Dr DeShawn Taylor leads Phoenix abortion clinic after state laws change

Clinic sees increased patient visits

On Tuesday in March, pop music played throughout the waiting room at Desert Star Institute for Family Planning. The space filled mostly with Black and brown women, some bringing their children to the appointment. An Arizona judge on February 6 invalidated state statutes mandating ultrasounds and a mandatory one-day waiting period prior to the procedure. As abortion access increased this week, the office saw a constant flow of patients enter. By mid-March, appointments had reduced to about 10 services a day as the backlog cleared.

Legal landscape shifts after Dobbs ruling

Following the supreme court overturning rights in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022, states gained authority to regulate abortion access independently. In the aftermath, Arizona placed restrictions that advocates fought against in court before voters enshrined the right in the state constitution two years later. Desert Star Institute for Family Planning remains one of nine brick-and-mortar clinics throughout the state providing gender affirming services. The clinic offers wellness exams and birth control alongside abortion care to a diverse client base.

Staff provide spiritual support to patients

Taylor, along with some staff members, are Christian women who sometimes join religious clients in prayer prior to a procedure. She shares bible verses about free will when patients ask if they will be condemned for their choices. Taylor states that even if someone thinks abortion is a sin, God is forgiving already. Associate professor Loretta J Ross from Smith College notes that marginalized people are dying in states with restrictions. Patients can now travel out of state or use abortion pills where local laws remain strict.