HARTFORD, Conn. — Gov. Ned Lamont is inviting a pregnant woman from Texas who sought court permission for an abortion to come to Connecticut to receive her medical care.
“Texas politicians were trampling all over the rights of this young woman, going through just an agonizing time,” Lamont said.
Kate Cox filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas in early December to seek court permission for an abortion.
The 31-year-old mother of two, who is 20 weeks pregnant, had her fetus diagnosed with a rare, genetic defect called Trisomy 18. Experts said at least 95% of fetuses with this condition don’t survive full term, with most pregnancies ending in miscarriage or stillbirth.
“This case is one of many that demonstrates the devastating harm and inhumane consequences caused to pregnant people due to the extreme abortion bans being passed across the country,” said Gretchen Raffa, vice president of public policy, advocacy and organizing for Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.
If forced to give birth, Cox’s doctors said complications could mean she would never be able to have another child.
“This is about everyone's fundamental right to control their body, their life and their future,” Raffa said.
Initially, a district court judge ruled in Cox’s favor and granted her a temporary restraining order against the state to have an abortion, but the state supreme court reversed that decision, blocking Cox from getting the procedure.
Now her attorneys said she’s leaving Texas.
“We have a safe harbor rule here and I said, you're welcome to a state like Connecticut, where you respect a woman's right to choose,” said Lamont.
Connecticut’s safe harbor law protects those who have abortions from being prosecuted by states where abortions are illegal.
“We’re a firewall,” added Lamont. “We're not going to let those that want to take away people's freedoms in other states try and bring that here.”
Lamont said Cox hasn’t taken him up on the invitation yet.
“They’re going to go to a state that respects women and reproductive choices,” he explained. “I doubt it's in Connecticut, but they've got an option and that's a good thing.”
Planned Parenthood said other people are coming to Connecticut.
They’ve seen a 59% increase in patients traveling from banned states in the last year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
“We're going to continue to see people having to come to Connecticut,” said Raffa. “Nobody should be forced to leave their home community to seek time-sensitive health care.”
Cox’s lawyers have not confirmed where outside of Texas she’ll be going to get an abortion, but she’s not the only legal fight playing out right now.
A group of women in Texas are suing the state about the same medical exception, as well as a pregnant woman in Kentucky.
For now, Planned Parenthood said Connecticut will continue to welcome those from any state seeking care.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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