Celeb-Studded Telethon Raises $50K for Texas Women Who Need Abortions

By Kate Dries | November 19, 2013 | 4:00pm

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On Monday night, Sarah Silverman and Lizz Winstead hosted the aptly titled Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can Choose telethon event to raise money for the women of Texas who have been affected by the endless cuts to women’s healthcare in that state. The event raised $50,000 and was watched by at least 30,000 people.

The event was organized by New York Abortion Access Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice America in New York City and held in New York but streamed online; you can watch a recap now. The show featured performances and appearances from Amy Schumer, the cast of Orange is the New Black, Kathleen Hanna, Ad-Rock, Emily Mortimer, Jemima Kirke, Joan Walsh, Alex Chung, Sally Kohn, Anthea Butler, Zoe Kazan and others.

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“I want a $25,000 bid on this mutherfucker or you can eat my hairy ass,” said Lea DiLaria as she auctioned off a call sheet signed by everyone on OITNB.

“Much like many of the pro-lifers, I believe in protecting the child when she’s being forced to have a baby at 14,” said Silverman in an appearance on All In with Chris Hayes. At one point, Silverman auctioned off a “vag napkin” aka a napkin that she had put down her pants, much to the chagrin of many Right-Wing bloggers.

Also Lesley Gore performed “You Don’t Own Me,” which was referred to as the theme song of the night:

Some people made helpful diagrams:

Others were a little surprised to find themselves facing conservative wrath:

And of course Wendy Davis chimed in:

There was also reference to Meaghan Winter’s New York magazine piece that profiles 26 women talking about getting an abortion, and several women came on stage to share their stories. The money raised will go to The Lillith For Reproductive Equity, Texas Equal Access Fund, Whole Woman’s Health and Fund Texas Women. According to the Village Voice, Winstead announced they’d be launching V to Shining V in six months,”a massive interactive website … to go into all the different states and expose all these assholes” aka conservative politicians.