In this video, Julia Reticker-Flynn, campaign director of Advocates for Youth's 1 in 3 Campaign, hosts the project's second annual abortion speakout, which features participants' personal abortion stories and experiences to combat abortion stigma. Reticker-Flynn explains that this year's speakout is directed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which is considering a legal challenge to Texas' omnibus antiabortion-rights law (HB 2).
According to Reticker-Flynn, "For too long, [the conversation about abortion] has been dominated by politicians and antiabortion activists who use shame and stigma as a tool to silence people and to advance legislation that limits access to abortion services." She states, "Today, we are asking the [Supreme] Court to listen to a different conversation, one that is grounded in the lived experiences of real people, one that works toward building community rather than isolation, compassion rather than shame, a conversation that recognizes access to abortion and the ability to plan when and if you carry a pregnancy to term is crucial to the ability to protect both your own future and that of your family and which honors everyone's right to dignity and autonomy."
Reticker-Flynn highlights several notable participants in the event, including former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis (D), Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL: Pro-Choice America; Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood; and Lizz Winstead, co-creator of "The Daily Show" and co-founder of Lady Parts Justice (The People's Brief, Advocates for Youth, 1/19).
