New documentary in production on abortion spotlights Atlanta attorney Margie Pitts Hames

ATLANTA, June 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A new documentary in production, The Other Roe, explores the neglected history of Atlanta Attorney Margie Pitts Hames through her daughter’s eyes Donia Hames Robinson and best friend Ann Rose. It focuses on Margie’s groundbreaking work on Doe v. Bolton, the lesser-known Supreme Court companion case to Roe v. Wade that helped legalize abortion in 1973.

Margie’s daughter, Donia Hames RobinsonAnd Anne RoseMargie’s best friend, lost contact after Margie’s death in 1994. Donia attended a prestigious women’s college, moved to California, married and pursued a diverse career in small business entrepreneurship, wine education, and the health and wellness industry. Ann stayed in Atlanta and opened an abortion clinic in Jackson, M.S.tried stand-up comedy and launched the first online abortion clinic directory, Abortion Clinics Online (AbortionClinics.com).

Donia thought of Ann often, particularly remembering the time Ann and Margie celebrated her first period with a fancy dinner. Ann tried to track Donia down over the years but didn’t know her new last name. During the pandemic, Donia’s father’s obituary reached Ann, revealing Donia’s new name. Reconnecting after more than 25 years, they talked about Margie and her political importance. Donia, a teenager at the time, was more focused on her own interests but remembered notable people like Andrew Young, Maynard Jackson, Julien BondAnd Jimmy Carter attend fundraisers and events at their home.

Most people are unaware that Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were argued on the same day before the Supreme Court and were both upheld in the 1973 decision legalizing abortion. Roe legalized the right to abortion and Doe ensured its availability and accessibility. After nearly 50 years, both decisions were overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson for women Supreme Court health case in June 2022, leading to piecemeal legalization of abortion across the country. Ironically, the Jackson Clinic was created by Ann Rose in 1995.

Ann was perplexed that Margie and Doe v. Bolton did not have a more prominent place in the history of abortion rights. Despite frequent searches, she found only a few articles and photos of Margie. She was discouraged by the minimal online presence of such an influential figure. The idea for a documentary came up, but without filmmaking contacts, Ann and Donia conducted Zoom calls during the pandemic with people who knew Margie to gauge their interest. They found a compelling story but didn’t know how to proceed.

In early 2023, Donia reconnected with a high school friend Wendy Eley Jackson, professor of cinema at UC Santa Barbara. Realizing the importance of Margie’s story, director/producer Wendy assembled a professional team, including producer Elisa Gambino and cinematographer/editor. Neal Broffman. Filming began in August 2023and a 3-minute trailer was produced, viewable on TheOtherRoeFilm.com.

Significant funding was provided by executive producers Ann and Donia, the Feminist Majority Foundation and Dr. Warren Hern, who attended the Supreme Court arguments in favor of Roe and Doe in 1972. The team interviewed more than 25 people, obtained archival footage, and created supporting animation to tell the story. The production team aims to release the entire film by the end of the year to raise awareness of this crucial story and help restore protection for eggs and does. Additional tax-deductible donations to support the project are welcome through the website.

Watch the official three-minute trailer here:

The other egg movie
PO Box 500788, Atlanta, Georgia 31150
TheAutreRoeFilm.com

CONTACT:
Anne Rose, (email protected)770-330-0577
Donia Hames Robinson, (email protected)707-256-9231

SOURCE Ann Rose