Austin Summit Highlights Personal Stories in Fight for Reproductive Rights

This past weekend advocates for abortion rights and lawmakers gathered in Austin to explore how sharing personal narratives of pregnancy complications might influence public perception regarding reproductive rights. 

The private summit, arranged by Abortion in America (AIA), takes place as Texas maintains some of the most stringent abortion bans in the country, with further limitations on abortion medications being contemplated.

Austin was a deliberate selection for the event, considering Texas’ pivotal position in the abortion discussion. “Texas stands at the forefront of our nation's dialogue concerning abortion rights and reproductive health,” stated AIA co-creator Lauren Peterson. 

The summit attracted more than 200 participants, among them Austin resident Amanda Zurawski, who is a plaintiff in a legal challenge to Texas' abortion ban. Zurawski faced denial of an abortion even in the face of life-threatening complications during her pregnancy.

The event featured speakers including former Texas Senator Wendy Davis, writer Renee Bracey Sherman, and Arizona State Senator Eva Burch.

Lilian Tamayo, the former CEO of Planned Parenthood in Florida, describes the state as "ground zero" for abortion bans. 

Following the reversal of Roe v. Wade, 20 states have imposed restrictions on abortion, compelling individuals to seek care in other locations. Tamayo observes that this disproportionately affects low-income, Black, and Latina women, resulting in a shift in the area of abortions rather than a decrease in their occurrence.

‍

 The organizers kept the summit's location confidential for security reasons.

‍