Early in the morning on Saturday, February 19th, the House of Representatives approved a bill that reduced government spending to $1 trillion. Included in the stipulation is a provision that strips Planned Parenthood of all governmental funding. This assault on sexual freedom and rights comes ironically right after the attack on rape victims. Because of these proposals, I, as a Republican, am having a very hard time keeping my head held up high, but, most of all, my mouth shut. Planned Parenthood is often given a poor rep on the Republican front, but this program does not just provide abortions as much of the public is often told. Contrary to popular belief, the main goal of this organization is to provide cervical and breast cancer screenings, as well as HIV/AIDS testing to those that cannot afford these potentially life-saving services. One of the most frustrating things about the attacks on Planned Parenthood is the fact that federal money is not even used in providing abortions! If offering affordable and necessary health care to the under-privileged is considered a poor use of governmental spending, then I really can’t imagine what would be considered a worthwhile cause. I have a hard time grasping the idea that our tax money could possibly go to a more beneficial cause besides the health and well being of our United States citizens.
Planned Parenthood’s focus has always been on prevention and it is what they have stood for during the past ninety three years. According to Planned Parenthood’s annual report for 2007 and 2008, “As always,…services included contraception (36 percent of our total services), testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (31 percent), cancer screening and prevention (17 percent), and abortion services (three percent). In all, we helped prevent roughly 621,000 unintended pregnancies, and, as a result, we helped avert 295,000 abortions”(1). This is not just a fight against women, as many are saying. It is a fight against men and women because men are also subject to HIV/AIDS and STD’s as much as women are. This cutting of governmental funding of Planned Parenthood does not just affect contraception, but also the prevention of sexually transmitted disease. This amendment is in no way moral. What does this stance say to the thousands of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer by Planned Parenthood? What does this say to those whose lives were saved due to the services Planned Parenthood provided? Planned Parenthood’s approach isn’t corrupt, its commonsense. Its commonsense that the rights of an individual to make informed, independent decisions about health, sex, and family planning should be respected. Planned Parenthood is not supporting abortions, but doing quite the opposite. Their program is centered around preventing unwanted pregnancies, thus reducing the amount of abortions yearly. They make safe sex, more accessible.
The idea that Planned Parenthood makes safe sex more accessible is a worry to many parents, but their worries may be getting in the way of reality. When representative Mike Pence of Indiana sponsored this amendment, he sure wasn’t thinking of his two teenage daughters. No, to his knowledge they may not have ever stepped foot into Planned Parenthood, but to many parents knowledge their teens haven’t. That is the point; Planned Parenthood makes safe health care accessible to those that can’t go elsewhere for support. The reality is that the majority of teenagers don’t want to talk to their parents about sexual concerns, so patients of Planned Parenthood are composed of all social classes. Whether due to embarrassment, financial struggles or confidentiality, Planned Parenthood is there to provide a safe alternative for everyone.
We as women have come a long way to get the rights we deserve and there should be no taking them away. The amendment is a vote against you, me and every man and woman out there. We are apart of a country built on freedom, our personal rights, and no one has the right to take those away from us. How can a women thrive when she has nothing to safely fall back on if a mistake is made? How can our country grow and prosper, if we the citizens of the United States are not being protected? Now is your chance to take a stand for your rights. Sign the letter to the representatives who voted against you for this bill, but most of all, sign it so that those who still have the chance to prevent it can. Remember, its our minds, our bodies, and we should have the choice.