Uber and Lyft just made major announcements involving the new abortion law in Texas.
Texas' Senate Bill 8 just made abortion after six weeks almost completely illegal, and it makes no exceptions for rape or incest. The law is terrifying women in the state for that reason. But another deeply troubling part of the law is that it actually calls upon citizens to rat people out for having abortions. Anyone who assists a woman attempting to get an abortion can also face legal consequences.
While many women's rights organization are making efforts to stand up to the new law, the two ride-hailing giants just did, as well, saying they would cover the legal fees of Texas drivers taking women to have the medical procedure performed.
Lyft was first to make the announcement. On September 3, CEO and cofounder Logan Green spoke up on Twitter. He wrote, "TX SB8 threatens to punish drivers for getting people where they need to go— especially women exercising their right to choose. @Lyft has created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8 while driving on our platform."
It was a pretty bold (and incredible) move. Lyft definitely made it clear what side it is on when it comes to women's choices about their own bodies. But the company didn't stop there. Green also announced that Lyft would be donating $1 million to Planned Parenthood. He also called upon other companies that have the means to do the same.
Uber wasn't far behind. Just an hour after Lyft made the announcement, Uber CEO
Dara Khosrowshahi shared that Uber would do the same. "Right on @logangreen," he wrote. "drivers shouldn’t be put at risk for getting people where they want to go. Team @Uber is in too and will cover legal fees in the same way. Thanks for the push."
Other companies, like the dating app Bumble, are also making major efforts to help women get the care they need. Bumble, for example, created a relief fund and shared a list of companies that could use assistance. It's truly amazing to see so many huge businesses coming out to support women in this way. Women's rights are under siege in Texas, and these actions are deeply necessary.
Having an abortion is a deeply difficult and complicated decision. While the Texas law leaves room for exceptions in the case of medical emergencies, there is, of course, so much gray area around what might constitute an emergency. The choice to carry or not to carry a baby that may be unwell, or not be able to live a full or independent life, is personal. But for women in Texas, they no longer have the right to decide what is best for themselves.
Since the Texas law went into effect, so many businesses and individuals have been throwing money at the problem. But the fact is that money won't change the archaic law. As it stands right now, women in Texas will have to go out of state for a medical procedure they should have access to in their own state.
It doesn't make abortion impossible — it makes it illegal, and it makes it harder to achieve. That means that low-income women, who are much less likely to have the means to travel out of state or take off work, will be the ones most impacted.
Thanks to the law, abortion in Texas is now far more dangerous and stressful, disproportionately hurting the most vulnerable women in the state.
