When I was still a creative writing major in college, before I had ever escorted at an abortion clinic, I wrote a story about a clinic escort who takes a bullet on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Now, years later, I’m a clinic escort volunteering on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.
We were expecting bus loads of protesters, and according to the Post, we got 400 protesters last week when we weren’t expecting it.
Got to the clinic today at 630AM, and it was still dark.
I thought it was my regular week to escort and my team would be there, but all the escorts were people I’d never seen before. Later the team leader showed up and it was Denise Lieberman, the legal director of the Eastern Missouri ACLU, who I had the pleasure of getting completely lost with at the March for Women’s Lives in DC. She’s still married. And, you know what? Good for her.
The extra protesters we were expecting never materialized, but I’m glad I was there cause it was really busy. One woman was crying in her car on the parking lot and the protesters saw it and got right in front of her car with their signs. We formed a human wall between her car and the protesters and waited what felt like an eternity for her to come out. She never got out of the car, so finally one of the escorts knocked on her window and got her to talk. As soon as she rolled down the window the protesters started screaming at her. In tears, the woman said she couldn’t go in and drove off. The protesters start shouting “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord.” Intense. I’d never seen that happen before.
There’s an escort named Heddi on Denise’s team who’s like, 80 years old and this total radical feminist who still chains herself to buildings and gets arrested. I could tell just by talking to her that’s she’s more down than just about any activist I know that’s my age. Everybody adores her. I hope I get to hang out with her sometime in the future. One thing that I realize now that all but one of my grandparents is dead is that I haven’t really haven’t spent a lot of time listening to people from that generation and they’re not gonna be around a whole lot longer. I especially haven’t talked to any radical feminists from that generation.
Heddi asked if any of the escorts had been to the Counter Inauguration at City Hall and I was the only one other than her who had been. Then she asked who had been to Women’s Bodies Women’s Lives at Wash U, and I was the only one who had been. Then, Denise looks at me and goes “Wow, David’s at everything.” Which made me feel good since, lately, I feel like I’ve missed everything.
It was freezing cold and the wind was unbelievable. I have never been so cold in my entire life. I took one glove off for a minute to tie Denise’s vest and my hand ached for a long time after I put the glove back on. By the end of my shift I could barely walk. Allowing my heels to touch the ground when I stepped was excruciating.
I think what you did was very brave.
Thank you.
Bless you. More men in the world should take after you.
Dee Dee!!!
Good for her she’s a higher up for the ACLU! U. City c/o ’87! I haven’t seen her in at least a decade…
Why does she go by her maiden name? How long has she been married?
I totally adore you for doing this.
I am so impressed by your dedication and commitment. It’s hard to be brave one time, it’s hard to stand out in the cold one time, it’s hard to take the time to go to one protest rally or march. And you do it over, and over, and over. You live your convictions. And I respect that highly.
Don’t be too impressed.
I just do it to meet chicks. 🙂
Muchos gracias
Re: Dee Dee!!!
I’m not sure on either. I prefer not to think about the fact ths she is married so I never really thought about it. But she is a feminist, so…
Minus my neurosis, misogyny, homophobia, self-esteem issues, and general dysfunction, maybe. 🙂
But, thank you.
Wow. I think that’s amazing that you do this. I also think it’s amazing that I have never been to a Planned Parenthood that regularly gets protested. You’d think I would have, considering I’m from Texas.
You don’t appear homophobic to me. Or should I say, from what I read. You seem very open sexually .
It’s learned homophobia from the way I was raised. You’d have to know me to pick up on. My girlfirend gives me shit about it all the time. Of course, she’s a lesbian, so I can’t blame her.
You inspire me.
You also have a very interesting sense of humor. Or sense of reality; I can’t decide.
It’s frightening how many people showed up for the anti-choice march in SF – bussed in from as far away as L.A. The choice movement really needs every activist it can get right now, and I’m sure glad to know you at a time like this.
Hmm, yes, minus those things. And i still think you’re better than most men. ha.
I purposely create an absurb reality around myself, for which humor is the best approach.
It’s like the dynamic between the Bush Administration and The Daily Show.
Thank you. That really is a wonderful compliment.
Wow, sounds like it was way more intense where you were than where I was!
Don’t feel bad about the woman in the car. If she was that broken up she probably shouldn’t have been getting an abortion anyway. Sometimes it’s hard for me not to get all competitive when I’m escorting – i.e. if someone doesn’t get an abortion, like I’ve “lost” to the protestors in some way. But that’s stupid, I remind myself, because _I_ am only there so that women are not lied to and have a free choice. If that choice isn’t abortion, that’s fine too.
Not that you had a problem with it. But in case you did 🙂
Thanks.
I think I reacted more to the protestors celebrating than to her decision to leave. But, I got over that really quick. It’s ridiculous for them to gloat, but it it’s more ridiculous for me to take it seriously.
Protestors seem to think that abortion is about killing a baby but never about saving a woman. I’ve worked and volunteered in several clinics and I’ve seen many women who could have lost their lives or their fertility because of an pregnancy gone wrong. I hate that so few people lose that perspective and believe that the issue is so black and white.
The world needs more people like you – people who know how to take a stand and how to treat others humanely. May your [insert name of higher power or god here] keep you for what you are doing.
Wow! Thank you very much. And the same to you. Your words of encouragement really mean a lot to me.