Time to End the Ban on Military Women’s Access to Abortion

by Nancy Keenan · 2010-09-16 17:07:00 UTC
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Did you know that women serving our country overseas have fewer health-care choices than women here at home?

Anti-choice politicians ban women in the military from accessing abortion care at a military hospital – even with their own money. Yes, you read that right.

More and more women are serving in the military every year. And they’re stationed overseas in places where local abortion facilities are inadequate or unavailable, or where they don’t speak the language.

That means that often servicewomen facing an unintended pregnancy overseas literally have nowhere to turn. The same is true for families serving abroad. Wives and family members who depend on military services for their health care are banned from turning to their regular doctor if they face an unintended pregnancy. They can’t even use their own money for abortion care. In fact, the only case where the Department of Defense will pay for abortion services is when the woman's life is in danger. While women are able to access abortion care at military hospitals in cases of rape and incest, the woman must bear the cost of the procedure herself.

This ban is unconscionable. That’s why I recently went on Fox News to speak out against it.

Fortunately, the Senate is close to lifting this dangerous abortion ban. Ending the ban would mean that servicewomen could receive abortion services at a military hospital where it’s safe.

But anti-choice senators aren’t giving up. They’ve already threatened to change the bill when the full Senate votes, and keep the abortion ban in place. They’ve already rallied their anti-choice activists.

The Senate is back in session this week, and a vote to repeal the abortion ban could come by the end of the month. Contact your senators, and tell them to repeal the ban on military women’s access to abortion care.

If you’re a woman serving in the military, or the wife of a service member, have you ever been affected by this ban? We want to hear your stories.

Let’s put an end to this abortion ban that makes our servicewomen second-class citizens!

Photo credit: Steve Rhodes

Nancy Keenan is the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
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