Message #53753

[Psalm 51:17]

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/10/17/3581470/planned-parenthood-abortion-story/
10/17/14
Cecile Richards Shares An Important Abortion Story: ‘It Wasn’t A Difficult Decision’

Cecile Richards — the head of Planned Parenthood and one of the most prominent figures in the reproductive rights community — opened up about her personal abortion story in an essay published in Elle on Friday, writing that women who feel comfortable enough to share their experiences with the medical procedure can help decrease some of the stigma surrounding it.

“I had an abortion. It was the right decision for me and my husband, and it wasn’t a difficult decision,” Richards writes. “Before becoming president of Planned Parenthood eight years ago, I hadn’t really talked about it beyond family and close friends. But I’m here to say, when politicians argue and shout about abortion, they’re talking about me — and millions of other women around the country.”

There’s been a move toward encouraging more women like Richards to speak up about the fact that they’ve had an abortion, a type of “coming out” process that can help shift societal attitudes about the procedure. While advocates say that no one should be obligated to disclose their personal medical history, putting a personal face on the common reproductive health experience — one in three U.S. women will have an abortion before the age of 45 — can help influence the national conversation.