SARAH LOPEz: ABORTION ADVOCACY

Interviewed by Aoife Hopkins

What core values/memories inspired you to work for abortion advocacy? Did you have any loved ones or mentors who helped you get into this work, or was this a work of your own volition?

I have been in various movement spaces since I was about 19 or 20 years old, but what led me to abortion advocacy, in particular, was my experience of having an abortion right after graduating from college. I had my abortion in January 2017, so the laws looked very different back then, but barriers and restrictions on abortion access in Texas go way further back than that. For me, the decision was easy, and my boyfriend (who I’m still with) paid for my procedure and drove me to the clinic, which was only about 15 minutes away. But I didn’t have any understanding of what an abortion restriction was, what abortion stigma was, or what an abortion fund was. So even though I felt immense relief after my abortion and the process was fairly straightforward, it still felt way more difficult than it needed to be. My provider was required by law to give me anti-abortion counseling prior to the procedure. Because of my work schedule and the fact that it was around the holidays, the state-mandated waiting period delayed my appointment by a few weeks, which meant I was pregnant way longer than I intended to be.

I was so confused and felt like a stranger in my own body, which triggered an assault I experienced as a teenager. For a long time, I just tried to block it out entirely, which left me feeling super isolated and ashamed. About a year after I had my abortion, I was working in a restaurant looking for volunteer opportunities and came across Jane’s Due Process. Through volunteering for JDP’s hotline, I learned more about abortion restrictions and realized what I experienced was just a fraction of the hurdles that young people, rural communities, Black & brown folks, and all marginalized communities face while seeking abortion care. I also learned about the power of abortion funds, especially Texas abortion funds, and gained a deep commitment to offering love, support, and community to people that I wish I had known existed when I had my abortion. I’m currently the Youth Program Manager at Jane’s Due Process, which has been one of the greatest honors of my life, given how getting involved with JDP was such a big part of my journey toward healing and finding community. 

What is the most rewarding aspect of abortion advocacy? 

One of the most rewarding parts of being involved in abortion advocacy is just being trusted by folks who have abortions. There’s so much power in helping people get abortions, hearing other people’s abortion stories, and generally being in spaces designed by and for people who have abortions. Doing this work in Texas has also introduced me to such badass community organizers and leaders whom I learn so much from every single day.

What does art mean to you? Does it play a part in your abortion advocacy?

For me, art is a disruptor. I turn to art to cope, to feel pleasure, and to imagine a better world – one where our interconnectedness, our identities, and our dignity are honored. Art goes hand in hand with the fight for reproductive justice.

How does the lack of abortion access in Texas feed into the state of bedlam, or chaos, for women and AFAB (assigned female at birth) individuals?

Even before the overturning of Roe v. Wade, disparities in abortion care were omnipresent. SB8, a 6-week abortion ban, went into effect in September 2021, and quite frankly we had already been living in a Post-Roe world for many years. Low-income folks, Black & brown folks, and trans & non-binary folks bear the brunt of the long-lasting impacts of draconian restrictions on abortion care. Marginalized communities are always hit the hardest. We have the highest rates for maternal mortality and uninsured people, yet our state lawmakers spend legislative session after legislative session attacking trans kids and abortion access. It’s despicable, but it’s also why we need to center and build the leadership of those most impacted rather than speaking on behalf of anyone.

What is the greatest challenge in doing abortion work, especially in Texas?

I think right now, the biggest challenge is living in a state that wants to criminalize people like me for doing everything we can to give people the care they need at such a difficult, heavy time. 

Is there a less talked about challenge surrounding abortion/abortion work the public doesn’t know much about?

Misinterpretations of the law, fear of criminalization, and confusion about what an abortion even is has led people in Texas to live in a constant state of panic. On top of that, so many organizers are exhausted and burnt out, which is 100% valid. We are also approaching the beginning of the 2023 Texas Legislative Session, which starts in January. We’re not in a place where we can make compromises surrounding access to abortion. Now is not the time to get caught up in the “I’m pro-choice but…” conversation. We need to be unapologetically pro-abortion, and we need to know what to do if someone we love or a friend of a friend needs support.

Doing pro-choice work under a heavily pro-life state government is very difficult and draining. How do you maintain resilience when you experience burnout?

I’ve definitely had my fair share of burnout, but I’m doing my best to move away from a place of scarcity and move towards abundance. But for a long time now, we have needed the conversation beyond Roe. I read somewhere that the history of oppression is as long as our resistance. I feel sustained when I prioritize rest as well as when I collaborate with my peers. I’m an Advocacy Fellow with Texas Equal Access (TEA) Fund, and we recently got back from our first abortion storyteller retreat that we held in New Mexico. Borrowing from the model of We Testify, we put a lot of work and intention behind creating shared space for people who have had abortions to move through their feelings and determine how they want to share their experiences to shift the narrative around abortion. It was one of the most generative, joyful spaces I’ve been in since Roe got overturned, and it offered a glimpse into what it looks like when we shift focus to a world we long for rather than always focusing on what we’re negatively reacting to.

What can the everyday person do to support abortion access and end the stigma surrounding reproductive healthcare? 

FUND ABORTION!! Fundraise for abortion funds, donate to abortion funds, follow abortion funds on social media, and learn about what the many different abortion funds and practical support organizations in Texas do. You can do all of this by heading straight to needabortion.org. Develop a reproductive justice framework and learn about what networks of support already exist. Become an abortion doula, talk about abortion with friends and family, and prioritize taking time to learn how to help someone if they come to you for support. DOWNLOAD SIGNAL!!

What trends/challenges/triumphs in regard to abortion do you see locally in Austin?

While we have a long way to go before abortion access is restored in Texas, I’m blown away by how creative our communities are when it comes to showing up for one another. Our communities are just so damn creative, Glaze included!! Whether it’s a fundraiser at a wine bar, a raffle/relay race benefiting an abortion fund, or even just inviting an abortion storyteller or someone involved with an abortion fund to speak at an event or rally, there are more people being activated every day, and I think that’s incredible. 

What hopes do you have for abortion advocacy? 

If you know me, you know I love longtime organizer and prison abolitionist, Mariame Kaba. She’s always saying “hope is a discipline” and it’s become something of a mantra for me. Hope is less about optimism or feelings and more about committing energy, time, and creativity toward the struggle for our collective liberation. People are doing so much work all the time and things can get so overwhelming. Hope is a consistent practice, and at this moment I just hope to continue dreaming big, experimenting, and learning from my mistakes. I’m just one person who is part of a whole network of people here in Texas that will never give up no matter what the state tries to enforce on us.

What message would you like to send to the readers of Glaze?

It’s okay to fumble or to feel uncertain given the world we live in. But no government can take away our interconnectedness. Coming together, struggling alongside one another, and building movements is how we get free. Our responsibility is to one another, not to old racist white men in power. And no matter what the mf state says, we’re in charge of our bodies and our destinies ♥

Follow Sarah on Instagram at @slpz_