I Am Emily X

I received an interesting e-mail from Planned Parenthood about their new blog, I Am Emily X.

The gist of it is that anti-choice people have organized this "40 Days for Life" where, basically, a bunch of big anti-choice groups all got together and decided to picket more than 80 Planned Parenthood clinics across the country, 24 hours a day for 40 days. They're claiming it's "the largest and longest simultaneous pro-life mobilization in American history."

During this time period, one of their workers is posting every day on her blog notes from her day, videos, images, etc. so that you can know what it's like to work there.

Of course, what always gets me about people picketing Planned Parenthood is that abortions is just a minor part of the services they provide.  A majority of what they do is offer general health care for women and making it harder for people to get that is just shitty.

Several years ago when I was in between jobs and didn't have very good health care, I was able to visit them and get a reasonably priced exam and birth control.  I didn't have an abortion and, even if I did, I don't deserve to be ridiculed or yelled at for making the choices that *I* deem appropriate for my own life.  Luckily, Planned Parenthood is there for those that need them.

On I Am Emily X you can also choice to donate to Planned Parenthood (either a flat donation or an amount per protester), so if you can, please do.  All women should be able to get the care that they need.