Repro Roundup: Planned Parenthood reopens tomorrow in Lubbock, Texas as citizens try to make it a “sanctuary city”
Welcome to my column, The Repro Roundup, in which I summarize abortion news happening around the country, why it matters, and what you can do about it — in 250 words or less.
What’s the issue? After a seven-year closure, Planned Parenthood of Lubbock, Texas will reopen its doors on October 26 to under and uninsured patients, according to a local NBC report. The President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, Ken Lambrecht, said that Texas has the highest number of uninsured people in the country, and Lubbock has the highest number in Texas. As a result, Lubbock has higher rates of STIs and unintended pregnancies than anywhere else in Texas and the rest of the country. In 2021, the clinic will begin to provide abortion services.
In the meantime, some citizens in Lubbock are also trying to pass ordinances that would make abortion illegal within city limits, making it a “sanctuary city.” As of now, no city has the ability to outlaw abortion like this, as abortion is a constitutional right.
Why does this matter? Planned Parenthood clinics are crucial for serving populations with uninsured residents. They provide a wide range of services beyond abortion, including breast exams, cancer screenings, STI screenings and treatment, wellness tests, vaccines, and more wellness services. Some Planned Parenthoods also provide abortions, a necessary and wanted form of healthcare for many.
Cities that attempt to co-opt the use of the words “sanctuary” from pro-immigrant networks as an anti-abortion tactic are particularly cruel because they waste millions in taxpayer dollars to outlaw a service that cannot be outlawed. The result is that cities spend years litigating about abortion which causes delays in care to those who need it.
What action can I take?
- Read this ABC article on the ACLU suing seven other “sanctuary cities” in Texas earlier this year
- Learn more about abortion in Texas from Guttmacher
- Book an appointment at Planned Parenthood Lubbock and learn about all the services they provide
- Fund abortion/follow/volunteer in Texas with: Fund Texas Choice (lodging, Spanish speaking, travel), West Fund (financial assistance, Spanish speaking), Texas Equal Access Fund (financial assistance), Stigma Relief Fund (financial assistance), Clinic Access Support Network (lodging, travel), Lilith Fund (financial assistance), Frontera Fund (financial assistance, lodging, transportation), Afiya Center (abortion doula, childcare, meals, transportation, travel), Bridge Collective (childcare, lodging, transportation), and Jane’s Due Process (judicial bypass support, practical support)
- Subscribe to The Repro Queen of DC, my monthly newsletter on abortion access, activism, and writing on the frontlines of DC.
- Subscribe to Repro 101, a seven-week educational email series about all things repro. Topics include the basics of funding abortion, clinic escorting, anti-choice violence, and more.
- Read more of my work, browse the services I offer, and more.
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