House Republicans, in their infinite wisdom, have chosen to forgo wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, immigration reform, and THE FREAKING ECONOMY. Instead, they’re choosing to take vital health services away from women who already face significant barriers to healthcare.
That sounds like a really productive use of your time. According to your campaign promises, my uterus must be creating a hell of a lot of jobs for you to be so damn interested in it. I am glad, though, that we have such incredible women representing us in Congress, like Representative Jackie Speier. Her revelation that she’d had an abortion and impassioned defense of Planned Parenthood is seriously moving.
“There is a vendetta against Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has a right to operate. Planned Parenthood has a right to provide services for family planning. Planned Parenthood has a right to offers abortions. Last we checked, abortions were legal in this country. You may not like Planned Parenthood, so be it. Some of us on the other side don’t like Halliburton.”
Boom. Talk about a win. Ultimately, we as feminists and women that could need Planned Parenthood at some point in our lives, we have a duty to defend them from such egregious attacks. As a feminist and a woman, I stand with Planned Parenthood, and so should you.
I’m sure you know, but let me refresh your memory:
- more than three million women, men, and teens are served in Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers nationwide every year.
- more than 1.2 million teens and adults receive medically accurate sex education from our affiliates each year.
Abortion comprises a measly 3% of Planned Parenthood’s services. Contraception accounts for 36% of services provided, 31% to testing and treatments of STIs, and 17% to screen and prevent cancer.
Gosh, that just sounds terrible. I can’t believe they’d have the nerve to treat illnesses and prevent cancer.
If you stand with Planned Parenthood, sign their petition. Then, donate. Spread the word. Call your senator with an earful. Don’t let these assholes get away with this.
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Amy is a social media strategist living in Dallas, Texas. She likes music, trashy TV, and ladybiz. tweet: @aemccarthy |
As someone who works at a local Planned Parenthood, I just want to say thank you. Friday’s and Saturday’s votes in the House feel very, very personal this time – I guess because they’re, literally, the worst attacks we’ve ever experienced in the organization’s 95-year history. And reading the support from feminist bloggers like yourself, support from the twitterverse like #ThanksPPFA, and of course hearing the amazing statements of champions like Rep. Speier, and Rep. Lowey and others, means so much right now. Thank you!
Amy, thanks for this post, and especially for linking to the petition. As someone who lives in D.C. and so doesn’t even have elected representatives to contact, it’s great to feel like I can at least do something to show my support for PP.