Iowans for reproductive freedom
Abortion is still legal in Iowa. Will you join the fight to keep it that way?On July 17, 2023, a Polk County Judge issued a temporary injunction, preventing Governor Reynolds' near-total abortion ban from taking effect.We will always advocate for reproductive freedom for every Iowan, and hope you will join us!
Advocacy
A growing majority of Iowans support safe, legal abortion, and yet extreme politicians are obsessed with banning abortion and decimating sexual and reproductive health care. We must show up, time and time again, to make clear to our elected officials that Iowans support abortion access, and we will fight like hell to keep abortion safe and legal in our state. Our movement is growing, and we need every Iowan we can get to join the fight for reproductive freedom.
The only way we are going to protect safe and legal abortion is at the ballot box. There is no other path. Iowans need to hold their elected officials accountable every step of the way as they work to take away our control over our bodies and futures.Republicans have been chomping at the bit to ban abortion. In the 2023 legislative session, 22 Iowa House Republicans—about one-third of House Republicans—introduced a total abortion ban. They also pursued a medication abortion ban, which would make almost 80 percent of abortions in Iowa illegal.
For all past and future legislative sessions, we need to hold our elected officials accountable for every vote they take that erodes our reproductive freedom and access to health care.
How else can I help?
Write a letter to the editor (LTE). LTE’s are short responses to either articles or what is happening in your community, about 150-175 words total. Strong letters are clear, focused, and personal when possible! You can submit your letter to one outlet at a time – your local community newspaper is often your best bet, and a great way to show YOUR community what you believe and value.Show support for abortion access on social media.We must mobilize every Iowan in support for reproductive freedom and urge them to join the fight to keep abortion safe and legal in our state. You can build our power by speaking up on social media and connecting your friends and family to our movement.Connect with other advocates in your community.
care
Abortion is safe and legal in Iowa, and we will fight like hell to keep it that way. Regardless of what anti-abortion politicians or judges think, we know abortion is essential health care and if you or someone you know needs access to this care, consider these resources:
Iowans for reproductive freedom
Abortion is still legal in Iowa. Will you join the fight to keep it that way?On July 17, 2023, a Polk County Judge issued a temporary injunction, preventing Governor Reynolds' near-total abortion ban from taking effect.We will always advocate for reproductive freedom for every Iowan, and hope you will join us!
News
Republican Women, Fearing Backlash on Abortion, Pivot to Birth Control
August 30, 2023
"A group of politically vulnerable G.O.P. women has backed legislation that purports to expand birth control access but would have little effect. Critics say the bill is meant to distract from their anti-abortion stances."
Doctors Say Iowa Abortion Ban Could Worsen OB-GYN Shortage
August 29, 2023
"Iowa doesn’t have enough maternal health care specialists, and that long-standing problem could get worse if the recently passed six-week abortion ban goes into effect."
Telemedicine abortions are on the rise in Iowa
August 29, 2023
"Why it matters: A recent federal appeals court ruling limiting access to the abortion pill mifepristone may pave the way for a Supreme Court debate that puts the future of telehealth abortions at risk."
More than 160 Plan B reimbursement requests for rape victims are pending at the AG's office
August 22, 2023
"Critics have called for Bird to reinstate the policy, saying rape victims should never have to be concerned about the cost of medical care."
Iowa Doctors: Exceptions In Abortion Ban Don’t Protect Mothers
August 14, 2023
"Across the country, abortion bans—even those with life-of-the-mother exceptions—have led many doctors and hospitals to wait until the last minute to provide abortion care because the woman’s death wasn’t close enough and they tried to avoid breaking the law."
Iowa has a shortage of OB-GYN doctors. The new abortion ban could make that worse.
August 10, 2023
"The stricter law creates new roadblocks for Iowa's sole obstetrics and gynecology residency program to train aspiring doctors, which in turn could make it harder for the program to recruit trainees."
Iowa AG Brenna Bird said she doesn’t intend to resume coverage of emergency contraception for rape victims
July 31, 2023
"In April, when Bird’s order was first reported by Iowa Public Radio, a spokesperson for her office characterized it as just a delay in payment during an audit of all victim services provided by the attorney general’s office... The audit is still not complete, but unsurprisingly, Bird appears to have already decided to not restart payments."
Reynolds appeals injunction that blocks abortion restrictions from being enforced
July 21, 2023
"As promised, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has appealed a judge’s decision that blocks the state from enforcing a new law that seeks to ban almost all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy."
Iowa governor plans to appeal block on restrictive abortion law
July 18, 2023
"Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said on Tuesday that plans are in progress to appeal a temporary block on the state’s new, restrictive abortion law, previewing a likely emotional court battle that could take months to resolve."
Iowa has passed a 6-week abortion ban. What options do women have in neighboring states?
July 13, 2023
"The fallout of the Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturning Roe has created a patchwork of different abortion laws in states across the country. While some states, including Iowa, enacted strict limits on the procedure, others placed legal protections around abortion rights to preserve patient access. As a result, abortion providers in the region say they've seen more patients traveling from out of state to obtain the procedure."
Abortion providers, ACLU sue to block Iowa's new 6-week 'fetal heartbeat' abortion ban
July 12, 2023
"'If this abortion ban goes into effect, it will place an unacceptable burden on patients’ ability to access essential abortion care, especially those who already face systemic inequities,' Planned Parenthood North Central States President Ruth Richardson said in a statement."
Iowa Republicans pass a new 6-week abortion ban
July 11, 2023
"Iowa Republicans passed a bill late Tuesday to ban most abortions after six weeks — a restrictive measure that would quickly remake the reproductive rights legal landscape in a key early voting state."
Here’s what to expect during Iowa’s abortion special session
July 7, 2023
"Iowa lawmakers will meet Tuesday in a special session to consider a bill to severely restrict abortion, making another attempt to enact a law that was blocked by courts in 2018 and remained so after an Iowa Supreme Court decision last month."
What’s In The Iowa GOP’s New Abortion Ban Bill?
July 7, 2023
"Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have dropped their new six-week abortion ban, which will be heard during the special legislative session starting Tuesday, July 11... Very few people know they’re pregnant at this point."
community
To achieve a future where reproductive freedom is available to everyone, we’re working together across organizations and communities to build power. It’s going to take all of us in this fight to bring about change, but make no mistake, we can do it. Here are some of the organizations across the state fighting for a future where everyone can make decisions about their own bodies.
Join the movement and learn more about the organizations in the fight at their website: