Tag: reproductive rights

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Opinion Viewpoint

Reason for Concern

Photo: Andrew Baum | Dreamstime.com

“We’re not the best situated to address issues like that. … Doesn’t that make a stronger case for us to leave those determinations to the legislative bodies rather than try to determine them for ourselves?” — Chief Justice John Roberts on Tennessee’s transgender care ban, Dec. 4, 2024

So just how worried should a reasonable person be about Donald Trump’s return to power? We’ve entered that awkward stage in post-election reporting where the op-ed journalists who watched the Donald abuse power the last time he held office are writing sensible columns about why everybody should probably calm down since, even with seriously eroded guardrails, nobody could possibly do all the terrible things he says he wants to do, and certainly not as fast as he says he wants to do them. 

Christian leaders agreed to support him in exchange for his promise to appoint an unprecedented number of conservative, pro-life judges: “God’s wrecking ball.”

If you’ve ever wondered how Trump can receive so much earnest support from conservative Christians while appointing a cabinet full of sex pests and incompetents, it’s because they don’t expect him to build God’s kingdom on Earth, they expect him to smash norms and destroy liberal institutions.

Trump had been out of office for almost two years when the Supreme Court did the unthinkable and overturned Roe v. Wade, gutting half-a-century’s worth of settled abortion law. For all the anxiety the decision may have created for swing district Republicans campaigning in the 2022 midterms, this moment still has to be seen as a major victory for the once and future president whose first election turned on a promise to enable such a decision through judicial appointments: promise fulfilled. 

And since modern Christian politics are rooted in the twofold mission of stopping abortion and curtailing LGBTQ rights, it looks like the SCOTUS that Trump made is about to give Evangelicals another reason to celebrate. 

As of this writing, the Supreme Court seems poised to let Tennessee’s bad-faith ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth stand. U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts feigned helplessness while Brett Kavanaugh wondered if personal choices regarding medical services, important to less than 1.6 percent of all Americans, should be determined by the murderous impulses of the mob … er, majority. 

If oral arguments are any indication of what’s to come, Wednesday, December 4th, was a worrisome day for the trans community, women, and just anybody else who might be counting on the Roberts court to defend settled law. It’s an appropriately chilling prelude to Donald Trump’s return to power since his RNC was chock-full of anti-trans rhetoric, and he spent the closing weeks of his campaign blanketing swing states with ads designed to make undecided voters feel anxious about trans people. 

So, questioning whether or not Trump can fulfill the worst of his threats by fiat is probably beside the point. The mood is tense, and the stage is set for chaos. Even if you aren’t worried about what comes next, it’s probably a good idea to be prepared. 

Chris Davis is a freelance writer and journalist living in Memphis.

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Planned Parenthood Expects ‘More Criminalization’ One Year After Dobbs Decision

Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

As the one-year anniversary of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization approaches on Saturday, June 24th, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi consider it to be “more dangerous and more deadly to be pregnant in Tennessee.”

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decided to overturn the decision made in the landmark case, Roe v. Wade, which protected a woman’s right to choose an abortion. On August 25, 2022, a Tennessee law went into effect that made providing abortions a felony. As the Memphis Flyer reported in August, the Human Life Protection Act “was passed in 2019 just in case the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade.” 

At the time of its passage, the law did not allow abortions in cases of rape, incest, or any fetal abnormality that could prove fatal to the baby. The law only allowed an abortion in Tennessee if giving birth would kill the pregnant woman or would prevent “serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.”

In the most recent legislative session, exceptions were made for ectopic and molar pregnancies. The Tennessee General Assembly declared that the termination of a pregnancy for these purposes does not “constitute criminal abortion.” While this amendment expanded instances for which abortions are allowed, organizations such as Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood are still against the bill.

“Anything that allows more access to abortion and reproductive health care is vital, but anything short of complete support for bodily autonomy and abortion rights stigmatizes abortions, particularly for our most disenfranchised communities,” said a statement on the organization’s website.

The “Tennessee Abortion-Inducing Drug Risk Protocol Act” was passed on May 9, 2022, and took effect on January 1, 2023, which required all “abortion inducing drugs,” to be provided only by qualified physicians in medical facilities. While the law went into effect around the same time that the Food and Drug administration expanded access to these drugs, abortion is still illegal in the state of Tennessee. It is, however, still legal to leave the state for an abortion. Currently, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi uses a Patient Navigation team, to help patients understand their options in these instances.

“We are navigating patients out of state for abortion care. We’re helping them with logistics. We’re giving them resources for travel. We’re helping them pay for the services when they get there,” said Ashley Coffield, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, in a video released ahead of the anniversary of the Dobbs decision.

While making strides to expand access and resources, the organization also said that it expects “more criminalization and more intimidation going forward.”

“State lawmakers have already advocated and strategized around ways to ban contraceptives, IVF treatments and restrict interstate travel for abortion. It is a scary time,” said Planned Parenthood in a statement.”

HB1084, sponsored by Representative Jesse Chism (D-Memphis) and Senator Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), failed in the legislative session this year. This bill proposed that the offenses related to “criminal abortions,” should not include contraceptives such as hormonal birth control, emergency contraceptives, and intrauterine devices.

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Tennessee Leaders Discuss Reproductive Rights at White House

Photo by René DeAnda on Unsplash

Tennessee elected officials met on Wednesday at the White House to discuss reproductive rights in America. 

According to a statement from the Tennessee legislature, Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis), Senate Democratic Caucus chairwoman Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis), and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), were among 81 state legislators that were invited to speak on “Republican attacks on reproductive rights, as well as state efforts to protect and expand access to abortion care.”

This meeting came days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

 “We are approaching the anniversary of the Dobbs decision and we are highlighting the importance of a woman’s choice at this convening,” said Akbari. “In Tennessee, there is no exception for rape or incest, fatal fetal anomalies, or the true health needs of the mom. We’re committed to the cause of reproductive freedom and we will continue this fight until every family can make these private health decisions for themselves — without interference from politicians,” she said.

On August 25, 2022, a Tennessee law went into effect that made providing abortions a felony. As the Memphis Flyer reported in August, the Human Life Protection Act “was passed in 2019 just in case the U.S. Supreme Court ever overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade.”

The law only allows an abortion in Tennessee if giving birth would kill the pregnant woman or would prevent “serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.”

There have been bills passed in the legislative session that Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood have categorized as a “forced” birth agenda such as SB0600 that “prohibits local governments from expending funds for the purposes of assisting a person in obtaining a criminal abortion.” Planned Parenthood has been vocal about their opposition to these bans, as they are also working to navigate through this legislation.

“We will keep fighting for a full repeal of Tennessee’s abortion ban, because that’s the only way to give people the options they deserve,” said Kristal Knight, board chair for Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood.

Lamar stated that reproductive healthcare is an important issue for her to advocate for, due to the “staggering state of women’s health in Tennessee.”

“At a time when women’s freedom has been stripped away in Tennessee, it’s more important than ever that we join forces with the executive branch to evaluate strategies to advance support for women’s access to healthcare,” said Lamar. “The White House recognizes the gravity of this moment and I’m honored to partner with them for Tennessee families.” 

Lamar and Representative Karen Camper (D-Memphis) sponsored HB0829, that sought to “delete and revise various provisions of present law concerning abortion and reproduction.” According to the Tennessee General Assembly, this would have deleted criminal offenses related to public schools, the Tennessee Abortion-Inducing Drug Risk Protocol Act, and a requirement that “induced terminations or pregnancy be reported to the office of vital records,” among other things.

While this bill failed, organizations such as Tennessee Advocates for Planned Parenthood expressed their support for the bill, stating that “all Tennesseans deserve access to the full spectrum of reproductive care, including abortion.”

The organization also voiced their support for HB1084, which proposed that the offenses related to “criminal abortions,” should not include contraceptives such as hormonal birth control and emergency contraceptives. This bill also failed.

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SisterReach CEO: Black and Nonprofit Voices Are Essential To A Better Memphis

Cherisse Scott

Founded in 2011, SisterReach supports the “reproductive autonomy of women and teens of color, poor and rural women, LGBTQ+ and GNC [gender non-conforming] folx, and their families through the framework of reproductive justice.”

The organization offers adult sex education classes, facilitates online discussions, and recently began helping Tennessee women get to Illinois for abortion services after Tennessee’s abortion ban was triggered. SisterReach has also provided Uber vouchers for Shelby County residents in need of transportation to vote.

Founder and CEO Cherisse Scott said that the organization was created out of the request of her mother. She had been navigating the Memphis area since the early 1980s as a single, Black mother who was “trying to make it happen” with small children.

“Everybody here does not have a degree, and my mother did not have a degree,” said Scott. “Trying to do that without a college education still meant that there were only certain jobs that she had access to and others that she was locked out of.”

The story of SisterReach is based on Scott’s own experiences, too. When Scott first started work, she said she was a “low-income woman.” While Scott said that her financial situation has changed, she recognizes that for so many others, it hasn’t.

Scott said she and her mother saw that Black mothers and babies needed support. With the help of her mother and grandmother, Scott brought that help and their vision to life through SisterReach.

“I think more than anything, Black mothers in Memphis, which really comprise the majority of Black households in our city, understand firsthand what it’s like to have to be the sole provider for themselves and for their families,” said Scott.

The United States Census Bureau estimates that 64.4 percent of residents in Memphis are African American. While more and more women are rising in local politics, Scott said more are needed in more powerful positions. She hopes to see a Black woman serve as mayor of Memphis, even more so a Black mother.

“We need people who have more at stake, who reflect the community, and that includes women and girls,” she said. “We need a deep commitment to our public school system.”

Black voices are essential to a better city, Scott said, but having “nonprofit voices” are imperative as well.

Around 11,505 nonprofit organizations operate in Memphis, according to Cause IQ. These organizations employ 89,422 people, the agency said.

“The nonprofit voice, the voice of people who are directly dealing with people’s social needs and development need to also be at those tables and to inform what a healthy, thriving Memphis would look like,” said Scott. “Otherwise, you know we get what we’re getting.”

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Art Art Feature

“CHOICE” Gallery Show

Artist Loveday Funck writes, "We are fighting a dystopian power struggle in which the powers that be would rather women die in agony than be able to possess any control or agency over their own bodies." (Credit: Courtesy the Artist)

According to the Pew Research Center, 61 percent of U.S. adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37 percent think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.

Local artist Stephanie Albion falls in this 61 percent. Once the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade leaked in May, she knew she had to do something to express her anger, frustration, and sadness, so she turned to collage, her mode of communication. She also turned to Danielle Sumler in hopes of reviving the Nasty Women of Memphis.

In 2017, Sumler, along with Chelle Ellis, founded the Nasty Women of Memphis, joining a movement of other Nasty Women chapters throughout the country who were putting on pop-up exhibitions in response to the 2016 election. “The whole thing is, one, giving artists a chance to just express themselves and have a conversation,” Sumler explains, “but also, making it a fundraiser, too. The artist, when they submit their work, price it themselves, but each piece needs to donate at least 50 percent to Planned Parenthood, with the rest going directly to the artist. Some choose to donate more.”

For that first exhibition, Ellis and Sumler had met only a month before opening. “It was very fast,” Sumler says. “I think I was kind of shocked by how well received it was under that timeline. We were packed that opening night. It was really exciting — all the positive responses, not only from the artists who submitted but also all the people who came.”

Nasty Women of Memphis’ opening reception in 2017. (Photo: Nasty Women of Memphis)

That year, Nasty Women art exhibitions spread globally, raising money on behalf of women’s rights, individual rights, and abortion rights, but now most of the chapters are seemingly defunct, including the original New York City chapter. Yet in Memphis, the Nasty Women have put on three exhibitions since that inaugural year. 

The next exhibition opened in 2018 and addressed the Me Too Movement and Brett Kavanaugh’s U.S. Supreme Court confirmation. The third opened virtually in 2020, responding to all that was 2020.

“We actually closed on the day the election results came in, so that was pretty cool,” Sumler adds. After that, Ellis and Sumler had agreed that the 2020 exhibit would be their last exhibit, feeling that they had said all they needed to say. “We were kind of like, ‘We’ve done this enough, we’ve had our time with it.’” 

But then Roe v. Wade was overturned, and Stephanie Albion reached out to Sumler. “We were like, ‘Well, that’s a perfect reason to wanna do something.’” So on June 25th, the day after the Roe v. Wade reversal, they announced that another exhibition would happen — “another chance to express our rage through art and another chance to support Planned Parenthood.” The show would be titled “CHOICE.”

Angi Cooper’s Objectification Board (Photo: Courtesy the Artist)

The call for artists went out to women, people with uteruses, and all those who support reproductive rights. “It’s really important for us to make it an inclusive conversation because not only does this affect someone who identifies as female, but it affects everyone really.” From there, Sumler, Ellis, Albion, and artist Savana Raught worked together on a volunteer basis to select the more than 80 artists of various media and styles. In the end, the pieces, when put together, touch on a range of emotions coming out of the reversal of Roe v. Wade: frustration, sadness, fear, anger. 

Cheryl Hazelton, who is featured in the show, writes in her artist statement, “I’m terrified of what the future might bring. I need to do something … anything … to support the fight against this obvious aggression.” Meanwhile, Emma Self Treadwell writes, “If it were up to me, I’d line the walls of Congress with uteruses as a reminder that we are here, and we are all around you … so choose wisely what you do with our rights.” 

Mary Jo Karimnia’s The Fall 3 (Photo: Courtesy the Artist)

Overall, each piece points to the consensus that, as artist Jenee Fortier writes, “Access to safe abortion services is a human right. None of us are safe until all of us are safe.”

You can schedule a tour of the show here or by emailing nastywomenmemphis@gmail.com. The group will host a closing reception Friday, October 21st, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. You can also view and purchase work from the show online. Prices start at $10, and proceeds will benefit Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi. 

“CHOICE,” Marshall Arts, 639 Marshall Ave., on display through Friday, October 21st.