Chapter Profile: HUMAN LIFE of Seattle Being "Counter-Cultural" to Promote a Culture of Life

Part 1: Meeting the Challenge of a Challenging Public

By Holly Miller
NRL Field Coordinator

As a native of the Great Pacific Northwest, I am often asked how I grew up to be prolife when I hail from "such a liberal place." Pro-abortion politics are as synonymous with my hometown of Seattle as coffee, rain, and my Mariners. In fact, political races in the city of Seattle almost never feature pro-life candidates and regularly boil down to deciding between a pro-abortion Democrat and a pro-abortion Socialist. No kidding.

I half-jokingly reply to those queries by explaining that Seattle embraces "counter-culture" and what can be more counter-cultural than being pro-life in Seattle?

Thankfully, I wasn't alone in my respect for life. In fact, and many would be surprised to know, there is a thriving pro-life chapter in Seattle. Its success results from a blend of pragmatism, creativity, and providing a medium for pro-lifers to meet and work together for life.

Whereas many pro-lifers in Seattle may feel isolated in their views, HUMAN LIFE of Seattle (HL) has brought them together to speak up for the voiceless. In so doing, HL has created a needed pro-life presence in the city of Seattle.

In order to accomplish their mission of promoting awareness of the value of all human life in the Seattle area, HL members "simply try to do many things that generate maximal exposure for the pro-life point of view," according to President Ed Hopfner.

By gaining exposure for the group, they are able to make the point that the life issues are still an issue for the Seattle community, that not everyone accepts the notion or the label proscribed by a city councilwoman that Seattle is "proudly pro-choice."

And in a place where political activism reached its worst during the World Trade Organization riots, and the media and pro-abortion activists portray pro-lifers as a shade worse, it is very helpful for the image of pro-lifers everywhere that HUMANLIFE of Seattle seeks visibility in order to show that this is a peaceful, legal movement rooted in love for the mother and her child.

"Seattle is much more pro-abortion than most areas, but I think it's still a small minority that is actively pro-abortion," Mr. Hopfner suggests. "The majority of people have opinions, but not too deeply held."

And with that, HL dove right in by hosting booths at different community fairs, including in two of Seattle's most liberal, pro-abortion neighborhoods, Fremont and the U District. While they do encounter the occasional person spitting or name-calling at booths, the pro-lifers have been pleasantly surprised at how much positive feedback they have received.

Staffing booths is just one educational activity of HL. "We look for those opportunities to educate, raise consciousness, and get people involved in as many ways as we can," explains Hopfner.

"As a high school teacher for a number of years, I know how important it is to get people to DO SOMETHING, at whatever level, to get involved," he remarks. "Even if it's just to show up at a talk." So when a nationally recognized pro-life speaker was recently in town, the group contacted her and arranged a talk which drew nearly 70 people.

HL is now planning its third annual oratory contest for high school students. The number of participants grows each year and the students placing first through third receive generous scholarships. Past winners have also traveled to the National Right to Life Convention to participate in the national oratory contest.

Several members have spoken on a variety of pro-life topics in local high schools, which is a program the group hopes to expand. With the University of Washington and several private universities in Seattle, HL is working hard to educate college students and assist the start-up of pro-life campus groups, including the new Students4Life group at the University of Washington.

Organizationally, the chapter, founded in 1997, has many of its original members still actively involved. It holds monthly meetings that typically draw 8-12 members. Since it has no offices, and all members are volunteers, the organization is centered around meetings.

Typically, meetings are informational updates on local and regional news of interest and reports on upcoming projects. Every two to three months, the group invites a guest speaker to address some aspect of the life issues, like the abortion/breast cancer link, pregnancy centers, etc.

HUMAN LIFE of Seattle takes the right approach. As Hopfner explains, "Like everyone else we all have very active lives, so we're big on celebrating our successes and trying not to stress about things we are unable to do."

In the future, HUMAN LIFE of Seattle will continue its outreach to high school and college students in order to make young people more aware of, interested, and involved in the pro-life movement. A secondary goal is to improve networking with other pro-life groups and churches. HL hopes to engage the pro-life public by providing more activities and ways for people to get involved with minimal effort and time commitment.

Whether in a big city, small town, pro-life or pro-abortion community, HUMAN LIFE of Seattle's approach of setting realistic goals, staring down adversity, and trying to change the culture one heart at a time is a good model for every chapter.

Next month NRLNews will profile Corvallis Right to Life of Corvallis, Oregon, for a great example of how a chapter can effectively operate within the challenging environs of a college town.