About A is For
A is For works at the intersection of the arts and social justice.
Our History
A is For was conceived at a party in 2012 by actors and friends, Martha Plimpton, Kellie Overbey, and Gina Loukareas. At the time, they were discussing Sandra Fluke, a college student who had been demanding coverage for birth control at Georgetown University and the vitriol that she subsequently experienced from conservative press and lawmakers. Rush Limbaugh had even gone so far as to call the law student a “slut” and a “prostitute” for simply seeking equal access to reproductive healthcare. In our shared rage, Martha said “They may as well have us wear the Scarlet A!”
Within the next few months, A is For emerged in response to the further escalating legislative attacks on access to safe abortion. And just as Martha, Kellie, and Gina had imagined at that party, they took Hester Prynne’s Scarlet A, intended as a symbol of shame, and re-claimed it. You decide what your A is for: Access, Advocacy, Autonomy, Abortion, etc.
Our Work
A is For amplifies art and artists that work to end stigma against abortion. We envision a world in which every person has access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare free from judgment, scrutiny, and obstruction.
A is For works at the intersection of the arts and social justice. Art is a powerful tool for change and through our creative initiatives we seek to elevate the human experience of abortion. A is For also has a history of giving back, and provides monthly financial assistance to abortion providers.
Our Programs
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Comic Book Series
The A is For original Comic Book Series uses a unique medium to tell important stories about abortion access. The series starts with our Clinic Escort Comic Book, detailing the experiences of abortion clinic escorts. The book was created, in part, with the generous support of BC/EFA. Our second comic book, Buckle Up: Abortion Stories From The Road, is all about people who were forced to travel long distances and across state lines to access abortion care, and those who support them.
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A is For Playwriting Contest and all it takes is ONE ACT Festival
The A is For Playwriting Contest and all it take is ONE ACT Festival engages playwrights who are passionate about abortion rights and reproductive justice, and offers community members the opportunity to see those stories represented on stage. Each year, three winning plays are performed by a talented group of actors. Over the past two years, we have received more than 400 one-act plays about reproductive justice, and brought 6 of them to the stage. The Third Annual ONE-ACT Festival will take place in a New York City theater.
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A is For Beneficiaries Program
The A is For Beneficiaries Program donates $1500 each month to an abortion clinic, fund, or reproductive justice organization. Since 2014, A is For has donated more than $200,000 to abortion providers and organizations across the country.