It’s 2024, and your uterus (or your partner’s uterus, or your friend’s uterus, or just uteruses in general) is on the ballot. Again. Still. Always. I know, I know, we’re all tired of fighting this fight. But unless you want to wake up in January 2025 with fewer rights than a clump of cells, it’s time to pay attention to what’s at stake for sexual health in this election.
Abortion: The Never-Ending Story
Since Roe v. Wade got the boot in 2022, it’s been a wild ride for abortion rights. Some states are building fortresses around reproductive freedom, while others are competing to see who can make the most draconian laws. (Congrats, we’re all winners in the Worst Timeline Olympics!)
Kamala Harris: Defender of the Uterus
- In the past: As a senator, Harris opposed the Hyde Amendment and co-sponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would have blocked states from imposing restrictive policies limiting access to abortion, and voted against a bill that would have banned abortions later in pregnancy. As VP, she’s been the administration’s loudest voice on reproductive rights. She’s also the only VP or president to visit a Planned Parenthood clinic while in office. Plus, the Biden-Harris administration has been busy defending abortion access, including:
- Strengthening HIPAA protections for abortion-related data privacy.
- On the campaign trail: Harris vows to never allow a national abortion ban and promises to sign legislation restoring Roe v. Wade protections nationwide.
Bonus: VP pick Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota signed a bill codifying abortion rights and an executive order protecting out-of-state abortion seekers. Because apparently some politicians remember that their job is to, you know, help people.
Donald Trump: The “I Made This Mess, But It’s Not My Problem” Candidate
- In the past: Appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade (which he loves to brag about, having said “After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade.”). His administration also blocked Title X funding for clinics providing abortion counseling or referrals.
- On the campaign trail: Claims he supports leaving abortion to the states, but has hinted at considering a national 15 or 16-week ban and has refused to commit to vetoing a national abortion ban. He did, however, recently indicate during an interview that he would not use a 19th-century anti-obscenity law, the Comstock Act, to restrict abortion pills, and that he supports exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother (because apparently some forced births are less acceptable than others).
And let’s not forget JD Vance, who sponsored at least seven anti-abortion bills during his time as a senator, including bills to defund Planned Parenthood, and a so-called “born-alive” bill to prohibit healthcare providers from failing to provide proper care to a child who survives an abortion attempt.
On the Ballot
Abortion-related initiatives are on the ballot in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, and New York. So if you live in one of those states, congrats! You get to directly influence your reproductive rights. (No pressure or anything.)
The future of abortion access hangs in the balance, and your vote could be the difference between bodily autonomy and forced birth.
Contraception: Because Apparently It’s Still 1965
Despite 88% of Americans believing birth control is morally acceptable (including 86 percent of Republicans and 93 percent of Democrats), some politicians seem determined to drag us back to the era of chastity belts and rhythm method roulette. And after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas writing in his concurring opinion overturning Roe v. Wade that the court should reconsider decisions relying on the same legal precedent – which includes the court’s 1965 ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut guaranteeing the right to contraceptives – one in five Americans say they believe access to birth control is under threat.
Kamala Harris: Team “Let’s Not Go Backward”
- In the past: Supports the ACA’s contraceptive coverage requirement as well as expanded access to contraceptives for military members and dependents. During her time as VP, the Biden-Harris administration also restored Title X family planning program rules and approved the first over-the-counter oral contraceptive pills.
- On the campaign trail: Continues to defend contraceptive access and supports increased access to over-the-counter birth control.
Donald Trump: Mixed Messages and Moral Objections
- In the past: His administration allowed nearly any employer to opt out of contraceptive coverage for “religious or moral” reasons. Because apparently your boss’s imaginary friend has more say over your uterus than you do. Trump’s contraception legacy also includes:
- Prohibiting family planning clinics from receiving Title X funds if they also offer abortion services.
- Approving Texas’s Medicaid program waiver blocking payments to Planned Parenthood for non-abortion family planning services.
- On the campaign trail: Recently claimed he wouldn’t restrict contraception access, but his track record and the “Project 2025” policy initiative suggest otherwise.
Whether you’ll be able to get birth control without jumping through flaming hoops may depend on who wins in November. Choose wisely!
IVF: The Unexpected Battleground
In a plot twist that surprised absolutely no one who’s been paying attention, IVF access is now under threat in some states. Because apparently some people think that if you can’t conceive naturally, you don’t deserve to be a parent (insert eye roll here.)
Kamala Harris: Pro-Science, Pro-Family
- In the past: Spoke out against the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that threatened IVF access.
- On the campaign trail: Supports guaranteed right to IVF.
Donald Trump: Flip-Flopping for Votes
- In the past: No clear stance during his presidency. His running mate, Vance, voted to block nationwide access to IVF. Because nothing says “pro-life” like preventing people from creating life, am I right?
- On the campaign trail: Recently claimed he’d support public funding for IVF or mandate insurance coverage. But his party’s platform includes language that could threaten IVF access. So… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The future of family planning through IVF hangs in the balance. Choose your fighter wisely!
Maternity Care: Because Pregnancy Shouldn’t Be a Death Sentence
In a country with rising maternal mortality rates (they’ve nearly doubled between 2018 and 2021), especially among women of color, maternity care is a critical issue. Let’s see how our candidates stack up.
Kamala Harris: Champion of Moms
- In the past: Long-time advocate for improved maternal health care and reducing racial disparities, including the extension of Medicaid coverage to one year postpartum (which enacted under the Biden-Harris Administration). The Biden-Harris administration also issued a Blueprint on maternal health setting cross-agency priorities, including workforce development, enhanced data collection, mental health, and doula coverage.
- On the campaign trail: Supports implementing a cross-agency maternal health blueprint.
Donald Trump: A Mixed Bag
- In the past: Signed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2018 and implemented a model to improve care for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorder.
- On the campaign trail: No clear promises on maternity care for his potential second term.
Whether you’re planning to have kids or just want to make sure your friends don’t die in childbirth, this is an issue worth considering at the ballot box.
Register to Vote in DC: Because Your Voice Matters (No, Really)
Alright, DCers, listen up! Here’s how to make sure you can actually vote on all this stuff:
- Check your registration status: Head to https://apps.dcboe.org/vrs and make sure you’re good to go.
- Register online: If you’re not registered, you’ve got until October 15, 2024, to do it online for the November 5 election.
- Procrastinator’s option: You can also register on Election Day at your polling place.
Bonus info for the justice-involved: As of July 2020, incarcerated individuals, people under court supervision, and those in halfway houses can register and vote! Use your DC home address or the jail address if you’ve been there for at least 30 days.
Look, I get it. Voting can feel pointless, especially when it comes to issues that feel like they should be basic human rights. But the reality is, your reproductive freedom, your access to healthcare, and even your ability to start a family are on the ballot this year. So register, show up, and vote like your uterus depends on it. Because, well, it kind of does.
Kae Burdo
Kae Burdo is a queer and poly Oklahoma-based freelance writer and digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in alternative sexuality and relationship education and advocacy. Their passions include travel, sour beers, international politics, the vast range of human sexuality, cross-stitching, intersectional feminism, and technology and startups. Follow them on Twitter @kaeburdo.
