Not unexpectedly, the Texas anti-abortion law has attracted corporate attention:
Ridehail companies Lyft and Uber said Friday they would cover legal fees for their drivers who are sued as a result of the new legislation. Citizens can sue abortion providers for alleged violations, and plaintiffs will receive $10,000 from the accused if successful. The law also impacts anyone who “aids or abets” an abortion, which could potentially include a driver who unknowingly drove a woman to an abortion clinic. Lyft also said it would donate $1 million to Planned Parenthood.
Dating apps Bumble and Match said Friday they would create a relief fund for people affected by the law. Both are based in Texas.
“Bumble is women-founded and women-led, and from day one we’ve stood up for the most vulnerable. We’ll keep fighting against regressive laws,” Bumble tweeted. [CNN/Business]
And the host of a site dedicated to collecting tips concerning abortions, GoDaddy, has dumped the web site for violating host rules.
Obviously, these are companies with a direct stake in the controversy. Phase 2 of a rejection effort would see companies lacking that obvious exposure joining with Lyft and Uber. Will that happen? I hope so – after all, anyone who can give advice is theoretically vulnerable. And while simple abuse of the law and its supporters may be enough to see its retraction, I’d prefer to see corporate political donors picking up the phone and letting their reps know about their displeasure.
It’d simply be cleaner that way.
Source: Gallup
But we can also expect certain companies, such as Hobby Lobby, pitch a fit when the retraction effort becomes obvious and threatening. The question is whether the vast majority of Americans who do not want laws like these will stand up and be counted – or stick their heads in the ground.
