A Michigan hotel is offering free accommodations for anyone traveling for an abortion

[demmiblue]

Source: WXYZ

In recent months, states across the country have been passing laws designed to make it harder — and in some cases, nearly impossible — to get an abortion.

So Shelley O'Brien, manager of The Yale Hotel in the tiny Michigan town of Yale, made an offer to anyone traveling out of their state for the procedure: Come to Michigan and stay at her hotel for free.

"Dear sisters that live in Alabama, Ohio, Georgia, Arkansas, Missouri, or any of the other states that follow with similar laws restricting access, We cannot do anything about the way you are being treated in your home-state," the post reads.

"But, if you can make it to Michigan, we will support you with several nights lodging, and transportation to and from your appointment," the post reads.

Read more: https://www.wxyz.com/news/national/a-michigan-hotel-is-offering-free-accommodations-for-anyone-traveling-for-an-abortion

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[no_hypocrisy]

1. That gives me an idea. In the spirit of the Underground Railroad,

perhaps I could open my home to any woman from states that outlaw and/or criminalize abortion. That would include picking them up from train stations or bus stations. If enough women in safe states did this, it could mitigate the trauma and the cost.

[fierywoman]

4. Beautiful idea!

[snacker]

5. I wish I lived near a city with an abortion clinic

the nearest one is 100 miles away from here. I'd open my home in a heartbeat.

[caraher]

11. Good idea

Someone with some tech skills might help... I'm thinking of networks like couchsurfing but with the purpose of improving abortion access.

[mercuryblues]

2. A modern day underground railroad

[dchill]

3. Well, there you go!

[LuvNewcastle]

6. Some enterprising people with money should have women's getaway

spas that provide massages, mud treatments, makeovers and such and also provide abortions. They could have air or bus service to these places in states where abortion rights are secure, and women could have three days or even a week off to attend to their needs. They could have packages with transportation and certain services included.

[mnhtnbb]

8. Women with money will always have a way to get the health care they need.

It's the poor women without means to travel out of state who will be hit the hardest by these Republican a$$holes criminalizing abortions.

[LuvNewcastle]

12. I think an abortion costs several hundred dollars at a clinic.

If they could make a package deal out of it for a few hundred extra dollars, I think it would be worth it. I wish all abortions were covered by insurance or Medicaid or whatever, but until that is the case, women are still going to have to come up with the money for the procedure or they'll have to carry the fetus to term.

[shenmue]

7. Wonderful

[AlexSFCA]

9. airlines need to step up and offer low cost or free travel

for women with proof of appointment for the procedure.

[Soph0571]

10. Anyone visiting there ever needs to give this hotel their custom! n/t

[defacto7]

13. It's a great idea. There would need to be a way to verify

the authenticity of the host for the safety and well being of the woman in need. I'm sure if it caught on there would be some with bad intentions who would offer the same service and try to harass them instead.

[caraher]

14. I think the host situation is OK

Their Facebook page is getting snide comments by pro-forced-birthers... e.g. trolls went back to the Memorial Day cover photo they'd posted of American flag-inspired art and made cracks about the red coming from aborted fetuses.

[MadDAsHell]

15. Patriots! Hopefully they can make up for all the abortions declining elsewhere...

due to these draconian laws. It would be amazing if even with these unjust laws we were collectively able to abort more than ever before. Fk the GOP.

[Capt. America]

16. Patriot

[Sherman A1]

17. K&R

[Grins]

18. I don't like this idea...

I may get a lot of flack in return, but....

These people have just made themselves a target for all the Reich-wing nuts out there like Eric Rudolph, James Koop, and Scott Roeder (NB: Last 31 May was the 10th anniv. of his murdering Dr. Tiller.)

And not only themselves, they will help identify those women seeking help. No patient, or those people who aid those patients, should ever get near this place.

The goal is noble, but it should have been whispered to providers ("Pssst. Need need a place for her to stay...?) not blasted on prime-time news on WXYZ!

But my other reason is what H.L. Mencken demanded: "...the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."

So let the people in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and Ohio live in the Reich-wing religious dystopia created by they legislators they elected "get it good and hard"! Let the patient's mother, father, grandfather, grandmother, sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews and more - live with this. And provide the support. Let the cities and towns and states that went along with this hell figure out how they will support this woman and her child with health care and schooling. And taxes.

NY Times 31 May 2019:
"Half the patients at Hope Clinic for Women in Granite City, Illinois....come from Missouri, according to Alison Dreith, the clinic’s deputy director..."

Half.

Don't let them get relief in another state because their state prefers to live in the 18th century. Don't give them a way out of the hell of their own creation.