Lena Dunham says she’s “terrified” about where US is going after Supreme Court decision to quash Roe v. Wadebut she remains “hopeful” amid a “rebellion of dialogue” that removes the stigma surrounding it abortion.
In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment promote her new movie sharp stickthe writer, actress and director talks about making a film without female nudes in it, the sensibility around representing the sex work industry and overthrowing Roe v. Wade.
“I’m terrified,” she said when asked if she’s “afraid” about where the country is following the court’s recent decision. “I grew up with a mom who was part of the Downtown Women’s Action Coalition that reached out to abortion clinics to make sure women could get in and out safely without being harassed by protesters. I was also raised to say ‘anti-choice’, not ‘pro-life’ to people who advocate those views. They are against the livelihood of people with female reproductive organs.”
She later added that the day of the verdict was “probably one of the darkest days I’ve experienced in my life in terms of my fear of what’s happening in this country.”
Nevertheless, the Generation+ producer says there’s a glimmer of hope for her, and it’s fueled by the way abortion conversation and language has been expanded and reformulated since the June decision.
“What makes me hopeful is the incredible rebellion of dialogue that destigmatizes abortion and makes it clear that physical autonomy is essential for all people,” she says. “And if people who are assigned a woman at birth have no physical autonomy, we don’t have a free society.”
Dunham also spoke about what she believed to be her role in the fight to protect abortion rights, telling the outlet that “it is my job and all our jobs to do everything we can to make abortion accessible and affordable.”
She says this can be done by ensuring that people in states without abortion access – “that are going into lockdown” – get help and support from states in states where abortion is still legal and “there is more freedom to come.” where to go and make the choices to live a free life.”
The girls creator says her “life exists” as a result of the ability to have physical autonomy, pointing to a procedure she had that allowed her to stop living with chronic pain. “My ability to have and afford a hysterectomy gave me autonomy as I no longer lived with chronic pain,” explains Dunham.