Veteran Allison Gill on her mission to save reproductive rights for military women in 2024

As the 2024 presidential election approaches this Tuesday, with Donald Trump and JD Vance facing off against Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the stakes couldn’t be higher for millions of Americans.

For Navy veteran, activist and CEO of the women-led podcast network MSW Media Allison Gill, this election holds particularly urgent significance. In a poignant new ad that went live on October 18, targeting military families and veterans in North Carolina, Gill recounts her own story of trauma and resilience, underscoring what could be at risk if Trump is reelected.

“Twenty-nine years ago, while serving in the US military, I was drugged and violently raped,” Gill states in the ad, her voice steady but imbued with deep conviction. “That crime resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. At the time, because of the protections under Roe v Wade, I was able to receive reproductive health care in Florida, where I was stationed.”

Gill’s words carry the weight of urgency as the 2024 election nears. With Roe v Wade overturned, she fears a world where military members stationed in states with restrictive laws will face insurmountable challenges.

“When I heard that Roe had been overturned, I immediately thought of those who would be trapped,” she tells The Drum. “Servicemembers stationed in states with bans, where they might have to go through their rapist to get leave approved. That’s a reality that’s now possible.”

Gill’s current campaign, backed by the political action committee Artists United for Change, is both deeply personal and meticulously executed. She wrote the ad herself, embedding her firsthand experiences at its core.

To bring her story to life with gravity and precision, Gill turned to filmmaker Dan Przygoda, known for his impactful work with the January 6th Committee and for capturing the viral footage of Senator Josh Hawley fleeing through the Capitol during the 2021 attack.

The campaign’s media strategy is focused squarely in the swing state of North Carolina. The plan includes digital placements, social media promotions and local TV spots during popular sporting events, all designed to engage military families where they live and vote.

“If Trump loses North Carolina, he loses,” Gill says. “That’s why we’re focusing our efforts here.”

A life committed to justice

Gill’s passion for justice didn’t start with this campaign; it began in her childhood.

“In 1980, I was six years old, and my mom took me to the voting booth, Gill says. “I remember her saying, ‘Ally, in here, no man can tell me what to say.’” This moment, she says, sparked her belief in the power of civic engagement and advocacy.

Years later, her time in the Navy would cement that drive. “When I tried to report my assault, I was interrogated as if I were the criminal. They asked me what I was wearing, if I was drinking, and if I was flirting,” she recounts. “They even threatened to charge me with adultery because my rapist was married. That experience made me realize that seeking justice would be an uphill battle – not just for me, but for many women in the military.”

Gill’s story was featured in ‘The Invisible War’ (2012), an Oscar-nominated documentary that brought widespread attention to the issue of sexual assault in the military.

“That film was a turning point,” she says. “I realized I wasn’t alone, and it wasn’t my fault. Those three words – ‘you’re not alone’ – are more powerful than ‘I love you.’”

When asked why she would revisit such painful memories, Gill responds with candor: “I’ve seen how powerful it is when people tell their stories. In 2012, being part of The Invisible War showed me that storytelling can lead to policy changes and help others feel seen.”

She continues, “I felt compelled to do this because I know the stakes. If Trump is re-elected, military women stationed in states with bans will be trapped. They deserve better. They deserve options.”

Gill’s work has not gone unnoticed. In 2022, she published an op-ed in The Washington Post calling for immediate policy changes to grant leave to servicemembers seeking reproductive care.

Just months later, the Pentagon enacted the policy she proposed. “I remember thinking, ‘Did they read my op-ed?’” she says. “When I spoke with Ron Klain and Doug Emhoff at the White House, they knew who I was. It was a moment that reaffirmed why I do this work.”

A glimmer of hope

Despite the harrowing reality of her experiences and the gravity of the upcoming election, Gill remains optimistic. “Obama once said, ‘Hope lies in the younger generation,’” she says. “I see that in Gen Z, young millennials and even Gen Alpha. They’re more engaged and vocal, and that gives me hope.”

Come Tuesday, the United States will decide its next president. With reproductive rights and military protections hanging in the balance, her message is resolute:

“I hope people see this ad and realize that they have a choice – to stand up for those who can’t, to vote for leaders who will protect their freedoms. This isn’t just my story; it’s a fight for everyone who believes in justice. And to those who feel alone, know this: you are not alone.”

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