Dear John,

Moments ago, in a 49-51 vote, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the Women’s Health Protection Act, mostly along party lines. This means the bill, which aimed to enshrine reproductive rights into law--including the right to a safe, legal abortion--will not be considered. 

This failure by the Senate to protect everyone’s reproductive rights comes after a draft of a decision by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey was leaked to the media and the public. We at PFLAG National know just how critical it is to protect the right to reproductive health, including the right to abortion. We know that when people don’t have access to abortion, studies indicate educational decline, greater mental health problem rates, and economic loss. And we know that reproductive healthcare must be available for everyone, whether you were assigned female at birth, are intersex, are cisgender, transgender, or nonbinary. 

So, as a PFLAGer, what can you do? 

Here are some actions you can take, right now and in the days, weeks, and months ahead:

• Get Loud: Whether it is on social media or in person, using your voice is important. 
  • Post updates and information from trusted sources. Use social media to repost and uplift others that support reproductive healthcare. Consider following groups like 
    • Planned Parenthood Federation of America
    • The Center for Reproductive Rights
    • Rewire News Group 
    • Power to Decide
    • Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC)
• Get Involved: Starting from the bottom up is how we can make a change.
  • Join the march to protect Roe, whether at your local courthouse or the Supreme Court.
• Vote in every election: We say it every year, and we mean it every time—YOUR VOTES MATTER. Primaries are underway right now in states across the country. 
  • Not sure if you’re registered to vote? Check your voter registration, today.
  • Not registered? Register to vote, today. 
  • Get election reminders to vote in every election. There is no vote too small (as so many of us are seeing in school board and city council meetings). 
  • Help get out the vote, by sharing these resources widely!

Please, take action in any and every way you can on this critical issue. Thank you for your continued commitment to the work.

In solidarity,

Brian K. Bond (he/him), Executive Director
PFLAG National