Hey All,
It’s been a minute but…
And there’s plenty of news to report so let’s get started!
The FDA approved a blood test that screens for preeclampsia, the leading cost of maternal mortality and disability worldwide. A condition that Black folx are at 60% higher risk for than our white counterparts. The test measures 2 proteins produced by placenta capable of signaling preeclampsia. Thermo Fisher Scientific is responsible for the development of this test and is intended for hospital bedside use in pregnant patients with blood pressure disorders.
Read the story here
I hope you’re still keeping up with abortion access news because it’s constantly changing. If you haven’t… fret not because I’ll supply the low down!
Nurses in North Carolina are using their voices and becoming more involved in reproductive rights advocacy and justice. NC Nurses for Reproductive Rights is a new group setting to give nurses a seat at the table when discussing policy and plan to advocate for extended access to contraceptions, gender affirming care, infertility treatments and of course, abortion access. Jill Sergison, one of the founding member stated “We have a sense of what nurses do clinically. I think we have much less of a sense of what nurses are capable of doing from an advocacy and policy space. I’m curious to see what we’re capable of doing.” Learn more about NC Nurses for Reproductive Rights and if you’re local… get active!
Indiana, who was the first state to approve an abortion ban post Dobbs, saw their near total ban go into effect on 08/01 with exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities and a purposefully vague health exemption. There is a religious exemption prompted by Hoosier Jews for Choice lawsuit which argues their deeply held religious beliefs are infringed upon by this ban. Though the injunction being granted was seen as a victory, law experts worry it’ll require strenuous steps to access abortion care still. RJ advocates and pro abortion constituents marched on the Governor’s Mansion in protest and have continued to fight against this attack on their civil liberties. All the relevant abortion news for Indiana can be found here
According to Guttmacher Institute research, almost half the country has active abortion hostile legislation in effect and it’s greatly impacting communities who’ve always had limited access to reproductive healthcare such as: Black & Brown folk, the impoverished, undocumented and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Trust me, perusing their data will be illuminating and keep you more informed. Their interactive abortion access map can be found here
This week we saw a win in Texas! Kinda. On Friday, a Texas state court sided with women and Doctors who sued the state for their abortion restrictions citing how the vagueness of the legislation made providing patients what would be legal abortion care, impossible or delayed. As well as placing a hold on SB8, the bill that incentivized Texans to become anti-abortion vigilantes, reporting folks suspected of having, aiding or abetting abortions to law enforcement. The justice in question was Judge Jessica Mangrum who clarified that physicians could use “good faith judgement” to provide abortion care in medically complex situations. All of a few hours later, the Texas Attorney General filed an appeal with the Texas Supreme Court, placing a hold on the SB8 injunction and preventing Friday’s ruling from becoming precedent. The fight for the reproductive freedom of Texans is hot. Organizations and clinics facilitating abortion care under such hostile conditions deserve your support. Buckle Bunnies Fund is one of my favorites and could always use donors!
Much to my chagrin, KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act) and COPPA 2.0 (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) advanced in the Senate with unanimous support. The voice vote was a necessary step prior to introducing the bill for congressional vote to become law. Though this is being touted as a bipartisan victory looking to end youth suicide, eating disorders and exploitation… lawyers, sex workers, queer and trans activist and the occasional libertarian knows this to be draconian laws made to extend the breadth of the government’s ability to surveil it’s citizens and further marginalize folx belonging to groups considered “deviant” to the hegemonic state. Online censorship (and laws surrounding it) have been topic of discussion for decades and are constantly being challenged for its enthusiastic impediment on folks’ first amendment rights. In previous newsletters and essays, I’ve discussed how impactful censorship is on sex workers as well as the harm it poses to youth who can no longer rely on relative privacy to ask questions and find community outside of the purview of their parents. This legislation is a Trojan horse, similar to SESTA/FOSTA intending to impede on the right’s of all civilians in hopes of eradicating some civilians. I’m attaching some videos I’ve made about online censorship as well and I implore you to think critically about why the government wants such unmitigated access to what you do.
This profile in The Phoenix News Times about a 40 year old Phoenix city ordinance the police use to arrest “scantily clad” women on “manifesting an intent to commit or solicit an act of prostitution” charges having nefarious motives was phenomenal and made me think of a piece Georgie Wolf wrote for tryst.link: Whorephobia is a Problem for Everyone another astounding piece detailing how easily legislation you may have championed previously, is hurting civilians and sex workers alike.
And in a case of not new news, but news new to you (and me) … there’s a UTI vaccine, that’s been accessible since 2018?! The MV140 vaccine can prevent recurrent UTI’S caused by the 4 most common bacteria responsible for the infection. And it just has the catchiest name Uromune®— like c’mon! I’m unsure if it’s found its way to the US yet but I will be investigating and reporting back later so watch out for the update.
And that concludes August’s newsletter. I’m getting on my zoom 👩🏾💻 and finishing up an essay that’s long overdue as well as some future pieces I plan to release through the fall. Thanks again for all of your support, I’m forever appreciative.
Till Next Time,
Nia Òla