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Inside an Arizona abortion clinic: uncertainty looms and optimism reigns

Faith E. Pinho, Los Angeles Times on

Published in Women

"Consent says the state of Arizona wants you to believe that there are alternatives to abortion. Well, that's all well and good, but it's not really true, because when you're in this position, you really only have two options. One is carry it and the other is don't carry it," Zipkin said. "Adoption and all that — that comes after. You're either carrying this or you're not, and it still affects you."

Anna said she'd always paid attention to the national conversation around abortion, as a woman and especially as an Arizonan. Anna said she had started taking birth control pills within a week of getting pregnant. As a 24-year-old who lives with roommates, she doesn't consider herself financially able to care for a child.

"It's just not the situation I want for myself, or my children in the future. I want a two-parent household in a stable home, or a stable situation," Anna said. "I just don't know that I'm in that right now."

After her 10-minute consultation with Zipkin, Anna scheduled an appointment for the following week, when she would decide whether to have a medicated or surgical abortion.

After answering Anna's questions, Zipkin offered her last bit of guidance: "Before I forget, because I have the attention span of a gnat — vote!"

Abortion is likely to top voters' concerns in Arizona, where state legislators have yet to vote on a proposed bill repealing the ban.

 

In the sunny plaza between the two state Capitol chambers, protesters on both sides of the debate milled about Wednesday, some wearing bright orange T-shirts in support of Arizona for Abortion Access, and others in shirts depicting baby's feet and proclaiming "Choose life."

Uncertainty at the clinic

Back at the Camelback clinic, staff members gathered in the break room, decorated with posters and handmade thank-you cards, including one with a uterus drawn in place of a "Y." They discussed what could happen after June 8, and the clinic's founder, Dr. Gabrielle Goodrick, sought to provide clarity.

She's hopeful that a constitutional amendment guaranteeing abortion access will be on the November ballot — activists with Arizona for Abortion Access say they have gathered enough signatures.

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©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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