‘Top Chef’ Host Padma Lakshmi Joins Everyday Americans to Share Her Reproductive Health Care Story
State attacks on women’s constitutional rights galvanize women and men across the U.S. to speak out at DrawTheLine.org
(PRESS RELEASE) In the wake of devastating legislative attacks on women’s constitutional rights to severely reduce access to safe, legal reproductive health care across the U.S., everyday Americans have been inspired to speak up and tell stories of their own personal experiences with reproductive health care through a new platform at the Center for Reproductive Rights’ Draw the Line campaign.
Today, the Center released a new video from model, author, and Bravo “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, where she shares her struggle with endometriosis and how her ability to access reproductive health care made a huge difference in her life.
Padma’s story joins dozens of other commanding personal accounts from men and women across the country, from Texas to California, as well as previously released videos from actor and activist Mark Ruffalo and Tony Award winner DeeDee Bridgewater.
The stories are available on DrawtheLine.org, where visitors are encouraged to sign a petition committing that their “word is the last word on reproductive rights.”
Said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights:
“It has become painfully clear that anti-choice politicians opposed to women’s rights will stop at nothing to choke off access to reproductive health care services—attempting to eliminate safe and legal abortion and making it harder for women to get other essential health care such as contraception, fertility treatments, and even well-woman visits and cancer screenings.
“The Center for Reproductive Rights launched the Draw The Line campaign two years ago to raise the voices of people who wanted to fight back against these underhanded and unconstitutional attacks on our rights—and nearly 300,000 have joined us in this fight.
“It’s time to turn up the volume on stories like Padma’s and remind politicians that our reproductive health care is an essential part of our health, well-being, and lives. It’s time for each and every one of us to tell our elected officials: My word is the last word on my reproductive health.”
Individuals are encouraged to share the stories featured on the Draw the Line site and can even submit their own video, audio recording, or written piece about how reproductive health care has played a critical role in their lives.
The Draw the Line personal stories initiative comes at a time when attacks on reproductive rights by state legislatures around the country are at an all time high. According to the Center’s recent 2014 State of the States report, more than 250 pieces of anti-choice legislation have been introduced since the beginning of 2014, and more anti-choice legislation has been passed in the previous three years than in the entire decade prior.
People can join the movement by visiting DrawtheLine.org, where they can share a personal story or join the conversation online at #MyWordMyHealth.
