Category Archives: Reproductive Justice

Blog Comments ~ by FML and Servalbear

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Ever wonder why your comment doesn’t always post right away? We have a closed system for comments. We try to get to them quickly, but every comment is reviewed before appearing on our site.

We have a Comment Policy in order to have a safe space for readers to interact with our authors. This safe space is important because feelings are strong and tempers flare easily when we write about abortion and other reproductive justice issues.

We’re not alone in this problem. Most blogs about reproductive justice, political and human rights eventually post something about the comments their articles generate. It may be like Shakesville’s “Short Rules: Be nice. Be thoughtful.”  The policies may be long and detailed so there isn’t any doubt as to why a comment is rejected.

In any case, no matter how general or detailed the rules, there are usually people who feel entitled to make comments against the stated policies. Called Internet Trolls, they “…post inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.”

They may be offensive, abusive and threatening. They all come packaged with a sense of entitlement. Their comment is an exception to the rules because they want a voice ~ their voice ~ to be heard, no matter how unwelcome it is.

Trolls can be exhausting.  One of our favorite blogs about violence toward women and rape no longer exists.  The stress of reading these comments was overwhelming for the author. So even if those troll comments aren’t posted, there is a human being who reads them; someone who internalizes the whole venomous scope.

We attract our own trolls. Depending on the article, there can be a lot of them or just a few. Every week ~ just about every single week ~ we get five or six comments from a particular anti.  Every comment from this person gets deleted.

A Huffington Post article April 1st by Colleen Glenney Boggs asks:

  • Must trolls — those posters of negativity and vitriol — be part of the Internet public sphere? Must we accept them, or can we do something to improve Internet culture? How do we banish the trolls without closing off the dialogue that is so vital to our democracy?

No, we don’t have to accept posters of negativity and vitriol. We screen comments and bar the trolls. We do not have to allow them to derail our conversations. We can foster courteous, safe conversations with our readers.

On our blog, comments that go straight to the Trash may be:

  • Anti-abortion, derogatory to groups you don’t derive your personal identity from, personally attacking an author and/or other commenter, or ~

  • If it includes arguments invoking the words Hitler, Holocaust, slavery, eugenics, genocide, Margaret Sanger, abortion mill, murder, deathscort, God, Jesus, sin or Bible.  We are not going to get into the same argument we have had a thousand times before.

Several of us discuss any comments that may be in question. We will make a group decision to publish or delete a comment. We may go back to the commenter and ask them to clarify their comment if we are in doubt.

To sum up:  this is a clinic escort blog.  It is a collective effort with many authors contributing. Sometimes we get things wrong and we encourage conversation and input from our readers to set us straight on facts. We encourage personal stories and interaction between authors and readers.

Trolls are not welcome here.  We are not tired of deleting the comments of our persistent troll, and we’ll continue to delete them ~ well, forever, I guess. It is time well spent.

This blog is written for the readers. This blog is written to raise awareness of the continuing struggle to make reproductive choices accessible to everyone.

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REMINDER: Our annual  fund drive Pledge-A-Picketer is NOW!

The Saturday before Mother’s Day is the biggest protester day of the year.  It also is the date  where we count protesters for donations to support the pro-choice effort and the escorts.  You can pledge a certain amount for each protester showing up that morning. If you prefer, you can also make a straight monetary donation.

Use this form to make your pledge:

 

 

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First Impressions ~ by Anonymous

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I felt pretty comfortable today and as I reflected back on what I heard and saw, the best comparison I can seem to come up with is used-car salesmen and/or pushy shop owners in the cruise ships foreign ports of call.

Car salesmen are trying to sell you an idea/product/service that you have no interest in. They are using repetitive streams of words to overwhelm your senses and put doubt in the choice that you have thought over, researched, and know is the correct one for you at this time. Be it something as simple as XM Radio, alloy wheels and road hazard coverage, or something as personal as the decision to end a pregnancy.

The pushy shop owners comparison is when upon finding out that you are not interested in what they are selling and pass it up, they then attempt to heap words of guilt, shame, regret, etc. on you in an effort to make a sale of something that you don’t want because the sale suits their need, cause, agenda.  Hoping that the stinging words will have an effect on your emotions and override the hard thought you have put into whatever choice you have decided upon. Again, be it Mexican coffee, trinkets, woven blankets or a reproductive decision.

I have had shop owners shout “CHEAP LADY” at me in ports of call as I walked past and would not cave into to going to look at or buy something in their shops.  I have also had used-car salesmen try and talk me out of a standard shift car telling me that they can be too tricky to drive in city traffic, or that as a woman I would be better off with full-coverage roadside protection for my safety.  “Silly them,” I think laughing inwardly. They don’t know me at all.  I don’t buy overpriced junk made in China at tourist traps and I can drive a variety of vehicles, including a stick-shift Dodge dually-diesel pickup,  through city traffic, I see myself having no problem with a 5-speed Honda sedan. My Dad taught me how to change a tire, so covered there too!

The thing that sticks out in my mind as being at the top of my list is, “You have not seen my life through my eyes. DO NOT try to put yourself in MY shoes. Your feet and your views are not a good fit.”    As I remember back when I had an abortion, I am glad the few protesters that I encountered only held up signs and prayed quietly and did not approach me.  If they had, I am sure that I would have been more upset and scared then I already was.  I would have loved to have had someone like the escorts I have met to hold my hand and walk me to the door.

I am glad to have met a like minded, strong group of people like those who come out to escort in Louisville.

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REMINDER: Our annual  fund drive Pledge-A-Picketer is NOW!

The Saturday before Mother’s Day is the biggest protester day of the year.  It also is the date  where we count protesters for donations to support the pro-choice effort and the escorts.  You can pledge a certain amount for each protester showing up that morning. If you prefer, you can also make a straight monetary donation.

Use this form to make your pledge:

 

 

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Kentucky Support Network is Bowling!-Guest Post

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What do reproductive rights and bowling have in common? (Yes, you read that correctly!) A fundraising event that will change lives: Kentucky Support Network’s 2013 Bowl-a-Thon!

The Kentucky Support Network (KSN), a program of Kentucky Health Justice Network (KHJN), is a community-based, volunteer-driven service that works to connect Kentuckians to reproductive healthcare information and services. Established in 2010, we assist Kentuckians in overcoming barriers to accessing abortion, such as transportation and language access.

Your support is needed now more than ever, as political attacks on abortion access in this state and across the nation increase the barriers to abortion, especially for low-income people and people of color.

This year, KSN is joining abortion funds across the country in celebrating our first local Bowl-a-Thon, which will take place on the evening of April 19 at Vernon Lanes. Our goal is to raise $6,000 to sustain and expand the efforts of the Kentucky Support Network, and enable us to offer financial assistance to people seeking abortion.

There are many ways to get involved:

  • Captain a team, set a fundraising goal, and recruit 4-6 other bowlers to work together to meet that goal
  • Join or donate to an existing team
  • Show your support by attending the event
  • Share this information with your friends, family, coworkers, and networks via email, Facebook, Twitter, other social media, or good old-fashioned word of mouth!

However you choose to get involved, know that your support is invaluable in helping people from all walks of life realize their reproductive rights!

Email kentuckysupportnetwork@live.com if you have questions. And thanks in advance for pitching in!

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REMINDER: Our annual  fund drive Pledge-A-Picketer is NOW!
The Saturday before Mother’s Day is the biggest protester day of the year.  It also is the date  where we count protesters for donations to support the pro-choice effort and the escorts.  You can pledge a certain amount for each protester showing up that morning. If you prefer, you can also make a straight monetary donation.

Use this form to make your pledge:

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VAWA versus NASCAR

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We collectively breathed a sigh of relief after the election. Barack Obama won another term. A record number of women were elected to Congress in both houses. It still isn’t 50% of the representatives, but progress was made. Maybe we can relax and the War on Women will be a historic footnote.

You might  think the forward motion and election returns would diminish the anti-women rhetoric and some positive changes in human and reproductive rights would move forward. You might think that, but you would be incorrect. The first bill introduced to the 113th Congress was presented by Michelle Bachmann. It was a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act; even though similar bills have been voted on and defeated 33 times by the 112th Congress.  I for one, do not hold a lot of hope for forward motion in these issues this year.

The 112th Congress left unfinished business. They were too busy fighting over the Fiscal Cliff deals to consider the bills for relief funding for Hurricane Sandy victims or the Violence Against Women Act.

There have been really a lot of articles written since April about the VAWA. The bi-partisan revised act passed by the Senate in April was written to include LGBT, undocumented immigrants and Native Americans. The revision was too controversial for House Republicans. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor described the revisions as “issues that divide us,” and the House revised the bill to exclude those groups of people. And then it languished; pushed aside for other issues.

The VAWA expired on January 1, 2013 for the first time since 1994 when it was first enacted. People for the American Way simply state:

  • Now the new Congress will have to start the process of reauthorizing VAWA all over again. Until they do, women across the country will be left without the safety net that VAWA provides.

What has funding the VAWA actually done since 1994? The National Network to End Domestic Violence has a detailed breakdown on their website about what the funding has covered. It covers multiple services to victims, training for detection and prevention, prosecution, transitional housing, childcare, and workplace response training. This statement particularly caught my attention:

  • Programs are reporting significant increases in requests for help including crisis calls to hotlines, relocation assistance, counseling, shelter beds, legal services, transitional housing and childcare.  The National Census of Domestic Violence Services found that on one day in 2010, over 70,500 adults and children in America received support and services from local domestic violence programs.  Yet, on that same day, over 9,500 requests for services went unmet because of a lack of resources.  Every day, shelters and service providers must turn away victims and families in danger.  When victims take the difficult step to reach out for help, many are in life-threatening situations and must be able to find immediate safety and support.  Given the dangerous and potentially lethal nature of these crimes, we cannot afford to neglect victims.  Federal funding is now more essential than ever to ensure that programs across the country can keep the lights on, answer crisis calls, and provide essential services for victims fleeing violence.

As of today there is no official funding for those services, but some funding will continue through appropriations. There will be no funding available for improvements or the expanded coverage of LGBT, Native Americans and undocument immigrants. The 70,500 calls placed in 2010 could go unanswered in 2013.

Do we really need VAWA and those services? One article I read argued there would be coverage by other laws in existence, such as assault, murder, or kidnapping. However, since the VAWA has been enacted in 1994 (pdf) there has been a reduction of violence by 63% and an increase in reporting by 51% for women and 37% for men. The act is directly responsible for these changes.

  • “VAWA has been the single most effective federal effort to respond to the epidemic of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking in this country.”-Debbie Segal, chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence

One article on the history and impact of the VAWA is by Abigail Collazo published on January 3, 2013. It is thorough and she states about the refusal to vote on the act:

  • “And like the rest of society, the House of Representatives chose to not provide additional help and support to female survivors of violence for one reason – they don’t recognize it as a real problem.”

There has been no truce declared in the War on Women. If anything, the war has been expanded to include other groups.

What about the groups that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor feels are too divisive to include in the act? Doesn’t everyone deserve the right to protections from domestic violence? Who decides which person is “deserving” and which is not? Eric Cantor? Tea Party Republicans?

The Atlantic offers this idea for the failure to vote on the Senate version of the VAWA.

  • They may not realize that American Indian women are more than twice as likely to be victims of violent crime as the general population, but less likely to find an attorney willing to take their sexual assault case. They could be unaware that incidents of LGBT intimate partner violence increased by 18 percent in 2011, and people of color within that group were nearly four times as likely to experience physical violence.

While they did not have time to consider the VAWA, the 112th Congress was able to insert tax loopholes for favored corporations inside the Fiscal Cliff bill. One in particular caught my eye:

  • One of the more unusual tax benefits in the fiscal cliff legislation is a longstanding carve-out for racetracks used by NASCAR.
  • Supporters in Congress and industry groups have argued that the tax break is necessary to “maintain the current standard expected by our competitors and fans.” According to estimates by the Joint Committee on Taxation, the so-called NASCAR loophole will cost taxpayers $46 million this year and an additional $95 million through 2017.

How many calls and services could enactment of VAWA provide with the accelerated depreciation given to NASCAR? What about the other corporate perks placed in the Fiscal Cliff bill at the behest of lobbyists? Saving lives is not a priority with the current members of Congress.

My thoughts keep going to the thousands of unanswered calls and victims with no place to turn for help. We need to demand better from our government. I encourage you to sign petitions, call your congressional representatives and make our voices heard.

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REMINDER: Share your story.

January 22, 2013 is the 40th Anniversary of Roe v Wade.  Forty years of legal, safe abortions.  This invitation comes from our allies at Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice:

“KRCRC (is making plans for a January 20 event in Louisville, “The Roe Monologues,” to mark those 40 years (four decades, two generations!) since the Roe v Wade ruling, and we need your help.

We’re looking for your story. But also for your mother’s, your daughter’s, your sister’s, aunt’s, girlfriend’s, roommate’s, friend’s story. Fairly brief; 2 to 5 minutes, and starting with the year. (e.g. “It was 1983, and I was trying to finish up my nursing degree, when I found out I was pregnant.” “In 2008, my wife and I had been trying for several years to have a baby. Now she had finally gotten pregnant, but when we got the results of the amnio, …” “1957. I was living in Missouri, and abortion was illegal. When my roommate learned she was pregnant, …” etc)

On Jan. 20 at our event, we will love it if you will present it yourself. But if it’s bad timing, bad location, or you’d just rather not get up to present it yourself, we will be happy to have someone read it for you. Also, you can use your own name or a made-up name, your choice.

We need these stories! – and people need to hear them. Will you help us? Will you spread the word that we’re looking for these stories?

Please email info@krcrc.org if you think you’d like to participate, either in person or by providing a story for someone else to read.”

By stepping out and talking about our experience we reduce the stigma and shame that surrounds abortion.  By sharing our stories, we support each other and continue building a world where reproductive justice is a reality.

Sidewalk Snippet ~ {12/17/12}

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There were not many clients and a lot of antis with nothing much to do. A car pulled to the curb and the client and companion got out. D was there immediately and stepped in front of me to talk to them. I was able to explain the orange vests, the antis and that the clinic wasn’t opened yet. They decided to wait in their car until the doors opened.

The wait was about 30 minutes. D hovered beside their car talking the whole time. Soon she was joined by B from the CPC. After about 15 minutes of this, the car pulled away from the curb. They reappeared in about 5 minutes and parked across the street from the entrance to the clinic.

When the doors opened, we escorted them in with minimum interference. A short time later, the vehicle’s lights started flashing and the horn was honking. I went inside to let the driver know the car alarm was going off, but I hadn’t seen anyone near their car.

The companion looked out of the clinic door  to check on it, but it quit about the same time. B and D started yelling, “It is a Holy Ghost intervention. The Holy Ghost is calling you out of this place. It is a message not to kill this baby.” The companion ignored them and walked back inside.

About 10 minutes later the companion came out to drive away. As they were crossing the street, B followed telling them about the sign from the Holy Ghost all of the way across the street. Ignored again, she came back to the clinic door to find someone else to yell at.

Sometimes it isn’t a message. It is just a car alarm malfunctioning.

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REMINDER: Share your story.

January 22, 2013 is the 40th Anniversary of Roe v Wade.  Forty years of legal, safe abortions.  This invitation comes from our allies at Kentucky Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice:

“KRCRC (is making plans for a January 20 event in Louisville, “The Roe Monologues,” to mark those 40 years (four decades, two generations!) since the Roe v Wade ruling, and we need your help.

We’re looking for your story. But also for your mother’s, your daughter’s, your sister’s, aunt’s, girlfriend’s, roommate’s, friend’s story. Fairly brief; 2 to 5 minutes, and starting with the year. (e.g. “It was 1983, and I was trying to finish up my nursing degree, when I found out I was pregnant.” “In 2008, my wife and I had been trying for several years to have a baby. Now she had finally gotten pregnant, but when we got the results of the amnio, …” “1957. I was living in Missouri, and abortion was illegal. When my roommate learned she was pregnant, …” etc)

On Jan. 20 at our event, we will love it if you will present it yourself. But if it’s bad timing, bad location, or you’d just rather not get up to present it yourself, we will be happy to have someone read it for you. Also, you can use your own name or a made-up name, your choice.

We need these stories! – and people need to hear them. Will you help us? Will you spread the word that we’re looking for these stories?

Please email info@krcrc.org if you think you’d like to participate, either in person or by providing a story for someone else to read.”

By stepping out and talking about our experience we reduce the stigma and shame that surrounds abortion.  By sharing our stories, we support each other and continue building a world where reproductive justice is a reality.

Share this:

Milestones…

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Some time today, probably in the next few minutes, this blog will reach 225,000 hits.

That’s a lot of hits.

The very first post was written November 29th, 2008.  It started off:

Escorts: 10

Protesters: appox 45

It was cold this morning, a little windy but over all not bad. We got to the clinic about 7:05 and there were maybe 25 protesters, the doors were open and a few clients in line to sign in. Mary was really pushy again this morning. She is definitely back to her old self, pre-harassment citation self.

You can read it here.

Since then, there have been 282 posts.   Different people have written for the blog, and there were always guest posts.   We invite new escorts to write about their experience.

My first post was a “new escort” post, published October 9, 2009.   Deciding to escort was a huge step for me, and a significant step in my life journey, and I was so glad to have a chance to share my thoughts and feelings.

The blog gets hits from all over the world.  In the last quarter, we got over two hits from the following countries:

Country Views
United States 11,355
Canada 615
United Kingdom 361
Australia 250
Japan 225
Germany 102
India 87
Ireland 62
Philippines 34
New Zealand 29
Sweden 29
Denmark 26
Italy 21
Spain 20
Mexico 20
Singapore 18
Turkey 16
France 14
Finland 13
Indonesia 12
Belgium 12
Russian Federation 12
Netherlands 12
Saudi Arabia 11
Pakistan 10
Brazil 9
Hong Kong 8
Poland 7
Bangladesh 7
Norway 7
Portugal 6
United Arab Emirates 5
Argentina 5
South Africa 5
Egypt 5
Romania 4
Slovakia 4
Malaysia 4
Taiwan 4
Colombia 3
Jordan 3
Israel 3
Austria 3

That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?

The post that got the most hits was July 22, 2009.  One of our posts was picked up on Reddit ~ apparently this post, which announced an upcoming training for new escorts.

I’m not sure why that post got to reddit, unless this announcement generated some excitement:

And for the first time ever, we are having an escort exchange! We will be hosting escorts from Cleveland OH here and sending escorts from here up there some time next month.

In September, 2011, we had another post picked up by reddit, and got over 18,000 hits for that month, but I can’t pin down what particular day it was.  That was around the time we had a protester we called “the newest, scariest Dave.’  We had some pretty amazing video of him, pretending to be an unborn fetus talking to its mother.  Gross.

One of the things I noticed in looking back over old days of the blog is how much more we used pictures back then.  Some of the pictures we posted remind me of protesters who’ve disappeared; other pictures are familiar faces.

Compare this picture from September, 2010:

Donna was there. As usual. I wanted to photoshop this to say “Asshole” with an arrow towards her face. But that would be childish. Then again, I had to tell her “No pushing!” a BUNCH today, so maybe childish is ok.

With this one, shot today:

Some things just don’t change.  Today, as I was walking next to a client, the little red-headed woman got in front of me and just stopped.  For the zillionth time.  Really, D?

Anyhow.  I miss the pictures and videos of years gone by, and maybe we can start adding more pictures to the blog again.

But today we’ve reached the milestone 225,000 hits while I’ve been writing this post.  And mostly I want to say thanks to all the people who write for the blog, who read the blog, who share it, who comment, and who help support reproductive rights in any way.

One of the great benefits of escorting has been the people we’ve met.  For example, one morning this week our escort crew will be joined by Brianne Bilyeu, whose blog, Biodork, is one of our favorites.  She’s going to guest escort, and come have breakfast with us afterwards.  I’m sure you’ll hear more about that later.

It’s lovely to find connections with like-minded people, and the blog has done that for us in so many ways…  Thanks to each of you.

Abortion Around The World

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When I write articles for our blog, I can get a little tunnel-visioned and focus on our clinic, escorts, and Louisville, although I am aware of the effects of reproductive restrictions in the rest of the world. There are so many places in the world that are more restrictive for reproductive rights than Kentucky.

Women on Waves is an organization that tracks abortion laws worldwide.

  • Approximately 25% of the world’s population lives in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws – mostly in Latin America, Africa and Asia. In some countries, such as in Chile, women still go to prison for having an illegal abortion, and abortion is not allowed even in cases of rape or when the pregnancy endangers the life of the woman.

The Center for Reproductive Rights has an easy-to-read document (pdf) compiled from figures in 2008. Their breakdown shows only 56 countries allow abortion without restriction as to reason. Thirty-two of those 56 countries have other restrictions on abortion, such as gestational periods or parental approval. Turkey even requires spousal approval.

What about the other countries? What happens to real people’s lives seeking abortions in those countries with restrictions?

Ireland bans abortion in all except for cases when the mother’s life is in danger. Anyone seeking an abortion in Ireland must travel to Britain or other countries. Not everyone can afford this expense.

  • The number of women contacting a charity that helps people in Ireland seek abortions in Britain is set to double for the third year in a row, according to new figures released ahead of major demonstrations in Belfast on Saturday by pro-choice and anti-abortion campaigners.
  • Three women have told the Guardian about their experience of being told their babies would die and that they must continue with the pregnancy, potentially to full term. All three travelled to England for abortions, with one describing having to leave Ireland for the procedure as “barbaric”.

The Dominican Republic passed Article 37 of the Dominican Constitution in 2009. It recognizes “the right to life is inviolable from the moment of conception and until death.” This not only creates a ban on the death penalty, but also on all abortions for any reason.

When a 16-year with leukemia was discovered by physicians in the Dominican Republic to also be 9 weeks pregnant, chemotherapy was delayed because of possible damage to the fetus due to Article 37..

  • Earlier this week, Rosa Hernandez, the girl’s mother, said she had been trying to convince doctors and the Dominican government to make an exception so that her daughter’s life could be saved.
  • “My daughter’s life is first. I know that (abortion) is a sin and that it goes against the law … but my daughter’s health is first,” Hernandez said.

People facing an unplanned pregnancy, irregardless of the country’s laws, will seek abortions. This means there is an increase in unsafe abortions. The World Health Organization details the mortality rates and injuries caused by these unsafe abortions.

  • In countries where abortion is highly restricted by law and/or unavailable, many women have little choice but to resort to unsafe means. Some 47 000 women are estimated to die as a result of unsafe abortions every year, a further 5 million suffer temporary or permanent injuries, and there are huge financial costs to women, their families, communities, and health systems. Injuries from unsafe abortion include severe bleeding, infection, injury to the uterus or genitals, and infertility.

The World Health Organization states in their publication:

  • An estimated 21.6 million unsafe abortions took place worldwide in 2008, almost all in developing countries. Numbers of unsafe abortions have increased from 19.7 million in 2003 although the overall unsafe abortion rate remains unchanged at about 14 unsafe abortions per 1000 women aged 15–44 years. This increase in number of unsafe abortions without a corresponding increase in the rate is mainly due to the growing population of women of reproductive age.

This cost around the world in lives, permanent injuries and anguish is unacceptably high.

If figuring out the restrictions and regulations are not confusing enough, then there are the anti-abortion protesters bringing stigma, harassment and stress to countries with fewer restrictions.

One of the long-term readers and commenters of our blog brought this UK group to our attention. (Thanks, Oubli!). They seem to be mimicking the tactics, talking points and graphics used by anti-abortion protesters in the US.

  • What they do not deserve are anti-abortion protesters standing outside the clinic they attend waving placards and shouting insults at them. Abort67 is an anti-abortion group – a collection of like-minded individuals who see fit to gather outside BPAS clinics and inflict their views on the women trying to access our services. They wave banners with explicit pictures of foetuses and shout at the women as they enter. They have a camera set up on a tripod, which gives the impression they are filming or photographing those entering and leaving the building. We don’t know what images have been recorded and what they are used for but the end result is the women seeking our help often feeling scared and intimidated.

Toronto, Canada has been fighting the same protester in court since 1994 when she was ordered to “stay more than 20 metres away from Toronto abortion clinics.” The picture taken this year in Ottawa of anti-abortion protesters reminds me of protesters in the US.

Anti-abortion protesters take part in the National March for Life demonstration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa May 10. One of Canada’s most active anti-abortion protesters has lost an appeal of a criminal charge to the Supreme Court of Canada. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)

Not all the protests around the world are anti-abortion. In Madrid last month, there were protests against the government’s plans to restrict abortion.

There are so many countries and so many stories. We could probably fill up a blog for days. Instead, I am going to suggest you read RH Reality Check’s Global Roundup. They publish a weekly article concerning reproductive issues around the world.

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REMINDER: If you are interested in escorting, don’t forget the training on September 8th at 9A.  Training is not required, but it’s helpful. Please see our Trainings for Escorts page or email us for additional information.

Kentucky Abortion Laws

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We touched on the Kentucky laws in effect to restrict abortion in a previous article. There have been some requests for an article just on the Kentucky restrictions. I found I needed to consult multiple resources to really get a complete picture of current laws.

In my opinion, the best resource for all current laws and proposed laws is the Guttmacher Institute. They update their databases monthly. Here is the link to their document for July 2012. (Pdf)

NARAL Pro-Choice America  gets into the details and has a lot of information concerning the laws effecting where an abortion can be obtained and clinic regulation.

Find Law is another source for definitions.

It is really necessary to use all sources together to get a complete picture of the obstacles placed in clients’ ways when they seek an abortion in Kentucky.

What are the current laws for abortion in Kentucky?

In Kentucky, the following restrictions on abortion were in effect as of January 2011:

  • The parent of a minor must consent before an abortion is provided.
  • A woman must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage her from having an abortion and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided.
  • Public funding is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape or incest.
  • Abortion is not covered in insurance policies for public employees.
  • Abortion is covered in private insurance policies only in cases of life endangerment, unless an optional rider is purchased at an additional cost.
  • There is also a Federal Abortion Ban, which applies nationwide regardless of state law.  The federal ban prohibits certain second-trimester abortion procedures and has no exception for a woman’s health.

What applies to physicians and clinics?

  • A woman may not obtain abortion care at a publicly owned hospital or other publicly owned health-care facility unless the procedure is necessary to preserve her life.  Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 311.800(1) (Enacted 1980).
  • BUT for second trimester abortions they must be performed in a hospital. Yes, these laws contradict each other.
  • No physician, nurse, hospital staff member, or employee of a hospital or health-care facility, who objects on moral, religious, or professional grounds may be required to participate in abortion services. No private health-care facility or private hospital may be required to permit abortion care contrary to its stated ethical policy.
  • Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers (TRAP Laws)

    • Providers of abortion services at any stage of pregnancy – including private physicians – must comply with administrative, physical-plant, and employee-testing requirements.  Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 216B.015(1), 216B.020(2)(b) (Original Statute Enacted 1980; Relevant Provision Enacted 1998), Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann §§ 216B.0431 (Enacted 1998), 216B.0435 (Enacted 1998); 902 Ky. Admin. Regs. 20:360.
    • Every abortion facility must enter into a written agreement with a hospital and an ambulance service in which the hospital and ambulance service each agree in advance to accept and treat patients if complications arise.  Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 216B.0435 (Enacted 1998).  Nothing in the statute requires hospitals or ambulance services to agree to enter into such agreements.
    • Providers are subject to unannounced inspections at any time.  902 Ky. Admin. Regs. 20:360 § 2(4)(a); Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 216B.042(2) (Original Statute Enacted 1982; Relevant Provision Enacted 1994).

Are there other laws concerning abortion in Kentucky?

  • There is a counseling ban/gag rule preventing emergency room personnel examining sexual offenses reported to law enforcement from discussing abortion. “ The pregnancy counseling provided to survivors of reported sexual offenses may not include abortion counseling or referral.  Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. A 216B.400 (Enacted 1974; Last Amended 2006).”
  • A school district shall not operate a family-resource center or a youth-services center that provides abortion counseling or makes referrals to a health-care facility for the purpose of seeking abortion services.  S.B. 192, 2008 Gen. Assem., Reg. Sess. (Ky. 2008) (to be codified at Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. A 156.496, 156.4975).
  • Kentucky’s post-viability abortion restriction states that no abortion may be provided after viability unless necessary to preserve the woman’s life or health.  The attending physician must take all reasonable steps consistent with reasonable medical practices to preserve the life and health of the fetus.  Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 311.780 (Enacted 1974), 311.720(10) (Enacted 1974).
  • “If . . . the United States Constitution is amended or relevant judicial decisions are reversed or modified, the declared policy of this Commonwealth to recognize and to protect the lives of all human beings regardless of their degree of biological development shall be fully restored.”  Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 311.710(5) (Original Statute Enacted 1974; Relevant Provision Enacted 1982).  Since Kentucky’s pre-Roe abortion ban has been repealed, additional legislation would likely be required to reinstate the ban. 

Is it any wonder why abortion regulations in Kentucky are hard to navigate? This is also why we must constantly stay aware of new legislation introduced to further restrict access to abortion.

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REMINDER: If you are interested in escorting, don’t forget the training on September 8th at 9A.  Training is not required, but it’s helpful. Please see our Trainings for Escorts page or email us for additional information.

Remembering Dr. George Tiller

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Violence surrounding reproductive health services, especially abortion, is on my mind this week. There were two arsons at two different clinics in Georgia last week. There was another arson in New Orleans at Women With a Vision.

The National Abortion Federation has  a breakdown of the history of violence surrounding abortion and abortion providers.  It has not been updated to include the Florida arson in January nor the ones this past week, but it is a reminder to all of us the potential for violence at abortion clinics is always present.

Dr. George Tiller was murdered by an anti-abortion protester on May 31, 2009. Dr. Tiller was 67 years old when he was murdered. He could have retired, but he worked tirelessly for women’s reproductive choices. He faced years of death threats, protesters interfering with his work and even harassment by Phill Kline, the Attorney General of Kansas.

Imagine the commitment to go to work every day with the threat of violence. Would you want to go back for almost 15 years after you were shot five times because you were an abortion provider? Would you post a sign at your clinic after it was firebombed, saying “Hell no, we won’t go”? Dr. Tiller’s commitment to women was summed up in his motto: “Trust Women.”

I remember where I was when I heard the news of his murder. My shock at the news was spent in endless hours watching news coverage and reading articles. It also awakened in me a need to translate my commitment to abortion access for everyone, for any reason, into action. I know I do not have a tiny fraction of the courage Dr. Tiller had, but I had to honor his memory by continuing to speak out in support of women and their choices.

It is hard to believe it has been three years since Dr.Tiller’s murder. It is hard to believe the legislative landscape for abortion and even birth control is worse than three years ago.

Please hold Dr. George Tiller and his work in your thoughts tomorrow. Wear your “Trust Women” buttons and t-shirts proudly in honor of his commitment.

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If you are interested in reading more about Dr. Tiller’s story, I highly recommend  ”The Wichita Divide: The Murder of Dr. George Tiller and the Battle over Abortion” by Stephen Singular, published by St. Martin’s Press, First Edition edition (April 12, 2011) It is available for purchase at bookstores and Amazon.com.

Internalizing Abortion Stigma

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A client we escorted into the EMW clinic started me thinking about how much we internalize society’s messages about abortion. These messages are inescapable. They are currently in the news, politics, churches and of course, on the sidewalk in front of abortion clinics around the world.

There are so many articles that have been written about abortion stigma. I will not attempt to repeat the great articles existing, but will direct you to two.

When we escort, we attempt to support clients and create a space removed from stigma and shame as they access their choice for an abortion. We aren’t always successful, but we try.

This story is what started me thinking about the pervasive messages we internalize and how sad it can be to wrestle with these messages.
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The client and companion pulled up to the meters and we talked. They were from out of town and didn’t know the streets in Louisville. They were also nervous about protesters who might be around.  After answering their questions, I directed them to the all-day parking lot across the street to wait for the 30 minutes before the clinic opened.

They were aware they might be approached by antis trying to talk to them and give them pamphlets, but I reassured them it was their choice to talk or not and they didn’t have to roll down their window. Shortly after they parked, an anti approached their parked car. They did decide to engage in conversation, but it was short and the anti moved back to the sidewalk.

Just before the the doors opened, they started walking on the other side of the street towards the clinic. I crossed the street to meet them and let them know the clinic wasn’t quite open yet. They were actually looking for me because they needed assistance with paying the parking fee. There is a box with slots you slip the money into and it is confusing for almost everyone parking in that lot.

We walked back to the box and started sorting out how to pay. They were distressed about their conversation with the anti and wanted to tell me about it. They were told, “Don’t kill your baby. Have you thought about adoption?” They said they had tried to tell the anti their circumstances, but kept being told, “Just come next door for a free ultrasound to see your baby. It will only take 10 minutes and they can talk to you about adoption.”

They were upset and told me a lot of personal events that led them to their choice. We were talking while looking at the pay box and feeding the money into it. Then the client said, “This is my first pregnancy. I’m a good person.” I just stopped and looked directly in her eyes and said, “You are a good person. You are making the choice that is right for you and your family. Don’t ever doubt that you are a good person.”

We talked a little bit more and then walked back up the sidewalk and into the clinic that was now open. At one point on our walk, the client asked me why I escorted. I replied, “We believe every person should have the right to make the choice that is best for them. We come out to support clients in their decision and create a space for them to access abortion services.”

They both thanked me for walking with them. When we got close to the clinic, the companion was confident enough to tell the antis standing by the door to back away. They actually did back away, but they continued hurling hurtful words towards the client and companion.

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REMINDER: Our annual  fund drive Pledge-A-Picketer is NOW!
The Saturday before Mother’s Day is the biggest protester day of the year.  It also is the date  where we count protesters for donations to support the pro-choice effort and the escorts.  You can pledge a certain amount for each protester showing up that morning. If you prefer, you can also make a straight monetary donation.

Use this form to make your pledge: