Fund Texas Choice (formerly Fund Texas Women) is a non-profit organization that pays for Texans’ travel to abortion clinics. We were formed in response to the passage of Texas House Bill 2, which closed nearly 75% of over 40 Texan clinics in 2013 and 2014. The closures were primarily in rural and low-income areas of the state, necessitating cost-prohibitive, time-wasting, and geographically-difficult travel for groups already facing financial obstacles to abortion.
In the summer of 2016, the Supreme Court dismantled HB2, but our work was far from finished. The legislation did its damage; and most of the clinics closed by HB2 have not reopened.
Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB8) and Roe v. Wade
When Texas Senate Bill 8 (SB8) – erroneously known as the “heartbeat bill” – went into effect on September 1, 2021, the barriers to abortion access became even more challenging than ever. Abortion care was already difficult to access; SB8 exacerbated access for Texans. Fund Texas Choice experienced an overwhelming surge in hotline calls from all over the state, with 99% of our callers needing to travel outside of Texas to access their healthcare. In addition to travel expenses, abortion seekers leaving Texas faced the compounded effects of mandatory waiting periods in neighboring states ranging from 24-72 hours, increased wait times for appointments at over-capacity clinics, and rising logistical costs due to targeted clinic shutdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, the harm inflicted by SB8 provided only a terrifying glimpse into the future as the Supreme Court released its devastating decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case nine months later. This polarizing decision decimated the federal protections of Roe v. Wade and instigated ripple effects across the entire country – with Texas being at the center of the national fight for human rights and bodily autonomy.
Practical support funds, like Fund Texas Choice, and abortion funds are uniquely positioned to lead in this moment. For nearly a decade, we have shown up for Texans impacted by economic and logistical barriers to abortion, and with your support, we will continue to rally against abortion bans, like SB8, that make abortion unattainable and unaffordable. Take a look at our recent history below!
