Florida women seeking abortions traveling to Virginia

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Rae Pickett, the communications specialist for the Virginia League of Planned Parenthood, says what has happened with regard to abortion access in Florida is nothing short of devastating.

Last spring, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a six-week gestation ban, with some exceptions. After a court fight, the ban took effect May 1.

Local abortion providers are already seeing Florida women who have to travel to Virginia, where abortions are allowed up to 26 weeks with no waiting period.

“Oh, certainly so,” Pickett said. “I can speak for the … Virginia League for Planned Parenthood. “On Monday, approximately 20% of our patients were from out-of-state. That number, as of yesterday, increased to 30%.”

Local providers say the ban is a hard hit to poor Black women, indigenous women, and members of the LGBTQ community.

“It [transportation] might be simple,” Pickett said, “but for the majority of people, we are finding that they are driving all night long with their children, with support people. If they have a flat tire or a missed flight, that complication for their entire life is rippling. And so, what we are finding is that it is actually not simple to travel, to find an abortion, to flee your home state in order to access care.”

Since most abortions are induced by medicine, the Food and Drug Administration has increased the gestational age and allowed the drug to be sent by mail. A Christian group, Alliance Defending Freedom, is calling on the Supreme Court to roll back abortion expansion.

Local providers say their doors are open.

“We at Virginia League for Planned Parenthood are going to do everything we can to meet the demand and expand that health care for patients,” Pickett said.

The political calculus on abortions has changed in recent months, as pro-choice candidates and policies have recorded victories. In Florida, voters may have the final say in November when they vote on a ballot measure that calls for an amendment to its state Constitution to allow abortions until about 24 weeks of gestation.

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