Obtaining an abortion in Tennessee is far from easy. Until recently, there was only one clinic, run by Planned Parenthood, that offered abortions in the state capital of Nashville. And now it’s stopped offering them completely. As of now, the clinic remains open for other services.
Officials with Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi (which operates the Nashville location) stated that they cannot say when the clinic will provide abortions again. Instead, they’re referring patients to providers in Knoxville and Memphis. Both of those cities, for perspective, are hundreds of miles away.
One factor that makes this situation even worse for women, trans men, and non-binary people seeking abortions? Tennessee has a 48-hour waiting period, required by law, before a person can obtain an abortion. In simple terms, this means that when a person has their first appointment for an abortion, they’re simply receiving counseling. They have to return two days later for the actual procedure.
So if you’re traveling hundreds of miles, you’re either making the trip twice in several days, or you’re spending money to stay in the area and subsequently missing work or other obligations at home. Either way, this is particularly hard on low-income people, who may struggle to afford the procedure to begin with. There’s also the increased cost of gas, assuming you even have access to a car.
It can also make privacy an issue. If for any reason you don’t want to share your decision, having to be out of town for several days (plus any potential recovery time) may make it even more difficult to receive time off from work, find child care, or explain your absence to family or household members. Basically, the burden gets heavier and heavier.
Losing one abortion provider is always a big deal, but in a state like Tennessee, the severity cannot be overemphasized. The entire state now has only six providers. Sadly, that’s still more than three of its neighboring states (Kentucky, Mississippi, and Alabama).
Earlier this year, the Women’s Center, another abortion provider located in Nashville, closed. Its building was sold, and while it plans to reopen, it has not yet.
"As of right now we're only scheduling for other locations," an operator who answered Planned Parenthood’s scheduling line told the Tennessean. She clarified that its abortion services were suspended "indefinitely."