Standing on the Side of Love: Protecting Reproductive Rights
This text is the transcript from the Murray UU Church homily on February 16, 2025, delivered by Zoom because of snow, by Larry, Carol, and Kasey. Due to threats from the anti-choice community, our presenters have asked that we not include their last names.
Here’s a listing of Reproductive Resources.
Larry:
My name is Larry. I live locally and am here with Kasey who lives in the Worcester area, and Carol who lives on the North Shore, both are here because they were very strong advocates for reproductive rights and the importance of staying strong in the face of what we’re going to be looking at for the next couple of years. Here’s a word about each one of them.
Carol is a long time volunteer with Planned Parenthood in Boston. And before we go any further, I should tell you that Carol and I believe, is volunteers with Planned Parenthood. We don’t work for Planned Parenthood. We don’t get paid by Planned Parenthood. We don’t get free parking in Parenthood. We did get a fanny pack and that was kind of cool, but that’s about it. [laughter from congregation] We do not speak of Planned Parenthood. We want to speak for ourselves here.
Carol is there in the background there when it’s, minus ten degrees, she’s there in, well, it’s over 90 degrees. She’s supposed to be the most dedicated person we have in Boston, but 65, this was in March, and she is number one here as far as I’m concerned. Her social media has been hacked. They found underneath the username to her face, screaming at her from about a foot away from her 20 straight minutes one day.
But She also knows more about the biology portion than anybody I know, so she’s a very valuable resource. You know what? What she has to say today. Casey, has a very compelling personal story to tell about reproductive rights. And she also has a personal story to tell you about these fake clinics that Monica mentioned. A few minutes ago, they had discussed one being in Attleboro one of them would have a world where we help out at.
And Kasey will give you a very, very interesting story about that. Finally. Right. I’ll talk a little bit about what’s happening, nationally on the abortion front, abortion rights front, and I can give you a spoiler alert right now. None of it’s very good right now. We’re kind of on our heels and I’ll talk a little bit about, but that will be very important, I promise you that.
So all that said, I’m going to turn this over, Carol, right now, and, she can talk to you about what’s happening.at the clinic in Boston. Hi, everybody. Larry, thank you for that intro. I didn’t get you a proper introduction. You know, I probably should. Larry is a rock star. Larry is someone we all, couldn’t do without in our work.
Carol:
At Planned Parenthood. As I said, I’ve been I’ve been at a clinic there, for well over a decade. And, it’s not easy work, but it’s something that all of us who are there are committed to, sort of like I am, now going into kind of biology 101, and I want to just start by saying I am not a medical professional and I don’t play one on zoom.
I am a retired journalist, and so I operate by research and facts. So what I’m going to go over with you today is just kind of, trying to demystify all about, unwanted pregnancy, basically. So, while I’m speaking, I will be referring to pregnant people that this women and it’s anyone born with the uterus, and it includes, trans transgendered men. The first thing that we start with is what I personally call plan A, which is contraception.
And if you really want to, learn about contraception 101 I have a book I highly recommend. It’s a very provocative, Ejaculate Responsibly. It’s written by a woman who has five children. I think she’s a mormon. It’s been hugely popular. My husband read it and it opened his eyes to some things. Her name is Gabriel Blair. And basically she points out that every unwanted pregnancy is caused by men.
Now, that’s not male bashing in any way, shape or form. It’s just pure biology. And men can, get women pregnant until the day they die. They are fertile their entire lives through. So it’s just a very interesting premise. It’s a small book, a little after a hundred pages. So I can recommend you to read it. But my name really is contraception.
It’s, women, who were on the birth control pill or at the diaphragm or an IUD or, who use condoms with their partners. But as we all know, contraception can fail. And in that case, that leads us to the next steps. A lot of you have probably heard of plan B well plan B is, not at work.
Assurance itself as a term is it does not cause an abortion because it prevents fertilization. And that’s a really key distinction, because a lot of these forced birthers as we refer them to, will tell you that plan B is, a medication that can, cause abortion. That’s not the case. It prevents fertilization. So there are two types.
There’s one that’s prescription only called Ella. And there’s a second one, it’s the generic form is levonorgestrel. And that’s available over the counter. So again it’s called a morning after pill because it’s typically taken with any, anywhere present, anywhere from 3 to 5 days after unprotected sex. It does have some restrictions. There are physical weight limits to how effective it is for some person taking ways.
So people, have to, look at that very carefully. But again, there’s emergency contraception. It is not abortion causing. It prevents fertilization. What you probably have heard a lot about, you will hear more and more of that as time goes on is what’s called plan C or the “abortion pill.” Now, it’s a little bit of a misnomer because the abortion pill is really two pills.
One of the pills is Mifepristone, and the other pill is Misoprostol. And, I do a lot of work with an organization called Plan C Pills and I’m an ambassador for that. If you’re in Texas and you try on my shirt and this is the kind of prescription, if you will, for medication abortion, it’s one of the Mifepristone, pills.
And that’s four of the Misoprostol pills. So, Mifepristone,, Blocks progesterone, which is what is needed to have pregnancies. Right? Misoprostol the second drug that’s taken. Causes uterine contractions. So the two years together, prevent the pregnancy from growing and then work to expel the products of pregnancy from a person’s uterus. Mifepristone has been around for well over 20 years, solely researched and approved by the FDA.
Although, the court case that’s pending right now, there’s a judge, a forced birther judge who believes that it is, not safe. And there’s not that study well, by the FDA, which, of course, is complete bunk But but in the political climate of today, we’re all waiting to see if there’s maybe some ban on this medication. The two pills are taken within about, 2 to 3 days of each other.
And it is like 98, 95 to 98% effective. After taking the pill, someone does need to follow up, with a pregnancy test to make sure that, the parts of pregnancy are no longer, there in the person’s uterus. Abortion also can be done surgically, as we know. Although right now, about 63% of all abortions are done with medication abortion because people can do it in their own home.
They don’t have to go to a medical professional other than getting the pills, which can be done by mail. So it’s becoming more and more the method of choice for abortion. Surgical abortion is still a thing, though. And there are two types. There’s early surgical abortion, which typically is called a DNC, which is a dilation and a curettage.
So the cervix is dilated. And then with a direct scraping tool of the uterus stretching from pregnancy to remove that way. There’s also dilation in vacuum suction aspiration where the contents of pregnancy are suction of a person’s uterus. Later surgical abortion which is, after about approximately 16 weeks of pregnancy depends on the state. Depends on which provider, is a D and E that is, dilation and evacuation.
So the products of pregnancy are removed through an evacuation method. One thing that is really, really important to remember is that so-called late term abortion is not a medical term. It’s a term that was coined by the far right and the forced birthers. No medical professional uses the term and “late term abortions,” so-called, are typically only done.
As Monica explained, for someone who is very far along, pregnancy and has discovered that there are severe, catastrophic and fetal abnormalities, that may not be consistent with life. Just two other quick things. The newest tactic I’m finding on the street and very interesting. Jump into the new tactic of the first birthers is to give people little pamphlets to talk about abortion pill reversal.
This is absolute junk science. It is completely, Unproven and unscientific, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Basically. Get it? So saw someone taking huge amounts to be just around to try to rescue the products of pregnancy after taking the abortion pills. So this is the newest, claim and just science that the forced birth years and the protesters that we see on the street every day right now trying to, talk to patients about, and then we did share with Monica, there are numerous reproductive resources online that have our information about all of this, including where to get an abortion, how to get an abortion
what to expect. And then also the modality is abortion and hotlines. You can call if you’re doing a national worship. So I think that’s abortion 101..
Larry:
Okay, great. Great. Thanks a lot, awesome. Kasey. Showtime.
Kasey:
Hi, everybody. My name is Kasey, and I am from the Worcester area, and, I am here to share some experiences with you. I do not volunteer in Planned Parenthood although I did a long time ago as a teacher. But, I currently and, I think it’s important for you to know where I’m coming from.
I am a 50 year old, and I have two children. One in college and one in high school, and I am married, and, I was a teacher, for a long time, and I’m currently an artist, but I volunteer for classroom. I also volunteer for Stand in Pride, and now I need to go to sleep.
So I’ve got some diversity in the things that I try to help out with, but, But I think it’s important for you to know, especially now, where people are coming from, that you listen to. So, I want to start by sharing my experience and that 1994. So in 1994, I was a freshman in college, and, I was, that year I had my wisdom teeth removed.
I had, major knee surgery, it was the worst, and the easiest recovery, both emotionally and physically, was the abortion that I had. My story, like many, I had my birth control failed. It was not a long term relationship. I was freshman in college and I did not want to be pregnant. 1994 is pre-abortion pills, which are very easy to get if you want to on the internet.
Everybody can get them. You don’t have to be pregnant to get them. And it’s not a bad thing to have in your arsenal right now. So, that said in 1994 your only option was a search for abortion and, I went to a clinic outside of Boston and, looked in the yellow pages for guidance, and, I chose the clinic that was relatively close to my parents house.
I did not have transportation from my school out in Amherst So I had to make an excuse to come home. And I [?] So I scheduled my two appointments. I had to have one. so I can go in and by law and I talked to them about what my options were, and then, I had to make a second appointment to go back and have the procedure done.
I come from a very religious family. So I couldn’t tell my parents about what was going on. They would have forced me to have a baby in 19, and I did not use my insurance because of this. Because they did not want my parents to find out what, what’s going on. So I had to pay cash for my procedure, which I could only afford the procedure and about the situation involved.
So on the day of my second appointment, I drove into the city. Were outside the city, and I knew I wanted to terminate the pregnancy that was I knew it was my right to choose what I wanted to do with my life and my body and the future life that I wanted to live. But I also new to feel shame because I couldn’t tell anyone, I it was judgment that made it emotionally confusing for me and not the procedure that was involved.
The shame was confirmed by the man who was standing outside of clinic that day with some sort of fetus in a jar screaming at me. As I walked into the home, into the clinic, and he put that fetus right on my face and told me that I should be ashamed of myself. And I already felt ashamed of myself.
So he only confirmed what it was that I was supposed to feel. I opened the double doors and I stood right inside and I just cried. The way this clinic was set up was that each woman got a hospital gown, and, they were put about 12 of us in a room together, and every ten minutes or so, they would call a name.
My name was called Southern Bell, and, this was one of the most empowering times of my life, sitting in that room with those women, who range from me at 19 to a woman in her 50s who had teenagers. These women were from all different financial, educational and family backgrounds. All have one thing in common. All of these women did not want to be pregnant, and all of these women comforted each other and shared their stories and their lives.
And their house. One was raped, several already had children and so were older and didn’t want to have any more kids and so couldn’t afford to have a child, but all the children that they already had. The lady with teenagers, she put her arm around me at the time, right, and told me that my future children would thank me for this, and so would my future self.
And these women were fierce and powerful and vulnerable and shamed, but they were all very, very sure that they wanted an abortion. When it was my turn, a kind nurse walked me sobbing into a sterile room, and I wanted my mom. The nurse hugged me and while I cried She told me that she would sedate me at no charge, which was what I did.
I woke up next to all of these women, but we didn’t talk to each other and I lied about on the ground and I left. Over the next two days, I saw that I had stomach bug and I stayed in bed. I kept looking, but I was still very sad. I thought it was good because that was what I was supposed to feel, but it was just hormones.
And in a couple of weeks, those hormones regulated themselves. And in my sadness and my feelings went away and I moved forward with my life. And I’ve never once regretted that decision. Ultimately, though, my parents found out and they did not speak to me for a very long time and told me that they were ashamed of me. That was the trauma, that and the god damn fetus.
Now I look back and I think that none of those people live a life free of mistakes. And I the only one who gets to live my life and I live unapologetically to live my life. And the most important part of my story is the two people that came out of it. My children. I have a daughter at Saint Lawerence named Lucie and she is 20, and she is fierce and powerful, and she is going to do amazing, amazing things in her life.
And my son is 15 and he is in high school and he is studying well, and he is an incredible human being. And neither of those people would be here if I hadn’t made the choice that I did And I think often we forget about the people that happen after we move on with our lives. I do want to talk briefly about, the crisis pregnancy centers and what they’re all about.
They are all over the country, and these are typically referred to in the, pro-choice movement as, CPCs. And they are fake clinics. They’re designed to look like a real clinic. And the people inside are very, very deceptive. They are not medical professionals, so they are not bound by HIPPA laws. But when you walk into one, everybody’s wearing a lab coat and it looks like you’re walking into a doctor’s office.
Often they look exactly like a clinic in the facade outside. And their name it sounds like one. They’re in most states placed right near the clinic, within a block proximity. So it’s confusing as to where it is that you, Monica. Even if you just get the wrong directions. I know in, Attleboro, they are actually right next to each other.
So, the primary aim is to dissuade people from obtaining the abortion and it’s there goal. There are 2633 of these in the United States, and there are 30 in Massachusetts. And that is compared to the 18 clinics that we have in Massachusetts to have an abortion, and 11 telehealth companies that you can call for an abortion.
So they outnumber even in Massachusetts, in the Department of Health. In Massachusetts, they declared that they would not, in fact, fund these clinics, and our governor has in 2024, in June, has dedicated a $1 million to an initiative across the state to inform people about what is the deceptive practices of these clinics. But in so in Massachusetts, there are mostly funded by anti-choice groups, some religious groups and individuals.
So but in other states, these receive a substantial amount of public funding, and it’s through both state and federal programs. And unfortunately, they are usually funneled out of programs that are like the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the CARES act and FEMA funds that are diverted into these by the states, unapologetically both Texas and Florida have budgeted millions and millions and millions of dollars in their states towards these clinics.
And I, I can tell you so many more that about them. But, if you look up CPCs and where they come from and how they’re funded, license plates that save for life on the net all goes to the CPCs. But one thing I did do is I, I was very curious about the practices. So I went to work and I went to one in Worcester, and it was one that had a pending lawsuit, for, [?] of women had an hypoxic pregnancy when she had gone in and they did not give her the opportunity to state or provide that.
So so I went in and I am 50, I had two children and I my last pregnancy, they told me not to have any more kids. I just shouldn’t. And I would be at bed rest the whole time. So I wanted to find information and told them that I was pregnant and there was no and and I was concerned about the pregnancy, and I told them that I wasn’t sure that I should keep this and I informed them.
of my medical condition of how I was told I was high risk by doctors and that I should not have a baby and, I told them to take the pregnancy test. I did not want to, exam. They never changed my words. What? I used the terms they confirmed to my what I was saying. And they were champions at diversion and just steering me around from what I was asking to the words that they are legally allowed to use.
And they sat me on a in an exam room, and they talked to me in there and, they told me that they could help me. A lot of offers of diapers, there was no talk about of my age and how this could complicate my life, my children, my family. And then when I left, they said to me, you have time.
You can come back and talk to us later. And that was kind of how it was left. And it was a very odd experience. But I know that if that 19 year old me had walked into that place as opposed to the 50 year old me, I would’ve been deceived because I was vulnerable. And that was the difference in walking into this place now, because said I wasn’t vulnerable.
So. I think that it is important for us to stay informed about these crisis pregnancy centers, the way that they are funded in our government. And there are really sneaky practices coming up about funding these places, funding other programs, both at the state and the federal level. And, I think that we just need to continue to stay informed.
And also stay informed within our own state as to what our governor is trying her initiatives, on this subject. So, I think I’m going to leave it at that, but I do appreciate you all, being here to listen to my story and, yeah, that I want to commend all of you who are going and helping and volunteering and going out in Attleboro, they really, really needed it.
And, the multi-generational support for this initiative for the support for abortion services and bodily autonomy are so important. And I congratulate all of you for being involved.
Larry:
Thank you, Miss Kasey. I appreciate it very much. Kasey and I are part of the group that occasionally speaks at area colleges. Last October, we were at one of the local colleges here, and a question came up, it was October, a couple of weeks before the election.
The question came up, but where is the movement headed? After the election? Pretty obviously, depending on who won from one or two different directions well it didn’t go where they wanted to. So because of that, basically a couple of things that I just want to mention very, very briefly here. Number one, it’s already been an effort in Congress when Republicans have proposed a national abortion ban. I don’t think it passed.
I don’t think you want to do that. But I will say this, if it does pass through Congress and I’m wrong about that, I pretty much guarantee that Donald Trump will sign it. Well, if it does pass, I don’t think it will, but who knows? I didn’t think it would get to this for, this far as it’s come.
The second thing, immediately, what we’re dealing with right now, you may have heard it, and they have heard about it and not have heard about it but it’s called the FACE Act, F. A. C. E. Act it that stands for Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances. Donald Trump and Donald Trump, let the January 6th insurrectionists out of jail. They also pardoned several violators the FACE Act that, which means that they basically what they did is they blocked clinic entrances in violation of federal law.
And he was sent to jail for it. Well, he let them out of jail,, not only that, not only do they let him out of jail, but he said that the federal government would not enforce the FACE Act violations, what he should be doing as the chief executive officer of the United States. So where does that leave us?
On the street right now? Those of us who deal with the protesters, it’s all happening right now in live time. We’re not really sure how it’s all going to shake down. We don’t even think that all of the protesters know that, this one law will not be enforced. We don’t know how that’s going to shake down, we’re thinking about all of that right now.
So where are we now? What do we do? Given the fact of Donald Trump’s election, the fact that we’re kind of on our heels right now, last month, many times I approve a new CEO, Richard Simmons, the president. And apparently nationally, she passed away about three weeks ago, I remember correctly, Richards was a very strong spokesperson for, women’s health care, abortion rights,, and she said this When was there’s so much at stake for our country, when there was so much at stake for a country.
What did you do? And she said the only acceptable answer is everything. We could. With that in mind, Kasey and Carol, we do what we can. We welcome anybody who wants to help other than some of you in service today. And, joining me already doing that. Appreciate it. So that’s what we have in mind. We continue to fight the good fight.
We don’t know where it’s going to lead, but we’ll do our best. And thank you so much for everybody for being one for the ride with us. Thank you.
