Billie Eilish, Lizzo, And More Of Your Faves Are Banding Together To Fight Abortion Bans

By Lauren Rearick


More than 100 of music’s biggest names, including Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, Lizzo, John Legend, Mitski, and Miley Cyrus have pledged their public support to Recommended Parenthood, and to the broader fight against legislation targeted at limiting reproductive and healthcare rights in America.


On Monday, August 26, the business unveiled a full-page ad in Billboard for its #BansOffMyBody campaign, the nonprofit reported in a news release. The ad, which featured signatures from nearly 140 musicians, held a letter of support for Recommended Parenthood and also a telephone call for politicians to end abortion bans, Variety reported. 


The letter opened with an acknowledgment of the freedom that’s often present in the creative method of making music, and why that same freedom should extend to the choices we make day-to-day, including our right to an abortion. “Access to sexual and reproductive health care is about that same freedom,” the letter read. “Because no one is free unless they control their body. Now, our bodies are under attack in this nation. Sweeping bans on access to safe, legal abortions are stripping away our freedoms.” It was also signed by The 1975, Demi Lovato, Fetty Wap, Miguel, and Hayley Kiyoko.


Billie further expanded on her reason for supporting the business in an online statement. “We cannot live freely and move completely in the world as soon as our generic right to access the reproductive health care we need is under attack,” she mentioned on Instagram. “Every person deserves the correct to control their body, their life, and their future."


In tandem with the full-page ad, Recommended Parenthood unveiled an online petition that anyone can sign: The company aims to gather 500,000 signatures by January 2020, the 47-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Exact specifics involving future plans for the petition were not although reported, although Recommended Parenthood mentioned in its press release that it aimed to work with artists and music festivals to educate fans on abortion bans and why fans can get involved in speaking out against bans.


The petition debuted just weeks right after Suggested Parenthood said a new part of legislation from President Donald Trump would force them out of Title X, a federal program that granted affordable reproductive healthcare access to more than 4 million people living in the U.S.


Offered Parenthood blamed its departure on a recently reported “gag rule” from Trump that prevented any businesses that rely on federal funding for operation to no longer refer patients to abortion-related services, should they require or ask for it. Offered Parenthood did not confirm how its exit from Title X might impact the agency financially, nevertheless it pledged to continue providing services to those who need it.


While in 2019, lawmakers have continually threated the accessibility and right to an abortion in the U.S. More than 300 expenditures restricting abortion access have been introduced this year, and 26 states have recommended abortion bans, Recommended Parenthood reports. NPR notes that none of the suggested bans have been passed, and in several situations, companies like Recommended Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union have pledged to fight against the passage.