Abortion rights activist with Kentucky ties to campaign for President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris

Hadley Duvall, a Kentucky native, is sharing her story with the world and advocating for reproductive and abortion rights as part of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' re-election campaign.

The 22-year-old, originally from Owensboro, first gained national attention when appearing in a video for Gov. Andy Beshear's re-election campaign last fall, but shared her story publicly amidst the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022 with strict abortion bans in Kentucky.

At 12 years old, Duvall said, she found out she was pregnant with her stepfather's child after enduring a decade of abuse. Although she had a miscarriage, she "would have" gone through with her decision to terminate the pregnancy, as it was legal, according to an Instagram post on her account. Today, abortions are illegal in the Bluegrass State unless experiencing a medical emergency.

Here's what we know about Duvall's activism career.

Kentucky native comes forward as rape survivor after overturn of Roe v. Wade

Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June of 2022, Duvall, of Owensboro, Kentucky, shared her story with the world. According to a post on Instagram, Duvall became pregnant at age 12 after being raped by her stepfather. She experienced a decade of abuse from him and wrote she was "lucky this only happened once," referring to her pregnancy and miscarriage.

"The father figure in my life had planted his child in me at the age of 12. I wasn't even a teenager yet. Thankfully, I had my CHOICE," she wrote. "I never had to go through with my decision, but I would have. I couldn't imagine not having that choice. & if you can look at a CHILD & tell them they have to carry their parent's child, you are sick."

Duvall graduated from Owensboro High School before playing collegiate soccer at Midway University. She graduated in May with a psychology degree with hopes of helping children of incarcerated individuals or those in recovery.

Hadley Duvall appears in Gov. Andy Beshear's re-election campaign in 2023

Duvall appeared in Gov. Andy Beshear's, D-Ky, re-election campaign ahead of November 2023 in opposition to Daniel Cameron, former Attorney General of Kentucky.

"Anyone who believes there should be no exceptions for rape and incest could never understand what it's like to stand in my shoes," Duvall said. "This is to you, Daniel Cameron. To tell a 12-year-old girl she must have the baby of her stepfather who raper her is unthinkable."

She continued, "I'm speaking out because women and girls need to have options. Daniel Cameron would give us none."

'Hadley's Law' challenges Kentucky abortion bans

Duvall continued to advocate for women in similar positions to her own by working with Louisville Democratic Senator David Yates on Senate Bill 99, often referred to as "Hadley's Law." As previously reported by The Courier Journal, the bill would've made some changes to Kentucky's strict abortion bans if passed, allowing for more protections over a woman's choice in instances of rape, incest or when maternal health is in question.

The bill failed to pass during legislative sessions.

? 'Hadley's Law': Bill calls for rape, incest exceptions to Kentucky abortion ban

? Louisville Democrat tries unusual maneuver on last-minute abortion-ban exceptions bill

Hadley Duvall publishes opinion piece with The Courier Journal

An opinion piece from Duvall was published by The Courier Journal on June 21. Read it below.

? Hadley Duvall: Women deserve abortion access. Kentucky laws mean rape victims like me have no options.

Hadley Duvall campaigns for President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris

Ahead of the 2024 November election, Duvall is campaigning in support of abortion and reproductive rights, making a recent appearance on MSNBC with Vice President Kamala Harris.

"It would mean the unimaginable. It would mean that they have no options. Not even women and girls, but you know, women with nonviable pregnancies, wanted nonviable pregnancies that are killing these women. It will mean no traveling to another state. It will be no options based on where you live," Duvall said. "It will just be one rule for everybody and that will be no abortions and that is a very very dangerous world for women. Not only young girls but all women."

She also appeared on an episode of "Unapologetically Woman" in March, sharing more about her journey, including backlash received by classmates and others on social media.

"Some people at my school have shared that they don't agree with what I stand for. They haven't shared that to me, they've shared that on social media, and that's okay. I still walk the same halls, I still do the same thing I did every single day, I still go to sleep every single night," she said. "I just want those people to consider themselves blessed to not ever have been in this position, whether it was their sister, their mother, their daughter, whoever it may be, I'm just glad they've never had someone faced with that decision."

She continued, saying while she has feelings about comments she's received, it doesn't stack up to the love she has for women and girls experiencing a similar situation.

"We're human. We all get our feelings hurt and I think it's important to embrace that. I'm not made of steel, I'm very much real, I have feelings," Duvall said. "I see what people say about me on social media but my truth and my love for the girl I used to be and for the girls that are like who I used to be or the women going through that, that's stronger than the hurt that I feel when these people, who don't even know who I am, say these crazy things."

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Abortion rights activist from Kentucky campaigns for President Biden