A is For is a New York City-based pro-abortion rights advocacy group that also collects donations for other pro-abortion non-profits. ¹ Most of its key members are prominent entertainers involved in Broadway and the larger New York arts scene; television actresses Cecily Strong and Shannon Woodward have also lent support to the organization. ^{2 3}

Founded in 2012, A is For has worked to further its pro-abortion messaging through artistic events and articles published on its website. Some of the group’s leaders have caused controversy while espousing their views. In June 2017, at an event in Seattle, Martha Plimpton, the board president of A is For stated in reference to an abortion she had received: “I don’t want you guys to feel insecure, it was my best one.” ⁴

Advocacy Activities

In 2013 the comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade hosted a benefit show on the behalf of A is For headlined by prominent and controversial feminist television writer and actress Lena Dunham. ⁵ Starting in 2015, A is For has hosted an annual karaoke night fundraiser, featuring Broadway actors, including Tony award winners Montego Glover and Lena Hall, and A is For board member Martha Plimpton. ⁶ In 2017 the event featured “Saturday Night Live” cast member Cecily Strong. ⁷

In 2016, A is For spent over $14,000 on an internet video series promoting pro-abortion viewpoints. ⁸

A is For hosts a website where it publishes articles advocating for pro-abortion-rights viewpoints. In addition, they publish articles detailing their views on legal challenges to abortion law at the state level. ⁹

A is For raises money on behalf of other pro-abortion non-profits and activist groups. In 2016 it raised $19,902 on behalf of other organizations and funds. ¹⁰

Board of Directors

A is For’s board of directors is composed of four members; two stage performers, a feminist writer, and a television actress.

Martha Plimpton

Martha Plimpton is currently a Broadway performer. She is a former child actor perhaps best known for her role as Stephanie Steinbrenner in the 1985 film The Goonies. ¹¹ Her official title in 2016 was board president.4 During an event she spoke at while wearing a pin representing her A is For activism she caused controversy by stating, “I’ve got a lot of family here, some of whom are here in the audience tonight. I also had my first abortion here at the Seattle Planned Parenthood!” After being cheered by the audience, she continued, “Notice I said ‘first’…and I don’t want Seattle — I don’t want you guys to feel insecure, it was my best one.” ¹² She resides in New York.

Gina Loukareas

Gina Loukareas is a writer for the magazine Dame and the website Boing Boing. Her articles focus primarily on feminism and gender relations. She resides in Boston. ¹³

Shannon Woodward

Shannon Woodward is a television actress, best known for her role on of HBO’s “Westwood.” She lives in Los Angeles.

Kellie Overbey

Kellie Overbey is a Broadway performer who has appeared in a number of stage roles and wrote the script for the 2012 comedy film That’s What She Said. She resides in New York. ¹⁴

Advisory Board

As well as a board of directors, A is For has an advisory board. Its more prominent members include Richard Samson, the vice president and assistant general counsel of the New York Times Company, and David Avallone, a film editor and director who is the son of abortion activist Fran Avallone. ¹⁵

1. “Mission Statement.” A Is For. Accessed March 21, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/missionstatement
2. “Broadway Acts for Women 2017.” A Is For. Accessed March 26, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/events-source/2017/5/7/broadway-acts-for-women-2017
3. A is For, IRS Form 990, 2016
4. Fox News. “‘Goonies’ Star Martha Plimpton Says She Had Her ‘best Abortion’ in Seattle.” Fox News. September 19, 2017. Accessed March 26, 2019. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/goonies-star-martha-plimpton-says-she-had-her-best-abortion-in-seattle
5. “A Is For ASSSSCAT.” A Is For. Accessed March 19, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/events-source/2013/3/3/a-is-for-asssscat
6. “Broadway Acts for Women 2015.” A Is For. Accessed March 19, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/events-source/2018/2/14/broadway-acts-for-women
7. “Mission Statement.” A Is For. Accessed March 21, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/missionstatement
8. “Broadway Acts for Women 2017.” A Is For. Accessed March 26, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/events-source/2017/5/7/broadway-acts-for-women-2017
9. Loukareas, Gina. “Clinic Escort Series: Emma Mosby – Montgomery, Alabama.” A Is For. February 22, 2017. Accessed March 19, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/blog/2016/2/22/clinic-escort-series-emma-mosby-montgomery-alabama
10. “Broadway Acts for Women 2017.” A Is For. Accessed March 26, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/events-source/2017/5/7/broadway-acts-for-women-2017
11. Plimpton, Martha. “Martha Plimpton on The Goonies, Sweat, Partying Hard and Quitting Twitter.” The Guardian. January 09, 2019. Accessed March 22, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/stage/live/2019/jan/01/martha-plimpton-webchat-sweat-goonies
12. Fox News. “‘Goonies’ Star Martha Plimpton Says She Had Her ‘best Abortion’ in Seattle.” Fox News. September 19, 2017. Accessed March 26, 2019. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/goonies-star-martha-plimpton-says-she-had-her-best-abortion-in-seattle
13. “Board of Directors.” A Is For. Accessed March 19, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/board-of-directors
14. “Broadway Acts for Women 2017.” A Is For. Accessed March 26, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/events-source/2017/5/7/broadway-acts-for-women-2017
15. “Advisory Board.” A Is For. Accessed March 19, 2019. https://www.aisfor.org/advisory-board