Airbnb Hosts Navigate Legal Maze Amid State Abortion Bans
Some hosts want to open their homes to women who need to travel to receive abortions. It’s not so easy.
Photo illustration Airbnb logo displayed on a smartphone.
Photographer: Thomas Trutschel/PhotothekWhen the US Supreme Court ruled to end federal protection for abortions last month, many people wanted to find a way to help. Some hosts on Airbnb Inc. offered to open their homes to guests who needed to travel to states that will still allow the procedure, similar to how the vacation-rental company has been generous with a policy to shelter refugees in the past.
But some of those hosts are realizing that providing a haven for people seeking abortions is much more fraught for everyone involved, from home-owners and guests who could face threats, to the company itself, which could see legal repercussions.