I am ashamed to admit, as of recently, I had not been keeping up-to-date on particular healthcare concerns that have been building up since the Trump Administration took office. I am explicitly referring to what is currently sparking panic and outrage for many women all over the country (2.4 million to be exact) – the problem surrounding Planned Parenthood.
What is Planned Parenthood? What do they do?
These are good questions to ask if you are not informed on what precisely this form of healthcare actually provides for the American people on a daily basis. Planned Parenthood is our nation’s largest leading affordable healthcare provider to date and is a huge advocate for safe sex education. Some services they provide include: affordable birth control, HIV/STD testing and treatment, vaginal infection testing and treatment, breast and cervical cancer screening, pregnancy testing, abortion services, etc.
From the Planned Parenthood’s official website, it states how the Trump Administration has taken almost every measure possible in order to shut down Planned Parenthood for good. From altering the presidential budget, healthcare reform bills, and tax reform legislation, to federal resolutions/regulations and appointing officials who are anti-Planned Parenthood into power, all the boxes have been checked to defunding the program completely. The Trump Administration has even taken strides in defunding Planned Parenthood officially in the state of Texas – something that could have monumental consequences for the nation’s healthcare concerns.
I know girl…it’s A LOT. But you’re probably asking the one thing we all are wondering: WHY?
Planned Parenthood is something that has helped millions of women, such as young college-aged girls, avoid paying for higher healthcare costs, while simultaneously making it accessible in many communities around the country. It is estimated that 1 in 5 women have visited a Planned Parenthood center at least once in their lifetime. So, why defund it?
One of the main defund ‘attacks’ the Trump Administration has utilized is known as the Title X gag rule. This rule essentially takes away Title X from women who need access to affordable birth control and other reproductive care. It also bans providers of the Title X program to inform and direct people to be safe and legal areas for abortion procedures. If this rule passes, who knows what will become of women’s healthcare in the future. Additionally, this gag rule significantly impacts people of the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and immigrants, who depend on Planned Parenthood for daily healthcare assistance.
This then leads me to my final point – if you believe in My Body My Choice, abortion for all, and access to affordable healthcare, then please VOTE IN THE 2020 ELECTION! Vote Trump administration out of office, stay educated on the current issues surrounding Planned Parenthood and other reproductive care needs, and remember to always stay informed. Right now, our largest asset is avoiding the bullshit that is spurred on by the media and other ignorant news sources of today.
By doing so, we can hopefully stop this runaway train before it arrives at the station.
FOR MORE INFO ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PLEASE VISIT: https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/tracking-trump/policy/planned-parenthood
ShoutOut! James Madison University 