A new campaign by Preterm Cleveland, Ohio's largest abortion clinic, is hoping to end the stigma behind abortions -- and getting some double takes.
Billboards went up this month across Cleveland that say, "End the Silence, End the Shame." No photos, just words -- and a website.
"I think it's not just Ohio that's covered with anti-choice billboards, it's really everywhere," said Nancy Starner, Preterm's director of development and communication. "And people are excited about changing the conversation."
Starner said there has rarely been a pro-choice response to the many pro-life billboards -- ranging from simple messages to graphic and controversial photos -- until now.
Preterm isn't alone in sending a strong but simple statement splashed across a 40-foot billboard.
In a bright, rainbow-colored billboard that just went up on the Shoreway, six men stand under a slogan that reads, "One Community." Each man is wearing a shirt that alternatively says "HIV+" or "HIV-" and the billboard points consumers to AHF.org, an AIDS health organization.
Charlene Coughlin, vice-president of account services at Twist Creative Media, said billboards are shifting from selling goods to sending social messages because consumers don't have the same attention spans they had 5 or 10 years ago.
"Maybe it really just is one line or a hashtag to drive them to get more information," Coughlin said.
In the last two months, Twist Creative has put up 20 billboards for The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland with messages that sharply contrast the city's renaissance and growth -- with it's growing poverty.
"If you see something once, you might not remember it," Coughlin said. "But if you see it everyday that you're driving to work for 30 days, you're going to remember it or at least have brand recognition."
On Jan. 25, Preterm Cleveland's My Abortion, My Life campaign will host an evening of women telling their own abortion stories. It is at 6 p.m. in the Beachland Ballroom and is open to the public. The pro-choice billboards and bus shelters will stay up for at least 6 months.
