It's been just over six months since S.B. 8 went into effect in Texas.
That's six months of Texans being forced to leave their home state for a safe, legal abortion, or — if the journey proved too far or too expensive — to remain pregnant.
Six months of Texans being denied their constitutional right to abortion, simply based on their zip code.
Six months of Texans trying to overcome massive hurdles to access abortion, in addition to the systemic barriers already faced by Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, people with low incomes, and people living in rural areas.
This dangerous law bans abortion in the state after about six weeks of pregnancy and encourages private citizens to act as anti-abortion bounty hunters, with a "sue thy neighbor" provision that allows a $10,000 lawsuit against anyone who helps a person get a banned abortion.
And one of the most heart-wrenching things is: Soon, Texas may not be the only state with this kind of abortion ban — Texas was just the first. Oklahoma, Idaho, and eight other states are attempting to pass their very own S.B. 8-copycat bills.
The first step to protecting your rights is understanding exactly what they are — and how they are under threat. Take our abortion access quiz to find out what abortion access looks like in your state — you might be surprised by what you learn.
Since abortion is nearly impossible to access in Texas under S.B. 8 for most patients, many patients are being forced to travel across state lines to receive care. Here's a quick breakdown of the numbers. Between September and December 2021: -
Abortion patients with a Texas zip code made up more than half of the total number of abortion patients at Planned Parenthood health centers in Oklahoma last year, compared to less than 10% from September to December 2020.
- Planned Parenthood health centers in Oklahoma saw a nearly 2500% increase in Texas abortion patients compared to the previous year.
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Planned Parenthood health centers in Colorado saw a more than 1000% increase in Texas abortion patients compared to previous years.
This hardship and extraordinary burden on patients and providers is a direct result of the Supreme Court allowing S.B. 8 to take and to remain in effect. And in a few months, the Supreme Court might issue a ruling to end the protections of Roe v. Wade, which could unleash abortion bans in more than half the states.
There's no time left to waste. Take a moment right now to learn more about abortion access in your state. And then make sure your friends and family know what's happening, what's at stake — and how to get involved.
Bans off our bodies, |
