This story first appeared in The Nevadan
Beth Osborne, a Las Vegas writer and activist, had an abortion as a teenager. Now, she is working to convince Nevadans to approve Question 6 on their November ballots to preserve safe, legal abortion in the state. She shared her story with The Nevadan’s special correspondent Bonnie Fuller.
On her 18th birthday, Beth Osborne underwent an abortion while living in the conservative town of Miller’s Creek, North Carolina. As a high school senior, she dated a 24-year-old man who exerted a controlling influence over her life. Despite her understanding of birth control, she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, a situation she was unprepared to handle.
After a missed period and worsening morning sickness, a pregnancy test confirmed Osborne’s fears. Confiding only in a few friends, she visited an OB-GYN in a neighboring county, who verified her pregnancy and asked about her plans. Osborne, determined to attend college, immediately chose to have an abortion.
However, North Carolina law required parental consent for minors seeking abortions, presenting a significant obstacle. Raised by a single mother battling leukemia, Osborne felt unable to burden her with the news of her pregnancy. Her mother’s illness had thrust Osborne into a caregiving role at a young age, a responsibility she did not want to complicate further.
‘Protesters told me I was going to hell’
Although her mother would have supported her decision, Osborne could not bring herself to reveal the pregnancy. Instead, she sought a judicial waiver to bypass parental consent, citing her mother’s health. The judge denied her request, but her 18th birthday allowed her to schedule the procedure before the state’s 20-week cutoff.
On the day of her abortion, Osborne faced protesters outside the clinic, condemning her to hell. The law required an ultrasound and for her to view it, an experience she found unnecessarily harsh. The procedure itself was quick, and though she bled and experienced pain afterward, she felt relief.
Advocating for Question 6 in Nevada
Osborne describes her abortion as the best decision for her at the time, prompting her activism with Planned Parenthood and Indivisible in Nevada, her home for eight years. Her focus is on mobilizing support for Question 6, a ballot initiative to enshrine the right to abortion in Nevada’s Constitution.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, Osborne recognizes the need to protect reproductive rights in Nevada. Her activism is driven by a desire to ensure future generations have the same choices she did. After her abortion, Osborne used birth control, attended university, and built a life in which she excelled professionally as a writer.
‘I’ve never regretted my decision’
Reflecting on her decision, Osborne believes her life would have been drastically different had she not had the abortion. By avoiding a future tied to an abusive partner who later died of a drug overdose, she pursued higher education and became self-reliant following the deaths of her mother and grandmother.
Her health journey included a battle with ovarian cancer, diagnosed at age 23 and recurring at 27 and 30, leading to a hysterectomy. Despite these challenges, she remains without regrets, feeling that her abortion allowed her to focus on recovery and personal growth.
Societal expectations of motherhood
Osborne faced societal pressure to consider motherhood, including suggestions to freeze her eggs. However, she never felt a pull toward traditional family roles and focused on surviving her health challenges.
She dismisses those who might view her cancer as punishment, emphasizing that health issues do not follow a moral code. Her spiritual outlook prioritizes being a good person over religious doctrine, and she advocates for personal choice in reproductive matters, free from government interference.
Pushing back against abortion shame and stigma
Osborne is committed to advocating for reproductive rights in Nevada, working with groups like Planned Parenthood and Indivisible to promote awareness and support for Question 6. Her activism was spurred by political developments, including Donald Trump’s 2024 election win, which galvanized her involvement with Indivisible Las Vegas.
She leads protests and manages social media outreach, aiming to educate Nevadans about the importance of voting for Question 6. Her community involvement has provided support through personal challenges, including her recent divorce.
Inspired by others sharing their abortion stories, Osborne chose to publicly recount her own experience, rejecting shame and embracing advocacy. With ongoing threats to reproductive rights, she views constitutional protection as crucial for Nevada.
Editor’s note: Blanche said the administration was working toward making the Dobbs decision “permanent in every single state.” The Justice Department said afterward that his comments concerned mail-order abortion medication rather than broader federal action affecting state abortion laws.
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