THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Rev. Elinor Yeo
February 14, 1934 – January 10, 2023
“We held our breath until a woman came back from Chicago or Mexico from a ‘back-alley’ abortion. Those who favor legalized abortion must remain vigilant so that women never need to resort to dangerous alternatives again.”
– January, 1985
United Church of Christ Minister and Reproductive Rights Advocate. Executive Director of Milwaukee Women’s Health Organization. Served on the board of the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL), later NARAL Pro-Choice America, and was the national board chair of NARAL from 1982 to 1984. Her belief in reproductive freedom was informed by her experience of helping girls and women avoid unsafe and illegal abortions in pre-Roe America and she was deeply saddened late in life to see the country returning to that past.
More About Elinor:
- Obituary, The Boston Globe
- Memorial Service for Elinor Yeo, Old South Church in Boston
- “The Cross and the Clinic,” by Gillian Frank, October 4, 2023. Religious leaders, like Reverend Elinor Yeo, and their work to provide safe abortion access to thousands
- A Message from Elinor & Alice on Fighting for Abortion Access. May 5, 2022
- A short film about Elinor Yeo’s career in reproductive health by Elinor’s granddaughter Elli Yeo.
