Thread: 1) As Amy Coney Barrett was sworn into the Supreme Court last night, I was training a new case manager for the DC Abortion Fund. I didn't really have time to reflect on the confirmation because of the training, and because I was coordinating last-minute funding...

2) for a caller heading to Maryland for an abortion later in pregnancy, because she could not safely & legally access the procedure in her state. I'm seeing how dire Barrett's confirmation could be not just for abortion access--but also for LGBTQ rights...

3) police and prison abolition, and anything else that could actually break down existing systems of injustice. By this point y'all know that I'm the deputy director of case management for the Maryland/out of state line at the DC Abortion Fund...

4) I've been involved with abortion funds since 2016. I wish they didn't have to exist I'm immensely grateful to be part of a network that makes reproductive freedom a reality for so many. We talk about Roe vs Wade giving the right to an abortion, but that right is no good...

5) w/o consistent access, and for too many people across the country access to abortion is not a thing. I was going to talk about a variety of abortion-related issues, then I saw a post saying
"Anyone who promotes late-term abortion isn't worthy of a political voice anyway...

6) Well, shit. I can't think of a better way to use my unworthy voice to speak out in support of folks who seek abortions later in pregnancy...

7) Notice how I said "abortions later in pregnancy" rather than "late term"? Late-term is a baseless phrased coined by antis to stigmatize and shame those seeking abortion later in pregnancy. Those of us in the field prefer to say "abortion later in pregnancy" or "later care”...

8) DC & MD are home to three of the five clinics in the country where a person can safely obtain an abortion later in their pregnancy. DC and MD are the only places east of the Mississippi where this type of abortion care is available, so I've...

9) managed quite a few cases for folks seeking abortions later in their pregnancies. I've worked closely with these clinics for several years, and I have seen first hand what compassionate, comprehensive care they provide to patients in this challenging situation...

10) The people I support are NOT “unworthy of a political voice” They are doing what they know to be best for their lives at that time and deserve all the love, dignity, & freedom in the world. We do not require anyone to disclose to us why they're seeking an abortion...

11) no matter where they are in their pregnancy. Some who choose to disclose are terminating a wanted pregnancy where something went horribly wrong. Sometimes they are just coming out of a severe addiction, and only now realizing they are pregnant once their body begins healing..

12) Other callers are just realizing they're pregnant six months after a rape; they were (understandably) consumed by the trauma and didn't realize what was going on at the time. But many callers seeking abortions later in pregnancy tried to get an appt earlier...

14) but were hit with a barrage of restrictions that hindered their access. What sort of restrictions? Perhaps they live in one of the states that currently only has one clinic for the entire state, and they scheduled an appt for one month out. But then covid hit...

15) they got a flat tire, they’re child got sick or something else happened—and the next appt isn’t available for four months. At which point they’re past the date where they can get an abortion legally in their state...

16) States with one abortion clinic? You're kidding?"
No I'm not. North Dakota, South Dakota, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wyoming all have one operating abortion clinic in each state. South Dakota also halted all abortions in the state...

17) due to COVID-19, meaning that the entire state has been without a functioning abortion clinic since March. Any South Dakota resident seeking an abortion must travel out of state, often to states which are equally as hostile to abortion as their home state is...

18) If people were truly as outraged by abortions later in pregnancy as they claim to be, they would increase access to abortions earlier in pregnancy but still keep access to safe and legal abortions later in pregnancy...

19) Most abortion seekers would prefer to get their procedures earlier in a pregnancy. Do you think people drop $8K+ on an appointment and travel hundreds or thousands of miles just because they don't feel like breastfeeding or buying a crib? Please...

20) Pursuing abortion later in pregnancy might not be an agonizing decision for all, but it is certainly a necessary decision for whatever meaningful, life-altering reason they have. It might be a reason that you never hear and you know what--that's fine...

21) They don't owe it to you, they don't owe it to us abortion funders, or anyone for that matter. All they do is owe it to themselves to make the decision that is best for them, and have the support and respect needed to make that decision a reality...

22) One of the other four places in the country is Colorado, which currently has a ballot measure called proposition 115, which would ban abortion after 22 weeks in Colorado...

23) If this happens, we will be down to four clinics in the country where people can access abortions later in their pregnancies. This will extend waiting times, raise costs, and ultimately be devastating to an untold number of people...

24) People seeking abortions later in pregnancy do not need additional barriers, they need additional care and support to make their reproductive freedom a reality...

25) If you want to help the current campaign against Prop 115 in Colorado, check out @CobaltAdvocates in Colorado- an advocacy group and abortion fund that plays a central role in the #Noon115 campaign...

26) If you're in the mid-Atlantic consider donating to the @BaltimoreFund and/or @DCAbortionFund . Both groups fund residents of MD seeking abortion, DCAF also funds residents of DC & VA seeking abortions. Both groups fund folks coming from other states to the area for appts...

27) There's a saying in abortion access that "the south was always post-Roe" b/c southern states in particular have had significant barriers to abortion access even under Roe. Luckily there are powerful abortion funds in the south who have done strong organizing against...

28) ...organizing against this fuckery. If you'd like to support their work, check out @YellowFund , @ARC_Southeast , @CarolinaAbtnFnd, and the @NolaAbortionFnd

29) all abortion funds are good abortion funds though. To find one near you check our this link: List of funds: https://abortionfunds.org/need-abortion/ 

30) Abortion is still legal at this time, but legality means nothing without access to it. At this time its a little too unclear what the future for both access and legality are. Now is not the time to launch a pet project and be a hero though. Join our existing networks so...

31) so that we’re as strong as possible together. Abortion funds are not going anywhere...

32) The stories of ppl who receive abortions later in pregnancy vary. What will never vary is the amount of dignity, love and respect they deserve as they make the decision they know to be best for them. As abortion funders, our commitment to that dignity will never, ever vary..

33) PS: I see a lot of well-intended talk abt stocking up on plan B. But honestly a stash is useless if you’re not regularly connected with ppl who will need it. If you have a network that will use it often & you can easily get it to them, great..

34) If you don’t have a network that would regularly use plan B, reach out to mutual aid groups, abortion funds, or repro justice groups that give out EC. Give them $ to buy it or donate some of yr stash, b/c I promise that most folks in need of it will hit them up first. /end