Your Legal Guide to Reproductive Justice

4 min readJul 18, 2022

We’re in the battle of our lives for basic human rights and reproductive justice. The need for direct action and mutual advocacy has never been more urgent.

In the face of political persecution over bodily autonomy, we must not forget that our safety is necessary to ensure that we can keep our boots pressed firmly to the ground and positioned toward a more just future. Legal uncertainty and a shifting political climate can cloud our perception of safety. That’s where we come in.

Want to know your legal rights in the face of abortion misinformation and unjust laws? Look no further, Squad. We got you.

Let’s be clear :: the fight for reproductive justice has only just begun. This week, President Biden signed an executive order federally protecting access to reproductive health care services — but even these executive protections are being challenged at the state level by anti-abortion legislators.

Abortion is a necessary health care procedure that has existed long before Roe and will continue to exist in America regardless of its legal status. With this in mind, we’ve created a legal guide for you to better understand your rights during this challenging and uncertain time. Think of this as your legal toolkit for navigating the post-Roe landscape.

Make sure you pass along this resource to your Squad, coworkers, workplace leaders, chosen family members, and peers. Everyone deserves access to abortion information.

Key Legal Facts to Know ::

We want to ensure that you’re equipped with the best legal know-how when advocating on behalf of yourself and others. Below you’ll find the legal facts you should know before advocating.

There are an estimated 25 million unsafe abortions each year
There are an estimated 73 million induced abortions each year
Death from unsafe abortion is preventable through safe, legal, and accessible abortion
In the last 25 years, 50 countries have changed laws to increase access to safe, legal abortion
Criminalizing abortion does not reduce abortion rates overall, it only makes abortion more dangerous and deadly
Abortion is not only a women’s issue. Folks of all genders can get pregnant and seek abortion.

Abortion Rights By State ::

Unsure how the overturning of Roe impacts abortion laws in your state? Check out these resources below.

A Comprehensive Overview of Abortion Laws from the Guttmacher Institute
After Roe Fell :: Reproductive Laws by State from the Center for Reproductive Rights
Tracking the States Where Abortion is Now Banned from The New York Times
World Abortion Laws Map from the Center for Reproductive Rights

Abortion Rights in the Workplace ::

An Employers Guide to Workplace Protections for Abortion-Related Decisions from Fisher Phillips
Abortion Related Workplace Discrimination Still Banned Post-Roe from Bloomberg Law
Overturning Roe v. Wade :: What Workers Need to Know from Forbes
Pregnancy Discrimination FAQ from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
How the Battle for Abortion Will Affect the Workplace from Newsweek

Secure an Attorney ::

Are you uncertain of your legal standing prior to undergoing an abortion or following an abortion procedure? Are you interested in legal counsel for your case but don’t know where to start? Check out these pro bono resources below.

Understand Abortion Bans in Federal Programs ::

The Hyde Amendment limits insurance coverage for abortion under certain federal programs. If you receive assistance under these programs, the below resources will help you understand your rights and abortion accessibility.

Abortion Laws Across State Lines ::

Many anti-abortion lawmakers are seeking to make traveling across state lines to obtain an abortion illegal. While no state currently bans residents from obtaining an abortion out of state, the right to travel is not explicitly affirmed in the Constitution, and therefore the future of interstate travel bans is uncertain.

Abortion Advocacy Rights ::

Don’t work on your own — join an established group. Check out this list of abortion advocacy groups in all 50 states! And while you’re looking to help, click here to learn how you can support abortion patients!
Know your protester rights if you are protesting abortion bans in your state!
Stay updated with this US Protest Law Tracker, which tracks laws that may restrict the right to peaceful assembly in your state
Access this downloadable abortion advocacy toolkit
Utilize these downloadable abortion advocacy talking points

Quick Link Resources ::

Squad, we know that the climate in our country is scary and our legal rights are uncertain. We’ll be in your inbox weekly with The Byte, and all of the news, tips, tools, and resources you need to know to stay safe in the workplace, in the tech industry, and beyond. As always, we got you.

📧 Is there something we missed? Send us an email and let us know what resources you would like us to include in the next issue of The Byte.