Remembering Josseli Barnica

A statement from TEA Fund Executive Director, Kamyon Conner

The heartbreaking story of Josseli Barnica, a young Texas woman who died in September 2021 after being denied critical care, reveals the devastating consequences of Texas’s extreme abortion laws. Josseli lost her life after SB 8 went into effect but before the Dobbs decision, which later overturned Roe v. Wade. Even then, SB 8 was already sowing fear among health care providers, preventing them from offering the emergency care she needed out of concern for potential civil lawsuits.

Tragically, these laws do not impact everyone equally. Abortion bans like SB 8 disproportionately harm marginalized communities—Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC); disabled individuals; people with low incomes; LGBTQ+ community members; and those who already face systemic barriers to accessing quality health care. For people from these communities, abortion restrictions are not just about limiting choice; they are life-threatening barriers that put essential, life-saving care further out of reach.

At Texas Equal Access Fund, we envision a Texas where no one has to risk their life or compromise their health because of political interference. We remain committed to advocating for policies that guarantee every Texan—regardless of race, income, ability, or gender identity—timely access to comprehensive reproductive health care that includes abortion. We owe it to Josseli and all who have suffered under these policies to keep fighting for a future where health care is a right, not a privilege.