To help reduce travel costs for women seeking abortion services in the southeast, a California-based OB/GYN proposes a floating abortion clinic in the Gulf of Mexico.
Dr. Meg Autry who’s also a professor at University of California San Francisco said there’s been an assault in the U.S. on body autonomy and access to abortion health care.
“Which will primarily affect poor people, people of color, and marginalized communities,” said Autry.
Autry said she’s been germinating the idea for some time and the reversal of Roe v. Wade has only increased interest in getting the clinic afloat. It would operate in federal waters, out of reach from state laws that ban abortions. She said women living in poverty in the southeast will be impacted the most by the state's abortion ban.
“So, this is an option to provide close safe and quicker access to those individuals,” said Autry.
While they are still working on details as to when and where the vessel will launch, Autry said she’s received positive feedback and fundraising efforts have increased significantly since her idea was announced.
“The words of support, and the donations of support that have rolled in from the south, have been really amazing,” said Autry.
