Entry tags:
Idiot protesters
I just had to endure a bunch (I don't think there were THAT many altogether, but they strung themselves out along a pretty long stretch of road) of anti-abortion protesters by Walt Whitman Mall. Typically witty and intelligent posters ("abortion kills children"). How annoying. A few people had set up an impromptu pro-choice protest across the street.
And a waste of time, since New York has the most liberal abortion law in the country (passed in 1970, and even the Republicans haven't tried messing with it--it's made NYS the abortion capital of the US as people come here from other states). Abortion on demand to 24 weeks, no delays, no parental consent, no mandatory "counseling", Medicaid pays. (Unless you're on Fidelis, which is owned by Catholic Health Services. I strongly object to the fact that Fidelis can refuse to cover contraceptive services and feel that Medicaid should not include it as one of the managed care options. I think the law is that for FP, you can see any Medicaid doctor and not just your plan, but it's still an unfair stumbling block to access.) All Planned Parenthood offices in this area provide chemical abortion and several do surgical.
It's not that I'm happy about so many abortions; I read that the Margaret Sanger PP clinic does 11,000 abortions a year, and I can't say I don't wince a little. But the law is a poor way of dealing with the issue. I am happy that if a woman does need an abortion, she can get one easily and safely.
And a waste of time, since New York has the most liberal abortion law in the country (passed in 1970, and even the Republicans haven't tried messing with it--it's made NYS the abortion capital of the US as people come here from other states). Abortion on demand to 24 weeks, no delays, no parental consent, no mandatory "counseling", Medicaid pays. (Unless you're on Fidelis, which is owned by Catholic Health Services. I strongly object to the fact that Fidelis can refuse to cover contraceptive services and feel that Medicaid should not include it as one of the managed care options. I think the law is that for FP, you can see any Medicaid doctor and not just your plan, but it's still an unfair stumbling block to access.) All Planned Parenthood offices in this area provide chemical abortion and several do surgical.
It's not that I'm happy about so many abortions; I read that the Margaret Sanger PP clinic does 11,000 abortions a year, and I can't say I don't wince a little. But the law is a poor way of dealing with the issue. I am happy that if a woman does need an abortion, she can get one easily and safely.
