Richmond Times-Dispatch: "Henrico judge's ruling allows case over state abortion regulations to proceed." Or, watch out for the next TRAP fight.

The Virginia Family Foundation is funding the legal costs of one of two plaintiffs who allege that the Board of Health's roll-back of restrictive 2012 abortion clinic regulations violated procedure and should be thrown out. The rules, part of a legislative strategy called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers), were at one point expected to shut down all or most of Virginia's abortion clinics, by imposing hospital building standards on all current and future clinics.

The plaintiffs, Henrico-based Itzel A. Melendez and Board of Health member Megan C. Getter, argue that the regulations pertain to health and safety standards. They do not, unless details like the presence of awnings or the number of linen closets pertain to the health or safety of patients seeking reproductive health services. These rules did not, could not, and were never intended to protect women and others seeking abortions— they were solely intended to restrict access to abortions by closing down the clinics that working-class people depend on for their reproductive healthcare.

It was our pressure that led McAuliffe to direct the Board of Health to begin proceedings to repeal the rules, and if this lawsuit brings them back, we'll do it again. Keep an eye out.

Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch piece here.

Planned Parenthood Benefit Show

Saturday, August 26th 2017, from 10pm-1am, at Flora (203 North Lombardy Street, Richmond VA), there will be a show to benefit the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. Featuring: Pete Curry, the Smirks, Foresterr, and Neat Sweep.

$5 donation at the door, all proceeds to the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia. 21+ only. Street parking only.

For more info and to RSVP, see the link. 

2017 General Assembly: Bills Involving Women, Reproductive Health, and Abortion

Note: Bills can still be filed until January 20th, so new items may be added. To see my master list of 2017 legislative topics, click here.

The letters before a bill’s number designate its chamber of origin. HB= House Bill, SB= Senate Bill, HR= House Resolution, etc.

Bills to support:

HB 153 and SB 877 both overturn Virginia’s rule mandating that abortion clinics be held to the same architectural standards as hospitals. This rule, which is now being phased out by the Board of Health after a long political fight, is an example of a legislative strategy called TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers). TRAP laws are intended to end poor people’s access to abortion without actually mounting a challenge of the procedure’s legality, by closing clinics.

HB 1593: Exempts toilet paper, adult diapers, and menstrual hygiene products from sales tax.

SJ 221: Ratifies the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, which reads “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.”

Bills to oppose:

HB 1473: Prohibits abortion after 20 weeks gestation under the premise that, at this age, a fetus can feel pain. This is an attempt to undermine the 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which found that abortion is protected under a person’s right to privacy until 24 weeks gestation. The argument that a fetus can feel pain at four months is also 1. Unproven, and 2. Of limited relevance. A pregnant person’s right to their body still takes precedence.

HR: 268: A resolution to establish the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision which established the legality of abortion, as the “Day of Tears.”

New Year's Greetings from the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project!

New Year's greetings from the Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project. 

The Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project is our all-volunteer, nonprofit abortion fund which provides supplemental funding to people in Virginia seeking abortion services. 

Screening of "Abortion: Stories Women Tell": Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia

Sunday, October 16th 2016, from 12:30-3pm, at the First UU Church of Richmond (1000 Blanton Avenue. Richmond VA), the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia are holding a free screening of "Abortion: Stories Women Tell." This screening is in honor of the 100th anniversary ofPlanned Parenthood. From the event description:

"ABORTION: STORIES WOMEN TELL offers an intimate window into the lives of women living in Missouri under restrictive abortion laws. Some women, on both sides of the issue, find the choice easy to make due to their own circumstances and beliefs, while others simply inform us of the strength and capacity of women to overcome and persevere through complicated and unexpected circumstances. ABORTION: STORIES WOMEN TELL presents a candid dialogue about one of the timeliest issues facing America today."

The event is free and open to the public, but because space is limited, you must RSVP through a link available on the Facebook event page.