HotFlash Report on Abortion

Ann welcomes Merle Hoffman, another 50-year abortion rights activist and owner of Choices Women's Medical in NYC which she started 51 years ago in 1971. At that time, only 5 states had legalized abortion and NYC was a destination for abortions from all over the United States. Today, her clinic is bracing for many states to make abortion illegal again, forcing women back to NYC for care. Merle believes that the provision of abortion services is sacred, meaningful, powerful and is a mother's act of love. Merle has just started RiseUp4AbortionRights.org to mobilize people to fight the expected outcome in the Mississippi Supreme Court case that will make abortion illegal in up to half the states. Merle believes that sometimes it takes a loss like this as a 2x4 to people's heads to wake them up to the disaster this will be. 

Ann & Diane chat with Dr. Carole Joffee, Professor of OB/GYN & Reproductive Services at UCSF and author of several books about abortion. Dr. Joffee discusses the relationship of abortion and mainstream medicine among other compelling topics. Mainstream medicine has always supported abortion, but not necessarily abortion clinics. In the scheme of things, legalized abortion (and thus abortion clinics) let mainstream medicine off the hook in having to deal with the provision of abortion services. In this terrifying and moving time, who are the people who work in clinics and jump through all these hoops? Dr. Joffee's research has shown that abortion provider satisfaction with their work is higher than people in other medical fields. Additionally, the economics of abortion has shown that if prices for an abortion had kept up with inflation, an early abortion which costs $300-600 today should cost over $2,200. So, is this a sustainable business model? They ponder if the worst happens and Dobbs overturns Roe sometime this Spring/Summer and abortion becomes instantly illegal in half the states, what will the reaction be?  Because acceptance has been affirmed, will the reaction be muted and how will the press cover the overturning of a 50-year precedent? Do big demonstrations make a difference politically, or will pro-choice advocates be marching to the choir? Diane clarifies exactly what to expect after Dobbs. They discuss the reactions in the Hostile States (where abortion will immediately become illegal) and the Haven States where abortion will remain legal, but they will have to take up the slack from the Hostile States. Throughout all of this, abortion clinic staff have been outstanding and their work is admired and saluted. They are the people jumping through all the hoops to not let women down.

Ann and Diane opine on the State of the States if abortion is marginalized or downright outlawed by a ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization this Spring, Summer, or any day now. They discuss the 20-25 or so States where abortion could be totally outlawed, and 5 others where it is up in the air. Yes, there are 25-30 States where it will remain legal, but could be targeted by onerous regulations. Diane especially discusses Mississippi where the state is diverting money away from protecting mothers and their children to fund Crisis Pregnancy Centers. This is in a state where the status of women and children is one of the lowest in the nation. It's hard to stay cool under these conditions.

Ann Rose and Diane Derzis question each other about the passion for their work helping women get abortions since the 1970s. Their unfiltered banter explores such topics as how to encourage abortion patients to vote in their own interests and what to do with anti-abortion women coming to the clinic to get abortions. They also talk about Ann's site, Abortion Clinics OnLine (AbortionClinics.com) and how it started in 1995 as the first online abortion clinic directory. Every abortion clinic now has a website, and most give detailed information about the procedure, prices, consents, and exactly what happens when a woman gets an abortion. This resource is going to be especially vital if and when more states restrict abortion and women have to find clinics outside their home state. They decry the hypocrisy of male politicians who are anti-abortion regarding public policy, but might have paid for or supported someone's choice to get an abortion. They encourage women who have had sexual liaisons with these men (you know who you are) to confront them and possibly go public about their raw hypocrisy.

A physician specializing in late abortion, Dr. Warren Hern of Boulder Colorado, talks to Ann and Diane about the concerning status of abortion rights. Dr. Hern cares for women from all over the country, including women who are fugitives from Texas because of the almost total ban on abortion there.  Dr. Hern asserts that pregnancy is not a benign condition and abortion is a life saving operation. He remains committed to performing abortions, and insists that the upcoming elections are critical to maintaining some semblance of abortion rights in this country. You can read more about Dr. Hern and his practice at DrHern.com. We apologize for the spotty reception in parts, but Dr. Hern's powerful words still come through loud and clear.

Ann Rose and Diane Derzis talk with Texas abortion clinic owner Kathy Kleinfeld of Houston Women's Reproductive Services. Since September 1, 2021, Texas clinics have been limited to providing only abortions that are less than 6 weeks. This has effectively curtailed access to most abortions by Texas women and forced them to travel at great expense and time to other states. Kathy relates in intimate detail the devastating conditions faced by women seeking abortions in Texas and how brave providers are helping women. This is a situation that could be worsened throughout the country should the Supreme Court rule against abortion providers in the upcoming Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health that could be decided as early as this Spring. The outcome of Dobbs could shutter clinics in about half of the states.

Ann Rose and Diane Derzis interview Marilynn Buckham, the owner of the Buffalo NY abortion clinic where their physician Dr. Barnett Slepian was assassinated with a high-powered rifle at his home on October 23, 1998. Anti-abortion terrorist James Kopp was arrested in Europe 3 years later and is currently serving life in prison. Marilynn recounts the extraordinary assistance she got from then Attorney General Janet Reno in contrast to Diane's current plight of not being able to get any police help at her clinic in Jackson Mississippi. The Jackson clinic is the only clinic in Mississipi, and is currently at the center of a Supreme Court case (Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization) that could determine the fate of legalized abortion in the country. Ann, Diane and Marilynn all started working in abortion clinics 50 years ago in the 70's and discuss how they can use their experience and passion to fight current threats against abortion.

Abortion provider Dr. David Gunn was assassinated on March 10, 1993 in front of an abortion clinic in Pensacola Florida. Anti-abortionist Michael Griffin was found guilty of shooting him in the back 3 times and sentenced to life in prison. We talk with Dr. Gunn's son, David Gunn Jr, who was only 22 at the time. He recalls haunting personal details about his father and the events surrounding this horrific event. David lovingly reflects on his Dad's last days, and and the frightening parallels to the acts of domestic terrorism during the January 6th insurrection and the current violent white supremacist political unrest. He issues a warning that these people are dangerous and that we all need to be on vigilent.

Ann Rose and Diane Derzis talk about the history of violence at abortion clinics which some think was a training ground for the January 6th insurrection and other current acts of terrorism against election workers, school board members, Secretaries of State, and other governmental officials. Diane was the owner of the clinic in Birmingham that was bombed on January 29, 1998, by Atlanta Olympic bomber Eric Rudolph. She details the events of that day and reminds listeners that abortion clinics were in the crosshairs of violent right wing groups and individuals for years. As the current owner of the abortion clinic in Jackson Mississippi which is at the center of a Supreme Court case argued last December, the HotFlashers remind the public of the real threats to legal abortion all over the country. Please excuse some minor technical issues we are working to correct.

Abortion providers since the 70's, Ann Rose and Diane Derzis, lament the inequalities of pregnancy and abortion being controlled by men, many of whom are anti-abortion but have personally experienced the need for abortion for themselves or their wives, daughters, girlfriends. This hypocrisy over the years has left women holding the bag with very little or no support from men. Women who have been exploited in this manner need to come forward and tell their stories. To find an abortion clinic near you, go to AbortionClinics.com. To donate to provide abortion support for women in Mississippi, go to ThePinkHouseFund.com.