Giant, inflatable IUD stands at Tennessee State Capitol to build support for contraception access

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A 20-foot, inflatable IUD turned heads at the Capitol Friday, but the goal was to make a statement about women’s reproductive rights and access to birth control.

It comes after the U.S. Senate voted down a proposal in early June that would have guaranteed access to birth control nationwide , and the Republican supermajority in the TN General Assembly killed two bills that would have protected contraception access in the state.

Republicans have argued legislation to protect birth control access is unnecessary because there currently are no proposals that threaten access.

After the U.S. Senate voted down the Right to Contraception Act, which would have protected access to birth control nationwide, earlier this month, News 2 asked Gov. Bill Lee if birth control access was at risk in the state.

“I think we’ve been pretty clear about protecting, and I understand contraception is something we would protect,” Lee said.

However, Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) and Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) expressed concerns that contraception access is at risk in Tennessee and across the country.

“One of the best contraceptive methods is the IUD. It’s also one of the most expensive,” Rep. Johnson said. “We’ve got to make sure that everyone has access to the best contraceptive methods in this state because women are at risk because they’re being forced to carry pregnancies in this state.”

Sen. Oliver shared a personal story about the issue.

“I stand before you as not just a woman; as a mother of three, but I could’ve been a mother of four, because when I was 18 I had to make the difficult choice as a sexual assault survivor,” Oliver said. “Now as a 41-year-old woman, I am making the choice not to have any more children, and I am thankfully able to make that choice because I, right now, have an IUD inside of me that lasts 10 years.”

Republicans in Tennessee have denied the claim that birth control access is at risk. While some lawmakers interpreted the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade as a reason to restrict birth control access, there is currently no proposed legislation threatening contraceptives.

Sexual assault survivor and musician, Gwen Levey told News 2 she’s worried that could change.

“It’s a very personal issue for me for things that have happened in my life,” Levey said.

Levey wrote the song “Barefoot and Pregnant” after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The song uses satirical rhetoric to highlight Tennessee’s ban on abortions, except in limited medical emergencies, with the lyrics, “Ask the good ol’ boys drinking whiskey and rye, what do we do with the women in our lives? Let’s keep ’em barefoot and pregnant.”

“I feel like music is the way that’s actually going to make the most impact for people and the society that we’re in, and it’s one of the easiest ways for people to notice the issues that we have in front of us,” Levey said.

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