CINCINNATI — The highly debated issue of reproductive rights is sure to influence how Kentucky voters behave at the polls this November. How they vote on Kentucky’s Constitutional Amendment Two will determine the future of abortion access in the state.

Meanwhile, following the overturning of Roe versus Wade, many Kentuckians have been seeking abortions outside of the state.

The Planned Parenthood Cincinnati Surgical Center has seen increased traffic recently, both from inside and outside the state of Ohio.

Peggy Hogan, an anti-abortion protester, was serving a two-hour shift outside the center earlier this week.

“We believe in the dignity of life. And we believe that God created life from conception to natural death. And we believe that the baby is a baby in the womb. And the baby has rights,” said Hogan, a member of St. Columban Catholic Church.

After a judge put Ohio’s six-week abortion ban on hold indefinitely, issuing a preliminary injunction on Oct. 7, abortions up to 22 weeks of pregnancy are legal while the case is litigated. 

“The goal is that we don’t ever go back. That this keeps access open for the patients that we serve,” said Vanessa Hinsdale, Administrator Director of Surgery for Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio. “Ohio is it. Below us, services are either very, very limited, [or] they’re non-existent.”

Ohio passed its abortion law in 2019, and it took effect when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe versus Wade in June. The law bans abortions once early cardiac activity is detected—usually around six weeks into pregnancy, except for medical emergencies.

“It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever prepared for in my career,” Hinsdale said. “It’s mind boggling to me that a bunch of people who don’t necessarily need this access have the ability to take things away.”

For the time being, though, people can get abortions at the center. Hinsdale said that has included many people from Kentucky, which still has a near total ban on abortions.

“When Kentucky lost their access in April, that was the first test, the pilot run, so to speak, of how services might look post-Dobbs. There was panic. There were patients very concerned,” Hinsdale said. “That was the first time that Kentuckians had a true loss of access. And that’s when we had our first big increase in Kentuckians driving to Ohio to be able to be seen,” Hinsdale said.

Hogan and others have since been coming out to the center more often, making their voices heard.

“We just want to bring awareness. We’re all about love and forgiveness. Crisis pregnancy is a horrible thing for these young mothers, and we want them to know there is an option. And there is love and forgiveness. If they choose abortion, we’re here to help them,” Hogan said.

Looking ahead to November, Kentucky’s Constitutional Amendment Two looms large on the ballot. If passed, it would eliminate Kentuckians’ constitutional access to abortion care.

In Hinsdale’s six years at her job, there have been many changes to abortion law.

“And they never even noticed. When Dobbs happened, the amount of people that were yelling their frustrations of this law was at a thunderous rate that we have never experienced,” she said. “There’s been a change. And I’m hoping it’s the change that we need to keep giving the states the ability to give access back to the patient.” 

Hogan said anti-abortion voters will be fired up as well.

“People have criticized me all the time. ‘You’re a single issue, you only vote [anti-abortion.]’ And I say yeah, but I’m not single issue. That is multifaceted, but I believe life is the most important,” she said.

In the meantime, Hinsdale said their clinic will provide abortions for as long as it’s able to, to as many people as it can. And Hogan will keep holding up signs, talking to anyone who will listen.