Playbill: Glory of Abortion

Florida International University funded an abortion-glorifying play as part of its Nov. 13 National Organization of Women’s Feminist Summit.

The play, “Out of Silence,” depicted women rationalizing their abortions as empowering and financially responsible.

In its first scene, a young sorority sister is scared she may be pregnant. Her friend comforts her by saying, “That’s not what’s scaring you, is it? The bible stuff? This is 1997, abortion is legal, no one can tell you what to do with your own belly.” She continues, “Abortion. It’s a choice. That’s all it is.”

“A pregnant teen rationalizes her abortion by saying, ‘I can’t give it up for adoption. I’d always wonder where it is.’

In another scene, a poor couple discuss how they cannot afford to raise another child in their current economic state. “That baby deserves better,” the pregnant woman says. The scene ends with her calling the abortion clinic, suggesting that death is better than a life with financial struggles.

“Out of Silence” shows female after female justifying abortion. A pregnant teen rationalizes her abortion over adoption by saying, “I can’t give it up for adoption. I’d always wonder where it is.”

The play was performed by student actors who are passionate about “reproductive justice” and paid for by FIU’s Council for Student Organizations and Student Government Association’s Division of Student Affairs; in other words, by the taxpayer’s dime. According to a newsletter, social justice activism was “at the core” of the summit.

“This summit seeks to be an educational and interactive safe space that engages students and attendees on understanding not just feminism, but other social justice issues as well! After the summit concludes, attendees will leave with a greater sense of self-empowerment and direction to advocate for social justice issues,” read an event description put out by FIU’s NOW chapter.

“Out of Silence” was inspired by more than 700 personal abortion stories that were submitted to the authors. Each scene explores the situations, relationships, emotions and logistics women experience as they consider having an abortion.

A safe space indeed, unless you’re a fetus.

This piece is part of a CampusZette series exploring the culture, oddities, and experiences of students on college campuses through their eyes.