Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new website Tuesday designed to help Californians and those outside the state access abortions — his latest attempt to stymie Republicans’ efforts to curtail the procedure across the country.
Abortion.ca.gov allows users to search for an abortion provider near them, while also providing information about abortion rights, the different types of abortions, how to pay for the procedure, and more. The website has resources both for people living in California and those coming from states where abortions have been restricted or banned, such as Texas, Tennessee and Alabama. It is available in Spanish, and will be translated into additional languages as well, according to the governor’s office.
A privacy note on the site promises that users’ information is not saved or tracked.
“Abortion is legal, safe and accessible here in California – whether or not you live here, know that we have your back,” Newsom said in a news release. “As Republican states continue rolling back fundamental civil rights and even try to prevent people from accessing information online or crossing state lines for care, you’re welcome here in California and we’ll continue to fight like hell for you.”
The move comes as Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina introduced legislation to ban abortions nationwide after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
The U.S. Supreme Court reversed five decades of abortion rights in June, overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade case and prompting many states to fully or partially ban the procedure. The decision sparked outrage and fury across much of liberal California, and Newsom vowed to fight for the rights of women in California and beyond to choose whether to terminate their pregnancies.
Newsom and the governors of Oregon and Washington issued a “multistate commitment” to protect access to abortion and contraceptives and block other states’ efforts to penalize anyone who comes to the West Coast seeking the procedure. A new California law eliminates co-pays for abortion services, making the procedure free for anyone with health insurance starting next year. And this year’s state budget includes more than $200 million in additional funding for reproductive health care.
In November, California voters will be asked whether to amend the state constitution to formally guarantee the right to an abortion — though the state already guarantees a right to privacy, which has been interpreted to cover the right to an abortion.
Jodi Hicks, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates California, hopes the new website, which she called a critical resource, can serve as a model for the rest of the country.
“Planned Parenthood was proud to support this effort and we thank Governor Newsom for making it a reality,” she wrote in a news release. “This website truly demonstrates California’s commitment to expanding abortion access.”
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