Wednesday, October 24, 2007

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

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.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

we appreciate everything you do for us!

Misty said...

Yay for men who support reproductive rights! Please, go clone yourself.

illuminate this said...

yes! i love me some nicholas!

JammieGirl78 said...

I want to say thankyou!! I live in North Dakota and things are getting me worried with how reproductive rights as far as South Dakota legislation and North Dakota. I have never seen a male volunteer. I appreciate you taking time to do this so much! So thankyou.--Jammie E.

malevolunteer said...

As a male volunteer, I sympathize. Seeing women get harassed on their way in to the clinic was a powerful motivator for me as well.

merry said...

I don't know what is happening to this country. People care more about unborn children than the children who are here already. There is plenty of money for bombs and the military complex, but no money for after-school day care or day care at the workplace for women.There are so many children who are already here that need to be adopted. Where are the priorities in this country? If we don't take care of the children who are already here, they will turn to crime and we will have more people in prisons than in our cities. I feel so sad that women's rights are slipping away as they are losing control of their own bodies in the name of religion. Even the guardian angel ASKED the Blessed Mother if she would accept being pregnant before marriage. There are so many women who are molested and end up pregnant. How can religious people think that they deserve this, when they can be affected mentally and physically for the rest of their lives. Pregnancy is dangerous physically for young girls and so often they do not take care of themselves before birth. This affects the child forever. Abortion is sad, but not every women is able to go through with pregnancy for many reasons. It should not substitute for birth control-so how can this new director of family planning be against it? Also, many girls are on birth control at very early ages for menstruation and PMS problems. Are they going to be denied help? This is insane.
I am so tired of religion mixing with politics over the last 8 years.