In June, Britney Spears told a Los Angeles court that she was forced by her conservators to keep an IUD implanted-even though she wanted more children, forced to take medication, and made to perform onstage, regardless of how she felt, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Britney has been under the control of the courts, and especially her father, for 13 years. 13 years. 13 years too long. 

I don’t know if Britney has mental health challenges or not. Sure, she shaved her head. Yes, she beat a car with an umbrella. I just don’t know that we know. She was a woman who was followed by the paparazzi wherever she went. She may have temporarily lost it for a hot second. But the truth is, it doesn’t matter. Because no one should be under the control of anyone else. 

And honestly, if she was not rich, she wouldn’t be. I have mental health challenges. I have been locked up for a few days in institutions, but I did get mostly free. She is like Rapunzel, locked up in her house, at a loss of her own agency.  

Britney’s conservatorship is a reproductive health issue. It is no different than law makers deciding a woman can’t get an abortion or prisons that have and still forcibly sterilize women. Britney must have the right to make her own decisions about her body. All women must. When we take away this fundamental right of reproductive choice and freedom, we are taking away a woman’s right to decide for herself what she wants her life to look like. Deciding when, how many, and if to have kids is a life altering decision and Britney’s dad shouldn’t hold that power. 

Reports just came out that Britney’s dad is stepping down. Everywhere you look, people are saying Britney is Free. But I just re-read an article, Jamie Spears said he would step down, in due time. Over and over, Britney is being failed by the system, left behind and controlled.  

Britney must be free. She must be able to have a million kids if she wants to. She must be able to rest when she is tired. She must be able to find her own psychiatric help if she needs it. 

This is a human rights issue. We should all want Britney to have autonomy, for the sake of all of us
In hopes that this never happens again. In hopes that we never have to hashtag Free_____ for the rest of eternity.