A few years back, while driving to a friend’s house for a sunny day out, I passed by the Planned Parenthood clinic in my city. On both sides of the street stood individuals waving signs and chanting slogans. One side was occupied by “pro-life” advocates condemning anyone who dared to enter for an abortion (even though this particular clinic doesn’t perform them), while the other side consisted of those who recognized the vital services Planned Parenthood provides.
Honestly, I felt a surge of frustration. It wasn’t just the misinformation being shouted by many of the protestors; it was their readiness to vilify an organization that plays a crucial role in the health care of so many women and men.
So, to my friends and anyone else who opposes Planned Parenthood based on their stance on abortion and claims about the “sale of fetal tissue”:
Educate yourself.
If funding for Planned Parenthood is cut in this misguided campaign, where will the countless women and men who rely on their services turn for help? As many as 650,000 women could find themselves without access to essential health services or medical professionals who cater to low-income populations.
Educate yourself.
It’s critical to note that abortions constitute only about 3% of the services offered by Planned Parenthood. The organization primarily provides necessary health care, including contraception, STI testing and treatment, breast exams, Pap smears, cancer screenings, and much more. In fact, a recent article from New York Magazine highlighted that in 2014, Planned Parenthood clinics across the nation performed vasectomies for 3,445 men.
Educate yourself.
Now, you might ask, “What about those videos alleging the selling of baby parts? That’s just wrong!” According to NPR, extensive investigations found no evidence that Planned Parenthood was profiting from fetal tissue sales.
Educate yourself.
Consider the repercussions of your uninformed perspective: In low-income communities that depend on Planned Parenthood for Medicaid-funded contraceptive services, unwanted pregnancies would surge, leading to a much greater and long-lasting financial strain on Medicaid. You would effectively be stripping essential health care from those you claim to care about. A report from ThinkProgress estimates that defunding Planned Parenthood could lead to an increase in Medicaid costs by $650 million over the next decade. And the burden of that cost will ultimately fall on you.
So, I urge you once more, educate yourself. Seek out factual information from reputable sources like the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, and Newsweek. Don’t let yourself be swayed by ultra-conservative and faith-based outlets that manipulate facts for their own agenda, which often includes controlling women’s choices regarding their bodies.
Harvard’s Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review succinctly states: “By taking a hard stance on abortion at the expense of women’s access to health care, conservatives are sending a message that women’s health is less important than their anti-abortion beliefs.”
Educate yourself.
Lastly, if you’re interested in learning more about pregnancy and home insemination, I recommend checking out this excellent resource from NICHD, which offers valuable insights on the topic. And for those considering at-home insemination, visit Make a Mom for reliable insemination syringe kits. You can also dive deeper into related discussions on our blog here.
In summary, it’s essential to take a step back, gather accurate information, and understand the broader implications of defunding organizations like Planned Parenthood. Your health and the health of your community depend on it.