City pro-choice group getting support

ORGANIZATION TRYING TO ADDRESS LACK OF SERVICES IN LETHBRIDGE

Alocal group looking to raise awareness about a lack of reproductive services for women in Lethbridge is receiving some help from a provincial advocacy organization.

A GoFundMe page started by Progress Alberta for Pro-Choice YQL has raised more than $3,600 through 60 donors in the past two weeks.

Pro-Choice YQL is a local organization which started in response to some recent pro-birth advertising running on some City transit ad space. After public outcry, the City made the decision to remove the signs, which were managed through a third party.

Amberlea Parker, a spokesperson for Pro-Choice YQL, said the group is comprised of people from different backgrounds who have been working on the issue in the community.

Some of the work done by the group includes connecting local residents with reproductive services in Calgary through the use of volunteer drivers, and providing access to information on reproductive services.

“We’re helping them find babysitters, or taking time to drive them up and bring them back, and providing peer-topeer counselling,” said Parker. “And then creating a support network within the community.

Duncan Kinney, executive director for Progress Alberta, said a decision was made to assist the group because they are a grassroots organization and because of the work they do.

Kinney said Progress Alberta was also interested in helping due to the way UCP leader Jason Kenney and the rest of the UCP MLAs refused to take part in debate or vote on Bill 9 “The Protecting Choice for Women Accessing Health Care Act.” The Bill would create a safe zone between women accessing reproductive health services and protesters.

“Jason Kenney was a coward and refused to show up for work to debate this important bill,” said Kinney. “So we reached out to Pro-Choice YQL because they were a frontline, grassroots activist group who had a recent win with the ads on the buses, but also escort women past sidewalk protesters, intimidators and harassers.”

The GoFundMe page originally had a goal of $2,000. However, due to a positive response from the community, that goal has been extended to $4,000.

Parker said plans for the money include paying for billboards in order to provide local residents with information for accessing reproductive services.

“(We’re) creating dialogue around people, supporting these decisions,” Parker said.

Parker said she is aware billboards may create some backlash, but said the goal is to provide factual information for those who need it.

“The billboards we’re hoping to put up are just straight-up support,” she said.

Parker said she is happy the group has been recognized for wanting accessibility for reproductive choice in Lethbridge.

“I think it comes at an interesting time with Jason Kenney absolutely refusing to vote on bubble legislation — which is something I feel is very important.”

“We’re really happy to have raised the amount of money we have for ProChoice YQL,” said Kinney. “For a small group like they are, I think this money goes a long way.

The GoFundMe page for Pro-Choice YQL can be found at