(Untitled)

[popelizbet]

Well, the state of Maryland may be the last sane place on Earth...

They're introducing a bill to force crisis pregnancy centers (anti-abortion clinics, basically) to admit that they are not medical providers and stop deceiving women who are seeking reproductive health options...and the bill is likely to pass, according to the article.

Read about it

Comments

[omni_videns]

*grumble*

CPC's oughta be honest about what services they will and won't provide. How hard is it to say "we offer alternatives to abortion"?

[popelizbet]

Because that won't get scared women in the door long enough for them to start their propaganda about how if you have an abortion you will get depressed and kill yourself and also have breast cancer and DIE. THE WAGES OF SEX IS DEATH.

*grumbles with you*

[chiyo_no_saru]

GRUMBLE PARTY

[tbone]

Interesting. Here's a little background: gromko volunteers at one of these CPCs around here (called Lifeline). She works in the clothing room, sorting out clothes that are donated so that new mothers and expectant mothers can have maternity clothes and childrens clothes. She doesn't actually talk to women who come in requesting services. I like the clothing/food part of their program. It's not good if you just say "ABORTION IS EVIL!" and then don't offer any support for women who chose to have the baby. I honestly don't know how sound their medical information is. Just going by their website, it doesn't seem to be too over the top. I'm all for showing people alternatives, as long as it's done honestly.

[popelizbet]

Honesty and transparency is a big part of it. My experience with CPCs has been overwhelmingly BAD BAD BAD, because ours are, not to put too fine a point on it, run by religious fundamentalists. I wish I still had some of the scary literature they produced that festooned my freshman dorm...at a college easily 150 miles from the nearest actual abortion provider, which lent another element of creepiness to the whole thing in a way I'm not sure I can articulate

[tbone]

I'll agree with pretty much everything you say here. Transparency and honesty are always good, and it's a shame that CDCs like the ones in Maryland are being so sneaky that they have to even have legislation like this.

I probably should read up on what Lifeline does and what they preach. I know they are Christian-based, but I don't know how forceful they are about it. I've been to their benefit dinners, but it's not like they say "We coerce people into doing things that they don't really want to do."

And thanks for the hugs. Hugs are always welcome!

[popelizbet]

Hugs are good and so is diversity of opinion and experience, which is one of the things I love about shangy_feminism

[joyshine]

Definitely should be billed honestly. I mean, if I (God'dess forbid, srsly) should ever need to visit somewhere for guidance on an Unplanned Pregnancy, I'll probably be looking up the one and only Planned Parenthood (if it's too late for EC, of course) to be sure that I get all my options and avoid sneaky places like the ones this legislation is targeting. At the same time, in solidarity with tbone and gromko, I'm all for places that provide support and resources for expecting mothers - no matter how they're affiliated.
But, yeah. Don't bill yourself as something you're not. You are contributing to giving my Mama Church a bad name. And deceit is bad, mmkay?

[popelizbet]

Deceit is bad, mmkay? You shouldn't do deceit.

It's a tricky issue, as are many things related to choice, because on the one hand, the pro-choice folks are dealing with an ever-shrinking pool of options for women who DO want abortions, and are not exactly made of money to provide support for the other range of options. Clothing the expectant mamas and their babbies is important, if they decide to keep those babbies, but no one group can do everyt'ing.

/sigh

Someday life will be simple and easy. Right?

[joyshine]

Yes. And on that day, I (in a future incarnation) will begin my highly successful run as the first female Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar. It will be wonderful.
Oy.

[popelizbet]

Dude, I'd cast you as Judas tomorrow because that would be awesome.

We need to get with the Rad Fae and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and make that happen.