Misconceptions, misogyny and nonsense: Fighting anti-abortion legislation in the states

A vast wave of anti-women, anti-abortion and anti-reproductive justice restrictions is sweeping over the United States. Ultra-conservative politicians have promoted and too often passed laws that undermine women’s rights and fly in the face of science and evidence-based healthcare. In particular, over half the states have imposed restrictions on medication abortion that have nothing to do with ensuring safe healthcare and everything to do with preventing a woman from getting abortion services. These restrictions include requirements that a physician prescribe the drugs, be present when the drugs are taken and use outdated drug regimens. Additionally, anti-choice policymakers in nearly half the states have expanded the unjust and harmful bans on Medicaid coverage of abortion to restrict abortion coverage in insurance plans offered through health insurance marketplaces, with some states restricting abortion coverage in all private insurance plans. These restrictions result in significant state to state variation in access to and quality of reproductive healthcare and disproportionately harm low-income and young women, women of color and women living in rural areas. Access to the full range of reproductive health services including abortion should not be dependent on where a woman lives, how she gets insurance or her income, and activists are fighting back. This presentation examines the various anti-abortion restrictions, health disparities worsened by these state-specific restrictions, and advocacy successes to oppose some restrictions. It shines a light on coordinated efforts of local, state and federal advocates as a model for defending and expanding the availability of safe, affordable abortion care.