In a win for reproductive rights advocates, today the U.S. Supreme Court declined to consider a case between Planned Parenthood and the states of Louisiana and Kansas concerning respective state laws that sought to strip Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding. This decision means that the appeals court rulings that blocked the respective laws from going into effect will remain in place and Medicaid patients will continue to be covered at Planned Parenthood clinics for non-abortion related procedures.
Oklahoma Senator’s Bill would Classify Abortion as Homicide
On Saturday, Oklahoma Senator Joseph Silk introduced the Abolition of Abortion in Oklahoma Act (SB13), a bill that not only criminalizes abortions, but classifies abortions as homicides that can be punishable by life imprisonment. Whilst discussing the bill, Senator Silk equated seeking an abortion to killing a one-year-old child. According to Sen. Silk, SB 13’s […]
Federal Judge Ruled Mississippi 15-Week Abortion Ban Unconstitutional
On Tuesday, a federal judge in Mississippi permanently blocked the state’s 15-week abortion ban, calling it unconstitutional. The Mississippi Gestational Age Act, or HB 1510, bans abortion procedures after 15 weeks of gestation. Further, doctors who violate the ban would have their licenses revoked or suspended. The law was signed in March by Republican Governor […]
Canadian Government Pressured to End Forced Sterilization of Indigenous Women
Monday, Amnesty International announced it will lobby the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) to compel the Canadian government to investigate the allegations of forced sterilization of indigenous women. So far 60 women have come forward with a pending lawsuit against health professionals in Saskatchewan, a Canadian province with a large Native population. The lawsuit challenges […]
Safe Online Abortion Access Now Available in the US
Women in the United States can now order safe abortion pills online through the organization Women on the Web, allowing women to medically induce their own abortions at home. The organization performs online consultations, fills prescriptions, and ships the pills to women in countries that legally allow abortions, and studies have determined that the service […]
International Health Organization Banned from Providing Abortion Care in Kenya
Kenya’s Medical Practitioners Board banned Marie Stopes, an international health organization, from offering all forms of abortion care in all its facilities within Kenya. Further, the Board requires Marie Stopes to file a weekly report on all services rendered in their facilities for 60 days. The decision to ban abortion came after the Medical Practitioners […]
Kavanaugh’s First Abortion Case May be an Indiana Law that Mike Pence Signed
Recently, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill appealed to the Supreme Court to review a lawsuit against an Indiana anti-abortion law that restricts abortion access as well as enforces regulations on how to dispose fetal tissue. This could be the first case on abortion restrictions that the Supreme Court rules on since Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, and […]
Virginia Board of Health Reviewing TRAP Laws
The Virginia Board of Health is reviewing the state’s “Regulations for Licensure of Abortion Facilities” and asking for broad public feedback concerning how people feel about Virginia’s TRAP laws, or targeted regulations on abortion providers. The Feminist Majority Foundation and other women’s rights organizations are asking Virginians to submit a comment urging the Board of […]
FMF Launches Campaign to Oppose Alabama “Personhood” Amendment
The Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF) has launched a campaign to educate and mobilize students against a thinly-veiled “personhood” amendment to the Alabama state constitution on the ballot this November. Amendment 2 would grant full legal rights to fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses, declare that there is no constitutional right to abortion in Alabama, and pave the way to banning abortion and some forms of birth control in the state.
Anti-Abortion Extremists Flood Indianapolis
This week, members of the extremist anti-abortion group Operation Save America stormed Indianapolis in an attempt to harass doctors, staff and patients of three local reproductive health clinics. OSA’s leader has made it clear that he believes women should be subject to criminal prosecution—even the death penalty—for accessing an abortion.
Pro-Choice Caucus Rejects Kavanaugh, Fights to Save Roe
This morning, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi held a press conference with several members of Pro-Choice House Caucus concerning the threats Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court poses for reproductive rights. Feminist Majority joined several reproductive rights organizations to unite with members against Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Indiana Clinic Forced to Close After Anti-Abortion Harassment
The Fort Wayne, Indiana Planned Parenthood clinic is closing because of harassment from anti-reproductive rights activists.
Justice Kennedy’s Retirement Leaves Court’s Future Uncertain
Justice Kennedy announced last Wednesday that he will be retiring from the United States Supreme Court. His retirement will allow President Trump to have a second Supreme Court appointment.
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Anti-Abortion Fake Clinics
This week, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court struck down a California law requiring that anti-abortion, fake health centers provide women with complete and accurate information about abortion.
Iowa Heartbeat Abortion Ban Temporarily Blocked
On June 1, Polk County District Court Judge Michael Huppert temporarily blocked Iowa’s fetal heartbeat ban, SF 359, from going into effect until the case can make its way through the appropriate legal channels.
Trump’s Anti-Abortion Domestic Gag Rule Strips Funding from Women’s Clinics
Under this new rule, any clinic that receives Title X funding for family planning and reproductive healthcare would be barred from providing any information, referrals or services for abortion.
Louisiana Set to Pass 15 Week Abortion Ban
Last week the Louisiana state House passed a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, challenging nearly half a century of legal precedent set in 1973’s Roe v. Wade. The bill has already been passed by the state Senate and now waits the Governor’s signature.
Kentucky Works to Outlaw Common & Safe Abortion Procedure
This week Kentucky lawmakers voted to outlaw a common and safe procedure known as dilation and evacuation that accounts for 95% of abortions performed after the first trimester, essentially banning all abortions after 11 weeks.
Judge Blocks Mississippi’s 15 Week Abortion Ban
On Tuesday a federal judge temporarily blocked a new Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, the most restrictive abortion law in the country.
Supreme Court Hears Case on Fake Reproductive Health Clinics
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard the first abortion-related case of the Trump Administration.