Wow, that's an amazing shirt, I'm very impressed. Frankly I'd be a bit worried about wearing it because I would probably be subject to harassment. It's nice to think that we don't live in a taliban-like society, but if I wore that shirt I would honestly worry about being assaulted. I'm not ashamed of my abortion, I'm completely okay with it, but I'm going to learn to fight before I broadcast it to those who might want to hurt me for exercising my rights. If I saw someone wearing that shirt I would probably shake their hand. I might expand on this post later in my journal, but for now I just wanted to respond. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

I wouldn't wear it...even if it did apply to me. If others want to, fine. For me, it's an issue of privacy. I have a beautiful purse made by Cinnamon that is the hanger with a slash through it. I have no problem with people knowing my stance on abortion, but personal details seem invasive. In just my experience online, too many people who think they know me make assumptions and spread ridiculous rumors. This happens in real life also, and I don't like it when people think they have any right to information about my personal life. I'm fairly open, and am not too hesitant to talk, but I like to retain the ability to decide who I tell what to. By wearing a shirt that says "I had an abortion" or "I was raped" does not allow me to filter who gets that news. More power to those who are fine with the general public knowing.

the shirts seem like a good idea to show that real ppl have abortions. however, i had one in march & haven't gotten over it yet so i wouldn't be able to wear such a shirt. i also wouldn't want to be harassed in public either. i already do for wearing the shirt that reads, "this is what a feminist looks like"

I wouldn't wear one, and I wouldn't want my friends to, either. The risk of being hurt is too great.

My response is up here. General comment because my response differs from the others here, is that yes, I would wear it.

I own a t-shirt (finally) that reads, "I *heart* pro-choice girls," which I bought from NARAL. (They sell the "boys" version of this, too, FYI.) I'm proud to own this shirt. It covers at once both a political opinion and a personal identity that are important to me. The next time I go to a queer-focused political rally or pride march or pro-choice event, I'll probably wear it. However, there are enough people who'd either give me that look or say something or possibly act in a threatening manner that I don't feel comfortable wearing it out shopping on a Saturday afternoon.

Likewise, this. If I'd had an abortion, I'd for sure purchase this shirt. I'd wear it to pro-choice rallies. If I volunteered for an abortion-rights organization, I'd wear it to their office. But I wouldn't put it on to go to the movies.

I suppose the explanation for this is that when you're going to a political event, you're likely to be surrounded by like-minded people and thus, you're in a relatively safe and supported environment. Furthermore, you're already mentally prepared to be making a statement, and thus prepared for challenges to it. I'd LOVE it if we were collectively at a point at which people could proudly announce that they were gay, or had had an abortion, or were survivors of sexual assault, or were pagans, or anything else that certain members of the public might find questionable, anytime, anywhere, without fear of further harrassment. I think if we WERE at that point, it'd almost be less important for people TO wear the t-shirt. But I don't think we are, and the positions of the other commenters seem to support that opinion.

I really do like the idea of wearing shirts like this, in situations in which the wearer feels comfortable doing so. I think that it's meaningful to people to put a face with a concept; I think it's harder to hate someone or to want to pass laws that hurt them when you're looking in their eyes and seeing how similar they are to you. So yes, I think they're positive, and I don't think they detract from the message - rather, they personalize it. They also give the wearer an opportunity to be a change agent in ways that go beyond being the passive vessel of a message - because people DO ask you about your t-shirts or buttons or signs. Sometimes people DO want to hear why you feel your message is important enough to wear on your sleeve.

What other shirts would I like to see? Well, I haven't seen any really juicy pay equity shirts lately...

Like Vic, I'd wear the shirt (well, if it applied). I think that there's great value in the discussion that the shirt could promote, and that we sell our opponents short when we assume they can't resist attacking us. But Kerri raised a good point about privacy (while it's more political than other aspects of your medical history, privacy's always a valid issue where medicine is concerned), and I totally understand that argument. More on blog.