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How Many States Outlaw Abortion?

Hillary Clinton (ABC News)

Hillary Clinton (ABC News)

With Hillary Clinton’s recent announcement that she’s running for president, women’s issues will be front and center as a talking point this election season. It’s all but certain that one perennially hot-button topic will be brought up: abortion.

Right now, 42 states prohibit abortions, according to a study performed by the Guttmacher Institute. Exceptions can only be made in the case of a threat to the mother’s health. Even then, there are time limits up to which an abortion can be performed. Thirty-nine states require that the procedure be performed by a licensed physician, but health insurance can be a problem: Health care providers can refuse to pay for it in 46 states.

Those are some damning stats, and you can see more in the Guttmacher Institute’s report. Let’s hope this election brings progress and changes to these detrimental policies.

Confirmed: Bruce Jenner Is Transitioning

Bruce Jenner (ABC News Go)

Bruce Jenner (ABC News Go)

This is shaping up to be an absolute gangbusters year for the trans community in terms of visibility and empowerment. In just the past two weeks alone, we saw “Orange is the New Black” actress Laverne Cox pose nude for “Allure,” and transman Aydian Dowling in the lead for the “Men’s Health” title of “Ultimate Guy.” As if that weren’t already an embarrassment of riches, Olympic decathlete/”Keeping Up with the Kardashians” patriarch Bruce Jenner confirmed what everyone had been speculating about in his ABC “20/20” interview with Diane Sawyer on Friday night: He’s transitioning to become a woman (but is totally cool using male pronouns for now).

It’s a fantastic interview; watch it if you haven’t already. Jenner is now the most publicly prominent transperson out there right now. He’s in a great position that has potential to educate millions of people on what being trans means. And he wants to use his newfound identity to help empower others who feel out of place in their own lives.

It’s fantastic that Jenner has finally decided to live his life the way he sees fit, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for him. Go Bruce!