The Texas abortion ban has shocked and dismayed millions across the country. And actress Uma Thurman is among them.
Thurman penned a bracing op-ed in The Washington Post detailing her own abortion, which she had at the age of 15.
Calling it her "darkest secret," Thurman spoke of the experience and why she is choosing to share it now in response to the Texas law, which she called "radical."
The Texas abortion law is a human rights crisis for American women, Uma Thurman writes in an op-ed https://wapo.st/3hWA3jQ\u00a0pic.twitter.com/j3OYrlBrK0— Washington Post Opinions (@Washington Post Opinions) 1632252413
In the op-ed, Thurman detailed her experience of having been a 15-year-old teen actress, working on her own in Europe and getting accidentally pregnant by a much older man. She wanted to keep the baby, but after discussing it with her parents realized she wouldn't be able to properly care for a child at so young an age.
Thurman wrote:
"I was just starting out in my career and didn't have the means to provide a stable home, even for myself,"
She described herself at the time as "heartbroken nonetheless."
But she credited the decision as an all-important one for the trajectory of her life.
"...Choosing not to keep that early pregnancy allowed me to grow up and become the mother I wanted and needed to be."
Thurman also addressed the frequent charge women take the decision to have an abortion lightly.
"I can assure you no one finds herself on that table on purpose."
Thurman went on to issue a pointed rebuke of the law itself and the legislators who enacted it, highlighting the unequal way it will impact women's lives.
"The Texas abortion law was allowed to take effect without argument by the Supreme Court, which, due in no small part to its lack of ideological diversity, is a staging ground for a human rights crisis for American women."
"This law is yet another discriminatory tool against those who are economically disadvantaged, and often, indeed, against their partners."
"Women and children of wealthy families retain all the choices in the world, and face little risk."
Thurman addressed what has struck many as the law's most astonishing feature.
It allows private citizens to file suit against anyone who accesses abortion care or aids someone else in accessing it, like rideshare drivers who drive women to clinics.
"I am grief-stricken, as well, that the law pits citizen against citizen, creating new vigilantes who will prey on these disadvantaged women..."
On Twitter, Thurman's words made enormous impact on all who read them.
"Choosing not to keep that early pregnancy allowed me to grow up & become the mother I wanted & needed to be." \n\nAbortion isnt the antithesis of motherhood. Its often the catalyst; the thing that allows us to be moms when we're ready\n\nThank you Uma Thurmanhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/uma-thurman-abortion-law-texas/\u00a0\u2026— Danielle Campoamor (@Danielle Campoamor) 1632316978
Jesus, Uma Thurman is brave.\n\nMad respect.— Alyson A (@Alyson A) 1632255702
Uma Thurman should never have had to share her "darkest secret" about having an abortion as a teenager.\n\nA person's right to make their own medical decisions should be inherent. She's absolutely right: the Texas abortion law is a civil rights crisis for women.— Mike Sarzo \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Mike Sarzo \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1632314277
Uma Thurman's "darkest secret" is shared by *one in four* American women. If you haven't had an abortion, someone you know and love has.https://twitter.com/realTuckFrumper/status/1440633997462151171\u00a0\u2026— Callanite \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 (@Callanite \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6) 1632309463
\u201cThe abortion I had as a teenager was the hardest decision of my life, one that caused me anguish then and that saddens me even now, but it was the path to the life full of joy and love that I have experienced.\u201d\n\nThank you for speaking out, Uma Thurman. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/uma-thurman-abortion-law-texas/\u00a0\u2026— Renee Bracey Sherman (@Renee Bracey Sherman) 1632266399
"The abortion I had as a teenager was the hardest decision of my life, one that caused me anguish then and that saddens me even now, but it was the path to the life full of joy and love that I have experienced."\n\nUma Thurman writes an extraordinary Op Ed.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/uma-thurman-abortion-law-texas/\u00a0\u2026— Amee Vanderpool (@Amee Vanderpool) 1632310928
Thank you, Uma. Uma Thurman reveals in op-ed that she had an abortionhttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/uma-thurman-abortion-oped-against-texas-ban-000236524.html\u00a0\u2026— Impeach Trump\u2744\ufe0f (@Impeach Trump\u2744\ufe0f) 1632315257
Uma Thurman shouldn't have needed to share this, no one should be forced to relive their pain because encroachment of women's personal freedoms is under attack.https://twitter.com/PostOpinions/status/1440397138848935939\u00a0\u2026— Brian Roth (@Brian Roth) 1632319589
As @RBraceySherman always says, everyone loves someone who has had an abortion.\n\nIt shouldn't have to be anyone's darkest secret.— \ud83c\udf42\ud83c\udf42Imani Gandied Apples\ud83c\udf41\ud83c\udf41 (@\ud83c\udf42\ud83c\udf42Imani Gandied Apples\ud83c\udf41\ud83c\udf41) 1632260023
Opinion | Uma Thurman: The Texas abortion law is a human rights crisis for American women https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/21/uma-thurman-abortion-law-texas/?tid=ss_tw\u00a0\u2026 Please Read This Very Brave OpEd by Uma Thurman. Am I the only one who cries?— Morgan Fairchild (@Morgan Fairchild) 1632264782
The Texas abortion ban officially went into effect on Friday.
Since then, two lawsuits have already been filed by private citizens against a San Antonio doctor who wrote publicly about performing an abortion.
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