Why Thanks, Birth Control Day matters more than ever this year

As we prepare for Thanks, Birth Control Day next week (Wednesday, November 15th—come hang out with us!), we’ve been thinking a lot about the history of the day. We launched the Thanks, Birth Control movement 11 years ago this November, and at that time, we were living in a different world when it came to reproductive health, access, and choice. For one thing, Roe was still the law of the land. Fast forward a decade and things look a whole lot grimmer for many of us.

When Roe v. Wade fell in June 2022, there were immediate repercussions as pre-existing bans and restrictions were allowed to go into effect and anti-choice politicians went into overdrive to further restrict abortion access or ban it outright. Justice Clarence Thomas even wrote in his concurring opinion that it might be time to take another look at Griswold v. Connecticut, which protects the right to contraception. It was a scary time (and still is), and understandably, a lot of people have lost hope, including those who have been fighting this fight for years or even decades.

But in the year plus since, as we’ve fought back, we’ve begun to rebuild hope together, brick by brick. Voters in California, Michigan, Ohio, and Vermont have approved measures that establish constitutional rights to abortion, while voters in Kansas, Kentucky, and Montana have rejected proposals to further restrict abortion rights and access. More than ever before, people have spread the word about our program AbortionFinder.org, and there has been an outpouring of support for local abortion funds. And after years of advocacy, the FDA finally approved the first nonprescription, over-the-counter birth control pill, which will increase access to birth control.

And we’re not backing down. So this year, let’s make some noise on Thanks, Birth Control Day. Share your story of how birth control has empowered you. Educate others on the realities of limited access to both abortion and birth control. Call on your political representatives to stand up for reproductive freedom. However you choose to get involved, every action matters in the fight for our collective future.

Raising your voice with campaigns like #ThxBirthControl is more important now than ever. Our health depends on it. Our future depends on it. Our freedom depends on it.

How you can support #ThxBirthControl and reproductive freedom

There are so many ways you can support reproductive freedom and the #ThxBirthControl campaign. Every action makes a difference in normalizing these important conversations and pushing back against restrictions on reproductive rights.

1. Share your story

Speak up about why birth control matters to you. Share your personal experiences on social media using the hashtag #ThxBirthControl. Talk to friends and family members about reproductive rights, including abortion, and encourage them to make their voices heard too. Our stories have power and can inspire others to take action. The more we talk about these issues openly and honestly, the more normalized they become.

2. Contact your representatives

Let your elected officials know where you stand on issues like improving insurance coverage of contraception, increasing funding for family planning services, and increasing or protecting access to abortion. Call or email, explain why affordable and accessible birth control and reproductive health care matter to you, and ask them to back legislation that supports reproductive health, rights, and justice.

3. Donate or volunteer

Many nonprofit organizations are working hard to promote reproductive rights and access to contraception. If you’re able, consider making a gift to Power to Decide (that’s us!) or another organization doing great work. By donating to Power to Decide, you’re helping to make Bedsider.org and AbortionFinder.org possible. If you’re looking to donate your time instead, and you have a local abortion clinic, consider volunteering as a clinic escort.

4. Vote in every election

All elections matter when it comes to protecting reproductive freedom. Vote in national elections of course, but also pay attention to state and local elections. Your elected officials and the policies they support can have a huge impact on access to birth control, quality sex education, and abortion in your community. Make sure you’re registered to vote and encourage friends and family to make their voices heard at the ballot box too.

Together, we have the power to make a difference. By supporting organizations fighting on the front lines, sharing our stories, lobbying policymakers, and making our voices heard through voting, we can continue to build momentum to defend reproductive rights and expand access to birth control for all. Our future depends on it.