The U.S. Supreme Court’s outrageous decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has opened the floodgates for states to ban abortion since the moment it was issued. We are already seeing bans in a dozen states, with over a dozen more states expected to act soon.
Though in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, abortion remains legal, we know that access is always under attack. Politicians and anti-abortion activists are working everywhere to implement abortion laws that would curtail – if not ban – access to abortion and challenge the protections we have worked so hard to secure in pro-reproductive health care regions like ours. We will not back down.
We will continue to fight for our rights and work with our communities to engage, educate, and empower them to take action. PPADMV continues to work with pro-reproductive healthcare elected officials to not only protect abortion rights in our region but also to expand access for all people who need care. Thank you for joining us!
Newsletter Content
- Bans Off Our Bodies Rallies
- Pride 2022
- Maryland State Political Action Committee
- Maryland Update
- Washington, DC Update
- Virginia Update
- Engagement Opportunities
When They Go Low, We Go Local
Within hours of the Supreme Court’s decision to end our right to control our bodies and futures, many of you and other supporters gathered together throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia to show that we won’t back down. Thank you to those who were able to join PPADMV in Frederick, Baltimore, and Annapolis, Maryland, as well as Washington DC. We will continue to mobilize and demonstrate to our country’s leaders and decision-makers that our rights to bodily autonomy should not be demolished by an anti-abortion minority.
Nothing was more encouraging during this scary and confusing time than engaging with our local LGBTQIA+ communities during Pride month - and largely in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic! This year, PPADMV and our partners, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC and Planned Parenthood of Maryland, attended multiple Pride events throughout Maryland, Virginia, and DC to educate people about sexual health and abortion access. Thank you to those who were able to join PPADMV in Greenbelt, Baltimore, and Annapolis, Maryland, as well as Washington, DC. We’re truly grateful for the opportunity to once again gather in-person to restart the necessary work of meeting with our communities, building relationships, and learning how we can better serve you.
[pictures from NoVa Pride - pending]
Introducing a Maryland state political action committee for Planned Parenthood!
- We are gearing up for November’s Maryland elections. With Roe overturned, the stakes have never been higher: it is essential that Maryland continue to be a leader in reproductive health, and that means electing and retaining pro-reproductive health care champions.
- To best participate, we are pleased to announce the formation of a new state political action committee (“PPADMV PAC”) which will focus on electing pro-reproductive healthcare champions to office in Maryland state elections.
- Join us: Donate to the new Maryland state PAC today!
LOCAL UPDATES
Maryland Continues to Expand Abortion Access
- Maryland remains a leader in making abortion legal and accessible for patients. The right to abortion has been codified into Maryland’s law for 30 years and the state legislature has demonstrated a commitment to abortion care ever since.
- During the 2022 legislative session, PPADMV worked with Planned Parenthood of Maryland (PPM) and Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC (PPMW) to provide testimony and mobilize Marylanders to contact their representatives to pass the Abortion Care Access Act. The Maryland General Assembly successfully overrode Governor Larry Hogan’s veto. The act creates coverage equity for people on Medicaid and no cost-sharing for people on private insurance (effective Jan. 1, 2023); removes an outdated physician-only restriction on procedural abortion care (effective July 1, 2022); and issues a $3.5 million annual fund to train providers (effective July 1, 2023).
- Additionally, Governor Hogan had the power to ensure the $3.5 million training fund was available this past July 1, but is refusing to release the funds despite the dire need for abortion providers immediately in the wake of Dobbs.
- Make no mistake, abortion is still at risk in Maryland. Elections this November will determine if the General Assembly will maintain its pro-abortion rights majority. Races for Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller are all on the line. As election day approaches, our new state PAC is prepared to support pro-abortion rights candidates who will continue to expand access in Maryland.
The Fight for Statehood and Abortion Access Come Hand In Hand
- Despite DC’s pro-abortion rights local government, the District’s lack of statehood continues to pose a threat to the future of abortion access. For decades, Congress has prevented DC from using locally raised tax dollars to cover abortion care for Medicaid recipients, disproportionately hurting DC’s Black community who make up a majority of the District’s Medicaid recipients. PPADMV has worked for DC statehood for years and will continue to join partners in bringing awareness to the issue.
- After the decision to overturn Roe, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chair of the DC Council Phil Mendelson, several members of the DC Council, PPMW’s President & CEO, Laura Meyers, and PPMW Board Chair, Dana Thomas, spoke at a press conference addressing the Supreme Court’s decision and the District’s commitment to protecting reproductive rights.
- DC Councilmembers Brianne K. Nadeau, Robert White, and Christina Henderson have introduced legislation that would help strengthen protections for abortion care and abortion providers in DC. PPADMV is supporting each of these bills:
- The Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment of 2022, sponsored by Councilmember Nadeau, would prevent DC from cooperating with out-of-state investigations that seek to impose civil or criminal liability for abortion care, the use of contraception, and other protected conduct. The bill also creates a private right of action for lawsuits against parties who successfully bring Texas SB8-style bounty claims for engaging in protected conduct.
- The Enhancing Reproductive Health Protections Amendment Act of 2022, sponsored by Councilmember Henderson, would protect those who support and assist individuals self-managing an abortion and shield those who provide, dispense, or transfer any product used for self-managed abortion from any penalties.
- Council Member Robert White introduced three bills that would require private insurance to cover the cost of an abortion with no cost sharing and protect abortion providers from having their licenses or medical malpractice insurance negatively impacted by the anti-abortion actions of states where abortion is banned.
- PPADMV conducted a Pre-Primary Questionnaire for local DC primary candidates running for Mayor, Councilmember, or Attorney General. Check out the candidate responses to our reproductive health questions here. Thank you to all who joined us in this effort! We will also be endorsing for the DC general election, so please stay tuned for endorsement news.
Gearing Up For A Fight in Virginia
- In Virginia, abortion remains legal but the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade turns the spotlight to a divided General Assembly and vocally anti-abortion governor. Shortly after the Court’s decision, Governor Youngkin called himself a “pro-life governor” and stated that he is looking to place a ban on abortion after 15 weeks. The future of abortion access in Virginia depends on the officials elected into office this next year.
- This comes after a grueling legislative session where anti-abortion politicians tried and failed to create more restrictions on access to abortion. Prior to this year, the General Assembly had voted to repeal obstacles like a 24-hour waiting period, biased counseling, and mandatory ultrasounds. During the 2022 Virginia Legislative Session, however, the make-up of the legislature and statewide offices had changed, and PPADMV worked tirelessly with our partners, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia (PPAV) and PPMW, to fight back against a 20-week abortion ban, the reinstatement of informed consent, and biased counseling. Thanks to your advocacy, all of these bills were rejected by the Virginia General Assembly.
- We will continue to work with our partners to support candidates that will continue to protect and expand abortion access in Virginia.
We are thankful for your partnership and support in this fight locally. Below are ways for you to get involved.
- Sign up to share your story and join the movement!
- Donate to PPADMV to help us continue our work
- Sign up for the PPADMV volunteer network
Maryland
- Donate to the Baltimore Abortion Fund
- Learn more about voting in the Maryland Midterm elections!
Washington, DC
Virginia
