As concerns continue to mount over what Donald Trump’s victory and a GOP-controlled government might mean for access to abortion and birth control in the United States, many Americans have reacted with increased donations to women’s health and other social justice organizations.
While it’s not exactly clear what impact Trump’s presidency will have on reproductive rights, he did confirm in a recent “60 Minutes” interview that he’s “pro-life” and said he’d appoint anti-choice justices to the Supreme Court. Since he’ll take office with one opening on the court, this could have a lasting effect on reproductive health care, including potentially on the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationally.
Trump has also said he will prioritize repealing the Affordable Care Act, which mandates insurance coverage of many forms of birth control as well as provides other women’s health benefits. If Obamacare was dismantled, about 55 million women could lose access to no-copay preventive services including birth control, screenings for sexually transmitted infections, Pap tests and cancer screenings, reports The Huffington Post.
Meanwhile, Indiana Governor and Vice President-elect Mike Pence has a long anti-abortion record and has pushed Congress to defund Planned Parenthood. In his state, by 2014 he’d slashed Planned Parenthood funding to half of its 2005 levels.
In response to all of this, Planned Parenthood, which provides a range of reproductive health services and cancer screenings in addition to abortions, says it’s seen a surge in donations since the elections. It’s received more than 200,000 donations — at least 46,000 of those made in the name of Pence, who will get a thank-you note for each donation.
While this is good news for Planned Parenthood, many other groups, often smaller ones, are also working to support reproductive rights and health across the country. As people scramble to figure out how to make a difference in this current political climate, here are five organizations to consider giving money to in addition to Planned Parenthood.
1. Center for Reproductive Rights
The Center for Reproductive Rights has been working for almost 25 years to fight for reproductive freedom in the U.S. and globally through constitutional and international law. This includes advocating for expanded access to reproductive health care, safe abortion, prenatal and obstetric care, and unbiased information as well as documenting abuses. The group brought the lawsuit on behalf of the Texas clinics, for example, in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a landmark abortion case decided by the Supreme Court in June. Take action or donate.
2. National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health works to build the power of Latinas to guarantee the right to reproductive health, dignity and justice. The only national reproductive justice organization working specifically with Latinas, for over 20 years the group has used policy change, culture shift and training and leadership development to push for its goals. The organization focuses on abortion access and affordability, sexual and reproductive health equity and immigrant women’s health and rights for the 1-in-5 women in this country who are Latina. Get involved or donate.
NARAL Pro-Choice America fights to protect and expand reproductive freedom at the national and state levels. For almost 40 years the group has been doing this through education, training, lobbying Congress, organizing, legal action, public policy and pushing for the election of pro-choice lawmakers. It also produces several publications, including a state-level report card on reproductive rights and abortion-related laws. Like Planned Parenthood, you can donate to the group in Pence’s name. Or take action or volunteer.
4. Sistersong
SisterSong works to amplify and strengthen the voices of indigenous women and women of color and helps provide them with access to reproductive health care services, information and resources that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. They’re trying to improve institutional policies and systems that impact marginalized groups’ reproductive health. This national reproductive justice collective, the only coalition of its kind in the country, was formed almost 20 years ago when 16 grassroots women of color organizations joined together. Donate.
5. National Network of Abortion Funds
The National Network of Abortion Funds has worked for over 20 years with its members, grassroots abortion funds across the country, to make sure women and girls can get the abortions they seek. The funds help those who can’t afford the procedure by paying for abortions and offering other services like transportation, child care, translation and places to stay for people who have to travel for abortions. It provides a state-by-state list of these abortion funds. The group also does organizing and advocacy to protect abortion access. Donate.
Juhie Bhatia is a reporter and editor focused on gender and health issues. Formerly the managing editor of Women’s eNews, she’s also written for The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Nature Medicine, Rolling Stone and Bust magazine.