City Of West Hollywood: City Of West Hollywood's City Council Unanimously Approves Resolution To Denounce Anti-Abortion Texas Law

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

September 21, 2021 6:22 PM

The City Council of the City of West Hollywood has unanimously adopted a Resolution denouncing the Texas law banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy (SB 8), developing additional financial sanctions until such time as the new law is revoked, and declaring the City of West Hollywood a safe harbor for reproductive freedom. The Resolution was approved at the regular meeting of the West Hollywood City Council on Monday, September 20, 2021. Full text of the Resolution is available in the item in the City Council meeting agenda.

The Texas law, known as Senate Bill (SB) 8, went into effect on September 1, 2021 after the United States Supreme Court formally denied a request from Texas abortion providers to freeze it. The law bans most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, after approximately six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before a pregnant person knows they are pregnant. The Supreme Court did not act to block the Texas law, with the 5-4 conservative majority contending that abortion providers who had challenged the law in an emergency application to the Court had not made their case in the face of “complex and novel” procedural questions.

Enactment of SB 8 effectively amounts to a nearly complete ban on abortions in Texas. Court orders had previously blocked similar six-week bans from taking effect in eight other states. The Texas law is the first of its kind to be implemented. Additionally, rather than naming state officials as defendants, the Texas law deputizes private citizens – including those from outside Texas – to sue clinics and anyone who performs an abortion or “aids and abets” a procedure. Plaintiffs who have no connection to a patient or a clinic may sue and recover legal fees, as well as $10,000 if they are successful.

On September 9, 2021, United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced that the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to prevent the State of Texas from enforcing Senate Bill 8 (SB8).

The City of West Hollywood’s Resolution denouncing the Texas law directs the City to review its current and likely future contracts with businesses headquartered in Texas to examine the feasibility of procuring such products and services elsewhere. Texas is already on a list of states to which the City has suspended official travel due to anti-abortion laws, egregious voting rights restrictions, and legislation that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

The Resolution also declares the City of West Hollywood a safe harbor for reproductive freedom. The City of West Hollywood was the first city in the nation, in 1993, to declare itself pro-choice. Nearly three decades later, West Hollywood continues its efforts to vigorously defend women’s reproductive rights and access to healthcare.

The City of West Hollywood has continually supported state and federal legislation protecting and advancing reproductive rights, access to healthcare, and funds for preventative health care services. The City regularly monitors policies and proposals that impact West Hollywood’s residents, including women, LGBTQ residents, people with disabilities, seniors, people of color, and immigrants, among others, and the City will continue to be a champion and defender of health equity and reproductive freedom.

For more information, please contact Andi Lovano, the City of West Hollywood’s Community and Legislative Affairs Supervisor, at (323) 848-6333 or at alovano@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

The City of West Hollywood remains in a declared local emergency in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. West Hollywood City Hall is open for in-person transactions by appointment; to make an appointment, visit www.weho.org/appointments. City Hall services remain accessible by phone at (323) 848-6400 and via the City’s website at www.weho.org. City of West Hollywood coronavirus information is available at www.weho.org/coronavirus.

City of West Hollywood coronavirus updates are available at www.weho.org/coronavirus and the City encourages community members to follow @wehocity on Twitter and Facebook and Instagram and turn on notifications. For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood on social media, sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email, and visit the City’s calendar of meetings and events at www.weho.org/calendar.

slunn@weho.org

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.