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Earlier this month, hordes of comedians, actors, musicians, and activists joined together in New York City to raise funds for women in Texas. The event, Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can Choose, was hosted by Sarah Silverman and Lizz Winstead, who dubbed it “the greatest online pop up telethon in the history of online pop up telethons.” The event reportedly came together very quickly, with the help of passionate women’s rights advocates.
When Texas passed anti-abortion legislature earlier this month, the impact was widespread and devastating. As the law officially went into effect, clinics all across the state were forced to immediately shut down, leaving the few remaining clinics to face an overwhelming influx of new patients. It is proving to be more and more difficult to accommodate the women in need, some of whom had to travel hundreds of miles to find clinic. Now, women’s organizations and reproductive rights groups from all over the nation are addressing the dangerous abortion laws in Texas, and are trying to raise funds for the clinics that are doing their best to help their patients.
Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can Choose streamed live on Monday, November 18th, and raised $50,000 for reproductive services in Texas. Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America explains that the funds will “help pro-choice organizers and activists provide counseling, funding, and even transportation to women seeking abortion care.” NARAL Pro-Choice America and the New York Abortion Access Fund were both partners with the star-studded Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can Choose event, which was essentially a grassroots approach to drawing attention to a major, controversial issue.
Some of the celebrities that came out in support of a woman’s right to abortion access at the event include Amy Schumer, Kathy Najimy, Natasha Lyonne, Yael Stone, Alysia Reiner, Dascha Polanco, Kathleen Hanna, Ad-Rock, Emily Mortimer, Jemima Kirke, Phoebe Robinson, Joan Walsh, John Fugelsang, Alexa Chung, Dave Hill, Sally Kohn, Anthea Butler, Tennesee Thomas, Syreeta McFadden, and many more. The event attracted more than 30,000 viewers and raised vital funds, as well as awareness, about the issues impacting Texas women right now.
For more information about Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can Choose, and to view the telethon, visit Lady Parts Justice.