Planned Parenthood provides services to over five million Americans annually. There services are not limited to abortions, but include sexual and reproductive health care, education, information, and mental health services. So why are so many lawmakers hating against this organization that has helped so many across the United States? It is due to a video that surfaced in August thanks to The Center for Medical Progress. These videos appeared to be of Planned Parenthood Health Center’s using fetal tissue dissected from abortions in order to do research. Although that action is illegal in many states, what Planned Parenthood was accused of, is actually untrue. The videos were spliced in order to make the organization look unlawful.
Since the release of the videos, support for the organization across the country has skyrocketed. On Sept. 29 of this year, Planned Parenthood’s across the nation stood together for Pink Out Day. Supporters were encouraged to wear pink, show their support, spread their stories, and to be heard. In Ithaca, NY, alone, around 500 showed support on that day. Continued support has also carried on in the area as many homes and businesses still have signs up with the words “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” plastered on them.
The Planned Parenthood in Ithaca is called Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes (PPSFL) and is the home base for five other centers across the region. PPSFL also has locations in Corning, Elmira, Hornell, and Watkins Glen.
The Director of Public Affairs at the Ithaca Center, Liz Gipson, said the overwhelming support from the community has really helped the organization stay strong spirited.
“More than 35 businesses across the region put “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” signs in their windows which is a really empowering thing to see,” Gipson said.
Local congressman for the area, Tom Reed, has been one of the lawmakers that has voted to defund the organization due to the videos, although he has previously stated that he supported the organization. If federal funding were to be taken away, Planned Parenthood could risk losing Medicaid or Title 10 funding in its entirety. This could force many people to be left without health care whatsoever.
“For a lot of patients, we’re the only healthcare provider that they have,” she said.
Planned Parenthood plans to continue to combat the threats and the fallacies about their organization. On Jan 25, 2017 the local Planned Parenthood as well as many others across the state will travel to Albany, NY to speak with lawmakers and express the importance that they have in their communities.