Mabel Wadsworth Center’s former and current executive directors, Ruth L. Lockhart and Andrea Irwin, at the National Abortion Federation Awards Lunch.
Several clinical and administrative staff attended the recent annual meeting held by National Abortion Federation (NAF), the professional association of abortion providers, to network, learn, and celebrate.
The highlight of the conference was the membership luncheon where our co-founder and former executive director Ruth L. Lockhart received the C. Lalor Burdick Award, honoring “unsung heroes” whose dedication and contributions have, too often, gone unrecognized outside of their facilities and communities. Linda Griebsch, executive director of Joan G. Lovering Health Center, our sister feminist clinic in Portsmouth, NH, presented Ruth with the award.
In her remarks, Linda described Ruth’s collaborative spirit and strong mentoring of the next generation of feminist activists. She also spoke of Ruth’s commitment to advocating healthcare access for rural communities and women with low income, a tradition we are proud to continue today. Ruth previously served on NAF’s Board of Directors and was instrumental in helping to create Feminist Abortion Network (FAN), the network of independent, not-for-profit feminist abortion providers. Several of Ruth’s FAN colleagues were also there to celebrate with us, including leaders from Preterm in Ohio; Equality Health Center in NH; Feminist Women’s Health Center in GA: and South Wind Women’s Center in OK and KS. We are so proud of Ruth and the amazing work she has done over three decades to provide abortion care in our community and across Maine. Congratulations, Ruth!
Mabel Wadsworth Center’s co-founder and nurse practitioner, Terry Marley-DeRosier, with Dr. Willie Parker
We also had the pleasure of meeting and hearing remarks from Dr. Willie Parker, author of “Life’s Work, A Moral Argument for Choice” chronicling his own journey to provide abortion care because of, not in spite of, his Christian background and faith. Dr. Parker is one of the few providers in the South, focusing his practice exclusively on abortion care in rural communities of color in places that are hostile to reproductive rights.
Don’t miss it – a signed copy of Dr. Parker’s new book will be included in our upcoming silent auction!
We are proud to be members of NAF and salute their work to keep abortion providers safe from clinic violence; to promote safe, high-quality abortion care through training, education, and advocacy; and its financial support of women seeking abortion through its Hotline Fund. Thanks to the Hotline Fund, we are able to help eligible women seeking abortion care pay for their abortions instead of delaying or going without necessary care.
Every year we provide the opportunity for our interns to attend the Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP) Conference titled “From Abortion Rights to Social Justice, Building a Movement for Reproductive Freedom.” Enjoy this post by our intern, Jessie Carignan, about her empowering experience at the conference this year. Jessie is a fourth-year student at the University of Maine studying Sociology and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality studies. She is an active member of the Student Women’s Association and the Student Alliance for Sexual Health.
As part of my internship with Mabel Wadsworth Center, I traveled to Amherst, MA, to attend the annual Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP) Conference, surrounded by powerful activists and professionals. CLPP is dedicated to inspiring, educating and mentoring new generations to be advocates for reproductive rights and health and social and economic justice, so naturally, I was in paradise.
As a student living in Orono, Maine, it can be hard to feel like I am doing my part in making a difference in this resistance when mobilizing is not as visible/accessible as it is in major cities. Surrounding myself with over 1,000 activists rekindled the fire in me, reminding me that this is not a small movement. The opportunity to connect with activists from across the nation to learn how to achieve social justice is one of the most empowering things that I have ever done.
The CLPP conference offers over 80 different workshops throughout the weekend covering topics from abortion, immigrant rights, racial justice, queering reproductive rights, criminalized communities and more. In addition to the workshops, the first night of the conference was dedicated to an abortion speak out, an experience so moving and powerful that it enlightened my understanding of the diversity of abortion experiences.
The abortion speak out began with a listing of community agreements in order to keep the space safe and respectful for all of those willing to share their stories with us. At the beginning of the speak out it took a long time for the first person to walk up to the stage to share their story. The following speakers expressed gratitude for the bravery of speakers before them, illuminating the power of storytelling. The stories ranged vastly in experience, including but not limited to, late term abortions, gender non-conforming abortion patients, young patients, old patients, patients who faced unjust state restrictions and LGBTQ+ patients. The speak out expanded my understanding that abortions are not a universal story, and the vitalness of keeping in mind that accessibility, experience, and dialogue surrounding abortion must be mindful and inclusive.
Over the course of the weekend, I attended four different workshops; Building Intergenerational/Intersectional Campaigns with Wendy Davis (pictured above), The War on Immigration: Immigration Justice in Dangerous Times, Reproductive Justice Beyond Bars and Appropriate Whiteness with Loretta Ross. Each workshop was extremely informative and motivating, and taught me about the political process for supporting/rejecting bills, how immigrant rights are being stripped by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and they negative effects of the “good immigrant, bad immigrant” dichotomy, the reproductive rights, or lack thereof, of people in prisons and how to be an effective ally to people of color.
The conference organizers created an effective learning space for new or experienced activists. More specifically, Loretta Ross spoke about social justice arenas as a mutual learning space for all involved. She explained that we all make mistakes, and it can be hard to keep up with the correct language, but it’s more important to use your voice and make a mistake, rather than pretending issues do not exist. Ross stressed the importance of not shaming others for being “woke” at different times, rather let’s celebrate the fact that they finally woke up. These were two of the most important lessons I learned at the conference.
As a young student activist with minimal advocacy experience, it is very easy for me to get intimidated by the brilliance and bravery of activists around me, ultimately making me question my place in the resistance. However, CLPP reassured my place in this movement and empowered me to persist relentlessly. The words of Loretta Ross and other panelists made me feel welcome and encouraged me to welcome others, an important takeaway for all of us.
Green sued the government over a provision in the Affordable Care Act that required employers to provide contraception coverage so he wouldn’t have to cover birth control for his employees, a case that ultimately went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, Green’s inaccurate opinion that several birth control methods cause abortion and are thus contrary to his religious faith was upheld by the court.
Now consider a single mother, we’ll call her Kelly. She’s employed by Hobby Lobby and makes $14 an hour. That’s higher than minimum wage, but certainly not enough to cover the $1,000 out-of-pocket cost for an intrauterine device — the most effective form of reversible birth control — while juggling child care, groceries, and rent for herself and two kids. Enter Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court. In his presumably infinite wisdom, Gorsuch sided with billionaire evangelist Green over Kelly, and he is now just 60 votes away from a lifetime appointment to our nation’s highest court.
It is unconscionable for a billionaire CEO to impose his personal, scientifically inaccurate belief that birth control causes abortion on others, especially as a reason to deny safe, effective health care for his employees. It is even worse for a court charged with protecting individual rights to agree.
Judge Gorsuch’s extremely conservative viewpoint about the role of personal religious beliefs to inform the rule of law is far outside mainstream American values of personal autonomy and separation of church and state. He even called the use of birth control “ wrongful conduct” that results in “ moral culpability.” By siding with Hobby Lobby and powerful corporations, Judge Gorsuch made it clear that he is the wrong choice for the Supreme Court.
Together we have nearly a century of experience advocating for reproductive rights and would stake our reputations on our belief that Gorsuch will do whatever he can to dismantle Roe v. Wade and other key protections that have allowed a generation of women to achieve economic advancement and greater equality.
Gorsuch’s radical conservative agenda would disproportionately harm women of color, young women, immigrant women, trans women and poor women who are further oppressed by government and society in ways we are just beginning to truly examine and respond to. Now is the time to rise, react and resist. We will simply not accept representatives putting their political ambitions ahead of Maine people.
We cannot afford to back down when it comes to our opposition of this nomination. There must be massive pressure on our senators to reject a nominee whose views are not in line with Mainers’ values and completely out of touch with the realities of women’s lives. We deserve a nominee who will protect our constitutional rights to birth control, abortion and freedom to marry who we love. Sen. Susan Collins, in particular, cannot in good conscience support Gorsuch and continue to run on a “pro-choice” platform. Not on our watch.
Mabel Wadsworth Center exists because we recognized the increasing encroachment of political power — cloaked primarily in the name of religion — on our fundamental rights to get basic health care. When Reagan introduced the first global gag rule in 1984, we knew a revolutionary act was needed. We created a women’s health center that would neither seek nor accept federal or state funds — other than reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare — to provide reproductive health care in our community. More than three decades later, the need for an independent and unrestricted voice is even more important.
With an administration laser-focused on dismantling decades of progress, the time to act is now, and we will not be ignored or silenced.
We call on our community to rise up and demand that women’s health and social justice be placed above partisan politics or wealthy corporate interests. For more than three decades, we’ve maintained our independence and bold vision for abortion access and other essential health care, but with the unprecedented fights we’re facing, our resistance is just getting started.
As part of an unprecedented increase in nationwide grassroots activism, Mabel Wadsworth Center and Planned Parenthood supporters came together to call out Congressman Bruce Poliquin for failing to stand up for women’s healthcare at an event outside his Bangor office this morning.
Remarks by Andrea Irwin, Executive Director, Mabel Wadsworth Center
Good morning. My name is Andrea Irwin. I am the Executive Director of Mabel Wadsworth Center here in Bangor. Since 1984, we have provided sexual and reproductive health care to our community. We serve more than 1,200 patients a year and provide more than 3,000 total clinical visits. As a not-for-profit, independent feminist health center, we do not accept federal or state funds other than reimbursements through Medicaid and Medicare.
While we do offer reduced fees for people without insurance, we have limited funding to do so, and are well aware how important health coverage is for women of the second district and all of Maine. Before the Affordable Care Act, women were less likely to get the health care they need in a timely manner, because they were either uninsured or underinsured and faced high deductibles that made their preventive care, including birth control, unaffordable.
I cannot overstate how significant the impact the ACA has been for women in our community because we see firsthand the women benefiting at our health center every single day. We know that women often make decisions about health care based on costs and many would otherwise delay or even skip care altogether. And it goes beyond health; access to health care is critical to helping women take care of their own health and be able to go to work or school, take care of their families, and achieve financial stability.
We also know many Mainers depend upon Planned Parenthood for health care and even more support both Planned Parenthood and Mabel Wadsworth Center for the critical care each of our organizations provide. This support doesn’t evaporate when you travel between Congressional districts. The fact is Planned Parenthood patients come from all over the state including people we refer to them.
Quite simply, we know Congressman Poliquin is wrong. We know our supporters understand the importance of both Planned Parenthood and the entire network of family planning providers in our state. Together we are the sexual and reproductive health care experts in Maine and a critical safety net for women with low income. Bruce Poliquin’s stances on the ACA and Planned Parenthood are out of touch with his constituents here in the 2nd Congressional district.
It is unacceptable for him to bury his head in the sand and claim that taking away access to health care for millions of people does not impact our community and the constituents he was elected to serve. Our community needs and seeks health care at physicians’ offices, hospitals and independent providers like us. And they also go to Planned Parenthood.
At both Planned Parenthood and Mabel Wadsworth Center, we offer a unique space and atmosphere that is compassionate and nonjudgmental. We see women who have never felt comfortable seeking health care in other places. They may be afraid, embarrassed, ashamed, or just overwhelmed. While federally qualified health centers are certainly well-suited to provide general health care to many of these folks, there are numerous reasons beyond geography a person might need to seek health care elsewhere.
In rural, remote communities, like many here in the 2nd District, a woman might not feel comfortable getting birth control from her boss’s husband or ex-boyfriend’s new wife who happen to be health center staff. We are able to offer a higher level of privacy, anonymity, and confidentiality. Additionally, there are services that we at Mabel Wadsworth and Planned Parenthood provide that are part of our comprehensive approach to women’s health and overall wellness.
We offer both a full range of contraceptive services with high-quality, expert care; and offer hours that accommodate women’s busy lives compared to other safety net providers, such as federally qualified health centers (FQHC) and health departments.
Other health centers also recognize our unique expertise – In one study of Community Health Centers (CHCs) 69 percent reported referring their patients to family planning providers, like Planned Parenthood health centers, for family planning care.
Congressman Poliquin is just out of touch with the ways his constituents in this district access health care. His map includes the Bangor homeless shelter; Dirigo Pines, a retirement home in Orono; and a nursing home in Howland. While I have no doubt that the residents at these locations get access to the services they need, they certainly aren’t able to provide the same services as Planned Parenthood. It’s no wonder the American Public Health Association says it’s “ludicrous” for politicians to claim that other providers could simply absorb Planned Parenthood’s patients.
Mabel Wadsworth Center and our supporters are proud to stand with Planned Parenthood today and every day. We also stand with the majority of Americans; the 7 in 10 Americans who support Planned Parenthood.
When Planned Parenthood, our nation’s largest provider of reproductive health care, is under attack, we are all under attack. Instead of standing up for his constituents to protect our care, Bruce Poliquin suggests that Planned Parenthood patients can get care elsewhere – and then offers up school-based health centers and nursing homes!
His response shows how deeply disconnected he is from women’s lives and the importance of access to reproductive health services to our community.
We call on Congressman Poliquin to support both Planned Parenthood and the broader Affordable Care Act’s benefits for women’s health. The women and families of the second district deserve it.
Remarks by Catherine Kurr, Patient and Board Member, Mabel Wadsworth Center
Good morning, my name is Catherine Kurr. I am a both board member and patient of Mabel Wadsworth Center and have worked to support women my entire career as an advocate for victims of domestic abuse. I am speaking out today because I have personally benefitted from the Affordable Care Act’s women’s health provision and have seen its impact on women served by Mabel Wadsworth Center and in our community.
I feel incredibly fortunate because I have always had health insurance through my employer. Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I had a plan with a high deductible and had to pay out of pocket for monthly birth control and ultimately was unhappy with the way my body responded to the pill. I talked to my provider at Mabel Wadsworth Center and learned about the options available to me and decided an IUD would be the best choice. Thanks to the ACA’s women’s health benefits, I was able to get an IUD, my preferred method of birth control, last year, at no cost. Without the ACA coverage, my out-of-pocket cost would have been about $800 — about the same amount I pay for my monthly mortgage payment. While I may have still made the decision to eventually get the IUD and pay out-of-pocket, doing so would have had a significant impact on my household budget and I would have been forced to wait until I had saved up the money. Instead, I was relieved to be able to get the health care I needed without delay.
For me, having an IUD means peace of mind – the device I chose lasts up to 5 years. I don’t have to think about taking a pill every day or pick up prescriptions, and my overall health has improved since starting the IUD. But, even more important, it means I have the ability to make decisions about my own body, to be empowered to decide what’s best for me and my life right now. Because of birth control, I am able to work full-time, be an active member of my community, without having to worry about an unintended pregnancy.
Having worked in the field of advocacy on behalf of women for more than 10 years, I also know the ACA has made a difference to the lives of other women in our community, especially those who have lower income or are self-employed. The ACA has given many Mainers health coverage for the first time, allowing them the ability to access health care and take better care of themselves. For women, the impact has been substantial. The preventive health benefits cover much more than birth control and include annual well-woman visits and cancer screenings like pap smears and mammograms; HIV and STI testing and treatment; breastfeeding supplies and counseling; as well as interpersonal violence screenings and counseling services. Because of the ACA, women are better able to manage their own healthcare, and pursue their educational and professional goals. They are also more likely to be able to get the support they need to be free from abuse and recover from the trauma caused by violence.
It is essential that Congressman Poliquin and the rest of Maine’s Congressional delegation protect women’s health care by opposing any efforts to repeal the ACA. Without affordable health care options, especially birth control and other preventive health care, women in Maine and across the country will suffer. As our representative, we need Congressman Poliquin to stand up on behalf of women’s health and Maine people.
Here’s a guide to what’s got our attention this week. If you think we should include an article or update for our community next time, please let us know!
With record-breaking women’s marches across the globe, the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and inauguration of a new president, the week is full of both inspiration and “alternate” facts. We rely on real facts, especially when they educate us on the dozens of harmful proposals lurking, and help us to make informed decisions about policies that affect our health and lives. So, for this week, here are the most pressing issues facing Mabel Wadsworth Center along with a few articles to highlight brave, resilient voices from our community.
Fighting abortion stigma to help reduce the shame and isolation women feel is critically important. This woman’s story highlights how stigmatizing this experience can be, even for someone who’s worked as a reproductive rights advocate and clinic worker.
Constitutional lawyer Kristina Kippins has a poignant piece in Glamour on breaking her silence to share her own abortion story as a woman of color amidst white male politicians less educated on the issues attempting to frame abortion restrictions in the guise of “helping” black women.
Here in Maine, our Woman Power recipient Ruth Lamdan was featured in an article alongside other feminist leaders with a reminder for the younger generation to stay engaged and deepen our activism.
Less than a week into office, President Trump is wreaking havoc on women’s health and rights. Feminist writer and activist Jessica Valenti has a fantastic summary in The Guardian. While it’s terrible news, it’s not surprising that Trump has reinstated the global gag rule. Also known as the “Mexico City” policy, this rule prohibits international aid organizations that provide or promote abortion from receiving any federal funding or foreign aid. Unfortunately, presidents have been doing this since Reagan. Click here to learn more about Mabel Wadsworth Center’s funding.
Whether you get your health coverage from Obamacare’s Marketplace or not, your health care will be impacted by attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Our friends at Consumers for Affordable Health Care have a helpful list of questions to ask Senator Collins about her so-called “replacement” plan.
As you probably know, Congressional Republicans are also trying to de-fund Planned Parenthood. A former Republican state legislator has an op-ed in the Press Herald with detailed, fact-based reasons for her opposition. While we agree this is a horrendous plan that should be opposed, it’s essential that we continue to talk about the importance of funding for abortion care and not further stigmatize abortion in this debate. It is equally shameful that Congress cut off funding for women’s health services like pap smears and birth control, as it is to refuse to allow federal funds for abortion care as they did in passing H.R. 7, a bill to make the Hyde Amendment permanent and prohibit any public funds or insurance companies from covering abortion care. Now, more than ever, we must call out politicians who fail to connect meaningful abortion access with women’s health. So when you share your concerns about funding for Planned Parenthood with your member of Congress, please be sure to also voice your concerns about H.R. 7 and its discriminatory impact on women of color, women with low income and young women.
The administration’s indication that it may cut Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs that serve people affected by sexual assault and domestic violence and support efforts in prevention is also troubling. According to our friends at Spruce Run-Womancare Alliance, “this funding is a significant support for the Alliance and the services we provide in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, to our sister projects across the state, and to a unified response to abuse in our country.”
Finally, to continue Roe week, we recommend you check out a reading in Bangor this Saturday by author Mira Ptacin, sponsored by the Norumbega Collective. The Peaks Island, Maine-based author describes her own abortion experience in her memoir, Poor Your Soul.
To end on a high note, if you’re feeling helpless or hopeless right now, read this by Amy Hagstrom Miller, the owner of Whole Woman’s Health and a leading advocate for reproductive rights. And then print it out and tape it on your fridge to read it again to be reminded of hope and find strength in our collective voices, resistance, and power.
