DALLAS — Being a reproductive rights advocate wasn’t something that crossed Lauren Miller’s mind.
“I had always been pro-choice, but despite that, you don't ever think that these bans are going to impact you,” Miller said.
That changed in 2022 when doctors told her and her husband that one of the twins they were so excited to bring into the world would not survive. Putting her in the crosshairs of Texas’ near-total abortion ban.
“Even though I was careening towards kidney failure, I wasn't dead enough for the state of Texas,” Miller said. “My husband and I left the ER and 72 hours later we're on a flight to Colorado so I could get the abortion that I needed.”
She and more than 20 women sued the state over the ban and lost. It’s why she’s now out in the community sharing her story with voters.
“All any doctors, nurses, or genetic counselors could say to us is they could say to us was that every day that I continued with the pregnancy, it was putting me and our healthy twin at a greater risk,” she said.
In front of a small crowd at First Unitarian Church of Dallas – the same church that helped Jane Roe in 1969. Miller joined a roundtable with Free and Just’s Ride to Decide National Bus Tour.
“The doctor just threw his gloves in the trash and said I can't help you anymore you need to leave the state,” Miller told the crowd.
With Vice President Kamala Harris – a vocal abortion supporter and now eying the presidency – some of the biggest abortion groups have already begun supporting her bid.
“Having a woman in the White House would be incredible and after this wild weekend of politics, people are realizing more than ever how abortion bans are on the ballot nationwide,” Miller said.
While – pro-life groups – like Texas Alliance For Life see Harris as a threat to everything they’ve worked for.
“If Vice President Harris does firmly land on the Democratic ticket, she will continue that track record and at the end of the day, a crusade for abortion on demand up to birth at taxpayer expense, and even pushing for that at a federal level,” said Texas Alliance for Life communication director Amy O’Donnell.
And both sides of the debate vow to keep fighting.
