Nearly 75 percent of Planned Parenthood clients have incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Whether it is helping low-income clients afford the health care they need, or helping women make serious choices about whether and when to have a child, we are here to help.
I spoke to one man who understands how Planned Parenthood helps those most affected by the worsening economy — poor families:
I’m Emily X
I am Planned Parenthood.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
I'm uninsured, and I need Planned Parenthood
When you are uninsured in the United States — like nearly 46 million Americans who lack insurance today — you are often forced to make difficult choices. Sometimes it's as stark as choosing between getting the health care you need and paying the utilities or even buying food. Planned Parenthood is the health care safety net for many uninsured women, men, and teens — especially now, as the economic downturn continues to spread far and wide.
Hear one woman's story:
I'm Emily X
I am Planned Parenthood.
Hear one woman's story:
I'm Emily X
I am Planned Parenthood.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Tomorrow Is Another Day
Well, it’s over — for them at least.
The 40-days vigils have come to an end. Across the nation, these vigils sprung up at our health centers, disrupting basic women’s health care. And at each of those health centers, Planned Parenthood staff came to work every day. Our clients still came in for health care. We continued to do the important work we do, regardless of the opposition.
These vigils are a symbolic event, full of hype and hyperbole. But even symbolic events can be a barrier. Nothing should stand in the way of women, men, and teens accessing safe and legal health care. And especially in the midst of a growing health care crisis, it’s appalling for people to make it harder to access affordable care. Planned Parenthood health centers are a key part of the health care safety net in this country. Who benefits when you stand in the way of that?
But today, I’m not concerned about our protesters — I’m concerned with November 4. We are on the eve of one of the most important elections in my lifetime. Tomorrow, I will vote — I urge you to do the same.
And while the 40 days have ended, today, tomorrow, and every day to follow, our work goes on.
I am a volunteer.
I am an escort.
I am a health center manager.
I am a physician’s assistant.
I am a doctor.
I am a minister.
I am a woman.
I am a teenager.
I am Planned Parenthood.
You are Planned Parenthood, too.
If you want to be part of the Planned Parenthood family, please join us: http://www.plannedparenthood.org.
The 40-days vigils have come to an end. Across the nation, these vigils sprung up at our health centers, disrupting basic women’s health care. And at each of those health centers, Planned Parenthood staff came to work every day. Our clients still came in for health care. We continued to do the important work we do, regardless of the opposition.
These vigils are a symbolic event, full of hype and hyperbole. But even symbolic events can be a barrier. Nothing should stand in the way of women, men, and teens accessing safe and legal health care. And especially in the midst of a growing health care crisis, it’s appalling for people to make it harder to access affordable care. Planned Parenthood health centers are a key part of the health care safety net in this country. Who benefits when you stand in the way of that?
But today, I’m not concerned about our protesters — I’m concerned with November 4. We are on the eve of one of the most important elections in my lifetime. Tomorrow, I will vote — I urge you to do the same.
And while the 40 days have ended, today, tomorrow, and every day to follow, our work goes on.
I am a volunteer.
I am an escort.
I am a health center manager.
I am a physician’s assistant.
I am a doctor.
I am a minister.
I am a woman.
I am a teenager.
I am Planned Parenthood.
You are Planned Parenthood, too.
If you want to be part of the Planned Parenthood family, please join us: http://www.plannedparenthood.org.
Friday, October 31, 2008
We Are Family
I am a reverend, and I am part of the Planned Parenthood family. I serve on the board of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. My wife and I are proud donors. With our daughter, we have lobbied, marched, spoken at press conferences, served as escorts, volunteered in the clinics, helped with fundraisers, and served on committees.
We do it all because we are committed to human freedom and dignity. We believe that in order to be fully free, women must be able to choose if, when, and with whom to have a child. Planned Parenthood is the champion of reproductive freedom.
We do it all because we believe that sex is a wonderful part of being human. Planned Parenthood provides the knowledge and services that we need, that our children and grandchildren need, to enjoy that gift.
The people who have stood outside the Aurora, Illinois, clinic almost every day since the doors opened 14 months ago, seem to believe in something very different. There is usually just a handful, though on special occasions the numbers swell to a dozen or more. Sometimes they are quiet and law-abiding. Sometimes they are vocal and abusive. Occasionally they overstep the boundaries — though careful to avoid actual arrest.
I am sad for them. They could accomplish so much with that much energy and commitment. I want to take them with me to the programs I work with that help survivors of domestic violence; or to places that shelter families that are homeless; or to the centers that provide early childhood education; or to recovery programs for ex-offenders. That is what it means to me to be “pro-life.” My message to the protesters: “Please, get out of the way of people simply exercising their legal right to medical care. Go out and do something that actually brings life to someone else.”
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
We do it all because we are committed to human freedom and dignity. We believe that in order to be fully free, women must be able to choose if, when, and with whom to have a child. Planned Parenthood is the champion of reproductive freedom.
We do it all because we believe that sex is a wonderful part of being human. Planned Parenthood provides the knowledge and services that we need, that our children and grandchildren need, to enjoy that gift.
The people who have stood outside the Aurora, Illinois, clinic almost every day since the doors opened 14 months ago, seem to believe in something very different. There is usually just a handful, though on special occasions the numbers swell to a dozen or more. Sometimes they are quiet and law-abiding. Sometimes they are vocal and abusive. Occasionally they overstep the boundaries — though careful to avoid actual arrest.
I am sad for them. They could accomplish so much with that much energy and commitment. I want to take them with me to the programs I work with that help survivors of domestic violence; or to places that shelter families that are homeless; or to the centers that provide early childhood education; or to recovery programs for ex-offenders. That is what it means to me to be “pro-life.” My message to the protesters: “Please, get out of the way of people simply exercising their legal right to medical care. Go out and do something that actually brings life to someone else.”
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Seeing Red
I’m in Pennsylvania now.
When I came to work Monday morning, I saw it — the front of the Reading health center, splashed with bright red paint. It was the color of fire and anger, and I have to admit, I felt pretty angry at first. Does that kind of vandalism do anything to improve women’s health? Does it prevent unintended pregnancy? Does it keep people from getting STIs? Or help prevent cervical or breast cancer?
Red is also the color of bravery and courage, strength and health. And when I realized that, my mood shifted. We do good, honorable work at Planned Parenthood, in the face of intimidation, vandalism, and violence. And if a red door makes us more visible to our community, then so be it. No matter what these anonymous, intolerant people do, we will here to help the women and men who come to us.
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
When I came to work Monday morning, I saw it — the front of the Reading health center, splashed with bright red paint. It was the color of fire and anger, and I have to admit, I felt pretty angry at first. Does that kind of vandalism do anything to improve women’s health? Does it prevent unintended pregnancy? Does it keep people from getting STIs? Or help prevent cervical or breast cancer?
Red is also the color of bravery and courage, strength and health. And when I realized that, my mood shifted. We do good, honorable work at Planned Parenthood, in the face of intimidation, vandalism, and violence. And if a red door makes us more visible to our community, then so be it. No matter what these anonymous, intolerant people do, we will here to help the women and men who come to us.
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Totally Unfazed
I’m in Yuma, AZ, now.
Typically we don’t have protesters here. I’ve been a clinic health assistant for a little more than six months, now. I’ve only seen one guy who comes by to pray, and I haven’t seen him since this whole thing started a couple weeks ago.
You know, we don’t even do abortions at this health center. That doesn’t keep them from putting their signs in our patients’ faces. They don’t really say anything to us. A couple of them have come inside and asked where they should be going or what they should be doing — as if we are organizing the vigil! We say, “Uh, we have nothing to do with that,” and send them back outside.
In the morning, at the beginning, there were maybe 10 or 15 people out there. And sometimes a bunch of people from a particular church will come. They’ll be there from 7AM until 7PM or so. There are fewer and fewer now, though.
Honestly, they don’t bother me. I really don’t think anything about it. I come in and I do my job. I come to work every day because I love my job. The whole staff, we get along, and we can put a smile on our faces every day no matter if there are people out there or not. We can just brush it off and be there for our patients -- because our patients are the ones that really matter.
Our patients are great, too. Three of them came in the other day and said, “We’ve got your back.” They love us, they love that we’re here and what we do. It’s true -- our patients really back us up, no matter what. And they stand up for themselves, too. We had a couple of clients that came and yelled back at the protesters: “It’s my choice. It’s a woman’s choice. You’ve got to respect where we’re coming from.” And one girl came by and donated $5 -- just because she was passing by and saw the protesters.
It’s funny, because we honestly thought we might have fewer people coming in because of the protests. But we’ve got more patients, more walk-ins. It’s like the protests are drawing attention our way.
In the end, it’s pretty simple — we’re here, we love our patients, they love us. That keeps us motivated.
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
Typically we don’t have protesters here. I’ve been a clinic health assistant for a little more than six months, now. I’ve only seen one guy who comes by to pray, and I haven’t seen him since this whole thing started a couple weeks ago.
You know, we don’t even do abortions at this health center. That doesn’t keep them from putting their signs in our patients’ faces. They don’t really say anything to us. A couple of them have come inside and asked where they should be going or what they should be doing — as if we are organizing the vigil! We say, “Uh, we have nothing to do with that,” and send them back outside.
In the morning, at the beginning, there were maybe 10 or 15 people out there. And sometimes a bunch of people from a particular church will come. They’ll be there from 7AM until 7PM or so. There are fewer and fewer now, though.
Honestly, they don’t bother me. I really don’t think anything about it. I come in and I do my job. I come to work every day because I love my job. The whole staff, we get along, and we can put a smile on our faces every day no matter if there are people out there or not. We can just brush it off and be there for our patients -- because our patients are the ones that really matter.
Our patients are great, too. Three of them came in the other day and said, “We’ve got your back.” They love us, they love that we’re here and what we do. It’s true -- our patients really back us up, no matter what. And they stand up for themselves, too. We had a couple of clients that came and yelled back at the protesters: “It’s my choice. It’s a woman’s choice. You’ve got to respect where we’re coming from.” And one girl came by and donated $5 -- just because she was passing by and saw the protesters.
It’s funny, because we honestly thought we might have fewer people coming in because of the protests. But we’ve got more patients, more walk-ins. It’s like the protests are drawing attention our way.
In the end, it’s pretty simple — we’re here, we love our patients, they love us. That keeps us motivated.
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Remembering Dr. Slepian
Ten years ago today, Dr. Barnett Slepian, an ob/gyn who performed abortions in upstate New York, was making soup when he was shot and killed in his own home. His was one of two dozen murders or attempted murders of abortion providers at the end of the 20th century -- a deeply disturbing low-point of anti-abortion extremism.
A decade later, anti-abortion extremists are using other, more insidious tactics -- like intimidating women on their way to access safe and legal health care, or tricking women with so-called “crisis pregnancy centers”. Although most of the protesters during these 40 Days stints are not aggressive or violent, their presence reminds me of where we’ve been -- and where I hope we never go again.
Murder makes headlines -- and a mockery of the so-called “pro-life” label. The quiet, consistent chipping away at reproductive freedom operates well beneath the radar. It’s our job to fight against it, work around it, make sure that women who need health care and support can still get the services that they need.
When I think back to the death of Dr. Slepian, I think, too, of the brave women and men who went back to work at health care centers that provide abortion in the days after his murder, not knowing if or when they might be targeted, as well. And I think of all the brave women and men at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country, just like my own, who go to work every day, amid the shouting and the signs. We go to work to honor the work of people like Dr. Slepian, and to make sure that we never go back.
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
A decade later, anti-abortion extremists are using other, more insidious tactics -- like intimidating women on their way to access safe and legal health care, or tricking women with so-called “crisis pregnancy centers”. Although most of the protesters during these 40 Days stints are not aggressive or violent, their presence reminds me of where we’ve been -- and where I hope we never go again.
Murder makes headlines -- and a mockery of the so-called “pro-life” label. The quiet, consistent chipping away at reproductive freedom operates well beneath the radar. It’s our job to fight against it, work around it, make sure that women who need health care and support can still get the services that they need.
When I think back to the death of Dr. Slepian, I think, too, of the brave women and men who went back to work at health care centers that provide abortion in the days after his murder, not knowing if or when they might be targeted, as well. And I think of all the brave women and men at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country, just like my own, who go to work every day, amid the shouting and the signs. We go to work to honor the work of people like Dr. Slepian, and to make sure that we never go back.
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.
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