Condoms and emergency contraceptives were available to all-comers an Olivia Rodrigo concert held in Missouri this week – a state where abortion is illegal.
Attendees at Rodrigo’s concert, the latest stop on her ‘Guts’ world tour, could take the contraceptives for free, as well as access information on abortion care in the state, from stands at the Enterprise Center in St Louis.
Missouri is one of 14 states in the US where abortion is now illegal – apart from when there is a risk to the woman’s life – although birth control measures, such as the morning-after pill, are allowed.
Rodrigo has been a forthright advocate for women’s reproductive rights for several years and has backed this up by launching a campaign aimed at helping people who want reproductive health freedom called Fund 4 Good last month. A percentage of the profits from Rodrigo’s current tour will go to Fund 4 Good.
In 2022, when appearing at the Glastonbury festival in England, Rodrigo spoke out against the then-recent overturning of the Roe vs Wade judgement in the US, which removed the federal right to abortion. Since that judgement was made, various states have banned abortion.
The Missouri Abortion Fund had a stand at Rodrigo’s gig and posted on Instagram afterwards to thank the singer. “Thank you to @oliviarodrigo for allowing us to table at your STL GUTS world tour stop! It’s brutal out here in Missouri!”
Rodrigo also posted on Instagram to confirm that a portion of ticket sales from the St Louis concert will be donated to the Missouri Abortion Fund as well as Right By You, an organisation that assists people in Missouri to access abortion, birth control and birth care.
The morning-after pill, taken up to five days after a woman has had unprotected sex, prevents pregnancy from occurring, according to the Mayo Clinic.
