Naya didn’t have to go public.

A few days ago Glee star Naya Rivera openly discussed an abortion she had previously kept hidden from the public. She certainly didn’t have to get so personal, but we’re glad she did. Here’s why.

In anticipation of her new memoir Sorry Not Sorry, Naya released an excerpt to People magazine including tales of both her anorexia as a child and her recent abortion. On her decision to come forward, she explained,

“It was very scary to open up about everything. It’s not something a lot of people talk about, but I think they should. I know some people might read it and say, ‘What the Hell?’ But I hope someone out there gets something out of it.”

At the time of her decision in 2010, Naya was pregnant with now ex-husband Ryan Dorsey’s child. The two later had a child together; their son Josey is now 11 months old. But the couple had already been broken up for weeks, and she decided not to go forward with the pregnancy.

Naya is one of the extremely few celebrities who have admitted to having an abortion — a topic that remains taboo in American culture. But other than Nicki Minaj, who came forward with a tale of an abortion as a teen, Naya remains in the minority. And certainly, she’s one of the only celebrities to admit to having an abortion while she was in the public eye.

This is a big deal. So many women feel ashamed of the decision they make because we often only talk about abortion in the abstract. Women rarely come out with their own personal tale of abortion, even if they are willing to admit they are pro-choice.

Like Naya says, hopefully, some girls out there will get something from her book. We hope that girls will feel less alone in their decision and know that other women have been through it before them. We truly respect Naya for “coming out” and we hope that she sets an example for women around the world not to be ashamed of the decisions they make.

Photo: Naya Rivera/ Instagram