Community-Driven Reproductive Justice

Healthy and Free Tennessee is a network of advocates and organizations united to advance reproductive equity and freedom across the state. We focus on the crossroads of racism, the criminal legal system, and reproductive justice, fighting for better access to care and against policies that criminalize reproductive choices in marginalized communities.

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Timeline of Wins & History

2012

Healthy and Free Tennessee launched as a coalition of repro groups from across the state, with its home at CHOICES in Memphis.

2014

Tennessee made history with controversial laws affecting reproductive rights, while HFTN mobilized record-breaking advocacy efforts.

  • Tennessee passed the Fetal Assault Law, becoming the first state to criminalize substance use during pregnancy. Voters narrowly approved Amendment 1, removing abortion protections from the state constitution. Healthy and Free Tennessee (HFTN) and allies organized canvassing efforts to oppose the ballot initiative at record numbers.

2016

Advocacy efforts by HFTN and other organizations led to the expiration of Tennessee’s fetal assault law, preventing it from becoming permanent.

2018

HFTN partnered with CHOICES: Memphis Center for Reproductive Health on the “Patients to Advocates” program, training five people who had abortions to advocate for legislative change and share their experiences to shape abortion policy in the state.

2020

Amid COVID-19, HFTN, in partnership with community partner Free Hearts, successfully advocated for better care for pregnant incarcerated Tennesseans.

    • During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Bill Lee tried to close abortion clinics by claiming they weren’t essential. Advocates successfully blocked this effort.

    • HFTN, in partnership with community partner Free Hearts, advocated for the Prenatal Care for Incarcerated People Bill, a policy that requires medical and nutritional care for pregnant incarcerated or detained Tennesseans

2022

HFTN secured anti-shackling policies and organized against Tennessee's total abortion ban post-Dobbs decision.

    • HFTN’s advocacy led to an anti-shackling policy that banned the use of restraints on pregnant and birthing incarcerated people. 

    • Following the Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Tennessee enacted a total abortion ban, prompting HFTN to form a coalition to combat abortion criminalization and create a 10-year vision plan to restore access.

2023

HFTN and the reproductive justice movement secured a victory by overturning the “attempt to procure a miscarriage” law, decriminalizing self-managed abortion in Tennessee.

2024

HFTN led efforts to expand access to birth control for TennCare recipients, allowing a 12-month supply of pills at once, addressing challenges like long travel distances and inconsistent coverage.

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