Everyone should be able to decide whether and when to have a child.

Our goal is to ensure that contraceptives and abortion care are legal and accessible for anyone who wants them. This fight is important not just for Virginians, but for people in neighboring states where abortion rights are limited. Virginia must remain a safe haven for people seeking an abortion.

Both before and after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, anti-abortion extremists have continually attacked reproductive rights. Here’s how we’ve beaten back those efforts:

  • In 2023, we lobbied the Virginia legislature to vote against 15-week abortion bans, defeating 13 out of 13 anti-abortion bills. As a result, abortion remains legal in Virginia.
  • In 2019, we filed a lawsuit alongside the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Federation of America to overturn targeted restrictions against providers, known as TRAP laws, including a 24-hour waiting period and a forced ultrasound.
  • We’ve created a network of attorneys to help people under 18 request judicial bypass – a way to obtain an abortion without parental consent by appearing before a judge. Young people deserve agency over their bodies and their futures.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which protected abortion rights at the national level for more than 50 years, each state must decide whether it will protect the right to an abortion. Join us and our partners in working toward a Virginia constitutional amendment protecting reproductive freedom.

MAKE A DONATION or BECOME A MEMBER to protect abortion rights in Virginia.

PETRONELLA'S STORY

Petronella unexpectedly became pregnant in 1995 at a time in her life when she had to choose between paying rent or paying for an abortion. She chose to get an abortion and was evicted from her apartment. 

Working as a hotel clerk, Petronella took extra shifts to make ends meet and save money for college. At the time of her abortion, she had been accepted into graduate school and knew that she wouldn’t be able to continue her education if she became a parent.

She went to Planned Parenthood alone, past a sea of protesters who grabbed her by the arm and shamed her for her choice.

Now, Petronella is an advocate for safe, affordable abortion care. Her plea to all of us is this:

"Let's keep fighting ‘til no one has to choose between rent and bodily autonomy."

Quick Facts

  • 1At 99% safe according to the CDC, abortion is one of the safest medical procedures being performed today.
  • 2Nearly 1 in 3 women will have an abortion in her lifetime, according to the Guttmacher Institute, of which more than half are medication abortions.
  • 3A majority of Virginians oppose overturning Roe v. Wade and think abortion should be legal in most cases, according to a 2022 Christopher Newport University poll.

Stay informed

1. I'm a person who can get pregnant. What are my reproductive rights in Virginia?

A.I'm a person who can get pregnant. What are my reproductive rights in Virginia?

A.

Abortion is legal in Virginia. Learn more about the state of abortion rights in Virginia and how you can help protect them.

If you are under 18 and unable to get parental consent for an abortion, you may be able to get consent from a judge through a process called “judicial bypass.” If you need help seeking an abortion through judicial bypass, email us at intake@acluva.org.

2. I don’t live in Virginia. Can I still get an abortion from a Virginia provider?

A.I don’t live in Virginia. Can I still get an abortion from a Virginia provider?

A.

Yes. If you need help traveling to Virginia to obtain an abortion, some organizations in Virginia can help. Check out the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund, and Abortion Finder for logistical and financial resources.

3. How can I talk about abortion with my friends and family?

A.How can I talk about abortion with my friends and family?

A.

Personal stories can encourage more compassion and understanding when talking about divisive topics like abortion. Read the stories of people who had an abortion to learn some of the many reasons why abortion is a crucial part of our health care system.

It’s also important to know the facts to help bust the myths and misinformation about abortion.

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