In case you missed the news this week, an anti-abortion bill was passed in the US state of Georgia which effectively prevents pregnant women from seeking a termination after the 6-week mark – before they may even realise their expecting.
Understandably, many are in uproar over the decision, including actress Busy Philipps. Via her talk show Busy Tonight! the 39-year-old spoke candidly about her own experience with abortion and her fears over our reproductive rights.
“The statistic is one in four women will have an abortion before age 45,” she said on Tuesday’s episode. “That statistic sometimes surprises people and maybe you’re sitting there thinking, ‘I don’t know a woman who would have an abortion.’ Well, you know me.”
“I had an abortion when I was 15-years-old,” she continued. “I’m telling you this because I am genuinely really scared for women and girls all over this country. And I think that we all need to be talking more and sharing our stories more.”
She went on to say that rather than stopping anyone from having an abortion, these laws will simply make them more difficult and dangerous.
“Every woman deserves compassion and care, not judgement and interference when it comes to their own bodies,” she added.
After the episode went to air, Busy took to Instagram to continue to advocate for access to the procedure.
“I get why people feel strongly about abortion…BUT I also know that women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them. Nobody else,” she said. “I spoke about my abortion last night on my show because I won’t be silent while women’s rights are stripped away.”
Although the laws are different here, in some parts of the country (NSW, QLD and SA,) abortion is still considered a criminal act. Despite this, a 2010 study out of The Medical Journal of Australia found 87 per cent of all Aussies supported a woman’s right to an abortion in the first trimester.
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