Olivia Rodrigo has recently kicked off the ‘GUTS’ tour across the United States. While performing, the popstar handed out contraceptives, condoms, and various other sex health tools, as a way of supporting and advocating for sexual health.
Rodrigo received wide acclaim for her advocacy, but the process has now been stopped as abortion rights groups will no longer hand out emergency contraceptives on tour. Here’s why.
Olivia Rodrigo Hands Out Free Sexual Health Items On Tour
During her “Guts” tour stop in Missouri on Tuesday, Olivia Rodrigo offered free emergency contraception to concertgoers as part of her ongoing Fund 4 Good program.
As seen on social media, the St. Louis venue where Rodrigo performed provided free emergency contraception, condoms, and stickers with information on how to seek abortion care for concertgoers to take.
free planb at @oliviarodrigo in st. louis tonight 💓 thank you @MOAbortionFund ✨ pic.twitter.com/41sc65XxLx
— kin ⸆⸉ (@cowboylikekin) March 12, 2024
While on tour, Rodrigo also launched a fund in support of reproductive rights. “The fund will directly support community-based non-profits that champion things like girls’ education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence,” she said.
Right By You, a local group that supports young people in accessing reproductive care, supplied the contraception. Right By You collaborated with the Missouri Abortion Fund to assist in product distribution.
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Why Is Olivia Rodrigo Not Distributing Sexual Health Products On Tour Anymore?
Local abortion charities were informed Thursday afternoon that they could no longer provide free emergency birth control tablets and other reproductive health resources at Rodrigo’s shows due to the extensive media coverage the act got.
The National Network of Abortion Funds, which teamed up with Rodrigo to set up stands at each of her North American tour stops, relayed that decision over Slack. The NNAF stated Rodrigo’s team requested they no longer provide out lubricant, condoms, and Plan B since “children are present at the concerts.”
Talking to Variety, Jade Hurley, the communications manager for the DC Abortion Fund said, “The reality is that youth have sex, and youth need access to birth control and emergency contraception. What we’re doing is completely legal in all 50 states.”
She then added, “Sex and sexual health tools — whether that be abortion, Plan B, condoms — are villainized because you’re [seen as being] promiscuous. We don’t look at it as a sign of responsibility. … If the kids aren’t getting the education that they need in school, at least they can rely on reproductive health organizations in their communities to get that information and resources to them.”
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