Roe V. Wade Has Been Overturned - What Now? 

     On June 24th, 2022, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dobbs, effectively overturning Roe V. Wade and Planned Parenthood V. Casey. This means that abortion is no longer a constitutional right in the U.S., thus making it a state's decision. In doing so, our rights are left up to interpretation and the right to our bodily autonomy is effectively stripped away.  We are devastated and angry, and we can’t give up on this fight. If you find yourself asking, “what now?,” please keep reading to learn more.

     Putting abortion rights in the hands of the states has already had numerous detrimental effects. Before Roe V. Wade was overturned, thirteen states had already put ‘trigger laws’ (laws that were set to go into effect in the event that Roe was overturned) in place that ban or completely outlaw abortion. We have seen the complete ban go into effect in Texas and a handful of other states. While many states have taken to these extremes, abortion is still protected in others. Abortion seekers are protected from arrest- remember that current legislation (here in Texas, too) attacks the providers. You can view the list of states and the status of their abortion laws here. (Consider a VPN or private browser for any links below!)

     In the days following the ruling, social media has blown up with information. With some much going on, massive amounts of information are being passed around that are not entirely true, helpful, or accurate. This document serves to address some of the incorrect information, clarify the current situation with abortion access, and share accurate, proactive information as to what we can do now. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to the Islander Feminists on Instagram or islanderfeminists@gmail.com; otherwise, contact me personally (mollydaavis on IG) as ask for my Signal number. Let me know if I missed anything, and I will be sure to add it! Remember, abortion access is a community responsibility - all we have is each other. Read below, take action, and thank you for your time.

In Solidarity,

Molly Davis (She/Her)

Co-President of the Islander Feminists

  • DIGITAL SECURITY BEFORE ANYTHING: WE KEEP US SAFE

Digital security has never been this important. With laws such as SB8, which establishes a $10,000+ lawsuit to anyone who aids and abets abortion, it is the providers who are being attacked. This has created fear amongst healthcare providers that scares them into closing clinics, limiting services, etc. Abortion is largely a community responsibility - especially now - and taking time to gain knowledge about SMA in a state where the law constantly attacks it is one of the most useful actions we can take. Censorship of abortion information may be something we face more of in the future, so learn while we can as SAFELY AS WE CAN. Some tips include -

  • Only discuss related topics on encrypted apps such as Signal. Avoid any mention on apps such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Messenger, Text, etc!

  • Use a VPN / Private Browser to protect searches (Duck Duck Go, FireFox, Onion Browser).

  • If you would like to further discuss abo info with me / the Islander Feminists, message & say verbatim: “Could I get your number on signal to chat?” Then, download Signal!

  • BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA - do not post something that could be used against you or get you into trouble. Threatening people or actions on social media will only put you on a watch list. We enjoy the funny tweets and share the same feelings, but take this seriously- we are always being monitored online, so don’t post anything that can backfire on you.

  • DON’T USE CODE WORDS LIKE “CAMPING” OR “GIRLS TRIP” FOR AB0RTION. Code words will not protect you or others from the law. Do not trust or boost content from individuals in blue states who claim they will help and house you if you need to “go camping out of state” or otherwise- it is possible that they are being watched by law enforcement after sharing something like this on social media, which puts abortion seekers at risk if they were to reach out. Again, shift your focus to abortion funds and medicated abortion over largely-inaccessibly out-of-state travel. Blue. States.Won’t Save. Us! See more information here and here.

  • Use PROTON for Email - Proton keeps emails private and communications safe. Note that the subject lines of emails are NOT private, but the contents of said emails are protected.

  • Delete period tracking apps and keep tabs yourself! Just be safe over sorry :)

  • ABORTION IN TEXAS: WHERE ARE WE AT? 

Despite Roe V. Wade being overturned, ABORTION ACCESS WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR. Seekers in Texas have two main options: out-of-state travel and self-managed abortion (SMA). With current legislation, there are no clinics that provide the services or SMA medication in-state. Read below to learn more about each option and, once again, share responsibly!  

OUT-OF-STATE ACCESS

  • The closest state protecting abortion access to Texas is New Mexico (see map at end of document). You have the option to travel out of state for an abrtion (this is still legal, yes!), but there can be more than a handful of barriers. Costs such as transportation, the procedure, aftercare supplies, an overnight stay, time off work, potential childcare costs, and more are unattainable to many. We can’t rely on ‘blue’ states that still have many barriers to break!

  • Thankfully, abrtion funds can help fund and plan an out-of-state visit! In Texas, check out funds such as Jane’s Due Process, Lilith Fund, Fund Texas Choice, La Frontera Fund, and more. 

  • If you want to help make abortion more accessible for your community, support your local abortion funds and doulas.

SELF-MANAGED AB0RTION ACCESS

One thing we can do now is learn about self-managed abortion (aka SMA, medicated abortion, Plan C, period pills).

  • Traveling out of state is not your only option: abortion with pills through mail is viable and accessible in all 50 states!!

  •  Join SMA workshops or visit Plan C / Aid Access (on your private browser) to learn more. You can also join some national orgs advancing the accessibility of this information, such as the Advocates For Youth mailing lists for workshop opportunities, abortion access, and related information. You can also check out https://shoutyourabortion.com/

  • Mifepristone and Misoprostol (the medications used for SMA) are safe, effective, and important. You can learn more about the medication here, and you can even order without being pregnant at Plan C / Aid Access on a private browser.

  • OTHER REMINDERS POST-ROE

  • ABORTION BANS ARE RACIST - if you are not focusing on how this ruling is/will impact BIPOC then you are missing a crucial part of this conversation. This ruling will & has had horrible consequences on our most marginalized communities. Those of which are often ignored in the conversation surrounding abortion entirely include Black women/POC, trans men, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, those in lower socio-economic communites, & more.

  • For example, the maternal mortality rate for Black women in the U.S. is almost three times that of white women; these numbers will only get higher with the recent abortion trigger bans across the country. (A predicted 33% rise) THESE GROUPS WILL SUFFER THE MOST DUE TO LACK OF LEGAL ABORTION ACCESS. We must ensure our focus is on getting access to those most vulnerable! Do your part in shifting the narrative from the white, cis-normative focus to center on these communities.  Listen to BIPOC now more than ever - Black women & queer people have always led the fight for reprodctive justice and it’s our job to uplift and support their work now.

  • Please remember to use gender neutral language surrounding abortion. Trans men and gender nonconforming individuals seek abortions and deserve access, too. This is not a women’s rights issue- it is a human rights issue. See here to learn about gender neutral language and abortion.

  • Support your local abortion funds. You can find a list of abortion funds across the states to donate to here or here. Focus your donations towards states with trigger bans if possible and DO NOT DONATE TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD. PP is well funded - mutual aid abortion funds work to place money right in the hands of abortion seekers. If possible, please consider becoming a monthly donor to funds such as Jane’s Due Process. If you are unable to donate, please boost and share their content. These funds are underfunded and overworked with the overturning of Roe. Now is the time to show them your love! The volunteers behind these funds are lifesavers. You can learn more about abortion funds and the work they do by clicking here.

  • Please center those who have had abortions during protests and on social media. Many who have never experienced an abortion have been holding the media's attention. This is the time to create a platform for those who have had abortions to be heard. Listen to what they have to say, their advice, and how we can liberate the process for future seekers.

  • Pressure Your Reps. There is a current legislative session happening in Texas, 2025. You will hear a lot of ‘messaging’ bills, or ones presented that will not pass, but help carry through ‘less extreme bills.’ Don’t let sensationalizing headlines pull your focus! Contact your representatives during the hearing sessions for SBs - these sessions are crucial in the fight for abortion access now that it is a states’ rights issue.

  • Join protests, but also CENTER COMMUNITY/PRACTICAL SUPPORT! While boosting and sharing information about protests, be sure to focus on lending a hand to the community. Get educated on medicated abortion, donate to funds, boost their content, join workshops and classes on reproductive justice, and be a source of aid for your community! Educate and empower your friends. Protests can be wonderful to help encourage others in your city to join the fight and create a sense of unification, but protests won’t provide abortions for those who need them. If you do join/host protests, make sure that safety (especially for WOC/POC) is a top focus. As we have seen happen across the country, police interference (brutality) during protests can and have ruined lives. We appreciate all efforts, and we know donating to funds is not viable for everyone, please just make sure you keep up the work before and after protesting.

  • The problem with “I support abortion rights because rape survivors don’t deserve to carry their abusers children.” - While obviously true, this mindset makes the assumption that someone’s body has to be violated in order to have a choice (which isn’t true). Everyone deserves the right to choose when and who they start a family with. Please avoid making these statements or exploiting the trauma of past survivors to get this point across!

  • DO NOT STOCKPILE PLAN B - not only do they have a short shelf life, but this limits access to these resources for those in emergency need. If you need EC, you can order some here for $10 or message the Islander Feminists if you need it for emergency use only.

  • A ‘Sex Boycott’ is Not It: Promoting the idea of a “sex boycott” (withholding sex from men in response to Roe) is not helpful, and rather problematic. This not only insinuates that sex is purely for a man’s pleasure, but it also ignores the fact that people are assaulted and even murdered for withholding sex or unwarranted advances from men. Sex is for women and queer people too. We deserve sexual liberation AND abortion access- they go hand in hand!

  • Stop with the ‘Mandatory Vasectomies’. Promoting the idea of mandatory vasectomies as a viable option over abortion access is also not helpful. Not only does this not bring us any closer to abortion access, but it ignores how Black and Indigenous people have been subject to centuries of involuntary sterilization. We know most comments like this aren't serious and are intended to point out the unfairness in birth control only being targeted towards women, but it’s more helpful to focus on what we can actually do to make abortion accessible and legal for all.

  • ‘Banning abortions only stops safe abortions.’ Thankfully, this isn’t true! With SMA access, abortion can stay safe and accessible, legal or not. “Fuck SCOTUS, we are doing it anyways!” is better than “There is No Safe Access!” because this further stigmatizes medicated abortion.

  • See the map of abortion bans across the US below. Remember- there are states where abortion is still legal, and the legality of abortion doesn’t mean it will ever go away. Learn more about what bans/laws are in place per state here. THINGS ARE CHANGING RAPIDLY IN EACH STATE, SO INFO ON THE MAP BELOW MAY NOT REMAIN RELEVANT- please visit AbortionFinder.com on a private browser to read up-to-date information per state.