As promised in my first article about vaginas, I'm writing part two of my vagina talk series, because talking about vaginas is important. We live in a country where people with vaginas are fighting a constant battle to gain and keep their healthcare, because apparently people with vaginas aren't as worthy of receiving healthcare as the rich, white men running this country. In case you haven't heard, Senate Republicans voted (yet again) to not only defund Planned Parenthood, but also to repeal Obamacare.
If you're a Senate Republican, and you've come across this article by chance, #sorrynotsorry, but you suck right now. How dare you take away access to healthcare for thousands of people in this country. For some, Planned Parenthood is the only healthcare option due to their location and socioeconomic status. Although, why would I expect you to care while you're sitting there enjoying your government-funded healthcare that millions of middle-class families are paying for? Why would I expect you to care about the single mom who relies on Planned Parenthood for her cancer screening while she works two jobs to raise her family? Why would I expect you to care about the thousands of people who rely on Planned Parenthood for prenatal care, even though you claim to be pro-life? How about voting to defund your healthcare for a change, since apparently you have no problem taking it away from the people you're supposed to be representing?
It's crucial that people with vaginas have access to (afforable) healthcare. It takes a lot to maintain a healthy vagina; heck, we have special doctors specifically for our genitals. Planned Parenthood provides STD testing, cancer screenings, access to birth control and condoms, and other necessary services. When rich white people with penises decide to take away government-funding for Planned Parenthood, they're not taking away the abortions that Planned Parenthood provides; they're taking away these services. Here's my question to the senators who made this bill pass: Are you really pro-life if you're taking away people's access to maintaining a healthy life? In my eyes, you're not. In my eyes, you're pro-birth.
On top of taking away people's access to healthcare, they also repealed Obamacare, a source of health insurance for thousands of people in the United States. Before Obamacare, private health insurance companies could classify being a woman as a pre-existing health condition and could deny women coverage because of it. Because of Obamacare, 47 million women can get mammograms sans co-pay, saving women money out of their pockets. Women can now access birth control with no co-pays, as well. Obamacare is a women's issue, a human rights issue, and a family issue; women, humans, and families need health insurance, and for some, insurance is Obamacare, and I firmly believe that Senate Republicans should not be taking that basic human right away from people.
As a person with a vagina, I'm sick and tired of politicians telling me that I am "less than." I didn't get the choice of which genitals I want in this life. You know what? I love having a vagina, and I know other people who love having a vagina (and people who don't), and we all deserve healthcare and health insurance. Stop trying to take it away.
