, children and ‘unborn children’ are protected “equally” under the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor law. [1] Again, straight out of a dystopian novel. The ruling allows civil damages under state law, having major implications for abortion rights, contraception, and IVF fertility treatments in, and over time possibly beyond, Alabama. Right now, three major IVF providers in Alabama announced a pause on IVF services. Women and families who saved for years, emptied their retirement accounts, sold their homes, dealt with the emotional tolls of this process, and went through complicated medical procedures as part of their IVF treatment, are devastated. 

Extremist anti-abortion judges and policymakers have brought us to this point. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade has opened a Pandora's box of horrors, and now we are seeing the far-reaching implications. Fortunately, Democratic U.S. Senators Duckworth and Murray have introduced the Freedom to Build a Family Act, to protect access to IVF at the national level; but so far Republican leadership has stood in the way of this essential legislation moving forward.

→ We cannot let this ruling stand. Sign onto our letter in support of ensuring that families have access to the full range of reproductive health care services, including IVF.

Approximately 40% of people say they or someone they know has used fertility treatments. [2] Let’s be clear - this attempt to restrict access to the full range of reproductive health care services, has wide ranging implications for individuals seeking fertility treatment, pregnant people, and those who love them. Anti-abortion zealots created this crisis and the cruelty is the point!

It’s outrageous! Since the Dobbs ruling (which overturned Roe v. Wade), women have lost access to reproductive health care, including abortion; clinics that provide contraception and cancer screenings have closed; a woman in Ohio was prosecuted after having a miscarriage for not disposing of the remains properly (thankfully the grand jury declined to bring charges against her); medication abortion is under attack; and several states are threatening bans on travel to get abortion care.[3] And now Alabama is attacking IVF treatments. The cruelty knows no end!

→ Sign on to our letter ensuring that families have access to the full range of reproductive healthcare!

This is an emerging situation that has implications that reach far past Alabama, which is all the more reason we need our elected leaders in Congress to take action NOW to protect our reproductive health care, including IVF. After you sign our letter, make sure to forward this email to your friends and family so they can sign as well and post our action link to social media. We need to make our voices heard!

- Tina, Gina, Felicia, Elyssa. Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

P.S. Did you or someone you know expand your family using IVF or are you currently using IVF? Please consider sharing your story. Your personal story, your experience matters! When you share your personal experiences, we make sure they are seen and make an impact! (You can even share anonymously.)

References:

[1] Alabama's top court rules IVF embryos are children, Axios

[2] A growing share of Americans say they’ve had fertility treatments or know someone who has, Pew Research Center

[3] Grand jury declines to indict Ohio woman facing charges after she miscarried, ABC News

You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.