I Am Emily X

The Nightmare Is Over

2009-11-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

After 40 days, the protesters are gone and the nightmare is over. And as for Planned Parenthood — we're still here!

To tell you the truth, these 40 days are, by far, the most difficult time of the year for me. Sure, I get angry when I see patients, volunteers, and staff facing harassment day in and day out. But mostly it just makes me sad to witness so many people using their time and energy to try to stand in the way of women, men, and teens who need access to health care.

I often have to remind myself that what I'm seeing on their protest signs is just the propaganda of the most radical extremists — and no matter how nasty or noisy or annoying they are, they can’t stop us.

At Planned Parenthood, our work is too important. Our patients are too important. Our efforts — to educate women on reproductive health, provide a caring resource, and ultimately give women more control over their bodies (as one of my readers commented) — are too important.

The best part? It has to be the fact that the anti-choice extremists protesting Planned Parenthood health centers actually reminded us of the importance of our work. It's true! So, to those protesters who called us names and screamed in our faces ... I say, "Thank you for making us stronger!"

I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.

P.S. I'm so proud to say that the 1,034 protesters I encountered allowed us to raise more than $56,000 for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the women our health centers serve — but only if you make good on your pledges! Please click here to fulfill your pledge today.

It's also not to late to support Emily X, even if you didn't pledge! Click here to make your gift.

Thank you again for coming on this journey with me.

I’m Being Watched

2009-10-30T11:16:00.001-07:00

I’ve been working for Planned Parenthood in Bremerton, Washington, for 12 years. We always have protesters here, but there are more during the “40 Days for Life” campaign.

I’ve gotten accustomed to seeing them each day, but in the past two years the protesters have become more visible and vocal. They call the staff terrible names and harass the patients. They’ve egged our retaining wall and littered our parking lot with anti-choice materials. We know that some women who need our services don’t come here because they’re intimidated by the protesters.

The feeling that I’m being watched never goes away. Bremerton is a small town, and when I go out to dinner with my family I can’t help but be more alert about being followed. But I love my job and the people I work with. We do important work.

Protesters: 10

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood NYC: I Am Emily X

2009-10-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

At the End of the Day

2009-10-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

Burlington, Vermont: As we near the end of this year’s “40 Days for Life” campaign, I’m reflecting on the daily impact of the protesters.

We’ve become accustomed to facing protesters every morning on our way into work and most evenings on our way home. They either block the steps to create a barrier for staff and patients, or try to shame us from across the street with signs, posters, and banners.

The protesters try to convince the staff that we are doing something morally wrong by coming to work. They try to deter our patients by making them feel guilty for picking up a pack of pills, getting a Pap test, or receiving abortion services. Many of our patients are scared, and feel threatened by the protesters. We do what we can to comfort our patients, yet encourage them not to lash out at the people who are making our job much more difficult than it needs to be.

We understand the concerns of our patients and the motivations of the protesters, but at the end of the day, we’re here to provide valuable services. We will persevere and stay strong, because we’re a resource to those who need us the most.

Number of protesters: 10

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Flagstaff, Arizona

2009-10-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Our health center is more isolated than the ones in Phoenix. We’re about two hours north of there. It’s a smaller community, but we have rowdy protesters. There were only two yesterday. Last week we had 10. The week before it was 12.

There was a group of anti-abortion extremists that did a lot of training a couple of years ago, all around the country. A young couple here went to that training. They were really excitable radicals, and they had gathered together a ragtag group of people.

They screamed, yelled into a megaphone. A couple of times they came into the clinic. They came to my house twice. Eventually, the couple moved to California. I heard they got into some trouble, some dorm protest, they were put on notice. That makes them successful in the eyes of other protest groups.

We still have a group that stands outside — sometimes only two or three, but usually six, eight, or 10. They’re there with their ugly signs, and they take pictures. They have a lot of children that they keep out there — but I think it backfires. And then this one older gentleman, he holds his signs and screams in front of City Hall. The other week, two women came out of nowhere and tried to take his signs. It made the front page.

Our patients? Some are angry and yell back at the protesters, wanting to argue — which we discourage. Some are offended by the protesters’ signs. They feel like it’s an invasion of privacy. Some people go out the back door — but not many. Most people just dismiss them.

The staff gets tired of it. Some people use the back door. One day, not too long ago, I was very frustrated. The protesters walked up and shoved a camera in my windshield, took my picture. They have our pictures, our license plates, our addresses — we know that. But it was so blatant, right in my face. By the time we call the cops they’re back standing out on the sidewalk where they have to be. It’s like a game of chicken.

I’ve been with Planned Parenthood for 27 years. I remember when we used to have surgeries here in Flagstaff. This was before the bubble law, and the protesters could be right up against the building. It was hard to get the patients in the door. There were altercations.

The work we do is important work. I’m of an age that I know what it was like before Roe. I have good friends and family members who had illegal abortions. My college roommate had an illegal abortion and died of complications.

I feel very, very fearful that this work will not continue. I don’t think that young women generally get that. Women went to Mexico and Puerto Rico and the back alleys of Chicago and New York, and many women died or were mutilated and certainly sustained some emotional trauma.

It’s unthinkable that things could go back to how they used to be.

Protesters: 2

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Escorting Is Customer Service

2009-10-27T06:37:00.001-07:00

Houston, Texas: I was asked by a client's husband why we have "parking attendants," when we offer free parking.

I told him that we weren’t here to help with parking, but that we were escorts for people walking past the protesters. We alert people in the parking lot that protesters are present so they aren’t caught off guard.

He thanked me and said it was nice that we offer that level of customer service, that too few organizations care about clients these days.

He’s right. It is customer service.

We’re not here to battle the protesters or deny them their right to free speech. At Planned Parenthood, we value diverse opinions and perspectives. We believe that everyone must be treated with respect and allowed the opportunity to access health care without judgment or harassment.

We’re outside, greeting and escorting clients past protesters, to show them that we care. It’s truly the first sign of good customer service for our clients. And it’s a way to ensure that clients are treated with respect and dignity.

It’s a reason that Planned Parenthood has been a trusted community health care provider in southeast Texas for almost 75 years.

Protesters: 150

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Miami-Dade County, Florida

2009-10-26T09:14:00.001-07:00

It was a just another sunny Sunday afternoon in southern Florida — except that nearly 2,000 protesters were gathered along Interstate One, stretching the four miles between LeJeune Road and Kendall Drive. They were standing their ground against what we at Planned Parenthood call basic health care.

I’m accustomed to seeing five or 10 protesters outside our health centers throughout the month — but nothing like this.

These protesters were part of the “The Life Chain,” a group that opposes women making their own reproductive health decisions. They don’t try to hide their stance against contraception, either — they are openly unwilling to find a common ground on prevention. There were the same old clichéd anti-choice signs, as well as other signs of varying creativity and offensiveness. Several people held rosaries. Others harassed passing cars with angry chants.

As a native of Miami and a Planned Parenthood employee, I know firsthand how essential it is for the women, men, and teens here in Miami-Dade County to have access to the full spectrum of reproductive health services. Access to sexual and reproductive health care is essential — as is education. The Miami metropolitan area has the highest AIDS rate in the entire nation, and ranks high in cases of other STDs.

When I see these protesters, I can’t help but think, “These people haven’t heard the stories I’ve heard. They don’t know the realities of life in this fast-paced, complicated urban environment.”

This health center offers comprehensive reproductive health care for the men and women of this community. I mean preventive health services: STD testing and treatment, breast exams, contraception, and education and information. And we provide women with a safe space to ask questions and seek guidance on even their most complicated reproductive decisions.

Here, we help them claim their own destiny.

All those protesters gathered along the road, filled with hate and bent to intimidate, they make me sad. But that only strengthens my resolve.

Protesters: many

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Boise, Idaho

2009-10-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Near the beginning of the “40 Days for Life” campaign, I received a phone call from a patient who was running late for her appointment. She was calling from a few blocks away, and was crying. After taking a few deep breaths, she told me that she had driven by the protesters in the back of our building. There was a large man shouting at the building (although we couldn’t hear much more than a murmur from inside), and the patient was terrified to make her way to the front entrance.

I reassured her that our office is located on private property; the protesters couldn’t block her entrance. I remained on the phone with her as she pulled into our parking lot and met her at the door when she arrived. The patient was relieved, and received her care without further incident.

Later, a woman driving by noticed the protesters on the sidewalk. She detoured into our parking lot, walked into the lobby, and wrote us a donation check. She told our staff, “Keep doing what you do!”

Protesters: 5

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Spreading the Word

2009-10-22T07:44:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Suzanne Reisman for blogging about Emily X!

Bremerton, Washington

2009-10-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

Today a patient said something in response to the protesters and their signs that made me pause. In addition to saying, with tremendous sincerity, that she didn't like them being there, she said, "I would never protest at their church, never."

I've heard many people express frustration and disapproval of the protesters, but what she said was different.

I’ve never considered Planned Parenthood to be my “church,” but it does stand for very important rights and values that provide my being with hope, happiness, and faith.

Protesters: 15

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

They Don’t Know

2009-10-15T08:13:00.000-07:00

I’ve been at Planned Parenthood in Tempe, Arizona, on and off since 1989. I was here when they started providing abortion services. I’m here now to witness the “40 Days for Life.”

Those protesters have no idea what happens inside these walls.

They don’t know about the 12-year-old who came in. She was raped by her father. We helped send him to prison.

They don’t know about the young girl who was sexually assaulted by a close friend.

They don’t know about the mother of six who brought her 17-year-old daughter in for an abortion. Their family was struggling for basic necessities. They had no food. The daughter excelled in high school and wanted to go to college. She wanted to have a future.

They don’t know about the girl who was raped by the “coyotes” that brought her and her mother across the border. She came to Planned Parenthood, pregnant and seeking an abortion.

They don’t know how we’ve helped these women — and thousands more.

Protesters: 20

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

This Is Harassment

2009-10-14T07:53:00.001-07:00

I knew they were coming, but I didn’t expect to see this many people.

On Saturday, 250 protesters showed up at the Fannin Health Center in Houston, Texas, to harass Planned Parenthood clients. They called the day’s protest the “March of the Surviving Youth,” and circled around the health center seven times in a “Jericho March” intended to collapse the walls of the health center, like the story of Joshua in the Old Testament. No such luck.

I and my fellow escorts were vigilant as we guided clients safely from the parking lot to the health center, despite the efforts of protesters.

At one point, a group of them circled around me screaming, “I’m praying for you, ma’am!” and “You are not God’s child; you speak death!” and “You have no idea who you’re messing with!”

This is not a so-called “peaceful protest.”

This is harassment.

But we will continue to stand together in support of comprehensive reproductive health care — including access to safe abortion care.

We will make sure that despite a few harassing voices, we will be here for the millions of women, men, and teens that need access to basic health care.

We will continue to be here for our patients throughout the “40 Days for Life,” just like we have every day since 1936.

Protesters: 250

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Prescott, Arizona

2009-10-13T06:31:00.000-07:00

We have had picketers since the day we opened in Prescott. We started offering medication abortion in December 2004, and they were here before then. It’s funny — they used to come every Wednesday until they realized we were offering the abortion pill on Thursdays.

There are between four and six people at a time, generally the same people with the same signs. They have been talking more to patients, lately — telling lies. They say we are prescribing low-dose pills so that women will get pregnant, that the abortion pill will cause ulcers or make it impossible for them to get pregnant in the future. Outright lies. It’s ridiculous.

I’ve been at this health center since 1985. I’m a PA (physician assistant). I do basic women’s health care, including birth control, STDs, Pap tests, and mammogram referrals — the full range of services. And at this health center, we see everything.

We saw a vulnerable 17-year-old woman who was molested at age four by her uncle. She hadn’t told anyone until she told us.

We saw a 58-year-old woman who was new to the area. She felt a lump in her breast but couldn’t get an appointment for a mammogram — until we scheduled her in right away and made the necessary referrals.

We saw a mom who came in every so often to purchase condoms that she tucks into the bathroom drawers for her boys.

We saw a woman — a single mother of two girls — who came here first, for affordable birth control. Now her daughters come here, too.

One day, I was talking to a patient for follow up. She was crying. In my experience, people are usually happy and smiling at their follow-up visits. I asked her what was wrong, and she said the protesters yelled at her, saying that she was going to hell.

After that, I signed up for a monthly donation of $100. I figured if I couldn’t stop the protesters, I could at least ease some of the financial burdens faced by our patients.

I’ve been through 24 years of them out there, once a week, praying — or should I say “preying” — on the vulnerable. And I can say one thing — it doesn’t change the good work we do inside this health center.

Protesters: 5

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Tempe, Arizona

2009-10-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

I work in the clinic here in Tempe, and am one of the few men on staff.

Here, the protesters are a fixture — whether or not it’s “40 Days for Life.” I tell patients they wouldn’t find our facility if not for the people gathered together outside.

“Every village has its idiots,” I say, “and we have ours.”

Last weekend, there were 30 people out in front of the building — more than normal — plus the ultrasound van. The van has mobile ultrasound, and free pregnancy tests — like a “crisis pregnancy center” on wheels, ready to scare women with biased information.

I know it can be intimidating to have to get through a bunch of protesters, but do I think they’re deterring patients from coming in? No.

It’s a year-round phenomenon — heavier on Fridays and Saturdays. There are going to be protesters out there, five or 50, depending on the day and who’s organizing.

If I don’t call the cops once a weekend, I’m surprised. It’s part of my daily routine. I make a point, on the days we provide abortions, to walk out there and make our presence known. We count them, and note if there are any new ones or weirdoes.

I am a soldier on the frontline of what we do.

Typically, I am one of the first people that a patient sees when they come in. Maybe because I’m a guy, they often think I’m the doctor. But when I start talking they realize I’m not. I sit and talk with women, crying women — and by the time we’re done talking there are no more tears. I’m helping them through the process.

I have three sisters, and I know they’ve have some tough decisions to make. So I get up every morning to fight for these women’s rights.

Protesters: 30

I am Emily X

I am Planned Parenthood.

Chicago, Illinois

2009-10-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

There’s been an uptick in the activity recently. We saw it first when Obama was elected, and again after Dr. Tiller’s murder.

It’s both the number of protesters who are outside, and the aggressiveness of their tactics. We’ve got protesters who are impersonating medical personnel, giving “advice.” And we’ve got protesters wearing bright yellow vests with “Parenthood volunteer” and a cross that looks amazingly like Planned Parenthood’s logo—so they look just like our volunteers. Anything they can to do confuse, harass, and intimidate. It’s gotten really bad, especially at our Near North health center.

That’s why we pushed for the buffer zone ordinance. It was introduced at a city council meeting last month, and went for a vote in the human relations committee two weeks ago. The full city council voted on Wednesday. It passed 28 to 13, and should be in force by mid-November.

Starting then, protesters will have to stay at least eight feet away from people outside health centers. The safe space will exist within 50 feet of the entrance of all health centers. Those who get too close will face a fine. It doesn’t stop the harassment, but it’s a start.

Some people have gotten used to the protesters and say they’re fine as long as they obey laws and stay out of our way. But the patients aren’t fine. They’re coming in upset, angry. It’s not fair for them to be in the middle of this war zone.

I am so proud to work for Planned Parenthood, to be fighting for the issues I care about—reproductive rights, women’s health care, and access to health care, which is my passion. I fight for those issues every day. Particularly when you hear stories of what’s going on on the front lines, to be able to change public policy to make a difference in the lives of teens, women, and those in need — it’s very rewarding.

Protesters: anywhere from 8-20

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

2009-10-01T11:36:00.001-07:00

We’ve got “40 Days for Life” protesters in addition to the regulars. Most of the protesters are peaceful, but there’s one with a bullhorn who verbally harasses our escorts and patients.

As our patients get out of their cars, they’re greeted by our invaluable escorts, who guide them into our health center and help them feel safe. However, it’s difficult to protect our patients from the protesters who shout at them with a bullhorn. The harassment goes way beyond demonstrating one’s opinion — it’s abusive and disrespectful.

We need to continue to serve our communities, as comprehensive reproductive health care providers. We’re here to ensure that our community receives quality reproductive health care and information, including annual exams, sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment, and counseling. We do a lot more than the protesters think we do!

Stand UP against the protesters! Stand UP for our rights! Stand UP for reproductive health!

Protesters: 48

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Update from Houston, Texas

2009-10-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

We’ve had more than 450 protesters at our health centers in Houston since the “40 Days for Life” began. Last Saturday we had more than 90 protesters at the main location alone.

Police have been called several times when protesters have attempted to put their hands on clients.

New tactics are being tested, including:

· stopping cars in the street before patients can reach the health center driveway

· visibly and aggressively filming clients

· trespassing on health center grounds to leave hateful brochures on cars in our parking lots

Protesters: 450

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Phoenix, Arizona

2009-09-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

We arrive at 7:15 a.m. and park on a street adjacent to the health center. We greet each other and proceed to walk toward the employee entrance. As we walk down the block to enter the building, the second greeters of the day are the protesters. They are lined up along the sidewalk in front of the health center, telling us why we shouldn’t go to work today and saying how terrible we are. We ignore them and keep walking.

Inside, we begin our day. We prepare medication for the patients, set up the rooms, and prepare the front desk so that patients can check in — very routine and very status quo.

The first patient walks through the door. Maybe she is thinking about what the protesters said. Maybe she is thinking about the choice she made to come in that day. Or maybe she is just glad that she was able to choose.

We check her in, and then she comes back to an exam room. Along the way she is greeted by every person on staff. Each one reassures her, through actions and words, that we care and that everything will be OK. The doctor successfully completes her procedure. She recovers, and is discharged. On the way out, she expresses her sincerest thanks to the nursing staff and asks them to convey that same message to the rest of us.

We see so many patients just like her during the course of a day. In some respects, we know that any one of us could be her. And we realize that this is more than just a job, more than just a set of tasks.

It is vitally important for us to be here, to provide a much-needed service for the women of Arizona. What we do at 7th Avenue makes a difference. No matter what obstacles we face, or how many protesters line our streets, we are proud to work for Planned Parenthood. We are proud to change the lives of Arizona women.

Protesters: 13

I am Emily X.

We are Planned Parenthood.

Houston, Texas

2009-09-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

They arrived Wednesday, before I got to work. We’re used to protesters here in Houston. Usually they target the two health centers that provide abortion, but this time of year they target double that number of health centers.

There were about a dozen – including one protester who harasses our clients with a video camera. He asks them provocative questions, tries to get a rise out of someone, anyone, to get some kind of outburst on film.

We have our ways of dealing with it, though. We’re prepared. All our escorts have signs that read, “You do not have permission to videotape,” and they use them to block our clients’ faces, protect their privacy.

Unfortunately, our patients are used to this kind of thing. One client described the group of protesters as voyeuristic. She wondered why they didn’t have better things to do than to come and watch clients entering a health care organization. She specifically asked one protester if he wanted to come in and watch while she got her Pap test!

It’s a long walk from our parking lot to the front door of the health center, which gives the protesters more opportunity to harass and antagonize than we’d like. And they are particularly aggressive during the 40 days. Sometimes they try to lure our patients to the crisis pregnancy center next door, where, instead of medically accurate health information, they receive anti-choice rhetoric.

Ninety-nine times out of 100, though, the protesters fail. Many of our patients have a long relationship with Planned Parenthood—we provide them affordable, high-quality health care that they often can’t get anywhere else. Our clients know where to go for compassionate care, for nonjudgmental service. They aren’t fooled by the lies of these anti-choice extremists. That’s something the protesters will never understand.

Protesters: 12
I am Emily X.
I am Planned Parenthood.

This is what we're here for

2009-09-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

I'm here to work. That means making sure that every woman, man, and teen who walks through our doors gets the health care, information, and help they need. And it seems like every day there are more and more people showing up here for just that — to get care they can't get anywhere else.

And then there's them — the anti-choice people who appear at our health centers every year at this time for another round of the "40 days for life" protests. They're not here to work, or to seek care, or to find solutions for the people who rely on Planned Parenthood for everything from birth control to cancer screenings — they're here to intimidate medical staff and harass patients.

I am Emily X, and I've been dealing with these protests for years.

I refuse to feel intimidated by the protesters — but I have to admit they make me angry. It bothers me that Planned Parenthood has to devote our limited resources to dealing with extremists harassing our patients at a time when millions of women lack health insurance — that’s time, money, and energy that should be going to help the people who rely on Planned Parenthood.

So I've decided to do something about the “40 days for life” protests. For the past two years, I've been doing my part to turn what could be a negative into a positive — by blogging. And in addition to blogging, I’m sharing stories, posting videos, and letting you into our world for a month.

And I’m inviting you to turn the anti-choice 40 days of protest into 40 days of fundraising, with our Pledge a Protester program. Your donations will help keep our health center doors open for women, men, and teens in need.

So join me. Stay in touch on the blog, leave me a comment (I love your comments), pledge a protester, send a note to a clinic, volunteer … it all matters. This year, with so much attention on the increasing need for affordable health care, it matters more than ever.

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for your support.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

I come from a poor family; we need Planned Parenthood

2008-12-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

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.

I'm uninsured, and I need Planned Parenthood

2008-12-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Tomorrow Is Another Day

2008-11-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

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.

We Are Family

2008-10-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

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.

Seeing Red

2008-10-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

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.

Totally Unfazed

2008-10-24T14:36:00.001-07:00

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.

Remembering Dr. Slepian

2008-10-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

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.

Don’t Believe the Hype

2008-10-20T13:58:00.000-07:00

I’m in Iowa now. I can’t help but notice the huge disconnect between what’s on TV and the Internet and what’s really going on outside of our health centers. If you believe what you read, you’d think that hundreds of protesters have flocked to Planned Parenthood centers across the state — but in a lot of ways, it’s just business as usual. It’s no different than a Thursday in June. I’m seeing the same protesters now as I did then.

All I can say to them is what we always say: If you want to reduce the number of abortions in the country, then work with us, not against us. Most of the work we do -- 98% in fact -- is prevention. But that message just falls on deaf ears.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

All Those Voices Together

2008-10-14T10:15:00.001-07:00

I’m in Nebraska now.

After just two weeks of protesters, the count has reached more than 350. It usually takes a full month for 300 protesters. They usually only come once or twice a week. It's amazing how quickly they add up when they come five to six days a week.

Today there were priests and mass intonations of the rosary. If the rosary were being prayed for some other purpose, I'd think, "How lovely that sounds -- all those voices together." But when they do it en masse outside the clinic, I worry about how intimidating the sound of all those voices at once can be. And I'm disappointed that a potentially beautiful prayer experience has been corrupted as a tool to frighten women.

Religion should be used as a way to lift people’s spirits. Unfortunately, these protesters use it to put people down.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood

I Just Want to Say, “Thanks”

2008-10-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

I’m in Idaho now.

Seeing protesters outside the clinic reminds me of the importance of my job. I work at Planned Parenthood because I believe in what we do for women, men, and teens everyday.

Because I’m surrounded by like-minded people at work and at home, it’s easy to forget how abortion and family planning are issues that fundamentally divide my community -- not to mention my country, especially now that it’s election time. The physical presence of protesters outside my window, the misinformation they shout through their bullhorns, their grotesque signs -- it all reminds me that I am morally obligated to do this work.

While I can’t know exactly what goes on in the minds of the protesters -- and thank goodness I don’t -- I can imagine how they feel about me, or what they think their protest means to me. I have heard them on the bullhorn, calling for me to come out of the clinic, that it isn’t too late for me to be forgiven for what I have done. They must picture me hanging my head in shame, worried that they might be right, that I am committing sin each day I come to work. They couldn’t be further from the truth.

When protesters show up outside my window, I am immediately invigorated. I hold my head higher. I pull my shoulders back. At their arrival, I am reminded of how important I am to Idaho women. I am reminded of how strong I am. My job requires that I never engage protesters in discussion. But if I were able to say something to our protesters, I would say, “Thank you.”

Thank you for giving me an energy boost.

Thank you for being a source of motivation.

Thank you for reminding me of the dangers of ignorance.

Thank you for rekindling my passion for what I do.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Is That the Best Use of Your Time?

2008-10-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

Last time we had protesters here in Issaquah, I didn’t really mind having them across the street. They didn’t approach our patients or yell hateful epithets like so many protesters do outside other clinics. They smiled and waved. Their signs were not ugly or hateful. Mostly, they chatted on cell phones, read or napped.

In all, I figure more than 1,000 hours were wasted -- roughly half–a-dozen people, there for eight hours a day, for 27 days. I can think of quite a few other ways that those hours could have been better spent.

· raising money to help low-income, single parents
· providing childcare for those who can’t afford it
· snuggling babies born addicted to drugs
· spending time with kids that don’t have a loving, caring adult in their lives
· foster parenting
· adopting a child with special needs
· lobbying for health insurance for everybody
· taking a group of kids outside to learn about the environment and get exercise
· being a reading buddy at a local elementary school
· mentoring at-risk kids

And that’s just off the top of my head.

It takes real commitment and diligence to sit on the sidewalk for 27 days, rain or shine. Think of all we could accomplish if their efforts went toward something we can all agree on -- healthy kids, families, women, and teens.

In this all-too-important election season, when there is so much at stake with health care and women’s rights, to sit idly by is just a waste of everyone’s time.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Winning Is Easy

2008-10-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

I’m in Seattle, now.

The other day I made the trip up to Everett, about 25 miles north of here. We got a call in the morning -- a group of protesters had taken up positions on the sidewalk next to the Everett health center, carrying graphic posters and shouting at our patients and staff.

We couldn’t find volunteer escorts on such short notice, so another staff person and I stepped in. We arrived mid-morning, and donned the bright yellow vests and the large logo-emblazoned umbrellas that identified us as Planned Parenthood escorts.

It was a day of many emotions.

First, trepidation at the thought of facing people who want to dismantle everything for which Planned Parenthood stands. For the most part, the protesters try to disrupt the services at our health centers with their words and their presence, but in some states they have also been known to turn violent.

Then, a sense of purpose. When a patient arrived in our parking lot, we identified ourselves as Planned Parenthood staff and asked her if she wanted us to walk her to the entrance. Most of the women were quite grateful, but also confused. This was not a day when abortions were performed at the center, so the patients were there to get birth control or test results or other forms of basic reproductive health care. Can you imagine going to get your annual Pap test, only to be confronted by protesters?

Then, finally, victory. As we escorted patients to the door, we held the umbrellas sideways between us and the protesters and engaged in casual conversation with the patients. This way the women could ignore the shouts of the protesters and not have to see their gory posters. Our actions accomplish two things at once: the patients feel protected, and the protesters get frustrated.

In other words, we win.

Protesters: 7

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

They're back - and so am I!

2008-10-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Hello, world.

The anti-choice gang is at it again - 40 days of picketing, protesting, and proselytizing at Planned Parenthood health centers across the country. And here I am again to give you a glimpse of what life is like for the receptionists, nurses, doctors, and volunteers who, despite these obstacles, come to work every day, who make Planned Parenthood the amazing organization that it is.

Planned Parenthood operates more than 880 health centers throughout the country. Chances are you know of one. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe we’ve helped you out. Maybe we’ve cleared a path so that you could come through a throng of protesters. Maybe we’ve given you a caring smile on one of the hardest days of your life. But you may not know what it’s like to work someplace where you have real enemies, where there are people who are fighting to shut you down.

So, I am inviting you to come be with me, to live life in my shoes for a moment

And I am inviting you to turn the anti-choice 40 days of protest into 40 days of fundraising, with our Pledge a Protester program. Your donations will help keep the clinic doors open for women, men, and teens in need.

This year, the 40-day protests end November 2; it’s no accident that Election Day is two days later. Planned Parenthood’s doors must – and will – stay open every day until Election Day and every day after. More than ever, the things we take for granted — that you can afford to get your birth control each month, or that your doctor will give you all your options when you come to him or her in need — are quietly slipping away. It’s an important time. And it’s not the time to sit idly by.

Last year we raised more than $50,000. Planned Parenthood would be nowhere without you. Listen to our stories. Help our cause.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Hello!

2008-04-01T15:08:00.000-07:00

Hello there! This is the blog where we (Emily X, a small group of Planned Parenthood employees) shared our experiences during the "40 days" protests in the fall. We'll be blogging again this fall, and until then...feel free to read and comment!

And if you're thinking about becoming a Planned Parenthood member, GREAT. We need you!

Click on the link in your email or just visit us at http://www.plannedparenthood.org for more information.

Thank you!

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

You are Planned Parenthood, too.

I had the protection of nine federal marshalls

2007-11-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

In 1998, Dr. Slepian, an abortion provider at the clinic I worked at was shot and killed in his home. I was one of the first doctors to go back to that same clinic and continue providing abortions. There were nine federal marshalls who protected me. People ask me if it was scary -- it was, it was terrifying. But it wasn't about to stop me from providing a critical service to women in this country.

Protesters: 1

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

The protesters made my patient cry

2007-11-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

Protesters: 9

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

There are days I wish I could yell back

2007-10-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

On different days, we expect different protesters. There’s a family that shows up every Friday morning. They have their children with them. On Saturday mornings, there’s a group that says prayers as we walk past them. There’s also a woman who likes to yell really obscene things at our staff and our patients. She bothers me the most. And I’ll admit, there are days that I wish I could turn around and say something back to her. But when it comes down to it, I know that yelling at her isn’t going to make things any easier for the women and families in our community. The best thing I can do is walk through our doors and start serving our patients.

Protesters: 35

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

I want to lessen anxiety for Planned Parenthood patients

2007-10-29T14:37:00.001-07:00

So why do I volunteer at Planned Parenthood? It's easy -- I want our patients' visits to Planned Parenthood to be the best, most comfortable experiences possible.

Protesters: 13

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

I’m proud to open the doors of our new health center

2007-10-26T12:42:00.000-07:00

In a couple weeks, we’ll be serving clients in our brand new health center in Lufkin, Texas. I’m the health center director, and I have to say that when we started the project, I was a little anxious. We're a small community and this was a big campaign. And our sister affiliate in Austin, like the Aurora affiliate more recently, had experienced protests and boycott threats during their health center construction. But I shouldn’t have worried. The support for Planned Parenthood in our community was overwhelming and construction proceeded as planned. Just the other night, I looked around the room as we celebrated at a big reception with our supporters. I saw the mayor of Lufkin, the chamber president, our architects and our contractors all there to raise a glass for Planned Parenthood. It was a proud moment for me. But the moment I’m really waiting for will come in a couple weeks when I see our first client walk through our doors.

Protesters: 0 (!)

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

The protesters hurt more than they help

2007-10-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

Protesters: 5

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

I've never seen a protester turn someone away from Planned Parenthood

2007-10-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

I spend about four hours a week as a volunteer escort for Planned Parenthood in Houston. Over the past two years of volunteering, I've spent a lot of time standing outside, waiting to greet our clients and listening to protesters harass them. The protesters claim that they make a difference, that handing out materials with false information and harassing our clients actually turns women away from the services they need. But I've never seen a Planned Parenthood client turn around because of a protester. And neither have any of the other volunteers that I work with. I think it's because women know and trust Planned Parenthood. But I like to think that having a friendly face standing outside of a health center has something to do with it, too.

Some people can’t believe I’m a minister and a Planned Parenthood supporter

2007-10-23T12:08:00.000-07:00

I’m a volunteer escort at my local Planned Parenthood center. I’m also a minister. And it upsets me that protesters at the clinics hold signs that say terrible things about Planned Parenthood, shout horrible things to intimidate women, and tell the patients, “You don’t want to go in there.” One day, while a young couple left the clinic and walked to one of the parking lots, the protesters screamed at her. When they got to their car, the woman didn’t get in. She stood by it, crying for a long time. The man tried to comfort her. She just stood there sobbing. No one should have had to listen to those words.

Some people in Texas can’t believe that I’m a minister and I support Planned Parenthood. But to me, it’s simple. If religious folks really want to do something for women in our area, they should support family planning clinics. They should want every child to be a wanted child. They should want proper medical care for all families — even those who can’t afford it. And they should want the young woman crying beside her car to feel safe and supported.

That why I’m always so happy to see young women like Jeannie and Mayra who you heard from yesterday. Like me, they are clinic escorts, they are religious, and they are proud to volunteer for Planned Parenthood.

Protesters: 8

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

I want to protect our patients

2007-10-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

The protesters at our clinic have gone to great lengths to put up hurdles for our patients. A while ago, they bought the building right behind ours, set up a fake clinic with a huge sign that reads "FREE PREGNANCY TESTS." They don't offer any health care services -- and they certainly don't tell women about all of their options (parenting, adoption, and abortion) like we do at Planned Parenthood. Instead, these fake clinics try to lure in unsuspecting pregnant women and pressure them not to have an abortion.

Sometimes it bothers me that these signs are the first things our patients see when they walk out of our parking lot. But I've realized that the women and families in our community really know and trust Planned Parenthood. And we do everything we can to make sure that they feel safe and welcome from the moment they turn the corner and walk toward our building. The windows of our clinic are lined with pink ribbons, each symbolizing support from a member of our community. And we have volunteer escorts (smiling, friendly people, who walk patients to our doors and make sure that none of the protesters bother them) at both of our entrances. And I happen to be one of them.

We created a courtyard to protect our patients

2007-10-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

Protesters: 85

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

They vandalize our clinic

2007-10-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

The protesters vandalize our clinic. They spray graffiti on our building and throw chunks of asphalt on the walls. We do as much as we can to get rid of the graffiti, but it is still the first thing our patients see when they come into our parking lot.

It frustrates me that the protesters think that vandalizing our building with extremist messages will change someone’s mind about having an abortion. And it angers me that that they think the choices these women make about their bodies and their lives are political, not personal. This morning, I walked a woman from her car to the parking lot. She was there for an abortion. And I know she wasn't there because she’s a pro-choice activist. She was there because she made a personal choice about her life and her body. And the graffiti on the side of our building isn’t going to change that.

I felt a sense of relief when I walked this woman through our doors, and I think she did, too. Our clinic feels safe and warm. And it's not just because we have comfortable chairs and pastel paint on the walls. It's because she knows that the people who greet her at the front desk and in the exam room are going to accept her right to make the choice that she made.

It's my job to walk women into our clinic

2007-10-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

It's the same protesters every Wednesday. They show up in the mornings, when most of our patients coming for abortions arrive. It’s my job to walk with our patients from their cars and make sure that they get through our doors safely. When we walk in together, they tell our patients that Planned Parenthood is not a medical facility and not to take anything we give them. No matter how many times I hear it, it always makes me angry. Our clinic is a great medical facility, and every woman I bring through our doors will be treated with dignity, respect and the best care possible.

Protesters: 4

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

I worry that she won't come in for a pap

2007-10-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

Protesters: 30

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

She Took a Picture of My License Plate

2007-10-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

I consider myself the mother hen of our clinic. The people I work with are my family, and I think it's my responsibility to protect them. So most days, I don't think of myself when I see the protesters. I think of my patients, and I think of my staff. But the protesters have gotten a lot worse in my 15 years working here. The other day when I came outside, a protester was taking a picture of my license plate number. I was furious. It's one thing to yell things at me and wave signs in my face, but it's quite another to violate my privacy and jeopardize my family.

I told the woman to erase the picture from her camera, and I stood there until she did it. Sometimes these things can get me down, but when it comes down to it, I love my job. And every morning when I come into the clinic, there are more patients waiting for our doors to open than there are protesters telling them not to walk through them. And that will always be enough to keep me coming back.

Protesters: 11

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

The view from the parking lot

2007-10-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

Every morning when I drive into our parking lot, there's a group of protesters standing along the street. Sometimes it's three of them, sometimes 10, once it was 30. As soon as I put my turn signal on, they turn their bodies and watch me park my car. They stand there and watch me, just like this:

Sometimes all I want to do is march over and tell them that we don't even provide abortions at this particular clinic -- when people come to our clinic, they are coming for things like Pap tests or birth control or an STD test. But I know that telling them won't make a difference, they'll still be there every day, trying to scare our patients away and trying to scare me out of serving them. But we're not going anywhere, and neither are our patients.

Protesters: 1 (and a note to the man with the sign -- even if we DID provide abortions, I'd still be driving into work every day.)

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Why I come to work every day

2007-10-15T09:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve worked at reproductive health clinics for decades, and the protesters have done a lot to make my life difficult over the years. They invaded my clinic. They chained themselves to exam tables. They injured staff. They harassed my children. And every Mother’s Day, they vandalized my home.

So why am I still here? It’s pretty simple -- if I don’t come to work, women don’t have the care they want and need.

Protesters: 8

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

By the way, if you're new to this blog, check out the back story here.

They called me a slut for working here.

2007-10-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

Protesters: 10

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Better care

2007-10-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

I get my coffee in the mornings from a Starbucks that's across the street from our health center. This was my view today:

When I drove in, the woman who always stands at the gate tried to hand me a pamphlet and said, “You should check out this pregnancy center. They’ll take better care of you.”

I know the type of “pregnancy center” she’s talking about. They are fake clinics set up to lure in pregnant women. Then they use scare tactics to pressure them out of having an abortion. Right, better care.

I’ll tell you about better care. When I walk into our health center this morning, one of our doctors is on the phone with a patient asking her if she has picked up her UTI medicine at the pharmacy. “Promise me you’ll do that today, sweetie. And listen, if you don’t have the money for it, bring in your receipt, and we’ll reimburse you. The most important thing is that you start taking those pills and feeling better.”

Protesters: 6

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

"I'm here for birth control, lady"

2007-10-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

There were 12 protesters outside the clinic this morning. One woman always stands at the gate and yells at our patients as they drive in. Today, as I walked through the parking lot, she shouted, "Planned Parenthood does abortions on Fridays, you know!" I rolled my eyes. One of our patients was standing outside the door with her young child waiting for the center to open. As I walked in, she glanced back toward the gate and said under her breath, "I'm here for birth control, lady." But I hope she knows that it doesn't matter if it's a Wednesday or a Friday or if she's coming for birth control or an abortion. When she walks through our doors, she's gonna get a smile from me.

Protesters: 12

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

The protesters are my family

2007-10-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last night, my mother-in-law called me at home. She told me that she just read an ad in the local paper about the “40 Days for Life” campaign. She said that she wanted to get involved, she wanted “to get out and do something about Planned Parenthood.” See, she doesn’t know that I’m a doctor at a Planned Parenthood health center. It’s a part of my life that I don’t share with her. But I’ll share a bit of it with you.

My friends sometimes ask me why I do what I do, when it makes things in my personal life so difficult. To me, it’s an easy choice, but one worth explaining.

Protesters: 7

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

People Matter

2007-10-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

This morning, as I drove into the clinic, there was one protester holding a sign that said, "Pray to End Abortion." I tried to ignore her, but I could feel her staring. I wonder if she knows that I work at Planned Parenthood.

Things at the clinic seem quiet today — lots of people are chatting about our rally last night and checking out the news coverage. I went out to grab a cup of coffee a couple hours ago. When I came back, the protester was still there, joined by four more. One was holding a sign that read, “Planned Parenthood: where money matters and people don't.”

Have they seen my paycheck? I don't spend my days here for the money. I spend my days here because the women who are in our waiting room when I walk into the clinic matter to me, and I know they matter to Planned Parenthood.

Protesters: 5

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

Live! From New York!

2007-10-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've been in Nanuet, NY for three hours.

The clinic here organized a rally during rush hour on a busy street corner. A couple of us Planned Parenthood types were sitting in the car when the ringleader from the other side walked towards us carrying a sign reading "abortion causes breast cancer." (It doesn't, of course.) She circled the car, tapped at the window and yelled at us. If that isn't harassment, then I don't know what is.

By the time I headed out to the rally, there were more than 30 Planned Parenthood supporters there. The best part of the day was when these families would get past the anti-choice signs and see the mass of clinic supporters and you could see their facial expression change from one of horror to one of relief. Most gave us a smile or a nod. Some gave us a honk, others a thumbs-up. and one yelled "thank god you are here!"

Protesters: 15

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.

My name is Emily

2007-10-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello, world.

We're in the middle of something here at Planned Parenthood (where I work). The anti-choice people call it "40 days for life." I call it another day at the office.

Basically, the anti-choice groups have decided to picket more than 80 Planned Parenthood clinics across the country for 40 days. September 26-November 4.

I'm used to picketers. Planned Parenthood is used to picketers. It bothers me very much that the picketers aren't just picketing our clinics -- that they're really about making it impossible for women to get health care. But...we don't let them faze us. As for me, the more picketers there are, the harder I want to work.

So, I've decided to do something a little different. I'm inviting you come to work with me. Seriously. Every day, I'm posting to this blog -- some notes about my day, some photos, some video. I want you to know what it's like to work for Planned Parenthood.

That's not all. Since the 40 days thing began, various friends and supporters have emailed us saying they'd like to donate money for every protester that shows up. So we set up a thing over there on the right, at the top of the column -- please pledge 5 or 10 cents, too! You have no idea how far we can make donations go at Planned Parenthood.

Oh! And if you have a medical appointment at one of our health centers -- don't worry! Planned Parenthood works around the clock to protect your health, safety, and security. Plus -- the protesters aren't at many of our clinics (that would be pretty hard, since there are more than 800 clinics), and...well, Planned Parenthood has been doing this for 90 years. We're pretty good at making women and their families feel welcome and well cared for no matter what. C'mon down!

Thanks for reading this. Thanks for your support.

I am Emily X.

I am Planned Parenthood.