Busy Philipps launches #youknowme campaign to raise abortion awareness
As abortion moves to the forefront of national debate after several states passed bills that impose restrictions or outright bans, actress and talk show host Busy Philipps is asking women to open up about their personal experiences to shed the stigma that surrounds the procedure.
In a tweet from Wednesday night, Philipps, who recently divulged that she had an abortion at 15, launched the #youknowme campaign in which she implored other women to go public with their own stories.
Many answered her call to action.
"My daughter was 1 year old and I knew financially I couldn't afford another baby. It was the hardest, most painful and deeply personal decision I've made in my life. The government involving itself in such intensely private matters is ridiculous #youknowme," one woman tweeted.
"We were in love, in college and not ready for a baby, I called my doctor. Found out it was a tubal pregnancy, so I had an abortion. My partner was so loving and kind during all of it, it brought us closer together. We now have 2 kids, we’ve been together for 20yrs. #YouKnowMe," added another.
Philipps' campaign comes on the heels of the Alabama state Senate approving one of the nation's most controversial and restrictive abortion laws, which makes performing an abortion a felony. There is no exemption for cases of rape and incest, which means victims would need to carry the pregnancy to term, though it does allow for the procedure in situations where the woman's health is at risk.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama has already vowed to file a lawsuit to stop the ban. Meanwhile, "heartbeat bills," or laws that would make it illegal for a woman to get an abortion after cardiac activity is detected in a pregnancy, have been passed this year in Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and Mississippi. A fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, which is when many women discover they're expecting. All of these laws are facing legal challenges, too.
Even before Philipps launched the #youknowme campaign, a handful of celebrities spoke out about their abortions in light of the new laws. "The Good Place" star Jameela Jamil tweeted Monday that she had an abortion when she was young and "it was the best decision I have ever made." The next day, actress Milla Jovovich shared that she had an emergency abortion two years ago, when she went into pre-term labor at four-and-a-half months pregnant.
"It was one of the most horrific experiences I have ever gone through. I still have nightmares about it. I was alone and helpless. When I think about the fact that women might have to face abortions in even worse conditions than I did because of new laws, my stomach turns," she wrote. "Abortion is a nightmare at its best. No woman wants to go through that. But we have to fight to make sure our rights are preserved to obtain a safe one if we need to. I never wanted to speak about this experience. But I cannot remain silent when so much is at stake."
