6/24/22 Update: On June 24, 2022 the United States Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, effectively overturning the landmark supreme court cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which guaranteed and reaffirmed a nationwide right to abortion. Read more.
Getting an abortion, or accessing any reproductive health care, could soon become much more difficult in a large swath of the country. On June 24, the conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade in a five-to-four vote.
Missouri, Texas, and 11 others states have enacted bills, often called “trigger laws,” that will severely limit access to abortions or ban them entirely now that Roe v. Wade is overturned. At least 10 other states have anti-abortion laws that predate Roe, meaning that the right to abortion will be lost or restricted in nearly half of U.S. states.
In response, reproductive health advocates have urged people to donate to local abortion aid funds to make sure people can afford the procedure itself, along with related costs like travel and lodging. Organizations like Plan C are also working to protect access to mail-order abortion pills from online pharmacies, also known as self-managed abortions. There has never been a more urgent time to ensure that people who need abortions can continue to access them.
When many think about how to help preserve abortion rights, they often default to donations to large national organizations like Planned Parenthood. However, advocates say contributing to local organizations is a more crucial and impactful way to reach those who need support.
The Supreme Court’s dismantling of Roe coincides with an ongoing legislative attack on trans and queer humanity, which makes it vital to make sure your donations reach marginalized people where they live. Donating to abortion funds, travel funds for abortion seekers, and bail bonds are all necessary ways to help people in the states that will be most impacted if the decision passes.
Here’s where you can send funds to help queer and trans abortion seekers today.
Support Local Abortion Funds
While large national organizations have high visibility, many organizers are also asking the public to donate to local groups that help people access reproductive health care.
“Consider donating to your local abortion fund instead! PP has a multi billion dollar budget while abortion funds often operate on shoestring budgets,” Helmi Henkin, an abortion organizer, recently tweeted.
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Henkin compiled a Google doc of local abortion Henkin created a website listing local abortion mutual aid funds in each state for those wishing to help these smaller organizations. The National Network of Abortion Funds has another database with an accompanying map to help identify local abortion funds in every state.
In particular, according to organizers, funds in the 13 “trigger laws” states — bills that ban or restrict abortion now that Roe v. Wade is overturned — are in critical need. Organizations in Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming are all asking for necessary financial support.
The Buckle Bunnies Fund, a queer-led reproductive organization that raises money to provide abortions across Texas, dates back to 2020 when the state temporarily banned abortions for pregnancies later than six weeks. The Frontera Fund, another Texas-based organization, works to provide abortion access to people in the state’s Rio Grande Valley, regardless of immigration status. And if you want to help youth affected by these possible bans, Jane’s Due Process is an organization in Texas that helps young people navigate abortion access, regardless of parental permission.
Prioritize Donating to BIPOC Abortion Funds
Though abortion is often framed as a siloed issue, it is deeply intertwined with the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice in the U.S., especially now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. The ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s reversal will be felt by all marginalized people, particularly in states already limiting access to abortion. “Simply put, a narrowing of the 14th amendment could put the right to interracial marriage, marriage equality for LGBTQ+ people, and other civil rights on the chopping block,” Victoria Kirby York, deputy executive director at the National Black Justice Coalition, said in a statement.
As an onslaught of legislative violence continues to target reproductive rights, it’s important to remember who exactly will shoulder the largest burden of these laws. Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color more broadly will bear the brunt of the restrictions. This makes it crucial to donate to BIPOC-specific abortion funds, especially those located in the South or trigger-law states.
The Afiya Center in Texas focuses on addressing reproductive health access gaps specifically faced by Black women, including abortion access. In Appalachia, the BIPOC, queer-led organization Holler Health Justice seeks to provide needed health services, including abortion, to West Virginians. Yellowhammer Fund is a BIPOC queer-run organization in Alabama dedicated to ensuring all people have the right to family planning, including providing access to abortion.
Some national organizations also seek to redistribute funds directly to abortion seekers of color. Indigenous Women Rising has an ongoing abortion fund that specifically raises money for all Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada seeking reproductive health care.
Support and Circulate Resources For Self-Managed Abortion Pills
Going directly to an in-person medical provider is not the only way to access a safe abortion. Organizations like Plan C and Abortion On Our Own Terms are disseminating crucial information about self-managed abortions, which consist of people using medical abortion pills at home to perform the procedure. These include telehealth appointments in which a provider prescribes you the pills that are shipped to you, online pharmacies that may not require a prescription, and pharmacies from other countries that ship directly to the US.
While there are no laws explicitly prohibiting the use of self-managed abortion pills, at least 60 people have been criminalized over the last 20 years for having self-managed abortions or aiding someone else to seek one. The Repro Legal Helpline is available for any legal questions you have about the process. Helping spread this information through social media, press campaigns, and word of mouth to your community is deeply important for providing more access to care.
Help Abortion Seekers Cross State Lines
As abortion access becomes more limited, more people will likely have to cross state lines to get life-saving care.
Organizations like the Brigid Alliance and Midwest Access Coalition directly fundraise to cover travel expenses and related costs for abortion seekers in states with limited options. For abortion seekers without money for hotels, rental cars, or gas, making the journey is impossible without supplemental funds. Additionally, some legal experts prodigy states may attempt to make crossing state lines for abortions or aiding in this process illegal. This is especially dangerous for those in trigger-law states, which makes the work of these organizations more important than ever.
If you want to make the most impact right now, continue donating to local abortion funds and redistribute your money to mutual aid organizations. This tectonic Supreme Court decision calls for a massive response.
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