DeclinetoState
06-03-2005, 01:10 PM
http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/living/1117099929303600.xml?lxlif&coll=2
A warrior for choice is stepping down
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Connie Schultz
Plain Dealer Columnist
Betsey Kaufman started figuring out where she stood on the issue of abortion the day she met the pregnant 11-year-old whose grandfather was pimping her for cash.
Kaufman was the director of Planned Parenthood in Mansfield in 1977 when a female relative of the frightened child walked her through the agency's doors and asked for help.
"I got knots in my stomach," Kaufman said. "It was horrible. Her grandfather was her legal guardian, and the only reason that child came to us was because she had finally told this relative what was happening. I was 35, and I had never, ever heard about something like this.
"Unfortunately," she added, "I've heard far worse stories in Cleveland."
After nearly 30 years advocating for reproductive rights, including the last 18 as CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland, Kaufman is stepping down.
"Don't call it retiring," she said, grinning as she inevitably does no matter how tough the talk. "It's a rewiring. I'm still thinking about what to do next."
...
She has spent nearly three decades courageously standing toe to toe with those hellbent on robbing women of the right to control their own bodies, and she has done this at considerable personal risk.
In 1993, Operation Rescue launched a national campaign to picket the homes of those working at abortion and family-planning clinics. Kaufman knew she was a target, and so she walked up and down the street of her East Cleveland home and warned the neighbors. Their response heartened her.
"I told them what I did for a living and said I was sorry that this might happen. To a person, they were supportive."
"She has spent nearly three decades courageously standing toe to toe with those hellbent on robbing women of the right to control their own bodies, and she has done this at considerable personal risk."
Yeah, I hear those Bible-thumping pro-life activists can be pretty dangerous.
A warrior for choice is stepping down
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Connie Schultz
Plain Dealer Columnist
Betsey Kaufman started figuring out where she stood on the issue of abortion the day she met the pregnant 11-year-old whose grandfather was pimping her for cash.
Kaufman was the director of Planned Parenthood in Mansfield in 1977 when a female relative of the frightened child walked her through the agency's doors and asked for help.
"I got knots in my stomach," Kaufman said. "It was horrible. Her grandfather was her legal guardian, and the only reason that child came to us was because she had finally told this relative what was happening. I was 35, and I had never, ever heard about something like this.
"Unfortunately," she added, "I've heard far worse stories in Cleveland."
After nearly 30 years advocating for reproductive rights, including the last 18 as CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater Cleveland, Kaufman is stepping down.
"Don't call it retiring," she said, grinning as she inevitably does no matter how tough the talk. "It's a rewiring. I'm still thinking about what to do next."
...
She has spent nearly three decades courageously standing toe to toe with those hellbent on robbing women of the right to control their own bodies, and she has done this at considerable personal risk.
In 1993, Operation Rescue launched a national campaign to picket the homes of those working at abortion and family-planning clinics. Kaufman knew she was a target, and so she walked up and down the street of her East Cleveland home and warned the neighbors. Their response heartened her.
"I told them what I did for a living and said I was sorry that this might happen. To a person, they were supportive."
"She has spent nearly three decades courageously standing toe to toe with those hellbent on robbing women of the right to control their own bodies, and she has done this at considerable personal risk."
Yeah, I hear those Bible-thumping pro-life activists can be pretty dangerous.