The Texas Legislature in a Time of Turmoil and Transition

Today marks the opening of the 87th Texas Legislative Session — and it signals enormous opportunity and peril for civil liberties in Texas. With a tense national political climate, a pandemic devastating communities across Texas, and lingering racial unrest since the killing of George Floyd, this session will be one of the most challenging — and most important — we have seen in recent history. 

By Matthew Simpson

2021 Legislative Session Austin Capitol Image

The Election is Over — Now Let’s Lead Freedom Forward

In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a dramatic shift in the ideological balance at the U.S. Supreme Court, placing abortion access, LGBTQ equality, and voting rights in peril. And threats to our democracy seem to be mounting. 

By Rebecca L. Robertson

Image: A stylized image of the Texas Capitol building is juxtaposed against a gradient background

An Abortion Advocacy Movement for Everybody

Abortion is legal in Texas and across the United States, but that doesn’t stop anti-abortion politicians from doing whatever they can to interfere with access to reproductive healthcare. Local governments have added fuel to the fire by passing anti-abortion ordinances that confuse residents about their rights and increase the ever-present stigma around seeking abortion care.That’s why, for the first time, reproductive rights, health, and justice groups in our state are joining forces to expand essential health care access for all Texans by creating the Texas Abortion Access Network. Get involved and sign up to become a founding member of TAAN.

By Blair Wallace

Photo: Representatives of the Trust, Respect, Access Coalition, holding multicolored signs spelling out ABORTION=HEALTHCARE, gathered in the Texas Capitol Rotunda Thursday afternoon July 27, 2017 to voice their opposition to abortion legislation being...

SCOTUS Watch 2020: Attacks on Birth Control Coverage

No one should have to fear being unable to afford healthcare, including birth control. 

By Anjali Salvador

Photo: An aluminum packet of small circular pills has a few missing, the spots where they were punched out of the aluminum visible. The packet peacks out of a zipper pouch.

SCOTUS Watch 2020: Abortion Rights Reaffirmed, for Now

Earlier this week, in the much anticipated June Medical Services v. Russo case, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of their abortion clinics. 

By Anjali Salvador

June Medical SCOTUS decision

Defying Medical Experts, Lawmakers are Weaponizing COVID-19 to Restrict Abortion Access

Ashoka Mukpo, Staff Reporter, ACLU

In t

By Ashoka Mukpo

A procedure room at a women's health clinic in Texas.

Stopping the Anti-Abortion Ordinances of East Texas

Waskom. Naples. Joaquin. Tenaha. Rusk. Gary. Wells. These names might sound unfamiliar now, but you’ll be hearing more about them soon enough.

By Anjali Salvador

Texas state flag with the words "Pro Choice Texan" written on the horizontal elements

See Where These Candidates Stand in SD 27

We asked the candidates running for Texas Senate in District 27 about policy reforms they would support if elected to office. Please see their responses below!

Image: Cropped photos of the candidates running for TX Senate District 27, including: Hon. Eddie Lucio Jr. and Sara Stapleton Barrera.

There’s a Sanctuary City Problem in Texas. But it’s Not What You Think.

By Drucilla Tigner

Abortion Waskom