There she was—Freeda, a 20-foot inflatable IUD, looming over Capitol Square like a latex beacon of reason in a world that seems to have misplaced its grip on common sense. She’d made this stop before—giant birth control devices tend to leave a mark, especially after showing up in the same spot just a year ago—but this time, the stakes felt heavier. On February 7, lawmakers and advocates gathered once more beneath her towering presence, fighting yet again to keep contraception legal.
The Virginia Right to Contraception Act—two bills, SB 1105 from Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Richmond) and HB 1716 from Delegate Cia Price (D-Newport News)—aims to codify what we all thought was a given: the right to use and prescribe FDA-approved contraception. Condoms, IUDs, morning-after pill. But here we are, because apparently, nothing is sacred anymore.
Why the sudden rush to protect what seemed obvious? Well, blame it on the fall of Roe v. Wade, the rise of Donald Trump (again), and the delightful whispers from folks like Justice Clarence Thomas, who suggested maybe the Supreme Court should reconsider the right to contraception next. Meanwhile, Trump, ever the man of the people, hinted at “looking at” contraception restrictions. And if that wasn’t enough, the CDC quietly scrubbed some contraception info from its website. Project 2025 is gunning for emergency contraception too. It’s like a greatest hits album of bad ideas.
A Parade of Politicians and Inflatable Birth Control
With Democratic majorities in the General Assembly, the bills successfully cleared both chambers. However, nearly every Republican voted against them, treating contraception as if it were some radical, unproven concept. Lt. Governor Winsome Sears, a frontrunner for the Republican nomination in Virginia’s upcoming governor’s race, cast the tie-breaking vote in the Senate, officially recording her opposition to contraception access. Pundits believe forcing this on-the-record ‘no’ vote was a calculated move by Democrats, giving them ammunition to use against Sears in her gubernatorial campaign—especially since the governor is widely expected to veto the bill anyway.
Initially, after Sears’ vote, the bill failed. But Senate rules allow any member who voted against a bill to request a re-vote. A Democrat who had originally voted ‘no’ did just that, bringing the bill back to the floor. On the second round, the bill passed with a 21 to 18 majority.
Virginia Senator Hashmi didn’t mince words.
“This is a danger that we are facing in the Virginia Senate,” said Senator Hashmi. “When the Right to Contraception Act came up in front of the full chamber, not a single Republican colleague voted in support of that bill. Even more critical for us to understand is that our lieutenant governor voted against the right to contraception. When it was presented to her on the floor of the chamber as a tie vote, she voted to restrict access to contraception. She said Virginia women do not have a right to contraception.”
Delegate Price brought the receipts too.
“Last year, we stood right here with the same ask that the governor would stand with Virginians and sign the Right to Contraception Act. Instead, he ended up vetoing the bill,” said Delegate Price. “So we are back, because we have to keep working until Virginians’ right to access contraception is protected. So what has changed since last year? I’ll tell you. MAGA Republicans have taken charge and have wasted no time rolling back our rights, rolling back access to scientific information and stripping life-saving information from the CDC website about contraception.”
Contraception Isn’t Just Birth Control—It’s Survival
Rae Pickett, from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, reminded everyone that this wasn’t just about personal choice.
“Access to contraception is about more than just personal choice. It is about public health and social equity,” said Pickett. “Contraception helps people plan their families, pursue education, and maintain their well-being. Without it, unintended pregnancies can have significant economic and social consequences, especially for people of color, people with low incomes, and those who live in rural areas.”
Then there was Kenda Sutton-EL, head of Birth in Color, who pointed out that contraception isn’t just for stopping babies—it’s for managing serious health conditions.
“At Birth in Color, we are often reminded of how essential contraception access is,” said Sutton-EL. “We work with individuals each year who rely on contraception, not only for family planning, but for managing serious health conditions. For those with polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis, contraception isn’t just a choice, it’s a crucial medical treatment that impacts their daily lives. Do they really know what it’s like to be survivors of PCOS, endometriosis? Do they know the pain that people go through without contraception? Do they really understand how you still have to get up and go to work daily while managing these symptoms?”
Stories That Hit Close to Home
Then came the personal stories, the ones that stick with you.
Nophar Yarden, a fourth-year med student, told the story of a young mother who’d just given birth only to find herself unexpectedly pregnant again.
“I’ve seen firsthand the consequences of limited access to contraception,” said Yarden. “At a Title X clinic, I worked closely with a young mother who had recently given birth and had found herself unexpectedly pregnant again. Through tears, she shared her fears, how would she afford her diapers, food, child care, and housing for her growing family. Unfortunately her story is not unique. Nearly half of all pregnancies in Virginia are unintended. The ability to decide if and when to grow a family is essential to the health and stability of individuals and communities.”
And then there was Sarah Goodman from Roanoke, who wasn’t just talking policy—she was talking life and death.
“I have two sons who are now 19 and 23 years old. But I am very aware of the fact that had I not had access to contraception after they were born, I might not have been around to raise them,” said Sarah, who serves as Red, Wine & Blue’s southwest regional organizer. “My pregnancies were both very difficult, both ended in emergency Caesarean sections. And after my last pregnancy, my doctor came up to me — it was a very traumatic experience for everyone in that operating room — and she said ‘Sarah, 100 years ago you would have been one of those women who died in childbirth, and I cannot recommend that you ever undertake another pregnancy. It’s just too risky for you.’ And that was so sobering to me. Here I am holding my newborn son and my toddler is looking on, and I’m thinking ‘wow, it is absolutely pivotal that I have access to birth control so that I can be here and show up for my own children.’”
The Fight Isn’t Over
Standing in the crowd were the contraception champions—Senators Jennifer Boysko and Kannan Srinivasan, and Delegate Holly Seibold—all of them pushing back against the tidal wave of legislative nonsense.
Meanwhile, Freeda the Inflatable IUD loomed in the background, silently reminding everyone that sometimes the biggest statements come from giant rubber contraceptives.
Photos by Bert Shepherd
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