I began providing abortion services full-time in Tucson in 2000. Since then, there have been two major military operations by the United States that have directly impacted our community: the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. These military campaigns shook our nation to its core and affected our local community in numerous ways. But one of the lesser-known impacts was the spike in abortion requests at our clinic at the outset of both conflicts.
As military personnel from our local bases were called to duty, we noticed an increasing number of service members and their partners seeking abortion services. The reasons were both heartbreaking and consistent. For many, the abrupt call-up for deployment, sometimes with little notice, meant that continuing a pregnancy simply wasn’t possible. These were not unplanned pregnancies; they were often pregnancies that had been planned and wanted. And yet, the reality of military service, the sacrifice of time, the stress of deployment, the uncertainty of the future, created an impossible choice.
What do you call it when someone chooses to put the needs of their country above their own, even to the extent of ending a pregnancy they might otherwise have chosen to keep? I call it an act of patriotism.
A New Threat to Veterans’ Reproductive Rights
On August 4, 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a proposed rule that would prohibit abortion counseling for veterans and their qualified beneficiaries in all circumstances, even in cases of rape, incest, or when the health of the pregnant veteran is at risk. While veterans and their families were once able to access abortion care in certain situations, this new rule strips away those exceptions, with only a very narrow provision remaining for cases where the pregnant person’s life is in danger. There’s a 30-day comment period, after which time the administration will complete its review of the proposed rule.
Tucson’s military presence has shaped our community in countless ways, and this issue is no exception. We have veterans in this city who were once stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, who came back to Tucson to raise families, to build careers, and to live lives of dignity. Now, these same veterans, who have made immense sacrifices for our country, are being told they no longer have control over their reproductive health.
Strengthening the Local Safety Net: The Role of CAN
The reality is, the more the federal government pulls back from supporting veterans’ reproductive rights, the more the responsibility falls on local organizations to step up. That’s why the work of Choices Abortion Network (CAN) is more important now than ever before.
CAN’s mission is to ensure that individuals, including veterans and their families, have access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care, no matter the political landscape. As the VA and other government entities impose these harmful restrictions, CAN provides a vital safety net here in Tucson. By contributing to CAN, you’re not just supporting reproductive rights; you’re actively ensuring that local veterans, our neighbors, friends, and family members, can access the care they deserve.
And so, to all those unsung patriots who made that sacrifice and for those who might have to in the future, we thank you for your service and we stand with you.