Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday afternoon that delved into her abortion experience as well as her decision to start a family years later.
"I made the decision that was best for me — to have an abortion — and was able to get compassionate care at a clinic in my own community," she said. "Now, years later, my husband and I are parents to two incredible children."
Hogue stressed that her story is not unique. About 1 in 3 American have abortions by the age of 45, according to Hogue, who said the "majority are mothers just trying to take care of the families they already have."
"You see, it's not as simple as bad girls get abortions and good girls have families," she continued. "We are the same women at different times in our lives — each making decisions that are the best for us."
This isn't the first time Hogue, who became NARAL president in 2013, has spoken out about her abortion. In an interview with Elle magazine last year, Hogue said she had the abortion during graduate school at the University of Michigan. She made the decision to end the pregnancy, the result of failed birth control, with the help of her parents and her boyfriend.
During her speech Wednesday, Hogue gave a full-throated endorsement of Hillary Clinton, saying that she understands "women's rights are human rights."
"If we want families to succeed, we start by empowering women," she said. "Give us accurate information and access to health care. Keep politicians out of our business when we're not ready to parent, and support us when we are."
"That's what gives our families the best chance to get ahead and stay ahead. And that is what Hillary Clinton has spent decades fighting for."
Donald Trump, Hogue reminded the audience, said women who have abortions should be punished (a statement he later walked back). And Trump's running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, passed a law in his home state "with some of the most outrageous abortion restrictions in the country." Pence, she added, has said he can't wait to send Roe v. Wade "into the ash heap of history."
