This happens at our clinics. It does indeed cause problems.

[moominmuppet]

We have antis wearing similar vests at our clinics. At least in our case they're a different color (theirs are red, ours are yellow). It does indeed seriously confuse the patients and make a stressful situation even worse. As does their tactic of using common traffic hand-signals to get people to react automatically, and stop right where they can get surrounded. At least we managed to get the cops to make them give up the actual "STOP" sign they were carrying for a while.

Damn, this is reminding me how much I miss clinic escorting. It's so damned hard on my body, especially in winter, but I really feel the loss. I miss doing something I'm so certain is important. I miss the conversations with the patients and their partners. I miss the comraderie with the other escorts and clinic employees. I even miss the chance to piss off the antis just by being there and not being afraid of them. I miss standing up to bullying assholes, and the reminder of my own power that brings. I miss laughing over their ideas of insults (I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be insulted and hurt that you think I'm queer?), preferably loudly, and in their faces. Come spring, I really need to suck down the meds and get back out there, at least occasionally.

The blogger at Everysaturdaymorning, a pro-choice clinic escort in Louisville, KY, has posted pictures and video of the latest disgusting tactic from the antis outside their clinic: wearing fake escort vests.

Escorts wear bright orange vests that say things like "Pro-Choice Clinic Escort" in an attempt to clearly identify ourselves to patients. Even so, the space outside a clinic where anti-choicers have gathered can be incredibly confusing for patients, those accompanying them, and even passers by on the street. Some protesters simply stand off to the side and pray. I don't like the atmosphere of shame they create, but it's the antis we call chasers or sidewalk stalkers who cause the biggest problems. They will do almost anything to harass people going in and out of a reproductive health clinic, which is why pro-choice escorts are necessary - we're not protesters, we're just trying to make it possible for women to access abortion and other medical care. Interactions happen so quickly, and the milieu outside a clinic can be so confusing for someone who didn't expect to be harassed by ideologues on her way to the doctor, that we already have to work hard to make it clear who works with the clinic and who is trying to get in a patient's way.

Yes, the vests these antis are wearing say "Life Escort." Which, I am sure, is not an attempt to accurately identify themselves. They know what a baffling mess they create, and they know the word "Life" is unlikely to be read until after they've forced a patient to listen to them, if at all.

I hope this tactic makes it clear to folks that sidewalk stalkers aren't trying to help women make decisions about abortion informed by so-called "pro-life" beliefs. Rather, they are outside clinics to trick and harass women out of seeking reproductive health care, regardless of what the patient actually thinks, wants, and needs.

I look forward to hearing from KY escorts about how they handle this despicable tactic.

To get a sense of what the brave pro-choice clinic escorts are dealing with in Louisville, check out the the video and transcript of an anti verbally harassing a patient after the jump. A warning that it may be triggering, especially to anyone who's not used to hearing this rhetoric.

A note on icon choice: I really should get myself a pro-choice icon that doesn't include me smiling, because when I'm posting on the topic, I'm usually pretty flamingly pissed off. Still, this is a crop of a pic from The March for Women's Lives, which is why I use it.

Comments

[dougs.livejournal.com]

It's difficult to convey how extraordinary this situation seems to someone from the UK. It's hard to imagine a society which makes it so hard for people to exercise their free choice, and it's yet another reason to be glad that I don't have to live in the USA.

Good luck finding a way to keep up the good work. And I totally get the bit about being reminded of your own power.

[wldrose.livejournal.com]

They are not "Pro Life" They tend to want to send people to die in war and many many are pro death penelty. I refuse to use their termonalagy they are Anti Abortion im glad to see others agree with me.

ash

Ugh yes

[lilyofthewest.livejournal.com]

We have one protester who wears an orange reflective safety vest (the DC area escorts wear neon orange jerseys). Fortunately/unfortunately she also rocks a plastic baby-doll and sings lullabyes over her bullhorn while sitting on the sidewalk in her folding rocking chair. I think her obvious display of crazy prevents any of the patients from being even briefly confused.

[lordq42.livejournal.com]

thank you for providing the service you do. I find the concept of Abortion distasteful, but until no person has to suffer an unwanted pregnancy, its necessary, and those idiots who stand outside yelling at already stressed women in need would be far better served spending some time volunteering with kids who need help, the after affects of a woman who chose life. For the record, I am Pro Choice, my personal choice has been life, but your choice is just that, your choice to make, not mine.

I believe in choice

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I can't add much to what the others have said here. I wish I had an idea for how to make things easier. I got nothing but prayers and good thoughts for all of you and you'll have that in plenty.

There are the sick, the crushingly poor, the hungry, the homeless...I find it hard to take "pro-lifers" seriously when these people step over the bodies of the needy to protest the sanctity of life. Seems to me they think the sanctity of life stops at birth.