Thread by @ErinForYall

🧵 I’m thinking about a friend today who told me a few months ago that she and her husband were talking about another baby.

But she’d heard about the SB 8, the six week abortion ban, and was frightened.

“What if something goes wrong with my pregnancy?” #SB8 #txlege

Her fear was something would go wrong and she wouldn’t have access to a termination. She has significant pre-existing health issue and strong feelings about not carrying a nonviable pregnancy to term.

I talked her through how SB 8 would impact various scenarios.

I.e. yes termination still available if her life was in danger, yes termination available if cardiac activity from the fetus isn’t detectable, no termination not available if fetus receives “incompatible with life” diagnosis but still has detectable cardiac activity.

But mostly I asked her to give it a bit of time, because we hoped the law would never go into effect.

Well here we are. It’s in effect. Every woman in Texas now has fewer options when they’re pregnant, whether that pregnancy is wanted or not,

I’ll call her later today and make sure she knows where we are legally, so she and her husband can make the best decision for their family, but it’s going to break my heart to do so. Break my heart to give my friend information that makes her scared to try and have another baby.

This friend, by the way, isn’t particularly partisan. She voted for John McCain in 2008, Obama in 2012, left the presidency line blank in 2016, and voted for Biden in 2020.

But she knows the vulnerability of her own body and wants control over health care decisions.

There are women all over the state who are similar, not really partisan, many who may vote irregularly, who haven’t been particularly worried about abortion access as a health care issue, because they’ve believed it was settled law.

Today proves it’s not settled.

Maybe the Supreme Court will issue a stay later today or next week, but maybe not.

And even if they do, right at this moment, Texas has lost abortion access for almost all pregnant people.

Women now will know that their reproductive freedom is fragile.

Women will know that the forces trying to erode our freedom are fierce and persistent and that we must organize against them.

This legislation is not popular with most Texans. Even Texans who want some restrictions want exceptions for rape and sever fetal abnormalities.

I hope SB 8 is overturned, but I also hope that Texas women look at this latest assault on reproductive freedom and remember that these fights aren’t settled.

I hope they organize, show up at the ballot box, and demand better for themselves and their families.

Elections have consequences. Texas Republicans run the state with virtually no checks and balances.

We have to make their actions have consequences to get better legislative results.

If you’re outraged about SB 8, make a plan today to get involved in the 2022 election.

Sign up to volunteer with your county party or the state party or a candidate who you’re excited about or an advocacy group whose ideas you support.

We need all hands on deck. Get onboard today while the stakes are clear and fresh in your mind. /🧵