A 23-year-old in Chicago is using a popular crowdfunding website to help pay for her abortion, Vice reported on Friday.
Using GoFundMe.com, Bailey is asking for $2,500 for the operation. The fundraiser, originally titled "Stop Bailey From Breeding Fund" has drawn considerable attention in the past week.
The page informs visitors that "Bailey is currently unemployed, completely broke, in debt, and in no position to hold down a job due to severe symptoms of a rough, unplanned and unexpected pregnancy." She just moved to Chicago from Phoenix, Arizona, and likes to read, go to shows and doesn't want to be a mom.
GoFundMe has been used for some well-known projects in the past, including collecting donations for one of the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing, and helping raise money to operate on the brain tumor of a morbidly obese 12-year-old. Somewhat more controversially, GoFundMe was used recently to support Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed unarmed 18-year-old Mike Brown, resulting in the Ferguson, Missouri demonstrations in August.
In addition to financial concerns, Bailey also has had a complicated pregnancy. She said the pain is worse than any menstrual cramps she's ever had, and at times it's so bad that she can't use the bathroom, she told Vice.
Some angry responders have threatened to dox her, log her IP address and find out where she lives. Many others make assumptions about her life and Bailey said she's been a little surprised by how hateful some comments were.
Though she's nervous about having an abortion, she said it's an "absolutely necessary" thing to do and is more worried about running out of time to do so than any pain she may experience.
Her page has since been removed from the site.
