June, 03 2016, 12:00pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Email: media@reproductivefreedomforall.org
NARAL Releases "Abortion Road Trip" Video
Comedians Katie Goodman and Soren Kisiel Take a 500-Mile Journey to Explore the Impact that Anti-Choice Laws Have Had on Abortion Access in the US
NARAL Pro-Choice America today released a video with comedians Katie Goodman and Soren Kisiel to examine the real-world implications of the anti-choice laws at the heart of the upcoming Supreme Court decision in Whole Woman's Health vs. Hellerstedt. In the video, Goodman and Kisiel take a 500-mile road trip to explore the impact TRAP regulations have had on Americans' access to abortion. Because of these regulations, 10 percent of Texas' population lives 256 miles away from an abortion clinic--meaning many women are forced to travel more than 500 miles round trip just to exercise their right to a safe and legal abortion.
"This video perfectly illustrates that TRAP laws have nothing to do with improving women's health and everything to do with making it more difficult for a woman to get an abortion," said Sasha Bruce, senior vice president for campaigns and strategy at NARAL Pro-Choice America. "The Supreme Court's upcoming decision on anti-choice TRAP laws will determine not only whether our right to safe and legal abortion is affirmed, but also whether it is to remain accessible. This access shouldn't depend on a woman's zip code or what state she lives in, and that's why we're fighting back against these TRAP regulations."
"We teamed up with NARAL to make this video because we think people need to know the sneaky and underhanded ways that anti-choice lawmakers have tried to limit women's right to make decisions for themselves when it comes to abortion," said Katie Goodman.
"This video really shows the burdens that restrictive TRAP laws place on women trying to control their reproductive lives," said Soren Kisiel. "Our 512-mile trip required an entire day of driving and put us out $75 for gas alone, not including food. And women who face mandatory waiting periods would have to turn around and do it all again several days later--all just to access basic medical care. For women who might not be able to afford a day off or don't have access to a car, these hurdles could mean they can't make it to a clinic to get the reproductive care guaranteed by the US Constitution."
For over 50 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels—including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and post-partum care, and paid family leave—for everybody. Reproductive Freedom for All is powered by its more than 4 million members from every state and congressional district in the country, representing the 8 in 10 Americans who support legal abortion.
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