By: Julia Walters (She/Her), Second-Year Law Student
Harsna Chahal (She/Her), Master in Public Health
Monday, June 24th marked the two-year anniversary of the decision date of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, in which the Supreme Court failed to uphold our constitutional right to an abortion. Since this devastating decision, our nation has grieved. Justice Thomas’s concurring opinion in Dobbs choreographed future attacks on other fundamental freedoms, such as the right to contraceptives and same-sex marriage. We have observed this framework be transformed into reality with Alabama’s Supreme Court’s attack on IVF, state legislators’ bills to ban emergency contraceptives and IUDs, and the failure of the U.S. Senate to pass the Right to the Contraceptive Act. Meanwhile, anti-abortion lawmakers have undermined providers’ ability to make safe and medically sound decisions with their patients, under threat of criminal liability. However, amidst this cloud of darkness, we have observed a few bright spots. The FDA approved Opill as the first over-the-counter oral contraceptive. Additionally, as a result of the hard work and coalition building of advocates, several states have passed constitutional amendments to protect the right to reproductive freedom, including Michigan, California, and Ohio. It is a testament to the work of advocates that each time abortion has appeared on the ballot, it has won.
With 2024 being an election year, we must keep up to date on the proposed ballot measures to enshrine reproductive freedom into state constitutions. As an out-of-state student, you might be wondering whether to change your voting registration to Michigan or your home state. Hopefully, this information will help you make this critical decision.
States with the Right to an Abortion Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot 2024
Florida
Colorado
Maryland
South Dakota
Signatures Submitted for the Right to an Abortion Constitutional Amendment:
Missouri
Nevada
Currently Gathering Signatures for the Right to an Abortion Constitutional Amendment:
Montana
Arkansas
Arizona
The above information was found on KFF. For more information and current updates, click here.
Harsna:
I remember quite vividly the day Dobbs decision was announced. It was my first day interning at Capital Hill in D.C., and after getting out of work, I protested in front of the Supreme Court. I was angry, I was upset, and just like everyone else, I was confused about what this meant for me and other individuals whose reproductive rights were stolen that day. It still angers me to look at the news to see ways our nation continues to fail to protect our access to reproductive rights. Prior to Dobbs' decision, I had experience working to dismantle period poverty. However, after this awful day, I became interested in learning more about reproductive health and understanding the various inequities and social determinants that affect one’s sexual health. As I continue to advocate, I recognize the importance of having more diverse perspectives and voices in this battle to increase access to reproductive rights. More importantly, a need for young voices, like students, in this advocacy. If you are interested in getting more involved in advocating or learning more about reproductive health and rights, please direct your attention to the resources we provide at the bottom of the article.
As I reflect on the two-year anniversary of Dobbs, I can’t help but also reflect on the fantastic work of advocates who have tirelessly been working to increase our reproductive rights. One day, because of all of the hard work of many advocates, our rights to abortion, contraception, and many other reproductive rights will be in the Constitution, and I hope I can be here to celebrate it.
Julia:
The day the Dobbs decision draft leaked was one of the most horrifying days of my life. The text left me feeling numb and demoralized. The warnings of those on the front lines of the fight for reproductive justice echoed in my ears– these so-called cassandras knew this day was inevitable. But we know that abortions will always occur. We know that this decision only impedes safe abortions. And we know that this decision disproportionately impedes abortion access for minoritized individuals. On that rainy Monday, I stood in solidarity in the rain on the steps of our state capitol with so many incredible women, pregnant capable people, and allies. Here, we harnessed our grief to commit ourselves to defy SCOTUS and all other anti-abortion fear mongers. I refocused my efforts on the Prop 3 campaign—the measure aimed to codify abortion accessibility in Michigan’s State Constitution. When the Board of Canvassers finally approved the language, I hit the doors to encourage MSU community members to stand up for reproductive freedom. I also convened with fellow students to help strategize the best ways to support MSU Students’ reproductive rights and access to care.
As I reflect on the two-anniversary of this devastating decision, I reflect on the chaos, confusion, and fear that abortion bans have imposed on pregnant individuals across our country. I mourn the loss of autonomy. However, I know that storytelling continues to matter above all else. It is imperative that we continue to use our voices and platforms to elevate these pregnant people’s stories with empathy and compassion. Over the past few years, I have found resolve in advocates who have never let up in the fight, whether through mutual aid abortion funds, impact abortion rights litigation, or state-wide legislative initiatives. We can and must continue to grow our coalition to advance reproductive freedom for everyone– everywhere.
Currently, in the office of Women*s Student Services, we are dedicated to protecting students' rights to reproductive care. We are partnering with a student-led organization called East Lansing Free Emergency Contraceptive (EL Free EC) to create a health vending machine with accessible and affordable emergency contraceptives and many more health products. Additionally, we currently offer free pregnancy tests, emergency contraceptives, menstrual products, and safer sex products at our office for students. If you want to advocate for increased sexual health resources, education, and programs at Michigan State University, get involved with our office! Contact Information: wss@msu.edu
Resources
National Network of Abortion Funds - https://abortionfunds.org/
Repro Legal Helpline - https://www.reprolegalhelpline.org/ *It’s free!
Repro Legal Defense Fund - https://reprolegaldefensefund.org/
Center for Reproductive Rights - https://reproductiverights.org/
Planned Parenthood Action Funds - https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/issues
Emergency Contraceptive For Every Campus - https://www.ec4ec.org/
Reproductive Freedom For All - https://reproductivefreedomforall.org/
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - https://www.acog.org/
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