A Conversation with Karen Thurston
season 2, episode 27
April 10, 2023
Illustration by Emily Carpenter
After sending emails to each other for almost two years, Karen and I record our first IRL (online) conversation. On this episode, Karen talks about how she became an abortion activist and the work that she does to fight abortion stigma. Karen had two abortions as a teenager, and because of all the stigma she experienced and shame she felt she kept her abortions a secret for more than twenty years. Finally being able to tell her husband and children about her abortion ignited her commitment to fight for a world where nobody has to live in shame and secrecy because of their abortions. In this episode she talks about all of this and so much more.
Karen Thurston (she/her) lives on occupied Kumeyaay land (California, USA) and is an independent advocate dedicated to ending the stigma of abortions. She is the creator of the on-line stigma-fighting projects 2+ Abortions Worldwide and Love Abortion Providers. She also volunteers on the All-Options Talk Line and with OARS, the on-line abortion resources squad. Her advocacy to end stigma and increase access has included sharing her abortion story in many venues, testifying before federal and state lawmakers, clinic escorting at Feminist Women’s Health Center in Atlanta, and volunteering with the abortion fund Access Reproductive Care-Southeast.
