Francesca Fiorentini, Aida Rodriguez, Jaye McBride, Dina Nina Martinez
High Noon Saloon 701A E. Washington Ave., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Reproductive rights are under attack around the country, and the Abortion Access Front (formerly Lady Parts Justice, founded by Lizz Winstead) is launching a counter-offensive with a comedy tour designed to raise awareness and muster support for imperiled clinics and providers. Hosted by local funny gal Dina Nina Martinez (pictured) and featuring national powerhouses Francesca Fiorentini, Aida Rodriguez and Jaye McBride, it also includes a talkback with local abortion providers and activists.
press release: Lady Parts Justice League, the reproductive rights organization founded by comedian Lizz Winstead (co-creator of the Daily Show) is officially rebranding today as Abortion Access Front (AAF), and is announcing as its first big campaign under the new moniker Abortion AF: The Tour, a comedy and activism roadshow that will travel to states hardest hit by abortion restrictions.
AAF’s mission will continue that of LPJL namely creating edgy, hilarious media and comedy events that destigmatize abortion and engage audiences to take action to fight laws restricting abortion access. The group will also grow their work providing on-the-ground support to independent abortion providers and their communities across the country.
“We are in this horrible moment because we have not defended access to abortion like our lives depend on it. That stops now. With this new name we are doubling down and centering our work in protecting abortion rights and those who provide it,” says founder and chief creative officer Lizz Winstead
Abortion AF: The Tour will kick off this summer in the Midwest with two shows in Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Des Moines, Iowa. In the next few weeks AAF will be announcing dates in Texas and the Southeast, including stops in Alabama and Georgia. Each tour stop includes either a comedy show, musical performance, burlesque show and many other events with talent that will include Lizz Winstead (co-creator, the Daily Show; founder, AAF), Aparna Nancharla (Comedy Central's Corporate), Jill Sobule (singer/songwriter), Jenny Yang (Busy Tonight on E!), Jaye McBride (New York Comedy Festival), Sydni Deveraux aka “The Golden Glamazon” and JeezLoueez aka "The Honey Badger of Burlesque" (burlesque performers), and many more. Each performance will feature a post-show talk-back with local abortion providers and activists, so our audiences can get information on how they can fight back against this assault on reproductive rights.
Madison lineup: Francesca Fiorentini (The Bitchuation Room Podcast, Explorer on Nat Geo)
Aida Rodriguez (The Young Turks, Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me)
Jaye McBride fan page (New York Comedy Festival)
Dina Nina Martinez (Lady Laughs Comedy)
Winstead goes on to say, “We’re excited to begin our tour in the states where politicians have been lying in wait to turn their state into Alabama. Through these shows and events, Abortion AF: The Tour brings folks together to grow the community of support around local clinics and lift up the work of activists who are on the ground every day sounding the alarm about these horrendous laws that their state legislators are trying to sneak by the public. A massive wave of folks need to join in this local work, and we’re proud to help facilitate that.”
The name change for Lady Parts Justice League was also an intentional effort to be more gender inclusive in their messaging. Winstead says, “We advocate strongly for the reproductive health and rights not only of cis women but people of all genders. We fight for everyone to have access to dignified, safe, culturally competent, affordable health care.”
Supporters can learn more about Abortion Access Front and Abortion AF: The Tour and sign up to take action at AAFront.org.