Planned Parenthood | Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

November 30, 2009 9:55:30

by Karin
Web Correspondent
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund 

Nearly two months ago, I began volunteering as an escort for the Highland Park clinic.  I decided to do so because I firmly believe that a woman should have unimpeded access to legal medical care and procedures, whether it be relating to contraception or abortion.  As I have shared my experiences thus far with people I know, they have been shocked at some of the things the protestors say and do, both to patients and to me.  While I am not shocked, I am frustrated that these people are able to continue to represent themselves as reasonable, while they are anything but.

So far I've been told I will go to hell, I have a heart of stone, that I will have to answer to my maker on judgment day when I have "the blood of innocents" on my hands, and a myriad of other things. Yet I would still prefer the protestors aim their mistruths, half-truths, and flat-out lies my way than in the direction of the patients. What bothers me are the things they say to the patients, a few examples of which include:

• -Birth control gives people strokes/birth control causes cancer.
• -If you don't take the second pill, the baby can still live.
• -You have a higher risk of getting cancer when you have an abortion.
• -Follow-up care is vital, and they (PP) won't help you with it.
• -They (PP) won't show you your ultrasound pictures.
• -They (PP) will say/do anything to get your money.
• -Numerous PP staff have left and now work for us.
• -They (PP) are racist and encourage minority women to get abortions.

None of the above statements are true; indeed, they have all been proven false. Yet these myths are still perpetuated, to the cost of increased restrictions on abortion access, increased violence against abortion providers, and now, an attempt to effectively ban abortion from private and public insurance plans for millions of American women through a Stupak amendment.

If the healthcare reform package is passed with this amendment in place, what is the next step in whittling away women's rights to comprehensive health care? Why are the religious extremists able to have such a voice, while women who are impacted remain silent?

The Supreme Court has ruled that the right to choose abortion is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. If  any Stupak-like amendment make its way into the final health care bill, women will lose insurance funding for this procedure, cutting off access to the procedure for millions of women. This is patently discriminatory, as it denies women the right to a legal medical procedure.

My experience as an escort reaffirms the reasons I volunteered for Planned Parenthood in the first place, and has made me realize that silence on the part of pro-choice women and men is no longer acceptable. Our silence has helped the anti-choice movement achieve the restrictions currently in place, which force women to travel thousands of miles to obtain a legal, safe, medical procedure. Our silence has enabled the zealots to bring forth increased restrictions on medical insurance, whether it be purchased or provided. We can no longer remain silent - we must stand up for what is right and ensure that health care reform passes without a Stupak amendment or any other amendment that leaves women worse off after reform.

Sign our petition to stop Stupak!

If you're interested in learning more about clinic escorting, check out our video or contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

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