Editors’ Note

Dear Readers,

Clinics in Louisiana are not providing abortion services currently, after a ruling that abortion bans can be enforced amidst ongoing legal challenges. See below for an article by Sara Segal, Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health intern at Creative Community League, in which she interviews an abortion clinic administrator.

Additionally, if you signed this letter to the Tulane administration regarding their response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, you may be interested in the response to that letter. If you have thoughts about that response, please share them here.

See below for tons of announcements, news, events, and opportunities related to reproductive rights, health, and justice. 

Sincerely,

Kelsey Lain, School of Liberal Arts, Class of 2023
Clare Daniel, Ph.D., Newcomb Institute, Tulane University
Aliyah Daniels, ReproNews co-founder and editor emeritus, Class of 2018

Insights from Clinic Administrator on Dobbs Decision and Aftermath
Sara Segal, School of Science & Engineering, ‘24

“It’s almost like a bad dream,” said Sylvia Cochran, President of Women's Health Care Center and Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge, when asked about the overturning of Roe v Wade. Cochran has been involved with the Delta Clinic since 1978 as an employee and then administrator. She currently serves as the president of both Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge and Women’s Health Care Center in New Orleans, overseeing staffing, compliance, and community outreach. The sister clinics run similarly, but outreach differs due to the greater numbers of anti-abortion attitudes encountered in the Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge.

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to interview Sylvia Cochran about her experience with the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. We were joined by Amy Irvin, clinic media spokesperson and former executive director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund to discuss several topics, including the Supreme Court’s ruling, contraception, emergency contraception, the role of physicians during this time and ways to get involved.

Cochran described how she was shocked by the overturning of Roe, but elaborated that many of the Supreme Court Justices’ decisions were expected based on their religious beliefs and political affiliation. We then pivoted the conversation to the pervasive fear felt by women surrounding the status of their reproductive rights going forward and also the fear felt by physicians regarding the potential consequences of performing future abortions. 

There are many different reasons why someone would want to get an abortion. Whether that be interference with school or career, unreadiness for a child or another child, financial difficulties, relationship problems, or health risks; the overturning of Roe v. Wade changed women's lives significantly. In fact, in a study conducted by the ANSIRH (Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health), women who have abortions are clear about their decision and most commonly report feeling relief — even years later. Along with changing women’s lives, the overturning of Roe v Wade also affects families. When a woman makes the choice to have or to not have an abortion, they choose in the best interest of their children and their family.

“I think it's gonna get worse until it gets better,” Cochran expressed her concern for the generation to come, specifically speaking about her nieces and how they might grow up in a society where getting an abortion might not even be an option. Cochran, Irvin, and I shared stories of close friends and acquaintances directly affected by this ruling and discussed our concerns going forward.

“Ideally the biggest priority is for abortion to become legal everywhere,” expressed Cochran when asked about her main priority that mitigates harm and pushes back against these decisions. Increased access to a medical doctor, emergency birth control, and free contraception are more changes that Cochran would like to see implemented in order to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies.

The number one thing she shared with me that will help the most during this time is to volunteer. People should not only volunteer and contact their representatives urging for change, but they also should educate themselves and others about the topics of contraception, emergency contraception, and available resources. Even a simple conversation with someone about the nature of our society can make a difference. 

“Educate yourself, get organized, and vote!” Cochran expressed when asked about what needs to be done. 

Hitting close to home, Louisiana’s abortion ban is positioned to become enforced again. On July 29th, an appeals court ruled that the state must be granted a suspensive appeal while a lawsuit challenging the ban continues to play out in court. The decision is expected to shut down in-state clinics for the third time since the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to end constitutional protections for abortion.

Local organizations such as the New Orleans Abortion Fund are always looking for donations to push for change. More organizations include Lift Louisiana, ReJac/Plan B Nola, Women with a Vision, and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast. There are many organizations out there that could use our help and we must unite to fight for our rights.

To learn more about the impact getting an abortion has on women visit: https://www.ansirh.org/abortion/impact

To read more about the recent abortion lawsuit decisions visit:
https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-louisiana-lawsuits-government-and-politics-2aee46370d4a236c91a63515e0e0cca2

 

• Women's Age and Reproductive Life Cycle will analyze how discourses and practices around the different phases of women's reproductive cycles - menarche, reproductive adulthood, and menopause - shape their life experiences. 
• Assisted Reproduction: Interdisciplinary Challenges will reflect on differential and stratified access to assisted reproduction, particularly with respect to cross-border movements that many women undertake in order to fulfill their desire for motherhood, often impossible in their places of origin 
• Obstetric Violence through an Integrated and Interdisciplinary Lens will analyze the perinatal period -gestation, pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum- and develop tools for understanding and incorporation of shared decision-making by women involved in reproductive processes 
• Disability, Reproduction, Gender and Health: Building Alliances is dedicated to reflecting on the impact on women's reproductive health of discourses and practices at the intersection between gender and disabling situations or processes such as spinal chord injuries or endometriosis. 

Tulane Child And Family Lab Mom Power Study
The Tulane Child and Family Lab is recruiting Moms of kids aged 3-5 who qualify for WIC, FITAP, Medicaid or Headstart to be a part of Mom Power! This program is a 10-week intervention in the form of a support group or informational mailing focused on reducing maternal stress and improving maternal and child mental health. Participants can earn between $150-$300 and interested Mothers should contact Anna at 504-206-2910 or at childandfamilylab@gmail.com

WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are hiring #MyLASexEd Campaign Campus Ambassadors for the spring semester to collect stories on their campus and organize around sex education. We will be choosing soon so please submit the application as soon as possible. Apply Now!

For more information contact Gabby at mylasexed@liftlouisiana.org"

These 'Medically Futile' Pregnancies Are Exempt From Louisiana Abortion Ban. See The List., nola.com, August 1, 2022

Judge Sides With Louisiana Clinics In Fight Over Ban, Keeping Abortion Access Alive For Now, The Advocate, July 21, 2022

Louisiana Woman Was Subjected to ‘Painful, Hours-Long' Labor To Birth Dead Fetus, Jezebel, July 19, 2022

New Orleans Officials Oppose Louisiana’s Abortion Ban. Access Will Likely Remain Elusive., nola.com, July 17, 2022

Poverty Is Policy And So Is Crime, The Lens, July 14, 2022

Letters: Article Mischaracterizes Abortion Trends and What Is Driving Them, The Advocate, July 13, 2022

What Does Louisiana’s Abortion Ban Mean for Plan B as a Lifeline for Rape Victims?, The Advocate, July 11, 2022

As Abortion Ban Is Reinstated, Doctors Describe ‘Chilling Effect’ on Women’s Care, nola.com, July 10, 2022

Mississippi's Only Abortion Clinic Has Closed Its Doors for Good, NPR, July 7, 2022

‘Are Their Rights Rewritten?’: Alexandria Protest Spotlights Reproductive Concerns, Other Human Rights, The Town Talk, July 7, 2022

As Abortion Rights Disappear, Louisiana's Poor Climate for Mothers and Children Comes Into Focus, The Advocate, July 3, 2022

‘Pink tax’ on feminine hygiene products ends in Louisiana, Fox 8, July 1, 2022

Will the Fall of ‘Roe’ Change the College-Going Landscape?, The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 28, 2022

How Will Louisiana Enforce Its Criminal Abortion Laws? Officials Aren’t Sure Yet, nola.com, June 27, 2022

National and International

The policing of pregnancy and homeland security are intimately enmeshed, The Washington Post, August 4, 2022

Michelle Goldberg: The anti-abortion movement is in denial, The Baltimore Sun, August 2, 2022

A President’s Response to Attacks on an Abortion Provider Widens a Rift With Faculty, The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 1, 2022

Stop Scapegoating Teen Moms, The Cap Times, July 27, 2022

Mexican Telehealth Abortion Provider Now Serves U.S. Women: ‘We Are Here for You!’, Ms., July 26, 2022

Crisis-Pregnancy Centers Have Been Orbiting Campuses for Years. What Are They?, The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 15, 2022

The Numbers Show Gen Z Is Actually the Pro-choice Generation, The Hill, July 22, 2022

Alito Says Abortion Has Nothing to Do With Gender Equality—But History Says Otherwise, Ms., July 22, 2022

Overturning Roe v. Wade is Immoral and Dangerous, The Edge, July 21, 2022

Interstate Abortion Travel Is Already Straining Parts of the System, The New York Times, July 23, 2022

Why Is NC Spending Millions In Taxpayer Money On Centers That Mislead Pregnant People?, Charlotte Observer, July 22, 2022

Is A Public Health Emergency Declaration A Good Strategy In Response to Dobbs?, Ms., July 19, 2022

Anti-abortion Groups That Worked To Overturn Roe Have No Unified Strategy To Help Women And Children, NBC News, July 19, 2022

Access to Reproductive Health Care Has Been Harder for Black and Brown Women – Overturning Roe Made It Harder, The Conversation, July 7, 2022

What moving from Kentucky to Virginia after I was diagnosed with cancer reveals about Roe, NBC News, July 7, 2022

Here's How Depictions of Abortion in Movies and TV Shows Have Changed Over the Years, Time, July 6, 2022

A Beleaguered Abortion Workforce Braces For Things To Get Far Worse, The Hill, July 6, 2022

Kentucky Supreme Court Denies State AG's Request To Have Abortion Ban Reinstated, Fox News, July 6, 2022

Abortion Ban ‘Exceptions’ Cannot Protect Life, LA Times, July 5, 2022

The Persistent Myth That Restricting Abortion Rights Won’t Affect the Rich, New York Times, July 3, 2022

Google Says It Will Delete Location Data When Users Visit Abortion Clinics, New York Times, July 1, 2022

The End of ‘Roe’ Will Worsen The Campus Mental-Health Crisis., The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 30, 2022

This Is What It Was Like to Be an Abortion Escort Before Roe Ended, Mother Jones, June 30, 2022

Without Roe v. Wade, U.S. Maternal Mortality Rates May Get Even Worse, Time, June 30, 2022

Poor Women of Color Will Bear Brunt of Abortion Bans Following Roe Reversal: Expert, ABC News, June 28, 2022

Opinion: The Aftershocks of America’s Abortion Earthquake Will Be Felt for Decades, CNN, June 27, 2022

Experts Encourage College Campuses To Prepare For Repercussions of Roe v. Wade’s Overturn, Insight Into Diversity, June 27, 2022

6 things sex educators want you to know about a post-Roe America, Vox, June 26, 2022

ProFrequency
Creative Community League
10am CST, Thursday

"Produced and hosted by Amy Irvin, ProFrequency is a weekly radio program that covers culture, reproductive and sexual health, and other feminist issues, utilizing recorded stories and live interviews with local advocates and artists. Co-host Amanda Sanfilippo (aka Dj Vjj) is a local sex educator who answers all your most burning sexual health questions. Join Creative Community League for ProFrequency at 10am CT on Thursdays on 102.3 WHIV FM New Orleans. Or stream it from https://whivfm.org/listen. For further info, follow the CCL on Instagram at @creativecommunityleague"

LTAS 2022 will begin on August 24th with pre-conference institutes  - invitation only. And our official programming will begin on August 25th and conclude on August 28th. Our intentionally curated workshops, plenaries, keynotes and events will inform, educate, tantalize, and inspire us to take action!

The 2022 Let’s Talk About Sex National Reproductive Justice Conference is for everyone and will be full of many firsts.  It's our first hybrid (virtual and in-person) conference; our first conference in Texas; and our first conference to strategically align RJ with our other social justice movements in order to build our collective power.  

SisterSong’s mission is to center the needs, experiences and leadership of communities and individuals who have been historically pushed to the margins. Our in-person convening will prioritize the attendance of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, gender non-conforming, those living with disabilities, and youth leaders. This critical moment in our movement demands it. We are investing in a meaningful virtual experience that will anchor our wider constituencies from across the country. Thank you in advance for allowing our in person gathering to focus on the most affected. "