In 2007, Jemima Kirke, an artist and actress on the HBO series Girls, had an abortion.
Kirke shares intimate details about the decision to terminate her pregnancy in a new PSA for the Center for Reproductive Rights, a nonprofit advocacy organization that is encouraging women to speak publicly about their experiences with the procedure.
At the time of her abortion, Kirke was dating a boyfriend and didn't feel confident that she could raise a "healthy, happy child," she says in the video, which shared widely on Wednesday.
Now a mother of two daughters, Kirke talks openly about her experience in the PSA, part of a wider effort on the part of advocacy organizations to lift the stigma of abortion.
"I’ve always thought that reproductive issues should be something that women especially should be able to talk about freely, especially amongst each other," she says. "I still see that today; I still see shame and embarrassment around terminating pregnancies, getting pregnant. So I have always been open about my stories."
The video is one in a series featuring celebrities in the Center for Reproductive Rights' campaign Draw the Line, which focuses on sharing women's personal stories about abortion and reproductive health in general.
“Jemima Kirke’s deeply moving and personal story highlights the role that shame and stigma play in preventing women from seeking the health care that is best for themselves and their families," Nancy Northup, the organization's president and CEO, said in a statement.
The ongoing legal battle over abortion has prompted more women to speak about their own experiences. While many welcomed Kirke's candor, however, others found her admission reprehensible, criticizing her for becoming pregnant and not opting for adoption instead of abortion. In the video, Kirke said her decision to seek an abortion was partly due to fear of being forever tied to her boyfriend at the time. She later clarified on Twitter that he was "mentally unstable" and "abusive."
@jemimakirke You're an inspiration Thank you for standing up for women everywhere!!— Adrienne Fuhr-Wick (@afuhren) April 15, 2015
@lilpimpsocks @jemimakirke Yes...yes you should have to explain killing someone, especially a helpless child.— PIZZAmanham (@bossmanham) April 15, 2015
We have contacted the National Right to Life Committee, an organization that advocates against abortion, on the stigma around the procedure and will update this post with a response.
In another high-profile example of women speaking publicly about the issue, during a heated debate over a proposed Ohio law that would ban abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, Democratic state representative Teresa Fedor said that she had been raped more than 35 years ago while serving in the military, and underwent an abortion as a result.
“You don’t respect my reason, my rape, my abortion, and I guarantee you there are other women who should stand up with me and be courageous enough to speak that voice," she said on the floor of the state house in March.