Title: Florida Sees Increase in Abortions One Year After Roe v. Wade Overturned
Subtitle: State Becomes a “Haven State” for Women Seeking Abortions
Date: June 24, 2023
By Joe Mario Pedersen
It has been one year since the landmark Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case overturned Roe v. Wade, returning the power to regulate abortion laws to state legislatures. In Florida, this decision has sparked increased interest and activism from both abortion advocates and opponents, leading to a rise in the number of abortions performed in the state.
Michele Herzog, the director of the Pro-Life Action Ministry of Central Florida, recalls the moment she heard the court’s decision while delivering a pro-life sermon in front of an abortion clinic. She expressed elation at the validation that the previous ruling was unconstitutional. However, she also noted that since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Florida has become a “Haven State” for women seeking abortions, with more people traveling to the state after their home states banned the procedure.
Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood, has also observed an increase in the number of abortions performed at their clinics. She specifically mentioned a quadruple increase in abortion care patients in northern sites such as Jacksonville and Tallahassee.
According to the Agency for Health Care Administration, there has been a 38% increase in abortions performed in Florida by out-of-state residents. The most recent figures suggest that the number of abortions in 2023 is on track to match or exceed the total of 6,726 performed in 2022.
Since the Dobbs decision, 12 states have implemented near-total bans on abortion, with only limited exceptions. Additionally, two states, North Dakota and Wisconsin, have not banned abortion but have limited access to procedures. Wyoming is currently facing a legal battle over a state law that would ban the use of abortion pills.
In Florida, there are laws in place that ban abortion after a specific point of gestation. The state legislature recently passed a six-week abortion ban, which will only take effect if the previous 15-week ban is upheld during a state supreme court challenge. The conservative-leaning court is set to review the measure in the coming months.
These restrictions on abortion not only create obstacles for those seeking the procedure but also highlight healthcare inequities. Research from the Guttmacher Institute suggests that regions with a higher proportion of Black people, such as the South and Midwest, are more likely to lack geographic access to maternity care and experience worse maternal and infant health outcomes.
Abortion rights advocates are taking action to protect access to abortion in Florida. The Floridians Protecting Freedom initiative aims to collect one million signatures by the end of the year to qualify for a ballot measure during the 2024 election. The initiative has already gathered 200,000 signatures since May, and supporters, including Orlando Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani and U.S. Democratic House member Maxwell Frost, will be canvassing for more signatures in downtown Orlando.
On the other hand, the Pro-Life Action Ministries of Central Florida plans to demonstrate in front of abortion clinics to advocate for further restrictions on abortion. Michele Herzog hopes that lawmakers will tighten restrictions to protect the rights of the unborn in Florida.
As the debate over abortion continues, the impact of the Dobbs decision is evident in Florida, with increased activism, a rise in out-of-state abortions, and a growing divide between abortion advocates and opponents. The future of abortion rights in the state remains uncertain, with legal challenges and political efforts shaping the landscape.Title: Florida Sees Increase in Abortions One Year After Roe v. Wade Overturned
Subtitle: State Becomes a “Haven State” for Women Seeking Abortions
Date: June 24, 2023
By Joe Mario Pedersen
It has been one year since the landmark Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case overturned Roe v. Wade, returning the power to regulate abortion laws to state legislatures. In Florida, this decision has sparked increased interest and activism from both abortion advocates and opponents, leading to a rise in the number of abortions performed in the state.
Michele Herzog, the director of the Pro-Life Action Ministry of Central Florida, expressed her elation upon hearing the court’s decision. She believed it validated their stance that abortion was unconstitutional. However, Herzog also noted the devastating impact the decision has had on the unborn in Florida. With other states banning the procedure, Florida has become a “Haven State” for women seeking abortions, a reputation that Herzog believes the state should not have.
Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood, also acknowledged the increase in abortions at their clinics since the Dobbs decision. She specifically mentioned a quadruple number of abortion care patients coming through their doors in northern sites like Jacksonville and Tallahassee.
According to the Agency for Health Care Administration, there has been a 38% increase in Florida abortions performed on out-of-state residents. The most recent figures from May indicate that the number of abortions in 2023 is on track to match or exceed the total of 6,726 performed in 2022.
Since the Dobbs decision, 12 states have implemented near-total bans on abortion, with only limited exceptions. Additionally, two states, North Dakota and Wisconsin, have not banned abortion but have limited access to procedures. Wyoming is currently facing a legal battle over a state law that would ban the use of abortion pills.
In Florida, there are already laws in place that ban abortion after a specific point of gestation. The state legislature recently passed a six-week abortion ban, which will only take effect if the previous 15-week ban is upheld during a state supreme court challenge. This fall, the conservative-leaning court will review the measure.
The restrictions on abortions not only create obstacles for those seeking the procedure but also highlight healthcare inequities. The South and Midwest regions of the United States, which have the largest proportions of Black people, also have the most states with abortion bans or expected bans. Research suggests that these regions lack geographic access to maternity care, leading to worse maternal and infant health outcomes.
In response to these developments, abortion rights advocates are taking action. Goodhue is hopeful that a ballot measure during the 2024 election will protect abortion rights. The Floridians Protecting Freedom initiative has already collected 200,000 signatures since May and aims to collect a million signatures by the end of the year. Orlando Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani and U.S. Democratic House member Maxwell Frost are joining the cause and will be canvassing for signatures in downtown Orlando.
On the other hand, Herzog and the Pro-Life Action Ministries of Central Florida plan to demonstrate in front of abortion clinics to advocate for further restrictions on abortion. They believe that tighter restrictions are necessary to protect the rights of the unborn in Florida.
The debate over abortion rights in Florida continues to intensify, with both sides actively working to shape the future of reproductive healthcare in the state.
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How do the abortion restrictions in Wyoming and Florida impact access to reproductive healthcare and contribute to healthcare inequities?
Edures. Wyoming is currently in a legal battle over a state law that would ban the use of abortion pills.
In Florida, there are laws in place that ban abortion after a specific point of gestation. The state legislature recently passed a six-week abortion ban, which will only take effect if the previous 15-week ban is upheld during a state supreme court challenge. The conservative-leaning court is set to review the measure in the coming months.
These restrictions on abortion not only create obstacles for those seeking the procedure but also highlight healthcare inequities. Research from the Guttmacher Institute suggests that regions with a higher proportion of Black people, such as the South and Midwest, are more likely to lack geographic access to maternity care and experience worse maternal and infant health outcomes.
Abortion rights advocates in Florida are taking action to protect access to abortion. The Floridians Protecting Freedom initiative aims to collect one million signatures by the end of the year to qualify for a ballot measure during the 2024 election. The initiative has already gathered 200,000 signatures since May, and supporters, including Orlando Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani and U.S. Democratic House member Maxwell Frost, will be canvassing for more signatures in downtown Orlando.
Meanwhile, the Pro-Life Action Ministries of Central Florida plans to demonstrate in front of abortion clinics to advocate for further restrictions on abortion. Michele Herzog hopes that lawmakers will tighten restrictions to protect the rights of the unborn in Florida.
As the debate over abortion continues, the impact of the Dobbs decision is evident in Florida, with increased activism, a rise in out-of-state abortions, and a growing divide between abortion advocates and opponents. The future of abortion rights in the state remains uncertain, with legal challenges and political efforts shaping the landscape.
This thought-provoking article sheds light on the consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade in Florida, highlighting the alarming surge in abortions. It underscores the urgent need for a concerted call to action to ensure reproductive rights and access to safe and legal abortion for women.
It is disheartening to witness Florida’s alarming increase in abortions after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. This alarming trend calls for a swift and urgent call to action to protect women’s reproductive rights and ensure access to safe and legal abortions.