Hannah Thalenberg

Written By Guest User

Pronouns: They/Elle/Elu

Location: Houston, Texas

Language: Portuguese, Spanish

I share my story so that people who have had abortions know that they are not alone and that they are loved, supported, and deserving of care. I want every person seeking an abortion to be able to expect and demand the same access I had and more! I also share my story because so many in my home country of Brazil, where abortion is criminalized, cannot.

Abortion Advice: You can feel any type of way about your abortions, but I hope you don’t feel alone. Even though getting what you need, be it clinical care or pills, may not be easy, you deserve to have an abortion on your own terms. You also have a whole community backing you up every step of the way! Storytellers are here to affirm you no matter what, and abortion funds exist to help you navigate barriers to abortion access while organizing to break them down. 

How I honor my abortion: I honor my abortion by talking about it and by offering myself and my body the same care I did when I decided to have an abortion. I also honor it by supporting other people who need abortions — as a friend and as a hotline and driving volunteer with my local abortion funds.

What I wish people knew about abortion: I wish more people knew that they love someone who has had an abortion. I wish more people knew that trans men and nonbinary people like myself have abortions, that every abortion is unique and valid, and that it doesn't _have_ to be a sad or difficult decision. I wish more people knew that having the right to have an abortion does not always mean having access to it, because too many lawmakers work hard to push abortion out of reach. 

What is your favorite abortion story on film?
My favorite depiction of abortion on film is the one in "Portrait of a Lady on Fire." In this French sapphic romance set in the 18th century, the young housemaid Sophie learns she’s pregnant after telling Marianne (one of the protagonists) that she hasn’t had her period. Marianne straightforwardly asks if she wants to have a baby, and Sophie says no. End of discussion. The abortion takes place in an herbalist’s home, on a soft bed by a welcoming fire. We see Sophie grimace through physical discomfort and begin to cry—until a giggling baby, resting nearby, makes her smile, all while Marianne and Héloïse look on. At Héloïse’s suggestion, that evening the three women re-create and paint Sophie’s abortion, an act that doesn't seem unusual. I love this depiction of abortion as normal, warm, and connecting!

Hannah in the Press

News
This Is The Perfect Reason To Have An Abortion
This Is The Perfect Reason To Have An Abortion

There’s a good chance that you support abortion rights if you clicked on this story. You may already suspect that the title of the article is purposely attention-getting and even mildly tongue-in-cheek. You understand that there is no perfect reason to have an abortion; or, rather, that every reason is the perfect reason — as long as the person making the choice was able to decide for themselves, and follow through on that decision without unwanted interference.

Abortion Resources for Texans During COVID-19 Clinic Closures

Governor Greg Abbott loosened the ban on nonessential surgeries this week, but he said it would be up to courts to decide on restoring order to abortions. These last few weeks have been contentious as people who would normally have access to abortion no longer do, especially if they’re in the second trimester.

5 People on How They Learned Their Parents Had Experience With Abortion

As children, we share countless stories with our parents, from magical ones born from our young imaginations to stories of painful breakups, horrible bosses, and fantastic first dates when we’re adults. We also share stories of our abortions. Like me, the following people shared their abortion story and had it met by another. Abortion is normal, and for many of us, abortion is just one of the many things we have in common with our parents.

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