Protest
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
I recently wrote a letter regarding the unplanned closing of Planned Parenthood on April 21. To update, I did receive word that the staff person was ill, and could not come in. While this was an inconvenience to me, and I hope not others, it did raise awareness in my mind as to the very important role that Planned Parenthood serves in our community.
Last autumn I was due for the renewal of my birth control prescription, which is not to be issued unless a pelvic exam is given. As one of the many uninsured workers of Indiana, I found that I could not afford the exam. A co-worker referred me to Planned Parenthood, who did the exam for free, and issued an affordable prescription.
One month later, I went in to pick up the next 28 days worth of pills, and I was disturbed to encounter three middle-aged, light-skinned, well-dressed males. They were standing on the sidewalk in front of the office, holding signs that protest abortion. My issue was not with the subject matter - I myself would never recommend, nor have, an abortion. My issue was not the act of picketing - freedom of speech is a basic human right. My issue was that three men were advocating state control over a woman's body, in front of a charitable organization!
I have advice to those men, and any who would wish to prevent abortion in our community: make affordable birth control available to every man and woman who wants it. Birth control prevents abortion. Birth control prevents women who chose not to have abortions from being burdens on the state, as I was, when they are forced to have their hospital costs covered by Medicaid. The issue of affordable birth control affects every woman in our community, single or married, mother or virgin, and everyone in between.
You stand on the sidewalk and discourage people from frequenting an organization that issues affordable birth control. That's your right. But how much better would it be for you to support access to reproductive education, affordable birth control and organizations, like Planned Parenthood, which provide those services to those who need them.
Andrea Semler
Warsaw[[In-content Ad]]
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I recently wrote a letter regarding the unplanned closing of Planned Parenthood on April 21. To update, I did receive word that the staff person was ill, and could not come in. While this was an inconvenience to me, and I hope not others, it did raise awareness in my mind as to the very important role that Planned Parenthood serves in our community.
Last autumn I was due for the renewal of my birth control prescription, which is not to be issued unless a pelvic exam is given. As one of the many uninsured workers of Indiana, I found that I could not afford the exam. A co-worker referred me to Planned Parenthood, who did the exam for free, and issued an affordable prescription.
One month later, I went in to pick up the next 28 days worth of pills, and I was disturbed to encounter three middle-aged, light-skinned, well-dressed males. They were standing on the sidewalk in front of the office, holding signs that protest abortion. My issue was not with the subject matter - I myself would never recommend, nor have, an abortion. My issue was not the act of picketing - freedom of speech is a basic human right. My issue was that three men were advocating state control over a woman's body, in front of a charitable organization!
I have advice to those men, and any who would wish to prevent abortion in our community: make affordable birth control available to every man and woman who wants it. Birth control prevents abortion. Birth control prevents women who chose not to have abortions from being burdens on the state, as I was, when they are forced to have their hospital costs covered by Medicaid. The issue of affordable birth control affects every woman in our community, single or married, mother or virgin, and everyone in between.
You stand on the sidewalk and discourage people from frequenting an organization that issues affordable birth control. That's your right. But how much better would it be for you to support access to reproductive education, affordable birth control and organizations, like Planned Parenthood, which provide those services to those who need them.
Andrea Semler
Warsaw[[In-content Ad]]
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