Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It marks the beginning of the anti-choicers’ annual protest outside hospitals and clinics where abortions are performed.
This year, ALRANZ will spend these 40 days celebrating truth.
The protesters are well aware their efforts do not change the minds of those seeking care. Rather, it seems the protesters’ purpose is to increase the emotional cost of seeking abortion. Arrayed in front of the hospital with signs, singing hymns and staring at every woman of childbearing age who approaches the door, they embody abortion stigma.
Many of their signs carry false messages, claiming abortion causes breast cancer, infertility, depression, and anxiety. Some claim the existence of condition they call ‘post-abortion syndrome’. None of these claims are true.
We proclaim ourselves to be pro-truth.
For the next 40 days, each day we will post and tweet one fact about abortion to counter the lies of anti-choice busybodies. So keep an eye on your feeds – there may be something there you didn’t know before.