On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the precedent in Roe v. Wade that has provided federal protection for abortion access throughout the country. While some news coverage has included trans men, non-binary people and lesbian and bisexual women in those affected by the decision, most article titles and news coverage separates LGBTQIA+ rights from abortion rights.
This separation is further seen in how conversations are structured on social media platforms. Abortion access language often focuses on “a woman’s right to choose” and what a woman does with her body as well as decisions between a woman and her doctor. Occasionally, people talk about pregnant people but do not specifically mention trans men or non-binary people only specifically mentioning women.
Why Language Is Important
Abortion access affects LGBTQIA+ people. This decision affects LGBTQIA+ people. Trans men and non-binary people are already vulnerable. They are not included in the group “women.” Erasure and exclusion has a purpose. Many of the people who are rightfully outraged about this decision and the denial of abortion access are for LGBTQIA+ rights. This language isn’t about people having a fundamental difference of opinion. This is strategic. This is about right-wing agenda setting. The right-wing knows that the language of abortion access has been about “women’s rights” for decades. While trans and non-binary people’s rights are newer to mainstream political discourse and have focused on other issues, such as gender affirming medical care and marriage equality.
This decision, during Pride month, helps to shift the conversation back into disparate camps: women’s rights takes over from a time in which LGBTQIA+ rights typically dominates. It is especially important that people are talking about LGBTQIA+ rights during Pride because of the number and ferocity of anti-trans and anti-gay legislation being proposed and worse being enacted throughout the country
The Supreme Court has enabled the Republican party and the right-wing to achieve a decisive victory. The demolition of Roe v. Wade is something they wanted from the moment the decision was handed down in 1973. They are also good at making issues overly simplistic and putting people in single issue boxes. For years, they have encouraged their base to vote on abortion as a single emotional or religious issue ignoring their own potential abortion access needs as well as their economic needs as plutocratic anti-abortion Republicans gained office.
These single-issue tactics have stirred progressives to respond in similar ways. As much as women’s rights may have been a useful rallying cry in the 1970s, we know in 2022 that it has its limitations such as in advocating for abortion access. People of a variety of genders need abortions. In addition, societies with abortion access benefit everyone. Abortion access ensures that pregnant people have agency over their lives.
So here we are with progressives who support both abortion access and LGBTQIA+ rights seeing these as separate issues. Abortion access for women and other concerns for LGBTQIA+ people. If we are going to head off, or deal with, the fall out of more restrictions from the Supreme Court or other forces on LGBQIA+ people and women we’ll need each other. Most importantly, efforts for abortion access and LGBTQIA+ rights have always been led by Black women and other women of color. Both abortion access and LBGTQIA+ oppression disproportionately affect Black people. Yet both topics are dominated by a mainstream association with white people. We need to unite and to elevate Black women’s leadership.
We cannot address existing anti-Blackness and racism, win on these issues, or prevent or address the coming racist backlash from the Supreme Court that threatens interracial marriage and integration unless we do this. We should need no other motivation than that Black women and women of color always deserve our utmost respect and care.
To those of us who are part of LGBTQIA+ communities, this decision is both devastating and a tactic or side benefit that further marginalizes Pride celebrations and reflections. I think this is more than symbolic. It is another attempt to divide us into “camps” of people working on separate issues. Such divisions weaken our power and keep us entrenched in ineffective ways of seeing ourselves.
Abortion access is a multi-community need. While my focus has been on LGBTQIA+ community erasure and the importance of recognizing Black women and women of color leaders, disabled people, undocumented and immigrant communities, non-Christians and more are targeted and affected by divisive tactics and have specific needs when seeking abortion care. We shall rise up more powerful than ever when we recognize we are one overwhelming force for change.
What We Do Next
Use inclusive, clear language
Use pregnant people and people who can get pregnant when that is what you mean.
Specifically, include trans men and non-binary people in addition to women when you want to talk about the types of people impacted. It is understandable to want to identify that women are impacted, especially if you are a woman and your identity as a woman is important to you! Our identities as trans men and/or non-binary people are important to us too. Including us helps combat erasure and invisibility.
Mentioning the disparate impact on Black women and women of color is important. Also, do the work to include the Black women and women of color who are leading abortion access and reproductive justice initiatives. Many of these women are powerful writers, such as Loretta Ross, one of the authors of Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice.
Understand the difference between abortion access and reproductive justice. Abortion access is one piece of a broader movement for reproductive justice. We need reproductive justice and we need to be unafraid to say that abortion access is a social good and necessary part of reproductive justice.
Learn from and work with organizations using a united approach to these issues
Use the National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF) to find your local and/or regional abortion fund.
NNAF also lists a few national funds/organizations. Please check these out as well. In particular, Indigenous Women Rising, whose “abortion fund is open to all Indigenous people in the United States and Canada who have the capacity to become pregnant and [are] seeking an abortion in the United States.”
Know what to say and what not to say. Many common phrases (e.g., auntie networks, “camping,” return to coat hangers) are harmful and/or seek to reinvent work already being done by abortion funds.
Use the Say This, Avoid That Guide from NNAF.
This guide from Liberate Abortion is especially helpful for reporters.
Learn about abortion policies in your (or any) state from the US Abortion Policies and Access after Roe Interactive Map from the Guttmacher Institute.
If you want to help with travel support, such as offering your own spare room, please sign up with and get vetted by an abortion fund so those who need an abortion know that you are safe.
Find other ways to volunteer as each abortion fund has its own focus. In addition, other platforms may also work on abortion access. Sign up to text for various.causes with Movement Labs, including abortion access campaigns.
Donate on a regular/ongoing basis to support your local or regional fund so they know they have your support.
Find more details about these suggestions and more in this How to Show Up for Abortion Access guide by Alison Turkos.
Financially support and/or join organizations that organize youth abortion access activists
Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equality (URGE)
URGE’s “vision of liberation builds power and sustains a young people’s movement for reproductive justice by centering the leadership of young people of color who are women, queer, trans, nonbinary, and people of low-income.”
Find a student chapter in your area
Young Womxn of Color for Reproductive Justice Leadership Council
Youth Activist Toolkit (a 60+ page resource for organizing)
References
Mainstream Coverage
Hanna, J. (2022, Jun 24). With Roe dead, some fear rollback of LGBTQ and other rights. PBS WHYY (Philadelphia) via AP.
Moreau, J. (2022, Jun 24). How will Roe v. Wade reversal affect LGBTQ rights? Experts, advocates weigh in. NBCNews.com.
Sneed, T. (2022, Jun 24). Supreme Court's decision on abortion could open the door to overturn same-sex marriage, contraception and other major rulings. CNN.com.
Queer Inclusive Media Coverage
Fields, A. (2022, Jun 24). Human Rights Campaign Outraged, Condemns Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade. HRC.org.
NDN Collective. (2022, Jun 24). NDN Collective Responds to Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade. NDNCollective.org.
Rude, M. (2022, Jun 24). How Queer Celebs & Activists Reacted to SCOTUS Overturning Roe v. Wade. Out.com.
Sim, B. (2022, Jun 24). What Overturned Roe v. Wade Means for LGBTQ+ Youth & How to Fight Back. Pride.com.
Cover Image
Rainbow border "Abortion Access Saves Lives" image created with Canva.
About the Author
Amy E. Harth is a white, disabled, queer, non-binary anti-oppression researcher and diversity, equity & inclusion practitioner. She earned a PhD in interdisciplinary studies from Union Institute & University. Her research focuses on media representation.
As principal of Amy Harth Coaching and Consulting, she focuses on ways to dismantle oppressive structures and embrace anti-oppressive frameworks to co-create ways to flourish in our relationships, work and communities.
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