Since last fall, Indiana women have been playing a waiting game, held in suspense while their reproductive rights hang in the balance.
After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with its June 2022 decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson, it opened the door for states to pass laws restricting abortion. A few weeks later, in August, the Indiana General Assembly passed Senate Enrolled Act 1, which banned abortions in Indiana with limited exceptions. However, that law was put on hold in September pending an Indiana Supreme Court ruling, which means that, while abortion is safe and legal in Indiana, we remain under the threat that reproductive rights could be reduced by a court decision.
And now, nine months later, Indiana women are still waiting for that decision. But they’re not waiting on the sidelines.
In fact, Indiana women and their supporters acted immediately after the Dobbs decision.
Women4Change joined with other organizations to urge Hoosiers to make their voices heard at the Statehouse and beyond. And for those who might think such rallies have no effect, it should be noted that, when Judge Kelsey Hanlon issued the order suspending Senate Enrolled Act 1, she acknowledged the importance of the public’s interest in the issue – an interest that was demonstrated by those mass protests.
Hoosier women remained active throughout the past year, advocating not only for bodily autonomy but also on other issues, including paid family leave, improved voter access, rights for transgender youth, equitable pay for women, affordable childcare and increased funding for maternal health.
In addition, women from across Indiana worked with Women4Change to deliver more than 500 advocacy messages to Indiana legislators in the past year, including more than 200 hand-written letters. More than 120 Hoosier men and women joined the cause as “action advocates,” and Women4Change representatives provided testimony on six bills and tracked 96 bills through the legislative process. And we saw tangible results: Three bills we had targeted as priorities — two addressing access to contraceptives and one protecting youth in sports organizations and workplaces from child seduction — passed with bipartisan support.
But our work didn’t end with the legislative session. Hoosier women and Women4Change continue to work together to make Indiana a better state for women. That’s why you’ll find us talking to lawmakers, working with leaders to build relationships and understanding, and fighting for a wide range of issues that affect the lives of Hoosiers. And that’s why you’ll find us coming together for a number of activities in the coming months.
For example, Women4Change invites attendees to “Listen, Connect, Participate” this summer on July 26, as we’ll discuss maternal and infant health.
On July 12, Women4Change will partner with Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie in Indianapolis’ Windsor Park neighborhood for a showing of “On the Basis of Sex,” a film about the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s early career. And on Oct. 19, we’ll gather for our annual State of Women event, a celebration of our successes and an opportunity to highlight the challenges we continue to have before us.
In the seven years that Women4Change has been around, we continually have been inspired and impressed by the way Indiana women step up and engage on issues that affect them, their families, their communities and their state. But there is more to be done, and more Hoosiers who can get involved.
At this point, women across the state have no choice but to wait for the Indiana Supreme Court’s decision on reproductive rights. But that doesn’t mean we have to wait patiently. Let’s continue to fight for what’s best for all Hoosiers, and to show that women in Indiana are a force to be reckoned with – and a group whose rights can’t be taken away without a fight.
Rima Shahid is CEO of Women4Change, a nonprofit working to achieve better outcomes in health, economic stability and personal safety for women in Indiana. This commentary previously appeared at indianacapitalchronicle.com. Send comments to [email protected].
