Last week, Alabama passed a controversial bill that outlaws virtually all abortions in the state, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
Today, I signed into law the Alabama Human Life Protection Act. To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious & that every life is a sacred gift from God. https://t.co/DwKJyAjSs8
And over the past few weeks, other states including Ohio, Missouri, and Georgia, have passed similar restrictive abortion laws.
Many celebrities have publicly denounced the bans. Others, including Busy Philipps and Minka Kelly, have chosen to share their own experiences of abortion in solidarity with the women in affected states.
1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth.
And the latest celebrity to share her abortion story is Married at First Sight's Jamie Otis, who opened up about her experiences in an essay for People.
Jamie began by explaining that she'd grown up in extreme poverty and that her mother, who had a drug addiction, often left her five children to "fend for themselves".
As a result, when Jamie became pregnant aged 18 with the first man she'd ever had sex with, she was terrified of repeating the same cycle of abusive relationships and poverty she'd endured, and so chose to have an abortion.
Then, a few years later, while she was studying to become a nurse, Jamie became pregnant again and elected to have a second abortion.
Jamie went on to say that although she still harbours guilt over the abortions, she's learning to "forgive" herself for making a choice that allowed her to be a good mother to the daughter she has now.
