Jarman holds press conference

As the voice for reproductive freedom in Kansas, the spokesperson for the physician targeted by Operation Rescue, and a pro-choice activist for two decades, Jarman is the person to tell this story.

Note: Jarman reclaimed her maiden name, Bowman, in 1998.

Throughout the 1990s, Ms. Jarman was the voice for reproductive freedom in Kansas. Previously she taught biology, but soon after moving to Wichita, Kansas served as a Vista Volunteer investigating employment barriers to women, including transportation, child care, and reproductive freedom. That experience moved her easily into Planned Parenthood of Kansas, first as a lobbyist, then director of clinical services, and then executive director. In 1989, she left Planned Parenthood and became Vice President of Public Relations and spokesperson for Dr. George Tiller, an internationally known abortion provider. She worked hard in this position to develop relationships with the media and became known as the person they could count on with truth and facts in any 24/7 period. She also developed the same standards of truth and facts with government officials including politicians, legislators, and the pro-choice community. Her skill, talent, dedication, knowledge, and heart were the basis of her success.

In response to dozens of phone calls following the Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services decision, a Supreme Court decision that began the process of retreat from Roe vs. Wade, she formed ProChoice Action League. It quickly grew to 23,000 members and became the major lobbying force in Kansas for reproductive freedom with Ms. Jarman as its chief spokesperson. After a year in a downtown storefront, the office moved to a small house two doors from Women's Health Care Services. The abortion clinic, owned by Dr. Tiller, for whom she worked, was the target of Operation Rescue during the summer of 1991. Other pro-choice leaders in the community had other jobs and could only devote limited time to the cause; Ms. Jarman’s job was reproductive freedom. When Operation Rescue blasted into town, she was ready.

As the voice for reproductive freedom, before, during and following the siege, hundreds called on Ms. Jarman to spread the pro-choice message. She spoke to high school, college and university classes, community groups, Sunday school classes, and pro-choice groups in Kansas, Oklahoma, and New York and at rallies throughout the state. She debated anti-choice leaders including Randall Terry on national television and wrote several op-ed articles for the Wichita Eagle. Most of her time, during the siege, was spent with the media—local, state, national, and international—providing background and interviews as Dr. Tiller’s spokesperson. Following the siege, a Lexis-Nexis search of her name showed over a hundred hits.

In addition to her enormous work with the media, she also raised money with Gloria Steinem for Voices for Choice in Hollywood and for ProChoice Action League. Another proud moment for Ms. Jarman was when National Women in Radio and Television awarded an honorable mention for a television spot she wrote and produced called "Respect Others".

She is most proud of her two sons, Jeff and Brian. They provided love and support at every turn, in every way. She said, "I am a very lucky mom."