One Woman Can Make a Difference

by NOW Staff

Three pharmacists at a Denton, Texas Eckerd drug store who refused to fill a rape survivor's prescription for emergency contraception have reportedly been fired for their actions, which had spurred dozens of women's rights activists to protest outside the pharmacy.

One of the pharmacists—who refused to fill the rape survivor's prescription for emergency contraception and instead delivered a morality lecture in front of a crowd of customers—said he denied the prescription for moral reasons. Two other pharmacists who were present declined to fill the prescription as well. However, according to Eckerd representatives, the company's employment manual says pharmacists are not allowed to opt out of filling a prescription for religious, moral or ethical reasons.

News of the refusals spurred many local residents into action.

Stephanie Besier, a Texas homemaker caring for a young daughter, learned of the event through a friend of the rape survivor who'd been denied the prescription. Though she did not know the woman (who was eventually able to purchase EC from another pharmacy), Besier said she was so outraged to hear about the event that she emailed friends and area organizations and asked them to join her in a Feb. 2 protest at the Eckerd store.

Representatives from organizations at the University of North Texas, including NOW, Men Against Violence and Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, quickly jumped on board, and in just 48 hours Besier managed to organize almost 80 people in a demonstration in front of the Eckerd store. "This was more that what I ever imagined," Besier says. "I have always told people that one person can make a difference, one small idea can make a difference."

Take action to require hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape survivors, and find out if pharmacies in your community will fill prescriptions for emergency contraception. And hats off to Stephanie Besier. One woman CAN make a difference.