New Orleans: Difference between revisions

In New Orleans, you will find many health care resources and support groups, but there are notable restrictions. The city is renowned for its sexual openness and LGBT community. However, the state of Louisiana has also passed laws that make access to contraception and abortion more difficult for people. For these reasons, it's critical that one understands which organizations and resources to reach out to. Generally speaking, you will be able to obtain hormonal contraception (birth control pills) if you're an adult or married minor and hold a prescription. You can purchase condoms in pharmacies and markets. Emergency contraception (also known as the "morning after pill") is legally available to all women without a prescription. You can receive STI tests at public facilities if you're a Louisiana and/or New Orleans resident. If you are not a local resident, you can get tested at many clinics, non-profits or Planned Parenthood. You can also access PrEP in New Orleans. Regarding pregnancy, maternity leave is granted on a federal level under FMLA, although this only applies to some employees. Louisiana has an additional maternity leave policy, called Louisiana Pregnancy Disability Leave, which also only applies to some individuals and grants 6 weeks of leave for normal pregnancies and births. The most restrictive laws in Louisiana apply to abortion. You will find that, while abortion is legal on a national level, there are many state-imposed restrictions that limit accessibility and make the experience much more difficult for women. However, abortions are still performed in New Orleans, and a recent Supreme Court decision struck down the state's attempt to further restrict abortion.