#ppaccess

Throughout this month, Planned Parenthood has a special focus on the need for sex education, continuing our long history of bringing scientifically-accurate, accessible information to our patients and supporters. Our campaign aims to help our communities understand how essential sex education is for young people and give parents the resources to support their children. As part of our “Care for All” campaign to destigmatize women’s health care, we have partnered with Refinery29 and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Rachel Bloom to produce three short films about sexual and reproductive health. Check them out below:

ALL THE "WEIRD" VAGINA STUFF THAT'S TOTALLY NORMAL

HOW TO EXPLAIN RAPE CULTURE — TO THE DEVIL

LEARN ABOUT STDS — MAGIC SCHOOL BUS STYLE

Planned Parenthood’s doors have remained open to the communities we serve through 2 years of non-stop attacks from President Trump and politicians in Congress. However, in February, the Trump administration ratcheted up those attacks by finalizing rules that would dismantle the Title X program – the nation’s only family planning program covering the costs of reproductive health care for people with low incomes and who lack insurance coverage.

If the rule goes into effect, basic, comprehensive family planning services will be jeopardized for 4 million people, and organizations that receive Title X funding would not be able to share the full range of options during pregnancy with their patients, specifically the option of abortion care.

This isn’t just an attack to score political points and defund Planned Parenthood, it will also fundamentally undermine the essential, life-saving medical care that Title X provides, including breast cancer screenings, STI testing, and affordable birth control. Several states and organizations, including Planned Parenthood, have filed lawsuits to stop these rules from going into effect.

Today marks the 46th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, a landmark case which guaranteed the right to an abortion. Prior to this ruling by the Supreme Court and since the decision, Planned Parenthood and other reproductive rights groups have worked tirelessly to expand access to basic health care and defend the right of people living in America to secure comprehensive medical care regardless of social stigmas.

In this moment in our reproductive rights movement, it is especially important that we look at our accomplishments thus far. Just a few weeks ago, the first pro-choice majority in our nation’s history was sworn into Congress and, for only the second time in our history, a woman will preside as Speaker of the House of Representatives. This all taking place in the year we will celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment passing Congress enshrining the right for women to vote in the United States, though for many women of color these rights became a reality decades later.

On February 1st of this year, our organization, PPGNHI, announced a new strategic alliance with Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, creating the largest geographic Planned Parenthood organization in the country. With the desire to ensure access to reproductive health care services, PPGNHI is taking the thoughtful step to partner with our sister organization to make sure access to essential services will continue to be a reality for Hoosiers and Kentuckians.

Every year, health care providers, including Planned Parenthood, make changes as part of enhancing health care services for patients. With the top priority of serving our patients with compassionate care, PPGNHI is pursuing a long-term, sustainable strategy for delivering the best possible services to the communities who rely on us for health care, education, and advocacy. Like other health care providers, PPGNHI will work across time zones and state lines to deliver care to those who need it.

Planned Parenthood celebrated the successful opening of our new Honolulu health center and administrative hub, which will triple our capacity to serve patients on Oʻahu with eight brand new exam rooms! This new building will serve as the standard bearer for access to reproductive health care across the Hawaiian Islands.

We kicked off our celebrations by holding a press conference with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, leaders in the reproductive rights movement from Hawaiʻi, and student activists. That evening we held a private reception and room dedication for the state-of-the-art Tommy Holmes gathering space for our community partners.

We concluded the celebrations with a rooftop community celebration which featured music, building tours, and booths showcasing our medical, education, and advocacy work. We were honored to be joined by federal, state, and local government officials who have championed our issues throughout their careers.

After a hiatus year, PPGNHI put on its annual burlesque show: SexualiTease: A Planned Parenthood Burlesque! This year’s show was hosted at the historic Re-bar club in Seattle, and focused on celebrating agency, sexuality and all things body positive. 

We were lucky to have Sailor St. Claire, the famous “Showgirl Scholar” who combines her robust literary canon with performances, host this year’s event. More than a dozen performers, including the Luminous Pariah and the Shanghai Pearl, were showcased during the two sold out shows. From dancing to singing to sharing words of empowerment, the wide-range of performances were enjoyed by over 260 people.

The president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund is Dr. Leana Wen, who will be leading Planned Parenthood through its next exciting, challenging chapter — the first physician in nearly 50 years to lead our organization.

Dr. Wen's resume speaks for itself — take a look.

Planned Parenthood was founded in defiance of unjust laws that prohibited women from basic information about their reproductive health. And we were forged with courage and commitment. We were built for this moment in history, when our rights are under attack like we haven't seen in generations.

Last week, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement — which means President Trump gets to appoint a new Supreme Court justice. Trump has continually vowed to appoint justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade. There is no mistaking it: Roe v. Wade is on the line.

If he succeeds, we are facing the reality that the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the constitutional right to abortion, the law of the land for more than 40 years. Losing that right would be disastrous for millions and will put countless lives at risk.

It’s not just reproductive rights at stake either. Justice Kennedy’s successor can upend LGBTQ rights, immigrant rights, workers’ rights and voting rights.

We need a Supreme Court that will uphold our basic rights and freedoms. The thought of Trump appointing a justice is terrifying not only for abortion rights, but for our ability to live free from discrimination in this country. That's why this is a fight we absolutely cannot afford to lose. Our bodies, health, rights, and communities are on the line.

Tell your senator now to REJECT any Supreme Court nominee who will take away access to safe and legal abortion.