Reproductive Rights

The St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved a plan Friday that would use federal coronavirus relief funds to help those seeking abortions in another state. Advocates say this is necessary to protect women’s reproductive health.

Bodily autonomy is a principle of the disability rights movement. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, people with disabilities worry about how they will be disproportionately affected.

The special session of the General Assembly in the coming weeks to focus on legislation to strengthen women’s access to abortion and other reproductive health services in Illinois.

The measure set to be introduced Friday by 8th Ward Alderwoman Annie Rice and others sets up a Reproductive Equity Fund and uses $1.75 million in federal coronavirus relief funds as seed money.

Abortion rights advocates in Missouri and Illinois are decrying a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark decision that legalized abortion. They say abortion providers in the Metro East will become safe havens for people in the Midwest and South, as abortion is expected to remain legal in Illinois.

Planned Parenthood leaders are warning supporters in St. Louis that access to abortion is at risk as state legislators seek tougher restrictions. The organization made its appeal Thursday during its annual luncheon.

The order from County Executive Sam Page extends existing programs at the health department and expands patient counseling and anti-bias and anti-racism training, as well as clinical training around contraception.

Texas patients are heading to Illinois following a law that bans abortions six weeks into pregnancy.

St. Louis abortion rights activists gathered outside the Old Courthouse to protest a restrictive abortion law passed last week in Texas, and to urge people to demand that Missouri lawmakers not pass similar legislation.

Conservative legislators don’t want to renew a tax on health care providers unless they can get amendments they say are “pro-life” added.