Abortion Legislation

08/18/2011

Arizona

Arizona Law Says Choose Between Donations and Providing Care to Women

By Alessandra Soler, ACLU of Arizona at 12:40pm

Just months after Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl made false and misleading statements about Planned Parenthood's prenatal services, Arizona is once again attacking groups that provide abortion information or services. The latest scheme: A law to rewrite the tax code to exclude any nonprofit organization that provides abortion referrals or counseling from receiving donations through the state's Working Poor Tax Credit Program. This law is so broad that it could prevent groups from even discussing abortion or other reproductive health services with women in crisis. Today, we filed a lawsuit challenging that law.

02/28/2013

Abortion Legislation

Some Arkansas Legislators Do the Time Warp; Pass Most Extreme Abortion Bill In The Nation

By Hayley Smith, Advocacy and Policy Associate, ACLU at 4:52pm

This morning I sat at my desk in disbelief, as I heard the news that the Arkansas legislature passed two abortion bans today...

01/25/2013

Abortion Legislation

On 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Why Talk about Birth Control?

By Sarah Lipton-Lubet, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 10:01am

It’s been 40 years since the Supreme Court protected a woman’s right to make a decision about whether to have an abortion...

12/10/2012

Abortion Legislation

Why Are Michigan Politicians Adopting Ireland’s Deadly Abortion Policy?

By Jennifer Dalven, Reproductive Freedom Project at 12:29pm

By now, most of us have read (and wept over) the tragic story of Savita Halappanavar -- the woman an Irish hospital let die rather than provide the abortion that she needed to save her life. News of her death has generated outrage across the globe and a call from Secretary Clinton to the Irish government to ensure that women are protected.

11/19/2012

Abortion Legislation

“It was all in their hands, and they just let her go.” -- Remembering Savita Halappanavar

By Eunice Hyon Min Rho, ACLU at 5:36pm

On October 21, Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old dentist who was 17 weeks pregnant, sought treatment...

11/10/2012

Abortion Legislation

State Legislators Double Down on Most Restrictive Abortion Law in Nation

By Mike Brickner, ACLU of Ohio at 5:56pm

Yesterday, retiring Ohio GOP Congressman Steve LaTourette made national headlines while discussing the recent presidential election. He said:

My wife’s a Democrat, and she was so close to voting for Mitt Romney. But then, you know, Mourdock and Akin opened their mouth, and we sent [voters] running back to the Democratic Party, because they think we’re nutty […] We have to get out of people’s lives, get out of people’s bedrooms, and we have to be a national party…or else we’re going to lose.

09/14/2012

Abortion Legislation

Sad Day For Science and Women’s Health

By Talcott Camp, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project at 6:20pm

Today, Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli strong-armed the VA Board of Health into reversing previous decisions based on medical evidence and patient safety in favor of unprecedented regulations on doctors and facilities that provide abortion care. This political move will endanger women by shutting down good, safe providers of abortion care. In a year when we have seen numerous politicians show utter disregard for women’s health, the story of today’s vote illustrates just how far some politicians will go to interfere in a woman’s personal, private decision making.

07/16/2012

Abortion Legislation

Some Michigan Politicians “Wanna Be My Doc.” Use Our New Twitter Generator to Challenge Them

By Rana Elmir, ACLU of Michigan at 4:51pm

It looks like some Michigan politicians want to “play doctor” and take away a woman’s ability to make personal, private medical decisions for herself. In June, Michigan vaulted to the top of the list of states with outrageous, regressive legislation on women's health, placing a monster omnibus package - House Bills 5711, 5712 and 5713- on the fast-track to becoming law. HB 5711, or the War on Women Mega Bill, passed in the House and if it survives in the Senate, it would effectively make safe abortion services inaccessible in the state.

05/30/2012

Women in the Military

ACLU Lens: Shaheen Amendment Draws Support from Retired Military

By Amanda Simon at 10:14am

Last week, during its markup of the National Defense Authorization (NDAA) bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to include a much-needed and overdue amendment to help servicewomen when they need it most. The amendment, offered by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), would reverse the current ban on abortion coverage for servicewomen who are the victims of rape or incest.

When the news broke a group of senior military officers, retired medical personnel and veterans called Stand With Servicewomen, immediately registered their support releasing video featuring several retired military leaders.

03/30/2012

This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (3/30/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 7:01pm

In which state did doctors try to force a pregnant woman to have a c-section against her wishes?

What group can no longer be held in solitary confinement in Mississippi?

How many cells compose a person according to Personhood USA's definition?

How many states oppose a national ID card?

Which federal agency illegally gathers intelligence on innocent American Muslims?

Your Body, Your Decisions — This Means You, Moms!
Recently, a mother in South Carolina reached out to the ACLU for help. She was pregnant, and although she had had two prior cesarean surgeries, she wished to attempt a "trial of labor," that is, to give birth naturally, rather than having a scheduled cesarean surgery. The mother's wish made sense in light of her medical history, and according to professional standards set by obstetricians.

American Civil Liberties Union