Do you know how many abortion clinics there are in Minnesota? Four – three in the Twin Cities and one in Duluth. Minnesotans, on average, think there are 41. That’s part of what’s driving the rage in Minnesota; there are so many misunderstandings, so many fallacies and, dare we say it, fake news about abortions.

At June’s Third Thursday, we shed light on the topic and brought truths to the table with Erin Maye Quade from Gender Justice, Corenia Smith from Our Justice and Representative (and doctor!) Kelly Morrison.

What else is making us rage?

• Minnesota Constitution protects our right to have an abortion and the decision to have one. Yet, since 1995, lawmakers in Minnesota have proposed nearly 400 new laws restricting abortion access, intimidating providers, misleading patients, and increasing costs. One shocking hindrance is the number of invasive questions a woman is asked when pursuing an abortion.

• The impact of barriers to abortion is not equitable. Minors are required to get parental permission, even when the parental relationship is detrimental. Two appointments are required to get an abortion, which can be a hardship for anyone who needs to take time off of work or arrange childcare. (See more restrictions.)

• Abortions start at $400 and increase as pregnancy continues. Clinics masquerading as abortion clinics will string women along creating larger bills and putting women in precarious situations. (Learn about the Abortion Assistance Funds.)

• The real reason for abortion is not about babies; it’s about control over women. States that make abortions harder also make it harder to get birth control and maternal mortality rates increase.

Polls show that 67 percent of Minnesotans do not want Roe versus Wade overturned, and 82 percent do not think abortion rights should be political. It’s time to start talking about it, to normalize it to family, friends, colleagues. We need to support (or become) candidates who advocate for abortion rights and see them as part of basic healthcare.