The longer we are confused by legislation, the less time we spend in action. The less time we spend in action–as in stepping onto the statehouse, as in calling our legislators, as in dreaming of legislation and community work that does more than includes but explicitly protects–the quicker they can vote without contest. We know the varied attacks on our bodies point to an ultimate goal: to de-inspire, de-motivate, and dismantle bodily autonomy, reproductive freedom, and any semblance of agency.

When federal protections over abortion access were removed, abortion advocates and seekers anticipated a return to this point. Defending against personhood bans, defending against fetal cardiac activity bans, defending against bans of any gestation. This is a tactic, not happenstance. 

There is no stopping abortions, there is no stopping queerness, there is no stopping drag. 

What we cannot say differently, regardless of any week, any exception, is that any ban against abortion is an extreme outside of the will of the constituency. What we know is any injustice against any one North Carolinian yields injustice for every single one of us. As we have stated countlessly, and are prepared to shout from now, through 2024, and beyond, there is no legislating away abortions, only criminalizing, othering, shaming, and coveting abortion. We will not be disappeared, and at worst, we will not be going quietly.