1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and welcome to Stephane. 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: Never told your prediction of iHeartRadio. And it is officially 3 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: a Women's History month, So I guess happy Women's History Month, Annie. Yeah, yes, well, well, 4 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: but you know this is something that we do well. 5 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: I say, I think we do it well because this 6 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: is what we do. This is our job essentially, so 7 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: celebrating the feminist activists around the world is a part 8 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: of that which we do every week, whether it's fictional 9 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: or non fiction. Yeah, how we like to do it. Um, 10 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: And so we're just gonna jomp right in. Are you ready? Annie? 11 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: I am so ready? All right, Jess. I guess I 12 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: haven't been doing trigger warnings for these most of the times. 13 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: Unless it's like pretty obviously severe, I will put I 14 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: guess a content warning because it just maybe something that 15 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: we have been drug through the mud repeatedly with policies 16 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: and anti abortion access rhetoric, and sometimes it's hard to hear. 17 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: I will say this is good news, kind of like 18 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 1: our rebels that we need to know about. But if 19 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: there's something like you need to take a pause on, 20 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: I will tell you pause and then come back. But 21 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: this is something cheerful ish for a bad situation. It's 22 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: a good way to put it. Yeah, I like it. So, yes, 23 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: And like we said, things feel kind of bleak here 24 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: at times. The news is getting more and more scary 25 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: as laws and policies continue to restrict more rights for 26 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: the marginalized community here in the US. So when we 27 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: see those who'd loudly and proudly advocate to protect those rights, 28 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: you know we have to talk about them. And today 29 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 1: we were talking about doctor Rebecca Gomperts, and I really 30 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 1: hope I'm saying that right. That's how the interview went 31 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: that I heard. So if I did it wrong, I'm 32 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: sure some amazingly like no, it's just gone Parts and 33 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: stop it. This is a moment anyway. So, doctor Rebecca 34 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,959 Speaker 1: Gumparts has been a part of the reproductive rights movement 35 00:02:12,040 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: for a long time. In nineteen ninety gm Parts and 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: her twenties traveled around the world on a boat to 37 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,919 Speaker 1: aid women in need. Studying medicine in Netherlands, she soon 38 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,359 Speaker 1: started to travel and while shadowing a French doctor in Guinea, 39 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: she discovered the dire situation in which women were not 40 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: able to access safe abortions and often treated the women 41 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,359 Speaker 1: who suffered from botched procedures and those experiences would grow 42 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: to a movement. Yeah. So, doctor gone Parts had originally 43 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: wanted to be an artist, a writer, a creator. She 44 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,799 Speaker 1: thought of using MRIs as part of her work and 45 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 1: worked in medical settings to get more inspiration and to 46 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: find more community in the field. Soon she saw a 47 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 1: notice for doctors needed in clinics and abortion access at 48 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: the hospital, and that would lead her down the waters 49 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: to her discovery and these horrors that she discovered of 50 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: this need for access around the world. While traveling with 51 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: Greenpeace on a boat called the Rainbow Warrior two around 52 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: the world, she was able to see the many who 53 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: were being denied access and care, which often resulted and 54 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 1: grewsome death or health crises. After graduating with her medical degree, 55 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: she traveled all around the world to help provide the 56 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: safe care that women desperately needed. But knowing that a 57 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: huge deterrent in many of these countries that our need 58 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: is the restrictive laws placed by the governments there. So 59 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: doctor Gompertz used her creativity to come up with a 60 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: way to provide the care needed using a boat. So 61 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: she knew that in the international waters twelve miles outside 62 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 1: of the coast, the local laws don't apply, but the 63 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: laws of the country the boat is displaying do and 64 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: since she was from the Netherlands, where abortion access was legal, 65 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: she found her loophole. And it was this idea that 66 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 1: brought about the beginning of Women on Waves in nineteen 67 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: ninety nine, and with the legalization of the abortion pills 68 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: in two thousand and five, she was able to provide 69 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 1: safe abortions all across the world with easier access right 70 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 1: and when she first started her journey on Women on Waves, 71 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: she had other physicians join her on the voyage and 72 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: they definitely hit many challenges through their course. They encountered lawsuits, 73 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,839 Speaker 1: including one from the US FDA, and challenges all around 74 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: the world, including Ireland, and like I said, the US, 75 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: they were chased off by warships and blocked by different 76 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: governments when they were arrived at specific countries, but that 77 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: didn't stop them. When she was sued, she would countersue. 78 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 1: When she was stopped, she would find another route, and 79 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 1: throughout the process they made sure to let people know 80 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: they existed and were there to help pregnant people all 81 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: over the world. So one are the things that she 82 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: did and has continued to do, is bring a light 83 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: on what access looks like, why is needed, and then 84 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: also reframing the term of pregnant people as well as 85 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: abortion and all of that which we see is off 86 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: times weaponized against this movement. So she's doing a lot 87 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: in a large part of her work included, like I said, 88 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 1: advocacy in supporting local organizations. She would not come to 89 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: a country without the request of a local group, and 90 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: not only would they provide the physical help, but what 91 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: would provide help by teaching how to get access and 92 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: how to safely use the abortion pills. They also work 93 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,440 Speaker 1: to help provide assistance to anyone who needed support emotionally 94 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: or mentally during the process. They set up hotlines and 95 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: websites to assist in their work, which soon led to 96 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 1: her launching Women on Web. Women on Web was created 97 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: as a quote online help desk to help women connect 98 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,919 Speaker 1: with doctors and medical professionals who can help deliver abortion 99 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: pills and ship them at a reasonable cost and making 100 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: sure that getting this type of care is accessible. They 101 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 1: make sure cost does not affect a woman from getting 102 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: that medicine they need, so they will work with people 103 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: and get it to them. For free. She also talked 104 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,360 Speaker 1: about how some of the things that she would hear 105 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 1: from people trying to get these pills were literal like 106 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: sob stories in hopes they would get access. She felt 107 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: so heartbroken that they even have to do all of 108 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: that to get what they need. And so one of 109 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: the things that you wanted to do is to make 110 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: sure that pregnant people felt safe enough to just ask. 111 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: And in twenty eighteen, Going Parts unveiled aid Access, a 112 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: telemedicine service to serve those in the US, and with 113 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: that they also have the Safe Abortion app, which provides 114 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 1: important information in regards to gestational time, how to use 115 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: approved abortion drugs as needed. And for those who need 116 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: or want human connections, there are heartlines with people available 117 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 1: on the other line to assist anyone yeah wants it 118 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: or needs it. And in all of these projects and organizations, 119 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: doctor Going Parts has been a fierce advocate in the 120 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 1: need to allow those who can be pregnant to do 121 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: what they feel is best and that it's simply understanding 122 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,400 Speaker 1: that they are the ones who can make the decision 123 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: for themselves. She told The Guardian. One of the things 124 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: that we try to do actually by providing the services 125 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,720 Speaker 1: is to strengthen their dignity and empowerment. It shows them 126 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: that we trust them. And yes, it's about respecting those 127 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,680 Speaker 1: who make these decisions, in giving back the power of 128 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: their autonomy. And in another interview with political she expands 129 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 1: on the depth of trust for those who have or 130 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: want abortions. She says abortion is a very good way 131 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,600 Speaker 1: to take control over your life. There's nothing wrong with 132 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: having one abortion, or two abortions or three abortions. A 133 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: lot of the abortion rights people sometimes feel uncomfortable about this. 134 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: If you really, sincerely believe that we have to trust 135 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: women to make a decision about their own lives, then 136 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: that is the consequence. If you believe that we live 137 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: in a democratic society where people have the freedom to 138 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: make decisions about their lives, then that is the consequence. 139 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: Because the status of a fetus doesn't change whether the 140 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: reason is rape, or it is the first abortion or 141 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: an abortion or whatever. The fetus is the same. And 142 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: so once you believe that people are entitled to make 143 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: a decision about this for themselves, that it doesn't matter 144 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: whether it's more or less, or how or when. And 145 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: she's only shown more determination as countries around the world 146 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: continue to oppress the rights of people with uteruses. She's 147 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: vowed to help and assist and no matter the consequences, 148 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: and to go to where she is needed. And after 149 00:08:22,160 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: thirty years of advocacy, we've seen her do exactly that. 150 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: She was named as one of the Glamor Women of 151 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: the Year in twenty twenty two, and during her interview 152 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,200 Speaker 1: for the award, she remained hopeful and she said, I 153 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,719 Speaker 1: have a great trust in the resilience of women, and 154 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:37,080 Speaker 1: that gives me hope. At some point we all have 155 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: to decide, you know what, We'll do it regardless. We 156 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: don't care you want to control us. We are not controllable. 157 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: And with that title from Glamor, Doctor groom Parts was 158 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: also named BBC's one hundred in twenty thirteen and twenty 159 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,760 Speaker 1: fourteen and Times one hundred Most Influential People in twenty twenty. 160 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: The MS Women of the Year two thousand and one award, 161 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: the Women Making History Award by I Planned Parenthood of 162 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: New York City in two thousand and two, the Margaret 163 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: Sanger a Woman of Valor Award in two thousand and four. 164 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: In the Global Women's Rights Award, Feminist Majority Foundation in 165 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven. So yeah, she's doing a lot 166 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: and she continues to do a lot. She's gotten quite 167 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 1: a reputation as the abortion doctor of the world essentially internationally, 168 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: and it's amazing to see women who continue to fight 169 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: in these times that seems so dark. Yeah, well, as 170 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 1: she said, cheerfulness is CHEERFULI in a dark situation. Now 171 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: it is. It's it's it's inspiring to see the people 172 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: who are fighting and continue to fight have been doing it. 173 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,080 Speaker 1: We love it. So as always, if you have any 174 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: suggestions about people we should feature on the segments, you 175 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 1: can let us know. You can email us at stephaniea 176 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: Mom step at iHeartMedia dot com. You can find us 177 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, or on Instagram and 178 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: tickto talk at Stuff I've Ever Told You. Also YouTube 179 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,000 Speaker 1: if that's your thing where you'd rather listen, that's totally cool. 180 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 1: Thanks as always to our super producer Christina, Thank you 181 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,360 Speaker 1: and thanks to you for listening Stuff I Never Told You. 182 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: Subjection to I Heart Radio. For more podcast from my 183 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,000 Speaker 1: Heart Radio, you can check out the I heart Radio app, 184 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite ships.