The fight to fund abortions in post-Roe America
In recent weeks, supporters of abortion rights have been reeling from the Supreme Court's decision to revoke constitutional protection for reproductive choice. Some are mounting a political movement for Congress to codify a federal right for abortion. Meanwhile, those on the ground, providing and funding abortion services, now have to navigate a murky legal landscape, which makes their work much more difficult in a vast swath of America.
With 13 states in the process of outlawing or limiting abortion through laws automatically triggered by the court's decision, and 13 more states likely to pass restrictions in coming weeks and months, defenders of reproductive rights now face the fight of their lives. And for abortion providers and funders, the next round of this fight is about more than politics and law. It's become increasingly about money and logistics: providing women in states that restrict abortions the option — and the resources — to travel to states where abortion is legal and accessible.
A long list of major corporations — including Amazon, Tesla, Nike, Google, Starbucks, Disney, and Dick's Sporting Goods — have announced that they will for employees seeking abortions. Some commentators, like 's own Gene about the fine print of these policy announcements. Who, he asks, are considered "employees"? Doordash, for example, has said it will cover abortion travel expenses for its employees, but most of the people who work for the food delivery service are actually independent contractors who getting this medical benefit.
