Show 417: An Abortion Rights Special – The 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

An Abortion Rights Special – The 40th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

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January 22, 2013 will mark the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion. Yet at no time in the last forty years has abortion been more stigmatized, more dangerous to provide, or more difficult to access. 97% of rural counties do not have an abortion provider. In 2011 there were 92 restrictions passed on abortion under Obama – almost three times the previous record which was set under George W. Bush!

Join Sunsara Taylor for a special episode of Equal Time for Freethought as we speak with and honor a woman who has been providing abortions since even before Roe v. Wade, as we talk to two young women who will “speak out” about their own abortions, and as we collectively grapple with what it will take to turn the tide.

Merle Hoffman is a pioneer in women’s health care since 1971, a staunch defender of abortion rights, an untiring activist and writer around feminist and progressive issues. Hoffman is the Founder, President and CEO of Choices Women’s Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive women’s medical facilities, and the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of On The Issues Magazine.

Donna and Rebel are two of the millions and millions of women throughout this country and around the world who have had abortions and feel just fine about it. They will tell their own stories of why they wanted the abortion, what it was like, and why they think it is so important for other women to tell their abortion stories as part of lifting the stigma and shame off this necessary medical procedure.