Biography for Emily Lyons

Life’s Been a Blast

Emily Lyons was born in Montgomery, Alabama on July 18th, 1956. She received her BSN from The University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) in 1977.Her area of study was reproductive health.

Emily has worked in various areas of nursing, including labor and delivery, nursing supervisor, home health care, nursing home, and emergency room. She taught nursing at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

Her last position was director of nursing at the New Woman All Women Healthcare Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Her work included administration of drugs, counseling, performing ultrasounds, and assisting with surgery.

Emily is married to Jeff Lyons. She is the proud mother of two adult daughters, and she is also a grandmother.

On January 29th, 1998, a bomb exploded outside her clinic. The blast resulted in the murder of a policeman and serious injury to Emily. After months of recovery, she has dedicated her time to speaking for woman’s rights and speaking out against violence toward reproductive health providers.

Emily has been featured in various magazines and newspapers including Good Housekeeping, Ms. Magazine, People, Village Voice, the Southern Poverty Law Centers magazine, The Birmingham News, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times. She has appeared on Nightline, The Today Show, Americas Most Wanted, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Larry King Live, Extra, The Discovery Channel, PBS, NPR, Hardcopy, Court TV, CNN, and local TV stations. People from all over the world have followed Emilys story, as evidenced by emails received from London, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.

When legislation was introduced to limit the RICO act from being used against kingpins orchestrating violence against clinics, Emily spoke to a sub-committee hearing in Washington, D.C. The legislation was stopped. A New York television commercial featuring Emily helped elect Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), sponsor of the federal clinic access protection bill, FACE.

Emily also met with various political figures in Albany concerning New York legislation to protect clinic workers and patients. Emily has conferred with Janet Reno, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al and Tipper Gore, Gloria Steinem, Henry Kissinger, Kathleen Turner, Danny Glover, and several other well-known actors and activists as well as many governors and senators.

The 1998 National Planned Parenthood meeting featured Mrs. Lyons as their guest speaker. And Emily has lectured at various NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League) functions. Planned Parenthoods Margaret Sanger Woman of Valor Award was presented to Emily, as well as the Ms. Foundations Gloria Award.

Emily Lyons continues to speak out for women’s rights as she has already done in major cities across the United States.