Dear John,

Almost two years ago, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe and took away the constitutional right to abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas invited attacks on birth control next. Here’s what you need to know about the current state of birth control in the United States:

• Birth control is widely popular and provides a strong basis for gender equality: More than 99% of sexually active women in the United States have used birth control to make decisions about if and when to have children, to protect their health, and to participate more fully in society. And 84% of Americans believe that everyone should have access to birth control without barriers.
• Despite being popular and constitutionally protected, birth control is under attack: The fact that the Constitution protects the right to contraception has been recognized for nearly 60 years, since the 1965 Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut. But that doesn’t mean it’s safe from extremists who want to undermine or even overturn it. In fact, some states like Missouri, Idaho, Arkansas, Indiana, and Texas have already tried to ban access to or coverage of certain types of birth control, like emergency contraception and IUDs.
• We need to make sure what happened to abortion doesn’t happen to birth control: Just like abortion, birth control is health care. Attacks on both of these forms of reproductive health care will not stop, and we cannot rely on the Supreme Court to protect our rights. We need to make sure we enshrine the right to birth control in federal law. The Right to Contraception Act is a federal bill that would do that—and it’s already been introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate. This bill would protect the right to obtain and use contraception, protect health care providers who provide contraceptives, prohibit states from restricting birth control, and give individuals the right to take legal action against states or government officials that try to restrict birth control.

At the National Women’s Law Center, we have been leading the fight to protect birth control and have been working closely with lawmakers on the Right to Contraception Act. We’ll make sure to keep you updated as the bill moves forward and provide you with direct actions to make your voice heard during the process. The National Women’s Law Center is committed to fighting for a future where we all can make decisions about our bodies and lives without interference—and we’re glad you are with us in the fight.

In solidarity,

Kimi Chernoby
she/her/hers
Senior Counsel, Reproductive Rights and Health 
National Women's Law Center