Earlier this week, news outlets published a Supreme Court draft opinion that would entirely overturn Roe v. Wade, ending a half-century of nationwide access to safe, legal abortion care. This opinion was only a draft and was not a final opinion from the Court, but it shows an ominous future for reproductive freedom in Kentucky and throughout the nation.
Abortion remains legal in Kentucky and people can still get an abortion up to 22 weeks in Kentucky. Learn more about seeking care.
If the Supreme Court does ultimately overturn Roe, the most vulnerable and marginalized among us will face disproportionate harm, particularly people of color, those with low incomes, and people living in rural areas.
The right to abortion still stands, but Kentuckians need your help. Join us in supporting two organizations that provide direct services to people seeking abortion care in the commonwealth: Kentucky Health Justice Network and A Fund, Inc. They provide assistance with transportation, lodging, medical expenses, interpretation, and more.
Kentucky has only two abortion providers, and both are in Louisville. 75% of people who get abortions live at or below the poverty line, and 60% already have children. Lost wages and expenses for travel, lodging, healthcare, and childcare can push abortion care out of reach, so your support of Kentucky abortion funds is critical.
Looking ahead, we are prepared for whatever the Court does and are still fighting abortion bans passed by Kentucky lawmakers. House Bill 3 remains blocked in federal court. It forced clinics to close their doors for one week, but our success in court has allowed providers to resume providing abortions for up to 22 weeks. Other bans, including the Six Week and Reason Bans, are also blocked in federal court.
Kentucky does have a trigger law designed to ban all abortions if Roe is ever weakened or overturned. However, the way this law may take effect depends on the exact language in any future Supreme Court opinions. If you're ever in doubt, you can always call a provider to see if they are providing care.
In our communities, we continue building coalitions supporting reproductive freedom. We have expanded the conversation to include a variety of issues affecting Kentuckians' health to ensure people have the legal rights and equitable access to resources to make the best decisions for themselves – whether that means continuing a pregnancy, seeking adoption, or having an abortion.
This coalition includes birth workers seeking reproductive justice in Louisville's West End, doulas in Appalachia, physicians, other advocacy organizations, and people who have personally experienced the challenges facing pregnant Kentuckians and their families. We're also partnering with Protect Kentucky Access, a group of Kentucky organizations, to defeat a proposal that would amend the Kentucky Constitution and explicitly state there is no right to abortion in the commonwealth. This amendment will be decided by voters this November.
