On July 22, 1923, the National Women’s Party unveiled the Equal Rights Amendment at the First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls in New York. Precisely 100 years later, contemporary ERA advocates gathered to mark this important historic milestone and plan for the final push for recognition of the ERA as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Author: Carrie N. Baker
Carrie N. Baker, J.D., Ph.D., is the Sylvia Dlugasch Bauman professor of American Studies and the chair of the Program for the Study of Women and Gender at Smith College. She is a contributing editor at Ms. magazine.
You can contact Dr. Baker at cbaker@msmagazine.com or follow her on Twitter @CarrieNBaker.
U.S. Clinicians Can Now Mail Abortion Pills to States Banning Abortion, Thanks to Shield Laws in Five States
Telemedicine abortion provider shield laws have led to significantly quicker shipping times for people living in restrictive states—from several weeks to several days—which is critical for this time-sensitive medical care.
Between mid-June and mid-July, seven Aid Access clinicians located across these five states mailed pills to 3,500 people located in states banning abortion. “It shows what people want,” said Julie F. Kaye, co-founder of the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine Access
Abortion Pills Are Now *Free* in States with Abortion Bans, Through Community Support Networks
Community support networks are now providing free abortion pills to those living in states with bans, and dozens of companies are now offering abortion pills online for as little as $37, with prompt delivery in all 50 states.
Anti-Abortion Politics Hinder Access to Important Fibroid Treatment: Mifepristone
Millions of U.S. women are debilitated each year by fibroids, which are noncancerous growths of the uterus that can cause heavy periods, severe pain, and difficulty conceiving. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, over 26 million in the U.S. have fibroids. Fibroids are often treated with invasive surgery to remove the fibroids or with hysterectomies.
Research has shown that mifepristone can significantly reduce fibroids. Yet, it is not available for that use in the United States.
Celebrate the ERA’s 100th Birthday in Seneca Falls, Where It Was Originally Unveiled
The Equal Rights Amendment’s 100th birthday will take place on July 22 at the same historic location that it was originally introduced: the First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls in New York.
The celebration will include a declaration of shared values and a collective action plan for recognition of the federal ERA and passage of state-level ERAs in the 23 states that do not yet have them. It will also hold a ERA march and rally. Tickets are on sale now.
Congressional Resolution Condemns Criminalization of Abortion, Contraception and Gender-Affirming Care
On Thursday, June 29, Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.) introduced a resolution in Congress opposing the criminalization of sexual and reproductive healthcare in states across the country. The resolution criticizes the “the use of State power against people in the United States seeking essential health care” and “State punishment of people for their pregnancy outcomes.”
Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are introducing companion legislation in the Senate next week.
The Anti-Abortion Movement Is Pumping Resources into Promoting Fake Clinics—And Google Is Helping
Abortion opponents are now targeting states where abortion remains legal, such as Massachusetts, by pumping resources into a spider web of anti-abortion “crisis pregnancy centers” (CPCs) that work to entrap people searching for reproductive healthcare. And Google made $10.2 million over the last two years running deceptive advertisements for these fake clinics.
“Google … is more than willing to allow advertisers to lie, deceive, limit users’ rights to good information and to healthcare, as long as they get paid in the process.”
The Ms. Q&A With U.S. Senator Patty Murray: ‘Our Ultimate Goal Is to Put Roe Back Into Law’
As the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s devastating decision in Dobbs v. Jackson approaches, Ms. spoke with U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who leads the Democratic Caucus on reproductive rights and has been at the forefront of the fight for reproductive freedom in Congress since she was first elected in 1992.
“Every time we have tried to do anything, we are blocked by Republicans. So, we have looked at every other way that we can try and help manage the chaos and crisis that’s been created. … We are working to come up with the best solutions for what is happening to women in this country and the healthcare impacts we are seeing.”
North Carolina Abortion Clinics on the Front Lines: The Ms. Q&A with Amber Gavin
Republicans in North Carolina enacted SB 20, which prohibits any licensed physician from performing abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy. Ms. spoke with Amber Gavin, vice president of advocacy and operations for A Woman’s Choice, about the impact of the ban, slated to take effect on July 1.
“North Carolina has been a crucial access point to care in the South because so many surrounding states have partial or complete abortion bans. I am fearful and sad about folks not having the access to make decisions that are best for their lives and their futures. It’s unconscionable to take away essential healthcare from our communities, to take away their choices and options.”
Far-Right Fifth Circuit Judges Appear Determined to Remove Access to Abortion Pill Mifepristone
The Texas case on the abortion pill mifepristone was back in court for oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Wednesday. The three Republican-appointed judges aggressively questioned and interrupted the attorneys defending access to mifepristone, and asked a wide range of questions indicating basic misunderstandings about abortion medications, the role of the FDA and administrative law.
“They’re going to ask terrible questions and write an awful opinion. But it will have no effect. None whatsoever. Because what the Supreme Court does in this case is what matters. So do yourself a favor and just ignore the Fifth Circuit. They’ve earned it.”