Ever since the Supreme Court gutted Roe vs.Wade last summer, and decided to leave decisions about women’s bodies up to state legislatures, our nation has felt the pain and aftermath of this disastrous ruling. At present, 24 states have banned abortion, some at six weeks and others at 15, with some allowing for very limited exceptions in cases such as rape or a medical emergency. In blue states where…
Tag: Abortion rights
A Disturbing Town Hall
Last Tuesday, the city of Edgewood, a largely rural and conservative community just east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, held a town meeting regarding its proposed ordinance to ban the distribution and acquisition of abortion-inducing medications. Edgewood seems to be following the lead of other cities and municipalities in New Mexico and Texas by relying on the antiquated Comstock…
Abortion Rights vs the Comstock Act
Last Friday, the New Mexico Supreme Court blocked four county and city ordinances that sought to enforce abortion restrictions in the state. The ruling comes on the heels of a petition filed last January by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez that claims that such ordinances violate civil rights as guaranteed by the state Constitution, and infringe on the state’s authority to regulate health care. The ruling follows the passage of New Mexico HB7, the Reproductive and…
New Mexico HB 7: Protecting Women’s Rights
In a Post-Roe era, New Mexico joined forces with other states in ensuring a woman’s right to choose. On Tuesday, March 7, the state Senate approved by a 23-15 vote the passage of House Bill 7. The bill, Reproductive & Gender-Affirming Health Care, was sponsored by Reps. Linda Serrato (D-45), Charlotte Little (D-68), Kristina Ortez (D-42), Reena Szczepanski (D-47), and Janelle Anyanonu (D-19). Section 3,…
This is not Texas
Threats to a woman’s right to choose aren’t just limited to “red” states but can happen in localities and counties in which conservative thinking dominates both politics and ordinances. Last week, Raul Torrez (New Mexico Attorney General) called on the carpet municipalities in the predominately “blue” Land of Enchantment for passing ordinances regulating access to abortions. Torrez filed a suit against Roosevelt and Lea…
A Glimmer of Hope
Last week, nearly 60% of voters in Kansas rejected a ballot referendum that would have amended the state constitution, removing a woman’s right to abortion. I must admit this was a bit of a shocker to me as Kansas easily carried Trump in 2020, and is not known for its “liberal” leanings. When I think of the political landscape…
It’s Not Just a Woman’s Right to Choose That’s in Danger, it’s Democracy
On December 1, the Supreme Court listened to oral arguments in a Mississippi case that could start a trend to overturn the constitutional right to safe and legal abortions across the U.S. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, poses a real danger to Roe v Wade. The Jackson Women’s Health Organization is the…
Supreme Court Red Shift
This week, we have witnessed first-hand an alarming “shift” in the Supreme Court and the way that the GOP has placed its fingers on the scales of justice to serve its own ends. This week Texas Governor Gregg Abbott (R) signed into law SB 8, which bans abortions after the 6th week of pregnancy. It…
The Continued Assault on Women’s Bodies
Women’s bodies and equal rights are again under assault. This week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case originating from a Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. On Friday, Texas governor Greg Abbott signed a law banning all abortions the moment a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is about six weeks (at six weeks most women may not even realize they are pregnant). Tennessee and South…