BLOOMINGTON, Ind.,– Indiana State Senator Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington), released an open letter addressing the devastating impact of Indiana’s abortion ban. The letter focuses on the real-world consequences women across the state are facing, including life-threatening situations where they are denied critical healthcare.Yoder calls for action to restore reproductive freedom and safeguard women’s health. 

In her letter, Yoder reflects on the unjust nature of the abortion ban, emphasizing the loss of healthcare providers, the dire impact on families and the erosion of personal freedoms for women. The letter encourages Hoosiers to raise awareness, support local organizations and vote for candidates who prioritize reproductive rights. 

The full text of Yoder’s open letter is included below. 

Open Letter from Senator Shelli Yoder 

Dear Neighbors, 

The landscape of healthcare in Indiana, particularly for women, has drastically changed in past year. The state’s abortion ban, once a political debate, is now a lived reality for thousands of Hoosier women. We have been hearing story after story of women being denied critical care, being forced to leave our state to seek the medical attention they need or enduring unnecessary and life-threatening suffering because lawmakers have decided they know better than women and their doctors. But these are not just stories; these are real people—our neighbors, friends, daughters, and mothers—who are being deeply impacted by this unjust law. They deserve better. 

I understand that people across Indiana are facing a multitude of pressing issues every day, from the rising cost of living and access to affordable childcare to the looming threat of the climate crisis. It’s easy to lose sight of this battle for reproductive freedom until you or someone you love is directly affected. But we cannot forget how vital this issue is. Doctors are leaving Indiana and other states with similar bans, choosing to practice in places where they can provide comprehensive care without fear of legal repercussions. This is not just a loss of healthcare providers—it’s a loss of access to critical services that every person in our state deserves. Access to miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy care before a life-threatening infection or critical bleeding, care to sustain a high-risk pregnancy to term, care for fibrosis and reproductive system cancers, and pregnancy-saving prenatal care – all at risk as OBGYNs flee states that politicize and criminalize their profession. And we must ask ourselves: When does this stop? How many more people must suffer before we recognize that every individual has a natural right to their own body, a right that cannot and should not be stripped away by the hands of politicians? 

Make no mistake, state abortion bans are not about saving lives—they are coming at the cost of lives. Women are being forced into dangerous, life-threatening situations because their healthcare decisions are no longer in their control. Families are being torn apart, children are losing a parent and the well-being of countless individuals is being compromised, all because of political ideology that disregards the real-world consequences for women’s health. How many more lives must be endangered before we acknowledge that this is a fundamental human right that should never have been up for debate? 

Indiana has always been known for its Hoosier Hospitality, for standing up for our communities and caring for one another. Yet, this abortion ban represents a betrayal of those very values. It takes away the freedom that women have over their own bodies, treating them as objects to be governed by political decisions rather than individuals deserving of dignity, compassion, and the right to make personal healthcare choices. How many more lives will be impacted, how many more families disrupted, before we recognize that this is a fundamental human right that should never have been questioned? 

If you’re looking for ways to make a difference, there are several actions you can take. First, educate yourself and those around you—awareness is the first step to creating change. Talk to your family and friends about the real impact of this law, and share the stories of women who have been affected. Second, support local organizations that provide healthcare and advocacy for women’s reproductive rights. Whether through donations or volunteer work, these groups need our help to continue fighting on the front lines. Finally, make your voice heard. Contact your local representatives, attend community meetings, and vote for candidates who believe in safeguarding reproductive freedom as well as following the democratic caucus for any important updates. Together, by raising our voices and taking action, we can push back against this unjust law and work to restore the freedoms that have been stripped away. 

With unwavering resolve, 

Shelli Yoder 

Indiana State Senator, District 40