Lily Tomlin, Gloria Allred, Marta Kauffman, and other prominent figures in the entertainment industry came together to advocate for stronger health and safety protections for employees working in states that have banned or criminalized abortion. They gathered at a reproductive health care-themed picket in front of Amazon Studios in an effort to raise awareness and push for change.
The event, organized by the group “Showrunners for Abortion Rights,” was held during the ongoing writers strike and coincided with the release of a “post-Roe report card.” This report card evaluated major companies’ reproductive health care policies and reproductive health and safety hotline functions one year after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision was overturned. The findings revealed that many studio-provided hotlines do not offer emergency measures to access care in states where abortion is outlawed.
The group behind the picket has grown to include around 1,400 creatives, including showrunners, TV creators, and directors. Their goal is to pressure studios and streamers to adopt more rigorous protocols for their workers in states like Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas, where abortions are banned. These influential individuals have been lobbying studios and using their leverage to expand resources and ensure reproductive health care access for employees.
Marta Kauffman, a co-creator of “Friends” and “Grace and Frankie,” credited the showrunner coalition for the reproductive health care resources cited in the report card. She explained that the delegates who spoke to studios played a crucial role in securing these resources. The group’s strategy has also involved highlighting the importance of reproductive health care in scripts and stories, urging writers to address these issues in their work.
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Speakers at the event emphasized the urgency of the situation and called on writers to shed light on the barriers to reproductive health care in their scripts. Lily Tomlin drew attention to the reality that the dystopian world portrayed in “The Handmaid’s Tale” is not far from our own. Actor Brandee Evans shared her personal experience of not having her reproductive health care concerns taken seriously and urged writers and showrunners to make these issues visible in their work.
High-profile attorney Gloria Allred called for action from labor groups in the entertainment industry, suggesting that unions should refrain from producing films in states that ban abortions. While some unions have expanded their coverage of abortion services since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, they have not taken a stance against producing in specific states. Allred’s bold statement challenged labor groups to protect the reproductive rights of their members.
The picket also featured musical performances and food donated by various individuals and organizations in support of the cause. As the event concluded, members of Showrunners for Abortion Rights emphasized that their advocacy will continue. While progress has been made through collaboration with studios, there is still much work to be done, particularly in ensuring access to emergency reproductive care.
Overall, the event served as a powerful demonstration of solidarity within the entertainment industry and a united call for stronger protections for reproductive rights. The continued efforts of Showrunners for Abortion Rights and the support of influential figures in the industry have the potential to create meaningful change and improve the lives of employees working in states where access to abortion is restricted.
