A campaign is elevating women's voices and stories for an important reason.
On Tuesday , 100 people shared their personal stories about and experiences with abortion during a 6-hour YouTube livestream . This is the second annual abortion speakout created by the 1 in 3 Campaign , which is a project that's working to end the stigma and shame around abortion.
The speakout took place only days before the 43rd anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. The Supreme Court's November 2015 decision to hear the Texas abortion case Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole also prompted this year's abortion speakout. The hearing has the potential to shut down most of the abortion clinics in Texas.
The livestream included people of all genders skyping in to the 1 In 3 hosts to tell their abortion stories. Some stories were told live on-air, while others were pre-recorded. Many of the stories were told by women who have had abortions and others were told by men who have some experience with abortion.
Women and men from all backgrounds, of all ages and ethnicities, told their stories in the language of their choosing.
Watch the 1 In 3 abortion speakout livestream below which ends on Tuesday at 6pm.
Campaign director of 1 In 3 Julia Reticker-Flynn described the abortion speakout as "an act of resistance" in her opening remarks of the livestream. "These women come from a variety of backgrounds and each face different circumstances as they consider their pregnancy options,"Reticker-Flynn said. “Despite the fact that abortion is very common, we rarely talk about our decisions to end a pregnancy… Today we are asking the court to listen to a different conversation, one that is grounded in the lived experiences of real people.”
Today we are asking the court to listen to a different conversation, one that is grounded in the lived experiences of real people.
- Julia Reticker-Flumm, Campaign Director of 1 In 3
Artist and activist Favianna Rodriguez shared her abortion story and said she felt a sense of relief after ending her unwanted pregnancy. “I had my abortion and I didn’t have regrets at all," Rodriguez said in the livestream. "I realized that the thing that I could do to change the way people perceive abortion is to share my story."
A few notable participants that shared their personal abortion experiences on the livestream included co-creator of "The Daily Show" Lizz Winstead , former Texas senator Wendy Davis , #ShoutYourAbortion co-creator Amelia Bonow , Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards and congressman Tim Ryan .
Another participant in the abortion speakout was Texas abortion provider Dr. Bhavik Kumar. “I think by speaking out about who I am and the work that I do it helps to show that abortion providers are regular people who care about their patients," he said.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court refused to review Arkansas' failed attempt to ban abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy with little to no exceptions.
Watch the full livestream above or head over to 1 In 3 to learn more about the campaign.
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