Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, more than 400 creators and showrunners, all women, sent signed letters to the top management of Hollywood’s biggest studios with specific demands relating to the most basic human right of access to healthcare. To ensure the employment and safety of all employees of the likes of Netflix, Disney, Apple and others, the letters outlined a list of production expectations in states with anti-abortion laws, according to Variety. Now these women have been joined by a roster of over 500 men, including names such as Jordan Peel, JJ Abrams as well as Donald Gloverwho sent letters to the same companies, doubling those expectations.
The initial letters that were sent were signed by more than 400 women, including top names such as Issa Ray, Shonda Rhimes, Natasha Lyonne, Abbi Jacobson as well as Mindy Kaling, calling on well-known companies to take responsibility for their products in states where the rights to necessary medical procedures have been outlawed. In the letters, the studios demanded brief protections and protocols for their pregnant employees, citing “it is unacceptable to ask anyone to choose between their human rights and their jobs,” according to Variety. When the letter was publicly released, the egregious oversight was pointed out on social media, curious where the industry support was.
In response, by doubling down on the demands, more than 500 men followed suit in support of their “female, transgender and non-binary fellow showrunners”, calling Roe’s v. Wade an “inevitable crisis”. Among the indignant collective were such names as Charlie Day, boys showrunner Eric Kripke, Neil Gaiman, Walking DeadX Scott M. Gimple, Seth Macfarlane as well as Taika Waititi.
Seeking specific confirmation from companies that film in banning abortion states such as Georgia, Texas and Louisiana, the letter requires a written response within ten days of the first letters being sent on July 28. and streaming platform in the industry today“ looking for robust abortion safety plans designed to protect any employees who are pregnant or who may become pregnant in the event that employee is required to have an abortion. They are seeking not only these protocols for a pregnant employee, but also guarantees “regarding criminal and civil legal protections” for those who provide assistance. The letter goes on to highlight the absurdity of expecting workers to choose between work and their basic human rights, adding that it is now a matter of equality in the workplace:
It is unacceptable to ask any person to choose between their human rights and their job. This situation raises major issues of equity, health and safety in the workplace. Many of us wouldn’t have the careers and families we have today if we weren’t given the freedom to choose what’s best for ourselves. We as a group are committed to protecting our fundamental human rights and the rights of our colleagues.
The creators point to the terrible risk their colleagues are taking by working in states that have banned safe access to healthcare, and the unsafe conditions in which companies allow their employees to suffer. Due to the risks that exist in these states, under these conditions, the letter asks companies to “immediately stop all political donations to pro-life candidates and political action committees” as it keeps their employees at risk. Follow-up letters from allies covered everything that was said earlier and added: “Access to abortion is not just about people who can get pregnant. It concerns all of us.“
you can watch Olivia Rodrigo as well as Lily AllenThe company’s actions in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to set aside Roe v. Wade are below:
Source: Collider
