A group calling itself Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights had its first public outing April 30 when 14 of its members visited the Capitol to lobby senators “to secure reproductive rights.”
The group of grandmothers in their 60s, 70s and 80s, founded in February, dressed in yellow shirts, met with Planned Parenthood lobbyists in the Hall of Flags, then went to the opening of the House of Representatives, where were introduced from the podium by House Speaker Mark Eves and listened to music from a middle-school band.
“So many young women today don’t have an idea what struggles our generation fought to secure reproductive rights,” said Judy Kahrl of Arrowsic, the group’s founder. “Access to family planning is incredibly important,” she said, referring to LD 1247, “An Act To Expand Coverage of Family Planning Services,” which expands Medicaid coverage for family planning services.
“By ensuring that women and men up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level have access to effective and affordable family planning services, we can save the state money by lowering the unintended pregnancy rate,” Kahrl said.
Leila Percy, former Democratic state Representative from Phippsburg, was instrumental in setting up the meetings. She now works for Pathfinder International, an international organization that promotes reproductive health care for women and families in more than 100 countries founded in the 1920s by Kahrl’s father, Dr. Clarence Gamble.
Grandmothers taking part in the day’s activities included: Sue Edwards of Brunswick, Wendy Ross Eichler of Wiscasset, Stephanie Freund of Portland, Becky Halbrook of Phippsburg, Heard, Kahrl, Sue Kennedy of Brunswick), Jeni Lewis of Winthrop, Jay McCreight of Harpswell, MaryRae Means of Bristol, Helen Regan of Harpswell, Cushing Samp of Saco, Joan Smith of West Bath and Cathie Todd of Phippsburg.
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