Since 1970, under federal law, Texan teens were legally permitted to obtain birth control without parental consent. Title X was enacted to provide reproductive healthcare to all, regardless of their economic background. In clinics like Access Esperanza, teens visit to get birth control and walk away with an entire reproductive life plan. In a state like Texas, where sex education is not required, these clinics offer young people the tools to plan for the futures they want.
Earlier this year, the Texas Circuit Court made parental permission a requirement for all minors seeking birth control. The legal mastermind responsible for this new legislation is attorney Jonathan Mitchell. Mitchell was also behind 2021 Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, which outlaws physicians from performing an abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which occurs as early as six weeks of pregnancy. The Bill also offers cash incentives for private citizens who successfully sue persons who helped someone get an abortion. This can include a friend who inquires about abortion services over the phone or an Uber driver who provides transportation. And as of Spring 2024, Mitchell successfully restricted teen’s access to reproductive healthcare.
Mitchell argued that Title X violated state laws and parents’ rights to direct their children’s education and healthcare treatment. The plaintiff, Alexander Deanda, a father of two, claimed regulations like Title X interfered with his ability to raise his daughters “in accordance with Christian teaching on matters of sexuality.”
Stephanie LeBleu, a director at Every Body, a nonprofit that provides birth control to teens, states: “Title X encourages young people to involve a parent or guardian in their healthcare decision-making. However, not all teens have a trusted adult with whom they can have those important conversations, and they turn to their healthcare provider for confidential care.” This new legislation will make it even more challenging for Texas teens, especially those without parental support, to take charge of their reproductive health.
SOURCES
Texan Teens Lose the One Program For Birth Control
5th Circuit Court Requires Parental Consent for Birth Control
Texas Appeals Federal Law for Teen Access to Birth Control