Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Lizzo join Planned Parenthood’s ‘Bans Off My Body’ campaign

The campaign aims to raise awareness of restrictive abortion measures across the US

Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Lizzo have joined Planned Parenthood’s "Bans Off My Body" campaign to raise awareness of abortion restrictions around the US.

Nearly 140 musicians have lent their voice to the campaign, including Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, HAIM, John Legend, Bon Iver, Beck, Kacey Musgraves, Hayley Kiyoko and Sleater-Kinney.

The artists were featured in a full-page advert in the recent issue of Billboard under the heading "Band Together, Bans Off". The campaign also intends to increase awareness of the issue at music festivals with the support of the musicians.

Over the past year, restrictive anti-abortion legislation has been passed in several states throughout the US. In May, Alabama passed a bill that meant women were legally required to carry their pregnancies to full term in cases of rape or incest, with very limited exceptions, such as the mother having an ectopic pregnancy.

The campaign hopes to gather 500,000 online signatures to oppose the restrictions and mark the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade in January 2020, the landmark 1973 ruling that legalised abortion nationwide.

In an accompanying video shared by Planned Parenthood, a range of women speak about the campaign: "This is my body. My decisions. When we own our bodies, we are powerful. We are free.

"When we have control, we thrive.

"We won't tolerate this assault on our health and our rights, and that means access to safe and legal abortion. Now is the time to unite."

Alexis McGill, Planned Parenthood’s president, said: “Abortion access and reproductive health and rights are under attack like never before, and we need everyone to fight back.

“These bans do not represent the will of the American people, which is why so many powerful, diverse voices are speaking out against them.

“Planned Parenthood is grateful to these artists for using their incredible platforms to declare that our bodies are our own — if they are not, we can never be truly free or equal.”

According to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, one in three UK women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old.

See the full list of participating artists here and follow the #BansOffMyBody hashtag on social media.