The Coat Hanger Project profile picture

The Coat Hanger Project

Keep Abortion Legal

About Me

The Coat Hanger Project is a documentary film about abortion and current state of the pro-choice movement. In 2006, South Dakota Legislature made an attempt to ban on all abortion, without exception for rape, incest or life of the women - and was struck down. The defeat of the South Dakota abortion ban in 2006 was as a uniquely important, historical moment in the reproductive rights movement because it represents the only time since Roe that the anti's had an opportunity to end abortion without exception in a state – and failed. The purpose of the title "The Coat Hanger Project" is to evoke a memory of what almost became the only abortion alternative for women in South Dakota.
Since the defeat of the HB 1215 last November, the South Dakota Legislature drafted and passed another, less restrictive ban on abortion (HB 1293), this time with an exception for rape, incest or life endangerment, and other conservative states are working on similar legislation. Thankfully, HB 1293 was killed in the South Dakota Senate, so Gov. Mike Rounds will not be signing it into law, it will not be on the general election ballot in 2008. But anti-choice lawmakers are already working to draft language for another ban.


The Coat Hanger Project seeks to remind us all that taking away access to safe, legal abortion service does not stop abortions from happening. It just makes it much more difficult - and dangerous - for women to end their pregnancies.
The film weaves footage from working on the Campaign for Healthy Families in South Dakota into several different interviews from prominent people in the pro-choice movement, abortion providers, women who have had abortions, artists, musicians and others who offer a unique perspective on the issue.

My Interests



I'd like to meet:

My goal with this documentary is simply to remind us what history teaches: that making abortion illegal does not solve the problem of unwanted pregnancy; abortion will continue whether it's legally regulated or not.


Before the legalization of abortion in 1973, thousands of women died from complications resulting from botched illegal abortions in the USA. Currently, the Alan Guttmacher Institute estimates that 80,000 women worldwide die annually from unsafe, illegal abortions.
I am using the South Dakota abortion ban, HB 1215, to show how we as a country came just came the closest we've ever gotten to catapulting ourselves back in time in terms of women's rights, and that we owe it to ourselves as a people to wake up out of this conservative ideological haze and stop this scary road we're on before it's too late.
For more information about what would happen if Roe were overturned, click here

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My Blog

New York Times: Abortion in China

May 13, 2007Today's Face of Abortion in China Is a Young, Unmarried Woman By JIM YARDLEYNew York TimesQINGDAO, China  At an abortion clinic in this seaside city, a young woman sat in the recovery roo...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Mon, 14 May 2007 01:02:00 PST

Further thoughts on Abortion - A Man's Perspective

Further thoughts on abortion By Scott HarrisSonoma Index-Tribuneclick here for articleThere may be no more complex issue facing Americans than abortion. Since 1973, Roe v. Wade has been the "litmus te...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Fri, 11 May 2007 08:19:00 PST

Abortion decision puts U.S. out of step with the world

Times Herald-Record click here for articleAbortion decision puts U.S. out of step with the worldBy Nancy NorthupRoe v. Wade was an early victory in the struggle for legal recognition of women's right ...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Thu, 10 May 2007 06:25:00 PST

Opinion: Doctor and patient relationship violated by Federal Abortion Ban

Sun-Sentinel May 9, 2007 Opinion pageclick here for articleDoctor and patient relationship violatedBy Mary Capobianco Mary Capobianco is CEO/president of Planned Parenthood of South Palm Beach & B...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Thu, 10 May 2007 05:58:00 PST

FBI Investigating A Fire At A Planned Parenthood In Virginia Beach

FBI Investigating A Fire At A Planned Parenthood In Virginia BeachA fire began just after 5:00am at the Planned Parent Hood in Virginia Beach this morning at the Azalea Village Shopping Center at 5441...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Wed, 09 May 2007 12:50:00 PST

Frances Kissling: I Love Roe

I Love Roeclick here for full articleby Frances Kissling May 7, 2007 - 11:00am I love Roe v Wade. It took my breath away in 1973 and its promise continues to do so. It marked the United States as one ...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Tue, 08 May 2007 08:28:00 PST

Response to Bush's Letter Threatening To Veto Bills That Would Weaken Federal Abortion Laws

Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policyclick here for full articleNational Politics & Policy | Abortion-Rights Advocates, Opponents Respond to Bush's Letter Threatening To Veto Bills That Would Weaken Fede...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Tue, 08 May 2007 08:24:00 PST

A Closer Look: 'Partial-Birth Abortion'

A Closer Look: 'Partial-Birth Abortion'Thin legal line separates two similar proceduresOne falls under the Supreme Court's ban. The other doesn't. Physicians sometimes need to use both.By Mary Beckman...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Mon, 07 May 2007 09:11:00 PST

Planned Parenthood Virtual Wall of Protest for Federal Abortion Ban

In response to the Supreme Court's recent upholding of the Federal Abortion Ban, Planned Parenthood has created a virtual wall of protest for people to express their outrage over the decisio...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Fri, 04 May 2007 01:10:00 PST

Irish Teen Asks Judge to Allow Abortion

Irish Teen Asks Judge to Allow AbortionByline: By Shawn Pogatchnik, Associated Press WriterSection: International NewsMay 3, 2007 Thursday 9:13 PM GMT Associated PressDateline: Dublin IrelandA governm...
Posted by The Coat Hanger Project on Fri, 04 May 2007 12:35:00 PST