Statement from Trust Women Founder and Director, Julie Burkhart, on Gov. Brownback’s decision to sign into law a 69 page bill designed to roll back women’s rights – without bothering to actually read it. Once again, Governor Sam Brownback has overreached into women’s private and personal lives. We are appalled that the Governor would agree to sign such a sweeping

The Virginia Senate has passed a bill requiring “noninvasive” ultrasounds for women seeking an abortion. Pennsylvania is now considering a push for the more invasive trans-vaginal ultrasound procedure that Virginia abandoned. California State Senator Christine Kehoe has introduced a bill that would increase abortion access for women in remote areas. An Oklahoma Senate panel has passed a measure requiring women to hear the fetal heartbeat before they

Trust Women interns Molly and Megan, along with volunteers, at the Oklahomans Against Personhood rally that took place February 28 at the Oklahoma State Capitol

The trans-vaginal ultrasound idea is making some headway in Alabama, after being tabled in Virginia. “Personhood,” defeated for now in Virginia, is moving swiftly through the Oklahoma legislature towards the governor’s desk. Washington could be the first state to require that insurers cover abortion along with other maternal health care. Four Democrats are looking to challenge President Obama in the Oklahoma primary – including Randall Terry, founder

Virginia legislators have revised, but not abandoned, the new state law that would require women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound before the procedure. While many states have passed or put forth similar bills, Virginia’s received national attention for requiring a more invasive trans-vaginal ultrasound. A battle in Texas over Medicaid funding for women’s health programs may mean the loss of

There’s a lot of talk about how to keep women pregnant lately, but once pregnant, women still face high rates of discrimination in the workplace, says the EEOC. There are so many anti-abortion bills moving through Virginia it’s hard to keep track, but the state senate has killed VA’s “personhood” bill, for now, and the Governor wants to changes to

Dr. Kristin Neuhaus, the Kansas doctor who provided second opinions to Dr. Tiller, was stripped of her medical license. Dr. Neuhaus was the subject of a witch-hunt. It was clear that she would not get a fair hearing under the Kansas state government or Governor Brownback. There was a political agenda at work, and someone was going to pay –

After a long, drawn-out battle, Dr. Neuhaus, a colleague of Dr. George Tiller, has been stripped of her medical license by the state of Kansas. Trust Women Founder and Director Julie Burkhart spoke out against the decision. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has backed off of his previously enthusiastic support for the bill requiring trans-vaginal ultrasounds for women seeking abortions. The bill passed

As Catholic hospitals have expanded, so have the restrictions on abortion, birth control, and other reproductive services that come with them. In areas with few medical providers, this presents real problems for women’s access. Confusion in Oklahoma as two “personhood” bills move simultaneously through the legislature. Ireland, home to the most stringent bans in Europe, is considering allowing abortions for the first time. Rick Santorum is

In a powerful and moving display, Virginians linked arms and stood silently outside the the State Capitol in protest of the invasive new anti-abortion laws the legislature has proposed. The bills may still come for a vote this week. A new bill in Pennsylvania would require women to undergo an ultrasound 24 hours before having an abortion. South Dakota is seeking to clarify controversial anti-abortion bills passed

Amy Poehler returned to SNL Saturday night to comment on the recent Congressional hearing on birth control, at which no women were present (Really?!), and to tell the government, “Don’t tell me what to do!” Texas’ new abortion restrictions are sparking anger among doctors, who insist that adult women already understand the choices they are making about their bodies and

HB 2523 Would Put Patients in Danger and Control Women’s Reproductive Autonomy Topeka, KS –Virginia Phillips of Trust Women testified today against Kansas House Bill 2523, a pharmacist refusal and medical personnel non-referral act, which dismisses good medicine and puts patients directly in danger by a continually overreaching government. The bill would allow medical professionals, including pharmacists, to refuse to

Reid will allow a vote on the health insurance birth control mandate to go forward in the Senate. The Hill speculates that Democrats want to use this issue to energize the party and women’s rights groups. New Hampshire, which has enforced birth control coverage for twelve years, may now overturn that law. However, for once, in good news you can

The Oklahoma Senate has passed “personhood” by an overwhelming majority. It still needs to pass the State House. The new trans-vaginal ultrasound laws, which require an invasive form of ultrasound administered through a vaginal probe, are being likened to state sanctioned rape. GOOD has a great article on the prohibitive expense of birth control. You can add your story to the ones

The Virginia State House has managed to pass a “personhood” initiative. They also passed ultrasound legislation which, “would constitute an unprecedented government mandate to insert vaginal ultrasonic probes into women as part of a state-ordered effort to dissuade them from terminating pregnancies.” During the debates, a Republican legislator referred to abortion as a “lifestyle convenience.” He quickly said that he regretted

Happy Valentine’s Day! For some people, today means romance, but for others, V-Day is a day to raise awareness ofdomestic violence, and how far on the topic we, as a nation, still have to go. We hope you have a great day, however you spend it! With the supply-side economic assault on birth control and abortion care, the cost of reproductive

A fairly brilliant compromise on birth control coverage by the White House, in attempting to please everyone, manages to please noone. Or everyone. It’s a terrible idea. It was a great triumph! It depends who you ask. The end. “Bad few weeks” aside, claims the Daily Best, conservatives are not losing the culture war. Those “bad few weeks” may have more to follow; abortion opponents

By Thomas Knapp, LJWorld.com February 9, 2012 Topeka — Last year, five bills limiting abortion services and affordable contraception were passed by the Kansas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback. On Wednesday, a House committee started consideration of the first abortion bill of the current session that opponents say will create more limitations. READ

Fun new game: every time a state legislature makes a decision about what women can do with their bodies, a female legislator will add an amendment telling men what they can and cannot do with their semen. Play on! Details emerging on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to de-fund Planned Parenthood bringing to light more evidence of politicized, anti-abortion right-wing push

Trust Women Founder astonished at level of government intrusion into private lives of Kansas families A 68 page bill moving through the Kansas legislature, which represents one of the most sweeping anti-abortion bills in history, is drawing national attention and the ire of local women’s-rights groups. “This bill is a far reaching and meddlesome intrusion into the private lives of