Total Abortion ban becomes the new reality for Florida.
Total Abortion ban becomes the new reality for Florida.
May 1, 2024
FLORIDA - Today, May 1st, marks the first day of the 6-week abortion ban in Florida. On April 1, 2024, the Florida Supreme Court made the devastating decision to clear the way for the 6-week abortion ban to take effect within 30 days. The Florida Access Network [FAN] strongly condemns this outright violation of the reproductive rights of all Floridians. This abortion ban undoubtedly infringes on Floridians’ human rights, autonomy, and freedom, significantly impacting our Black, Brown, Indigenous, Latine, and queer communities who struggle to access healthcare the most.
Abortion bans and restrictions do nothing to protect anyone’s health or safety and instead hurt people who should have the freedom to make their own decisions. With this ban in place, people who need abortions in Florida will be forced to travel over 1000 miles across multiple states for care. Under the ban, an adult will need to find an abortion clinic with an available appointment, have the money to pay for their appointment, coordinate two separate appointments to comply with the 24-hour mandatory waiting period, and confirm their pregnancy is under six weeks. For minors unable to safely share their abortion decision with their parents to abide by parental consent laws, they face the additional burden of asking a judge for permission for their abortion through a judicial bypass. While there are existing exceptions for pregnant survivors of sexual assault, incest, or human trafficking, they must be cooperative with law enforcement to qualify. These barriers are incredibly cruel.
In response to this abortion ban, FAN is steadfast in our commitment to continuing our mission. We're educating and empowering people to know what's going on with these new laws, to understand where they can get support for abortion care, and to ensure that they know that they have a right to bodily autonomy. Second, we're focused on helping people pay for their abortions and travel for their care. Third, we're also focused on fundraising to ensure that we can continue supporting our communities the way we have since 1995. We're distributing basic needs around the state of Florida. This includes emergency contraception, safer sex supplies, period products, and reproductive care kits to ensure that people feel like they have the necessities to respond to their reproductive health needs.
“Abortion restrictions impact all of us, and in the words of Renee Bracey Sherman, everyone loves someone who’s had an abortion. We deserve to live in communities where all pregnancy outcomes, including abortions, are valued and protected - we deserve reproductive justice.”
- Stephanie Loraine Piñeiro, Executive Director of FAN
We implore everyone who values reproductive justice to join us in this battle for autonomy. Your support is now more critical than ever. We encourage you to contribute to organizations like ours that are on the frontlines, defending and safeguarding the right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. Collectively, we can guarantee that reproductive justice is a reality for all.
###
Florida Access Network builds pathways for abortion access by advocating for reproductive justice, funding abortion care, and providing logistical support to make abortion access a reality.
For more information or to schedule an interview, Laura Rosado at info@flaccessnetwork.org
