The following is a guest blog from actress and Plan International USA supporter Lena Headey, who is best known for her role as Queen Cersei Lannister in HBO’s series Game of Thrones. Lena is expecting her second child (a girl) and believed there was no better way to celebrate the occasion than supporting the many girls around the world who are not born with the same rights and privileges as she and her daughter.
I never expected to be in a position where I can connect on such an expansive social level with people — where I can hopefully encourage people to join Plan International USA and help raise much-needed awareness and funds.
The ever-present abuse of social and human rights in our world keeps me consciously awake, grateful and humble.
Geography dictates my freedom as a woman, geography and the women before us who fought for our equal political voice. The inequality that is all too prevalent all over the world is so great and so frightening. We owe it to our sisters who have no voice, and no chance to be heard, to speak up.
I am having a baby girl in six weeks. You have all been so lovely in your messages to me, and I thank you for that.
My daughter will have freedom of choice. She will be free to dance, to sing, to be educated in the fields that spark her passion, to marry if she wants, to marry WHO she wants, to remain single or to fall in love with another woman. She’ll be able to wear what she wants, put on lipstick and read books that spark debate and expand her mind.
She will be loved, protected, respected and celebrated.
All these things that should be, and will be, basic human rights, are a promise to my daughter. My humble request is that you give what you can and maybe — just maybe —we can bring about the change we all wish to see.