Standing with Local Teacher Who Told the Truth
We were pleased to be invited to speak at a press conference organized by American United for Life (AUL) about the alternative outcomes to abortion that pregnancy centers can provide. AUL is representing Centreville High School teacher-whistleblower, Mrs. Zenaida Perez. The conference was held outside Fairfax County Circuit Court, and we want our community to understand her story, to be in prayer for her, and to pray that justice will prevail.
The following remarks were provided by Becky Sheetz, Life First CEO
Thank you for the opportunity to share what could have been an alternative outcome to this story, which has had so many tragic consequences for the young women, their families, and others like them.
There are thousands of pregnancy centers across the country to help women in crisis to make fully informed choices. There are 10 in Prince William, Fairfax and Loudon Counties.
Pregnancy centers provide free medical services to women who struggle with an unplanned pregnancy. We’re here for a simple reason: women deserve better than abortion. Who among us wants to live in a community where the only choice a frightened woman has is to abort her baby? Unfortunately, this is the choice these girls were forced to make. They were lied to and told that they didn’t deserve any better.
Every single woman has more than one choice. She has three. If she chooses abortion, she’ll need to know how far along she is, because that will inform the type of abortion. She’ll need to confirm that the pregnancy is in the uterus. The abortion pill is not effective with ectopic pregnancies, and ectopic pregnancies can have very serious health risks to her. And she needs to know if the pregnancy is viable. How does she get answers to these questions? Only through ultrasound.
That’s where pregnancy centers come in. At pregnancy centers like Life First’s First Care Women’s Health, she receives a free ultrasound by a licensed medical professional. She receives education on the abortion procedure that would be most medically suitable for her, if that’s the course she chooses. She also receives education on the risks of abortion and what to expect. This is known as informed consent and it’s necessary for her to make a fully informed choice.
She has two other options. She can choose life for her baby and parent. Or she can choose life for her baby and make an adoption plan.
How does she arrive at the decision that’s right for her? Through listening, caring, education, respect, kindness and love. Not through coercion, deception and fear. At pregnancy centers, she is listened to. She is heard. We ask her, “what do you want to do?” “What support do you have?” “What do you need?”
If she wants to give her child life, there are hundreds of resources in our community to come alongside her, many of which are free and reduced fee. These resources span prenatal care, financial support, emotional support and counseling..
Pregnancy centers value families. When minors come to us, we encourage parents or guardians to be involved. We provide education to parents on the trauma of abortion.
Regardless of her age, it is illegal for anyone to force a woman to have an abortion. This is the type of education we provide to our patients.
We hear a lot of rhetoric about empowerment. If we truly want to empower women, even young women, she deserves information on all of her options.
Pregnancy centers are here to help her make a fully informed choice. All of our services are free, because we are entirely donor supported by people in our community who want to see children have a chance to be born and moms have a chance to see and hear the truth.
True choice is never made out of fear. The story could have ended differently if these girls had been presented with alternatives and true choice. These girls and others like them throughout our community deserve so much better than abortion.
