Facing our Abortion Access Crisis

Since the 6 week ban went into effect in Florida, North Carolina is the last state in the southeast to allow abortion up to 12 weeks. This has resulted in a huge increase in out-of-state patients flocking to North Carolina, where our clinics are already overburdened and underfunded. In 2023, 15,910 people from other states traveled to North Carolina in 2023 to access abortion —  making up about 35% of all the abortions performed in the state.

But North Carolina was already struggling to keep up. In 2023, North Carolina passed Senate Bill 20, which limited abortion to 12 weeks of pregnancy in most cases and added a host of debilitating new restrictions. This only compounded the existing legal restrictions, including a 72-hour waiting period (one of the longest in the country). Only nine of North Carolina’s 100 counties have abortion clinics. 

The majority of patients receive some amount of funding to help cover their care; that’s always been the case and it’s what makes care possible for most people. Abortion bans — including forced waiting periods, gestational limits, and more — force people to travel for care, push people further into pregnancy, increase out-of-pocket costs, and take people away from their families and jobs. 

While abortion funds saw an initial spike in donations after the fall of Roe, those funds have all but dried up. Many funds are running out of funds within hours or days of opening their hotlines for the entire month. 

It shouldn’t be this way. Abortion should be free, legal, and accessible to all. We should be able to get care in our own communities without having to scrape together the cost of abortion care, childcare, transportation, and more from under-resourced and over-worked community-run organizations.

While abortion support organizations and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure that everyone who wants an abortion is able to get one, the truth is that many people are being turned away due to legal restrictions, lack of funds, or other barriers. Additionally, in states with abortion restrictions, people who are on probation or parole have an even harder time accessing abortion due to limitations on their ability to leave the state. 

We know that the consequences for those who are forced to continue with unwanted pregnancies can be catastrophic. 

According to the Turnaway Study, which compared the outcomes of women who received abortions to those who were turned away, those who continue with pregnancy experience worse rates of economic hardship, health complications, and intimate partner violence. Additionally, being denied an abortion can negatively impact the financial wellbeing and development of all children in the household. For the two thirds of people seeking abortion who already have at least one child, this can dramatically alter an entire family’s life trajectory. 

We also know that women in states with abortion bans are nearly 3 times more likely to die during pregnancy, childbirth, or soon after giving birth. We’ve already seen this play out in the two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Across the country, people have suffered tremendous pain and medical complications because doctors were prevented from providing medically necessary care. 

There’s a lot of incorrect information out there about abortion. Some of it is spread intentionally by politicians, anti-abortion activists, and bad actors to twist the narrative about this very common, very safe medical procedure. Reproductive health care shouldn't be a political issue, but it’s the reality of where we are now. 

One on one conversations are one of the most important tools we have to combat misinformation on abortion. By speaking openly and honestly with your loved ones about abortion, you can open the door for better understanding of this issue.

With our conversation guide, Let’s Talk About Abortion, you can find information about how to engage your family, friends, and fellow North Carolinians in conversations about the importance of abortion access and resources to continue working on this important issue.
 

The average cost in North Carolina is $300–$600 for a first trimester abortion (up to 12 weeks). Second trimester abortions (between 13 weeks and viability) could cost much more. It’s rare that private insurance plans cover abortion care, and in North Carolina, health plans offered for public employees and under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest.

Abortion funds are organizations that directly support people seeking abortions by providing funds for abortion care as well as travel, childcare, food, supplies, and more. Donating to abortion funds helps everyone — people seeking abortions in North Carolina, overburdened staff at abortion clinics, and the tired advocates who continue to find new ways to support abortion access. 

We are in this fight for the long-haul. Anti-abortion politicians show no signs of slowing down their efforts to ban abortion nationwide. Our community care has to be just as persistent. 

We urge you to consider becoming a sustaining monthly donor to abortion funds. Your contributions will provide direct support to people seeking abortions. Giving monthly helps ensure that people can continue to access care as we move through a national crisis.

Donating money is not the only way to make a difference. Volunteering your time can be just as important. 

Fill out this form to volunteer for the ACLU of North Carolina. We’ll let you know about actions you can take to protect civil rights and liberties in our state. 

Becoming a clinic escort is a great way to show your support for abortion patients and improve access to abortion care. Often, protesters stand outside abortion clinics to harass patients. For many, this is an extra deterrent that increases shame and stigma against those exercising their legal right to an abortion. Clinic escorts provide a protective barrier between patients and protesters, limiting their interactions and ensuring that patients have someone on their side as they enter the clinic. 

The Triangle Abortion Access Coalition coordinates clinic escort volunteers in the Triangle. If you don’t live in the Triangle, you can email your local clinic and ask if they need volunteers.  

If you or someone you know is a business owner in North Carolina, we encourage you to sign on to our letter urging state legislators not to pass additional legislation limiting abortion access and LGBTQ rights. 

We know that business leaders want to protect their employees’ ability to access reproductive health care and trans healthcare and protect the health of the North Carolina economy. The “Don’t Ban Equality in North Carolina” letter is an opportunity for businesses to make clear to state legislators and to the public that abortion bans and anti-trans legislation will be harmful to North Carolina’s workforce and economy.
 

Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest. This year, voting in national, state, and local elections can have a huge impact on the future for North Carolinians. 

We’re no strangers to the difficulties of advocacy within a fraught political structure, and our resolve is constantly being tested. We know that our supporters carry that same burden, and that there has been growing disillusionment and hopelessness amongst voters. We deeply empathize with these feelings and share in your frustrations. But in the last few years, we’ve seen the monumental difference these races have on our communities. 

In 2019 and 2021, the General Assembly passed abortion restrictions, but did not have enough votes to override the governor’s veto, so these laws did not go into effect. After the 2022 elections, the margins became much slimmer, which allowed the General Assembly to override Governor Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 20, a bill that banned abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy and implemented new restrictions on abortion at all stages of pregnancy. 

It’s imperative that we elect candidates up and down the ballot who are committed to protecting abortion access in North Carolina. Learn more about how each of the offices on your ballot affect civil rights. 

Every election counts. 

Visit our voting guide for more information about the 2024 election. If you want to know how your current legislators voted on reproductive rights, check out our legislator scorecard. 

Produced in partnership with Narrative Arts, North Carolina’s Abortion Story is an impactful documentary that aims to amplify the voices of individuals navigating the landscape of reproductive rights in North Carolina. The film explores the history of abortion in North Carolina, the modern movement for reproductive justice, and the impact of abortion bans on patients and providers. Through intimate interviews, personal narratives, and expert commentary, the documentary paints a vivid picture of the historic and current barriers impacting people seeking abortion in the state. 

Bringing North Carolina's Abortion Story to your community can help your network better understand the landscape of reproductive freedom in our state, inspire them to join the abortion access movement, and encourage them to use their voice at the ballot box in November to protect abortion. With our help, you can gather your friends, family, neighbors, or community members to host a viewing party.

Learn more about the documentary and sign up to gain access to the film and accompanying materials here.