My father was an abortion provider. (He’s retired now.) He had to wear a bulletproof vest, which was kept hidden from me as a child, so as to not scare me. One evening, while we were all eating dinner in the kitchen, the police called to let us know we had protesters at the end of our driveway – I’m the one who answered the phone that day. Another day, protesters followed his partner all the way home from their office, which was even scarier. And this was in relatively liberal, suburban NYC.
It was instilled in me at a younger age than most that women should have bodily autonomy, and I will be forever grateful for that. I couldn’t be more proud of my father and his partner Bruce. They helped so many women, some of whom traveled very far just for them. I know that if they were still practicing physicians, they’d be the first to go down to Alabama to help the women there, even with the threat of being imprisoned for up to 99 years (the same as murderers, and MORE than rapists!).
Please donate what you can to Yellowhammer Fund or Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates. It’s all hands on deck, folks. #resist
They’ve pretty much admitted the law is designed to be a test case. Your father is a brave man and it’s a shame someone has to be fearful for simply providing medical care. I always wonder how many unwanted babies these folks are willing to personally adopt.
Thanks for sharing betsey. I was tempted to make a similar post before I read yours and saw how your personal story connects. Abortion is a vital form of health care. Full stop. I certainly evolved on this question since I first started posting here, and I honestly thank my wife and other women who patiently guided me to see the light.
This boils down to a question about who has access to safe abortions, not about the sanctimony of pretending to care about unborn children. The reality based approach ensures safe access to all who need it, the reality denial approach allows the wealthy and comfortable the convenience of choice while denying women, predominately women of color, the same choice.
I really hope our candidates can go on the offense over this. The holy rollers held their noses for Trump since the court was more important, it would be nice if the purity brigade on the left would do the same. Every candidate from Biden and Bernie will appoint pro choice justices. There is no excuse to stay home or vote for a third party, unless you privilege your purity over the health of women.
It’s in the hyperlink for “donate”, but I’ll also put it here: “How Alabama’s Main Abortion Fund Will Use All Those New Donations”.