It takes a village to protect women's right to choose. Via infowidget @ Flickr.
Today, March 10, is a National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers.
Although I’m usually pretty aware of stuff like this, I actually got wind of this from someone’s Facebook status–a guy I went to HS with who has made his reactionary, anti-feminist stance realllllly clear in those densely packed little updates. (Why he friended me, I don’t know. Why I haven’t unfriended him, I also don’t know. Something to think about.) His tone was one of indignation and disgust, and it was clear that he wanted others to be outraged, too. Little did he know that he was helping a feminist blog! (Thanks, G!)
I’m pleased as punch that there is a day to note the sacrifices that women and men have made–and continue to make–to help women needing abortions get the safe and legal medical care they deserve.
I don’t think I could say anything any better than than estimable Katha Pollitt does in this piece from her blog at The Nation, but whether you’ve had an abortion or not, whether you know someone who has or not, I will echo her call that you show your appreciation for the doctors, nurses, escorts, office and clinic workers all over the U.S. through donating your money or your time, or both.
Pollitt points out the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project as a worthy organization, and to that I would add NARAL, and the best resource of women’s health that I know of, Planned Parenthood. I suggest that you find local chapters through those websites and direct your attention to what would best serve the clinics–and ultimately the women–in your area. If you have other great places that deserve our hard-earned Harpy Buxx, please leave them in comments. And DO NOT read the comments to Pollitt’s piece, unless you want to fume and/or despair.
Thanks for the links. I just signed up to receive NARALs newsletter.
Ugh, I read about 3 comments down on that Pollitt piece and then I had to stop. Although I love the anti-abortion comment comparing abortion to Dr. Kevorkian. Like that’s some big insult. Oh you mean the doctor who has helped terminally ill people in terrible pain to die with dignity? the horror!!
I love the delicious irony of how this post came to be. Seriously, these women and men who help keep the right to choose an option for so many women warms my heart on this cold morning.
Also, Harpy Buxx are redeemable at Starbuxx.
Harpy Buxx: Redeemable for abortions only.
I’m in Livingston MT where Dr. Susan Wicklund (This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor) just opened a women’s clinic. There was a lot of hysteria in the letters to the editor of the paper, and the picketers were getting all geared up when someone came up with the brilliant idea of starting a Pledge-a-Picketer campaign. You can go to the website of the Mountain Country Womens Clinic (http://www.mountaincountrywomensclinic.com/Homepage.html) and pledge a donation for every picketer who shows up. Took the wind right out of the picketers’ sails. I live 2 blocks from the clinic and even last Saturday, I only saw two girls outside with a sign, and they didn’t look that committed.
Charlotte, that is utterly brilliant! Thank you! I’m off to send them some Harpybuxx right now.
Thanks for the announcement. Abortion access funds, which provide direct financial assistance to women seeking abortions, are also worthy recipients of a gift. See the National Network of Abortion Funds (http://www.nnaf.org/donate.html) and the New York Abortion Access Fund (http://www.nnaf.org/donate.html). Some of these groups also match women traveling for abortion services with volunteers who provide a place to stay, if you want to help out in a non-$ way.
As a former clinic escort, I’m also a little surprised that I wasn’t aware of this.
I’ll echo PhDork’s comments and urge everyone with a little time to spare to get involved with PP or NARAL, especially if you live in a red state. Not only will your help be greatly appreciated, but you’ll interact with a truly fascinating group of people.
I began clinic escorting my freshman year of college, when I moved from New England to St. Louis. Being a clinic escort in an anti-choice area truly shaped my attitudes towards reproductive choice, public policy, and religion. While there were a few days when I came home and cried (and a few days when I feared for my personal safety), overall it was an incredibly rewarding experience that I’d suggest to anyone who’s pro-choice.
But I only escorted once a month! The doctors and nurses and security guards who are out there every day are the true rock stars.
For some LOLs, here’s the personal website of one of my clinic’s most vocal protesters: http://smallvictoriesusa.com/
Liz: Holy shit that whack job has a lot of kids. I love the picture of her with the black woman; she’s like “ehhh take the picture already!”
So many lulz so little time (and such crappy web design).
I just signed up to volunteer with Planned Parenthood, although there actually weren’t any opportunities listed for my area — sadness! But I’m on the e-mail list to get notified when an opportunity opens up.
Here in Canada, elective abortions are performed in hospitals, at no cost to the woman, and are free from harassment of all kinds. This means that many of the issues surrounding National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers are essentially nonexistent for myself and the millions of other Canadian women who have sought abortions since they were legalized in this country.
Not that there aren’t problems with access in rural or outlying areas, and general shame and silence surrounding abortion, but I can’t help but be grateful for my experience when compared to those of women in other countries or in past decades.
A big, sincere “Thank you” to abortion providers everywhere, and a big, sincere “Fuck you” to the anti-woman, anti-choice people everywhere.