I stand with Planned Parenthood. This is not just because I am a woman. It is not because I am pro-choice. It is not because I'm a feminist. It is because I am a human. It is because I have common sense and because I need to feel like I have a place to go if something happens outside of my control.
On Dec. 3, 2015 the Senate officially voted to take away federal funding to Planned Parenthood, a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services at an affordable cost. The bill that the Senate voted on was approved with a vote 52/47.
Planned Parenthood is one of the nation's leading providers in making health care affordable for everyone. In a country that considers themselves to be the best in the world, the United States is severely behind in terms of sexual education. Countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands do a much better job at educating their youth about sexual and reproductive health, because they allow the education to take place. In America, only 22 of our 50 states are required to teach sexual education in public schools. Only 13 out of our 50 states require that information being taught in sexual education classes to be medically accurate. This causes our youth to be undereducated about their bodies and about their sexual health. This is why pregnancy, abortion, and birth rates are much lower in the stated countries than in the United States. Our country's pregnancy rate is three times greater than those in Germany and France and four times greater than the Netherlands.
Currently, our Senate is planning on removing all funding from one of the best organizations in terms of providing sexual health care. Planned Parenthood educates youth and provides information and services to more than five million women, men, and adolescents worldwide each year. Statistically, one in five women in the United States will visit a Planned Parenthood health center at least once in her life time.
If you are one of those people who is pro-life and believes that abortion is wrong, I respect your opinion, but you should know that Planned Parenthood does more than just provide abortion services.
In fact, if your only argument against Planned Parenthood is that you are pro-life, you should seriously consider educating yourself on the other wonderful work that they do as an organization. Only 3 percent of all Planned Parenthood health services are abortion services.
80 percent of Planned Parenthood clients receive services to prevent unwanted pregnancies. This includes birth control, condoms, and other forms of contraceptives. Because of this service, about 516,000 unintended pregnancies are prevented each year.
Each year, Planned Parenthood provides services that are critical in detecting cancer, such as 400,000 Pap Tests and 500,000 breasts exams.
They provide nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections each year.
1.5 Million young people and adults each year are educated on sexual health and reproductive health by Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood works to ensure women the right to their own bodies and to the safety of their bodies.
I have a problem with our Senate's recent decision. I really do. Their plan to defund this organization is inconsiderate and inhumane. Women need an organization that provides these services at an affordable cost and has their best interest in mind. If it weren't for Planned Parenthood, many women would be unprotected and uneducated against the many sexual hazards that exist.
Planned Parenthood does wonderful things for people. Planned Parenthood is not just an organization for women, this is an organization for men, for women, and for our country's youth. If you don't stand with Planned Parenthood, then I don't know if I could stand with you.
