More Local Religion

[c9]

Apparently, it's an annual event*. I was walking home today and had to detour around 100 pro-life protesters in front of the hospital. That sort of protest makes me angry, even though I fully support their freedom to protest. I think it bothers me because the protesters would almost certainly protest equally (or more) against queer and trans rights, so I feel like I'm in the early part of Martin Niemöller's famous work.

* Abortoberfest, I think I'll call it. Pro-Life-Toberfest isn't offensive enough.

Comments

[thespos]

For some reason, it never occurred to me that such protests would exist outside of the United States. The rest of the western world seems remarkably progressive in these areas, particularly Canada, that I would not expect such a thing.

Sorry you are dealing with that, tho.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Canada's abortion situation is a bit odd, from an American perspective. For example, we have no laws regarding abortion. At all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_Canada

At the same time, abortion is not really hugely accessible for the rural areas of the country, as wikipedia describes in detail.

As for opinion, I don't really know how it compares to the US, but certainly in KW the anti-choice league is far more vocal and visible than they were in Ottawa, Fredericton or Halifax, the other cities I'm familiar with. I guess it's disconcerting because the visibility is so unfamiliar for me, and because I haven't been alive (and politically aware) during any abortion debates at all in Canada.

[nihilicious.livejournal.com]

rotfl @ Abortoberfest!

There's (was?) a pretty active pro-life movement in Fredericton; they hold a protest every day that there are procedures done at the Morgantaler clinic. And, they opened a "Crisis Pregnancy Centre" right next to the clinic to try to trick women into going in to be preached at. Classy.

I can only assume that there's something similar in Halifax, but I guess I haven't paid much attention down here. I guess that's a good thing, if you have to be looking for the protest in order to find it.