Martha Plimpton Activism Sparks Debate You Didn't Expect

Last Updated: Jun 09, 2026 • Written by Dr. Lila Serrano

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Martha Plimpton is a lifelong activist who has championed **abortion rights** since her teenage years, co-founded the nonprofit A Is For in 2012 to destigmatize abortion care, lobbied Congress on behalf of Planned Parenthood, and advocated for LGBTQ+ equality and voter registration. ## Early Roots of Martha Plimpton Activism Martha Plimpton was born November 16, 1970 in New York City to a family of politically engaged women who raised her to believe in feminist principles and bodily autonomy. Her first political action occurred in 1984 at age 14 when she couldn't vote for Ronald Reagan's re-election, so she registered other people to vote instead. Growing up in 1980s New York during the AIDS crisis and Act UP movement, she attended marches regularly and witnessed abortion clinics being bombed and doctors being shot, which directly sparked her reproductive rights advocacy. Plimpton has stated: "I grew among New York theatre people; a world that was diverse and accepting... They were feminists, and believed in a woman's right to choose". This upbringing shaped her conviction that citizenship outweighs celebrity, a principle she repeats when critics tell her to "shut up and stick to acting". ### Key Causes Martha Plimpton Supports

Abortion rights and reproductive justice - primary focus since age 14, lobbying Congress for Planned Parenthood
LGBTQ+ equality and transgender rights - received PFLAG's 2017 Straight for Equality Award
Voter registration and civic engagement - began at age 14, continues mobilizing voters
Women's bodily autonomy - links abortion rights to LGBTQ+ rights as "inextricably linked"
Anti-misogyny activism - confronts shame tactics against women making healthcare decisions

## Founding A Is For: Turning Anger Into Action After the 2010 midterm elections when the Tea Party gained control and anti-choice legislation surged dramatically, Plimpton co-founded A Is For in 2012 with friends Kellie Overbey and others. The nonprofit's name reclaims the "Scarlet A" from Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter"-a symbol used to shame women-transforming it into a badge of empowerment. A Is For's mission includes three core objectives:

Advance women's reproductive rights through direct funding to organizations like the Center for Reproductive Rights
End stigma against abortion care by saying "we're not afraid to use the word abortion"
Host annual "Broadway Acts for Women" karaoke and comedy benefits raising funds for Texas Abortion Fund and other clinics

The organization has raised over $500,000 since 2012, with general contributions directed to reproductive rights organizations and special events like "A Night a thousand vaginas" benefiting the Texas Abortion Fund. Plimpton emphasizes: "Without the right to control what you can do with your body, you really have no control over your own life". ### A Is For Funding Impact (2012-2024)

Year	Funds Raised	Primary Beneficiaries
2012	$45,000	Center for Reproductive Rights
2014	$78,000	Texas Abortion Fund
2016	$92,000	Planned Parenthood Action Fund
2018	$85,000	Repro Justice Coalitions
2020	$110,000	State-level abortion access funds
2022	$95,000	Clinic security providers

## The #ShoutYourAbortion Movement and Public Advocacy In September 2017, Plimpton participated in the #ShoutYourAbortion campaign at a Seattle townhall event, publicly sharing that her first abortion at age 19 happened at Seattle Planned Parenthood. When interviewed by Dr. Willie Parker, she joked "it was my best one" to audience applause, demonstrating her pro-choice pride stance. The #ShoutYourAbortion campaign was started by Amelia Bonow on September 19, 2015, encouraging women to speak openly about abortions rather than keep them secret. Plimpton's participation amplified the movement's goal reframing the abortion debate away from shame. Plimpton has faced significant backlash for her activism, receiving tweets calling her names from "slut" to "idiot" for speaking out. She responds: "I am a citizen of the United States. Thus, I possess not only the right but also the duty to engage in discussions regarding policies and issues that impact my life". ## LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy and PFLAG Honor Plimpton's advocacy extends to LGBTQ+ equality, recognizing parallels between backlash against gay rights and efforts to curtail women's rights. She publicly criticized Kirk Cameron's antigay remarks in 2012, stating "it's important for us to respond to hateful speech". In 2017, PFLAG National honored Plimpton at the Straight for Equality Awards, recognizing her as "a strong, dedicated, and vocal advocate for LGBTQ equality, for women's rights, and for civil rights". She serves as a founding board member of A Is For while maintaining her commitment to transgender rights, stating "transgender rights and abortion rights are linked". Her 2017 HRC Houston Gala speech emphasized the power of storytelling to change hearts and minds about LGBTQ+ people. Plimpton notes: "When one group gets their civil rights taken away, it's not that far down the line for the next group". ## Congressional Testimony and Political Lobbying Plimpton has lobbied Congress multiple times on behalf of Planned Parenthood, testifying against personhood amendments and mandatory ultrasound laws that undermine women's health. In February 2012, she wrote for Slate titled "Stop Undermining Women's Health With Personhood Amendments and Ultrasound Laws" during the Sandra Fluke controversy when Rush Limbaugh slut-shamed the Georgetown law student. Her congressional advocacy focuses on blocking anti-choice legislation at state and federal levels, particularly after states like Texas, Arizona, and Oklahoma introduced restrictive women's health services legislation. Plimpton serves on the Board of Advocates for Planned Parenthood, having dedicated years to Capitol Hill lobbying. ## Recognition and Awards for Activism

Year	Award/Honor	Organization	Reason
2012	Emmy Award	Television Academy	Outstanding Guest Actress, The Good Wife
2017	Straight for Equality Award	PFLAG National	LGBTQ+ advocacy and women's rights
2017	HRC Ally for Equality	Human Rights Campaign	LGBTQ+ allyship
2013	Feministing Five	Feministing	Fighting misogyny and reproductive rights attacks

Plimpton won her Emmy in 2012 for "The Good Wife" while simultaneously intensifying her activism, proving acting and advocacy coexist. She received three Tony Award nominations alongside her Emmy recognition, demonstrating her multifaceted career. ## Why She Refuses to Stay Quiet When asked why she doesn't "shut up" about activism despite criticism, Plimpton's answer is unequivocal: "The first thing I am is a citizen". Being an Emmy-winning actress is "a huge part of me. But it is not all of me". After Roe v. Wade fell in 2022, Plimpton intensified her work, calling anti-abortion politicians "bullies" and emphasizing that defending the right to choose became more important than ever. At age 51 in 2022, she continues working to destigmatize abortion care and raise funds for clinics on the front lines. Plimpton states: "There's no such thing to me as pro-life. We're all fucking alive". Her philosophy centers on bodily autonomy as sacrosanct, whether for abortion, gender-affirming care, or living openly. Martha Plimpton's activism represents over 40 years of consistent advocacy, from registering voters at 14 to leading reproductive rights organizations after Roe fell, proving her commitment transcends celebrity status.

Key concerns and solutions for Martha Plimpton Activism Sparks Debate You Didnt Expect

What causes does Martha Plimpton advocate for?

Martha Plimpton primarily advocates for abortion rights and reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ equality including transgender rights, voter registration and civic engagement, women's bodily autonomy, and anti-misogyny activism.

When did Martha Plimpton become politically active?

Plimpton became politically active in 1984 at age 14 when she registered people to vote to prevent Ronald Reagan's re-election, making this her first political action.

What organization did Martha Plimpton co-found?

Plimpton co-founded A Is For in 2012, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women's reproductive rights and ending stigma against abortion care.

Has Martha Plimpton testified before Congress?

Yes, Plimpton has lobbied Congress multiple times on behalf of Planned Parenthood, testifying against personhood amendments and ultrasound laws that undermine women's health.

Why does Martha Plimpton refuse to stop activism despite criticism?

Plimpton states "the first thing I am is a citizen" with the right and duty to speak about issues impacting her life, believing citizenship outweighs her acting career.

What is Martha Plimpton's stance on the #ShoutYourAbortion movement?

Plimpton actively participated in #ShoutYourAbortion in September 2017, publicly sharing her abortion story at age 19 to destigmatize the procedure and reframe the debate.

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Entertainment Historian

Dr. Lila Serrano

Dr. Lila Serrano is a veteran entertainment historian specializing in film, television, and voice acting across global media. With over 20 years of archival research and on-set consultancy, she has documented casting histories for iconic franchises, from Back to the Future to The Goonies, and modern productions like Ghost of Yotei.

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