The biggest abortion case in 23 years is going before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 2nd and most people have absolutely no idea it’s happening! This decision will greatly effect access to abortion. Let me repeat. THIS DECISION WILL GREATLY AFFECT ACCESS TO ABORTION!
The case, Whole Woman’s Health V. Hellerstedt, will review a type of abortion regulation known as TRAP laws. (TRAP stands for Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers!) TRAP laws unfairly regulate clinics with an end-goal of shutting them down.
TRAP law examples include: requiring abortion doctors to obtain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital (i.e. a woman needs a note from her local hospital —> many of which will not give “permission”) and mandate that abortion facilities meet the requirements of ambulatory surgical centers. More dangerous than abortions (statistically speaking, if you are into facts and those sort of things) is getting your wisdom teeth pulled. Do those facilities need to meet the standards of a surgical center?! No, they do not. (When they find teeth in a women’s vagina maybe they will start regulating dentists.)
What all this means is that although abortion is technically legal, restrictions on clinics make it nearly impossible and incredibly expensive to keep a clinic open. TRAP laws, mandatory waiting periods, and abortion bans are leaving women with fewer options and more challenges that ever for seeking abortions. Taking all of these different restrictions into account (a total of 49 states have compromised abortion access since 1973 when abortion became a legal constitutional right) we see the message to women loud and clear “YEAH YOU CAN HAVE AN ABORTION – GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET ONE!”
SOOOOOOO for the month of February we here at Lady Parts Justice League are dropping a video a week explaining TRAP Laws and what is at stake. Think of it as a TRAP LAW 101 Class in the form of our favorite mode of expose —> POP CULTURE REFERENCES!!!
Today we are releasing our second video of the month showcasing America’s favorite pastime: reality shows about houses! Fixing houses! Finding new houses! Where in my house can I take away women’s right?! Wait, what….
So why is finding a home easier than getting a healthcare procedure?! Oh yeah, because of TRAP Laws! This is not your nana’s house huntin’! Follow Susan as she figures out what abortion clinic best fits with her finances and needs. It’s an abortion adventure on a budget. Check out ‘Clinic Hunters’!
P.S. Comparing women’s reproductive rights to reality shows about houses feels really creepy! IT’S TIME FOR US ALL TO BE SO CREEPED OUT that we get out there and say ‘NO MORE'! Pay attention, get your panties in a knot, vote, vote, vote, make noise, join the Lady Parts Justice League!
