18-04-2025
Roundtable in Roanoke to discuss Virginia Right to Contraception Act
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — The Virginia Right to Contraception Act was passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 session and now sits on Governor Glenn Youngkin's desk.
After the Governor vetoed similar legislation in 2024, supporters of the act are hopeful he will take a different stance this time around.
Some of those supporters formed a roundtable in Roanoke County Thursday morning to discuss what makes the bill so important.
'There is currently a Supreme Court case that protects this right, but Justice Clarence Thomas, in his concurrence in the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade actually said the court should reconsider the right to contraception next,' said Katie Baker, spokesperson for the Americans for Contraception.
That is why supporters are making such a push to preserve those rights at the state level.
'If anything, the last few years have shown us that we need to be proactive, we need to be fighting constantly for these rights and making sure that they're protected,' said Ally Walchak, a community organizer for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.
Several women whose lives have been saved by contraception methods spoke during the roundtable discussion.
VA Senate passes 'Right to Contraception Act'
They are pushing hard for Governor Youngkin to sign this bill, citing the health care benefits of some forms of contraception as well as pregnancy prevention.
But they also say they wish contraceptive rights were a given.
'The fact that we have been told by our political leaders that it's going to be important for us to come out publicly and share these personal stories in order to protect our basic healthcare rights,' said Sarah Goodman, the southwest Virginia organizer of Red, Wine, and Blue. 'I find that offensive.'
This bill made it to Governor Youngkin's desk, before he sent it back to the General Assembly with an amendment that would allow providers to refuse providing contraception if it goes against their religious or ethical beliefs.
One delegate who voted against the original bill, but in favor of the amended version, told WFXR that he and several colleagues felt the original language was too restrictive for healthcare providers.
That amendment did not ultimately pass the legislature, so it is the original version of the bill that sits on the Governor's desk again now.
Governor Youngkin has until May 2 to make a decision regarding the legislation.
If he decides not to act on the bill by that deadline, it will automatically become law.
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