Center for Reproductive Rights

GOOD NEWS: A Tennessee court has issued a preliminary ruling in our case, temporarily BLOCKING the state’s total abortion ban for patients with certain dangerous pregnancy complications and lethal fetal diagnoses. A three-judge panel UNANIMOUSLY agreed that the lack of clarity in the so-called "medical exception" to Tennessee’s abortion ban is preventing women from getting medically necessary care and CONFIRMED that some who were denied care under the state law should have received it. As we've repeatedly shown in court: EXCEPTIONS DON'T WORK. They are nothing but political cover for extremist politicians who are determined to enforce an absolute abortion ban and simply don't want to face the political consequences of their cruel and deeply unpopular policies. This decision means Tennessee physicians can now provide treatment to patients experiencing certain dire pregnancy complications and fetal diagnoses without fear of losing their licenses. We filed this case on behalf of nine plaintiffs: seven women denied medically necessary abortion care who faced severe and dangerous pregnancy complications, and two physicians who have been prevented from offering patients the treatments they need in obstetrical emergencies. “The Court agreed with us that the medical exception in the ban is not clear and has not been working," said Linda Goldstein, Senior Counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights. This ruling is a win for pregnant patients in Tennessee and is vindication for the brave women in this case." Tennesseans deserve access to the care they need and laws that provide coherent guidance in keeping with medical standards. We are ready to continue this fight in court and we will not back down until we see justice for our clients, and everyone living under these cruel laws. Everyone—in Tennessee and beyond—deserves the right to access the reproductive health care they want and need, and we will fight like hell until that right is protected. https://bit.ly/3YffraG

This lawsuit was baseless from the start, designed to intimidate everyday Texans out of accessing health care. Anti-abortion extremists found an abusive ex-husband with a vendetta and tried to use the courts to heartlessly threaten his ex-wife and the people around her. No one should have to endure such harassment. It is clear that the anti-abortion movement will stop at nothing to end abortion care access entirely, but we refuse to let them win. Enough.

As extreme abortion bans have cut off health care access in states across the US, hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to flee their home communities and make arduous, expensive journeys across state lines to get the care they need. Abortion care is crucial and lifesaving, and we deserve the right to access it in our own community, with our chosen providers, and with family and friends nearby. Forcing pregnant people to flee their homes to get health care is dangerous and unacceptable, and we refuse to be silent.

Since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, many of the states with the highest Indigenous populations—including Arizona, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Wyoming—have rolled out extreme abortion bans leaving two million Indigenous women cut off from essential reproductive care. Add to that a federal law that has prohibited nearly all abortions at Indian Health Service clinics since 1976, disproportionate rates of sexual assault and unintended pregnancy, a crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, high rates of maternal mortality, and poor access to preventative care and contraception, and we have a public health emergency on our hands that MUST be addressed. When we say reproductive health care must be available to all people, that means ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. On Indigenous People's Day—and every day–we are calling for full access to reproductive health care for Native folks everywhere.

Our kids deserve better.

We deserve the basic right to make major decisions about our lives and futures WITHOUT government intrusion. Do you agree?

🚨 WEBINAR ALRET! Join Senator Liz Krueger for a discussion about Proposition 1, the equal rights amendment that will be on NY ballots this November! 💪You'll learn how the ERA will protect access to abortion and make sure that NO New Yorker can be discriminated against by the government. You'll also hear how you can help spread the word to protect our rights and reproductive freedoms. 📆 Tuesday, Oct. 15th, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. ✅ RSVP today: http://bit.ly/3TqIF4V

🚨Hey, #NYC and #DC! We’re #HIRING! The Center is looking for someone with a track record of leading successful proposal development and securing 6-figure grants from major foundation donors. The 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 will lead a team of two and will: ➡️ Oversee the foundation funding portfolio, including managing a portfolio of donors while also managing other frontline fundraisers. ➡️ Handle the development of proposals and reports for all foundations, developing case rationales for proposals and overseeing the preparation of support materials to accompany submissions. ➡️ Help set and meet annual and multiyear revenue goals, and monitor foundation fundraising projections. The position will be based in the Center’s New York City or Washington D.C. offices. 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦: https://bit.ly/3XV0ydm

📣Calling all #WHS2024 attendees! The Center's Alejandra Cardenas, Senior Director of Legal Strategies, Innovation and Research will be a panelist at the World Health Summit in Berlin. She will contribute her expertise to the workshop "Children and Racism in Global Health," focusing on the intersections of racial discrimination and mistreatment, with a particular emphasis on their impacts on girls and maternal health. Mark your calendars: 📆 Oct. 13, 2024 ⏰ 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CEST / 09:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. UTC 🧠 Session: WS 03 – Asia Don’t miss out on this important discussion! #WorldHealthSummit #GlobalHealth #MaternalHealth

While anti-abortion extremists play ping-pong in court with our basic human rights, real people's lives hang in the balance. Texas has taken extreme measures to try to evade the federal law that requires hospitals to provide emergency abortion care, while simultaneously refusing to clarify what the medical emergency exception its own abortion ban actually means. 🗣️ No state is above federal law. Pregnant people NEED legal protections —it’s a matter of life or death.