My Journey as a Volunteer Escort at Planned Parenthood

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While juggling a full-time job, raising three children with busy schedules, and training for my second marathon, many Saturday mornings find me outside my local Planned Parenthood wearing a bright pink vest. You might wonder why I dedicate my limited free time to volunteer as a clinic escort, especially when it involves facing the hostile words of fervent anti-abortion protestors. The answer is simple: the patients seeking care at Planned Parenthood should not have to face such harassment.

Every year, I visit my OB-GYN for routine health screenings, including cervical cancer tests. When I arrive, no one shouts at me, nor do I encounter graphic posters in the parking lot. Most people likely share this experience. However, the women who depend on Planned Parenthood for essential health services must endure these indignities.

It’s crucial to note that only 3% of the services provided by Planned Parenthood involve abortions. The organization also offers birth control, STD testing, Pap smears, breast exams, and general gynecological care—all at affordable prices for both men and women. While I staunchly support the right to choose, we must not allow the controversy surrounding this issue to overshadow the vital services Planned Parenthood provides. Everyone deserves access to healthcare free from intimidation, and I feel it is my responsibility to help ensure that.

Walking into the clinic for my first orientation was daunting, especially when confronted by protestors and their signs. However, seeing the calm, smiling faces of my fellow volunteers in their pink vests was reassuring; I can only imagine how comforting that is for the patients. Research consistently demonstrates that increased access to contraception correlates with reduced abortion rates, while no evidence suggests that shouting insults at women helps. Instead, I witness distressing scenes where individuals are confronted and harassed. Just the other day, I saw a pedestrian reduced to tears after being told they were near a “baby-killing factory.” I’ve witnessed someone break protestors’ signs in anger, and I’ve seen mothers forcing their children to hold distressing signs for hours, reciting prayers.

The extreme words and actions I’ve encountered—being condemned, splashed with “holy water,” and hearing the clinic’s doctor compared to someone from Auschwitz—do nothing to stop abortions. They only add to the stress of an already challenging day.

On the flip side, the relief I see on patients’ faces when greeted by an escort is profoundly moving. Many have expressed heartfelt gratitude as they leave. I often hear honks of support from passing cars and shouts of appreciation from strangers. On cold days, coffee and treats sometimes arrive from kind supporters. The most rewarding moment is witnessing a group of pink-vested volunteers forming a protective barrier, guiding a patient through the protestors and into the clinic. For every negative experience, making that journey a little less daunting for even one person makes it all worthwhile.

Planned Parenthood played a crucial role in my life during my teenage years when I needed birth control. They were there when, at 18, I faced an unexpected pregnancy due to a birth control failure. They supported a friend who made a different choice, and I want the same for my 14-year-old daughter and her friends when they need it. Until the day comes when no daughter, sister, mother, brother, or friend walks into Planned Parenthood facing anything but a warm welcome, you’ll find me in my pink vest, smiling and ready to escort.

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In summary, my experience as a volunteer escort at Planned Parenthood has been both challenging and rewarding. It highlights the importance of providing compassionate support to those seeking care, ensuring they can do so free from harassment. My commitment to this cause stems from a deep belief that everyone deserves access to healthcare and the right to make choices about their own bodies.