Moments ago, federal Judge Tanya Walton Pratt, released her decision to stay a preliminary injunction brought forth by Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky and the ACLU, temporarily delaying enactment of HB 1337 pending further review. HB 1337, which was set to go into effect on July 1, strips people of the ability to make critical decisions about their pregnancies and interferes with the intimate relationship established between patients and doctors.
The bill applies to all Hoosiers who are or will become pregnant in the future, affecting not only those considering abortion but also anyone who needs medical care following a miscarriage. It stigmatizes the difficult decisions families make following a prenatal fetal diagnosis, while doing nothing to support individuals or families living with disabilities. Further, the law targets abortion providers directly – forcing clinics to close if the doctor doesn’t have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and making it a felony to donate fetal remains to life-saving stem cell research at local universities and medical colleges.
While we are pleased that Judge Pratt found enough concern with HB 1337 to pause its imposition, we are frustrated that this bill was passed in the first place. We firmly believe in trusting people with the choices they make when it comes to their bodies, their families, and their futures. This kind of legislation strips Hoosiers of this same dignity, suggesting that the state government knows better about our lives and our parenting decisions than we do. Worse, while they withhold the ability for us to make our own reproductive decisions, they simultaneously slash, or outright refuse, funding and resources that make parenting a less daunting task: providing free or low-cost parenting supplies without strings, ensuring people earn a living wage, and offering subsidized child care. HB 1337 offers nothing of value to Hoosier families and, instead, only punishes them.
Backline’s All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center works tirelessly to provide Indiana residents with open-hearted and unbiased counseling and support concerning pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption. We serve hundreds of families a month, offering free diapers, baby wipes, and other parenting supplies as well as reproductive health referrals and abortion funding. Our Hoosier Abortion Fund, which helps Indiana residents cover the cost of their abortions, as well as additional practical support needs (e.g. transportation, lodging, and child care assistance), goes statewide on July 1 in direct opposition to anti-abortion legislation like HB 1337.
We firmly believe that everyone deserves the right to comprehensive care and resources without interference, judgment, or assumptions. Today, we celebrate this victory, while knowing our work is more vital than ever. We hold each and every Indiana resident in our hearts.
For more info on the injunction, check out these sources:
Federal Judge Blocks Fetal Anomaly Law from Going into Effect in Indiana – Rewire
Another Loss for Anti-Abortion Advocates – This Time in Indiana – Mother Jones
Federal Judge Grants HEA 1337 Injunction – Nuvo