The creators strike back. A collective of American showrunners, screenwriters and producers has written to streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ or Apple TV+ asking them to ensure the safety of employees who are pregnant while filming in states where abortion is illegal, reports variety. Signatories include TV luminaries like Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Natasha Lyonne, Issa Rae, Michelle King, Amy Schumer, and more.
Abortion banned in several US states
Since the Supreme Court judgment of June 24, which abolished the federal right to abortion, several American states such as Georgia, Louisiana and Texas have banned this practice. In the letter, the 411 signatories ask Netflix and others for “a policy and procedures for allowing female employees to travel for their abortions, including specific information on how their privacy will be protected.”
They also ask for a care protocol for employees who experience medical difficulties related to their pregnancy, which would require abortion, such as ectopic pregnancies.
Targeted policies
Knowing that some states wish to prosecute anyone advising or helping a woman who wishes to have an abortion, the letter also demands that they be protected and that their possible legal costs be covered.
Finally, the signatories call on companies to immediately cease all financial support to anti-abortion political candidates or their support groups. Netflix, Disney, Apple and others have ten days to respond to the letter.