On Thursday night, I attended the grand opening of Planned Parenthood's new east side Comprehensive Reproductive Health Center. It was a cold, cold night, but the celebration tent was packed with people (all bundled in coats, scarves, and gloves). By the time I got there, almost all the food was already gone. So much for being fashionable late. Fortunately, the food was not the focus of the evening.
The building and facilities are amazing--spacious, clean, and bright. It has a total of 6,500 square feet of space, including new offices for the Community Education Department. Original art hung on the walls, along with assorted dedication plaques.
The mood in the clinic and the adjoining party tent was festive and thankful, but not everyone was happy. A handful of anti-abortion (and anti-choice, since they feel that contraception is also wrong) with graphic signs clustered on the sidewalk and heckled those who entered and exited the grounds. They weren't violent, but they were confrontationl. According to one of my acquaintances, they have been protesting ever since the site was annouced, before ground was even broken.
This is my problem with these guys. (And they, as usual, were all guys. Not a single woman in the bunch.) I don't have an issue with anyone thinking that abortion is wrong. I'm not a big fan of it myself, which is why I am an advocate of proper sexual education and universal access to safe, reliable contraception. My objection is for those who oppose *any* form of birth control other than abstinance (even within marriage) and any sex education other than abstinance based education (and that must be supplied by the parents only...if the parent's don't do it, that's just too bad). Finally, I've known women who were against abortion, but the only people who have ever shoved graphic signs in my face and called me a whore and a murderer have been men. Really, there is nothing like the word "whore" to win me over to your point of view. Totally.
Anyway, it was a great night despite the chill and the protesters. By the way, even thought the clinic has opened, they are still trying to raise the last $50,000. Donations can be made, and information can be found at http://www.ppwi.org or by calling 256-7549. (Donations of $100 or more will earn the giver a place on the "Wall of Honor".)
