Watch Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Abortion Laws (HBO)
Across America, but particularly in the South, abortion clinics are in a fight for their existence. Since 2010, legislators across America vowing to make their states “abortion free” have introduced hundreds of anti-choice bills. Caught in the political quagmire are millions of women of reproductive age, many of them poor and uninsured. Their only hope? The men and women of TRAPPED, who are fighting to turn the tide and fulfill the protections guaranteed by Roe v. Wade.
As the legal and political fight escalates, what remains of an American woman’s right to choose?
U.S. reproductive health clinics are fighting to remain open.
Since 2010, 288 laws regulating abortion providers have been passed by state legislatures. In total, 44 states and the District of Columbia have measures subjecting abortion providers to legal restrictions not imposed on other medical professionals. Unable to comply with these far-reaching and medically unnecessary laws, clinics have taken their fight to the courts.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling (Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt) that prevents individual states from essentially outlawing abortion. Trapped follows the clinic workers and lawyers who were on the front lines of the battle to keep abortion safe and legal for millions of American women.
Cindy Meehl: Why I am supporting this film
Press
“The men and women in Porter’s film can’t give up because they know it’s about the safety of the women who need them. They’re fighting an uphill battle, but it’s not only an important one, but intrinsic to who they are.” – Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
“A very tender, intimate look at how politics is trumping medicine.” – Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net
“HEART-RENDING… it puts human faces on a social and personal issue.” – Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter
“Sensitive and hart-hitting. “Trapped” is an urgent snapshot of an issue that citizens should understand before the U.S. Supreme Court decides on such laws by this June.” – Sean Means, The Salt Lake Tribune
“Riveting, powerful and timely as hell.” – Flavorwire
“A profound look at the emotional lives of abortion providers” – Texas Observer
“The documentary we’ve been waiting for. “Viewers will emerge from Trapped feeling not angry, nor defeated, but profoundly grateful.” – Amy Littlefield, RH Reality Check
“The heroes of this film — the clinic owners, the clinic staff, the doctors, and the lawyers — are working everyday to help women get the medical care they need. We need to start shouting these stories from the rooftop.” – Melissa Silverstein, Women and Hollywood
