Planned Parenthood Advocate

President Obama Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Access to Birth Control; Fight Continues in Congress

In the face of an outrageous assault on women’s health, the Obama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring all women will have access to birth control coverage, with no costly co-pays and no additional hurdles, no matter where they work.

“Our number one concern is making sure women have access to basic health care, including access to contraception, and Obama’s announcement today means that all women will have that access no matter where they work or who their employer is,” said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “The compliance mechanism does not compromise a woman’s ability to access critical birth control benefits.”

Rick “Dangers of Contraception” Santorum wins Minnesota straw poll

Last night, Minnesotans attended caucuses, and Republicans overwhelmingly supported Senator Rick Santorum to be their party’s challenger to President Obama. Santorum won 45 percent of Republican straw poll voters. Ron Paul garnered 27 percent and Romney finished third with 17 percent.

On women’s health issues, Santorum is beyond extreme. I wonder what Minnesota Republican women would have to say about his statements on birth control?

“One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country...It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.”

Santorum opposes the 1965 Supreme Court decision that allowed married couples to use contraception. 

Watch a video of the statements here.

We’ll be keeping our eye on Senator Santorum and his anti-women’s health care statements. Won’t you join us? Sign the pledge and join Women are Watching.

 

-by Karina, Web Editor, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund

Statement of Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, on the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Decision to Reinstate Funding for Breast Cancer Screenings at Planned Parenthood Health Centers Nationwide

The outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation's compassion and sincerity.

This show of support underscores what a critical resource Planned Parenthood is in the fight to detect and prevent breast cancer.  We were so heartened by the calls and emails we received from people in our region, who made it clear that they did not like to see politics playing a role in women’s health care. 

During the last week, millions spontaneously joined a national conversation about lifesaving breast cancer prevention care and reinforced shared values about access to health care for all.  This compassionate outcry in support of those most in need rose above political, ideological, and cultural divides, and will surely be recognized as one of our nation's better moments during a contentious political time.  Planned Parenthood thanks each and every person who has contributed to elevating the importance of breast cancer prevention for so many women in need.

We are very happy the Susan G. Komen Foundation has had a change of heart.  This decision will mean that women around the country who need life-saving cancer screenings will still be able to acess them.

Contact: Jen Aulwes, 651.755.9557

Senator Klobuchar sends Komen CEO letter asking her to reconsider recent decision on Planned Parenthood funding

Earlier today, Senator Klobuchar sent Nancy Brinker, CEO of Susan G. Komen Foundation, a letter asking her to reconsider the recent decision to deny Planned Parenthood grant funding for breast cancer screenings. Read her letter below:

Thank you Senator Klobuchar for your strong committment to women's health!

Senator Franken ask Susan G. Komen to reconsider their decision

Senator Franken has joined many of his Senate colleages in signing on to a letter to the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Nancy Brinker, requesting the foundation to reconsider their denial of breast-cancer screening funds to Planned Parenthood.  Read the letter below:

Thanks again for standing up for women's health, Senator Franken! 

How to help Planned Parenthood

As you’ve probably heard by now, the Susan G. Komen Foundation has caved to political pressure,making the decision to pull breast cancer screening funding from Planned Parenthood. This politically motivated decision comes after years of anti-choice campaigning against Komen and right on the heels of a congressional assault on Planned Parenthood and women’s health care.

The outpouring of support for Planned Parenthood and the critical reproductive health care we provide has been overwhelming.  By speaking out, you are sending a strong message that politics should never get in the way of women’s health care. 

Many of you have asked: “What else can I do? How can I help Planned Parenthood?”

Here are some ways you can make a difference and change the tone of the debate in this country around women’s basic reproductive health care.

1. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU’RE DOING.  Keep talking about this issue on Facebook and Twitter. Let people know that women’s health care is not something that should be determined by the politics of the day. 

2. SIGN UP TO ATTEND OUR ANNUAL SOLIDARITY EVENT. Every year on Good Friday, thousands of our opponents protest at our St. Paul health care center.  Sign up to stand in solidarity with Planned Parenthood and the services we provide. Let’s show the world that Minnesota stands with Planned Parenthood.

3. THANK SUPPORTIVE LEGISLATORS. Senator Franken, and Representatives McCollum and Ellison have all issued strong statements of support for women’s health care and the critical work Planned Parenthood does.  Let them know you appreciate their strong support for women’s health care.

4. SEND LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. Write to your local paper and let them know how you feel about letting politics dictate women’s health care.

5. SIGN THE OPEN LETTER.  If you think opponents of women’s health care have dominated the national debate for too long, please sign our open letter.

6. SUPPORT PLANNED PARENTHOOD.  Every day Planned Parenthood provides basic preventive health care to women who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Make a gift so that Planned Parenthood can continue providing those services.

7. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Stay informed about reproductive health issues impacting Minnesota and the U.S. Follow us today! 

8. SHARE THIS POST. Tell your friends how they can help support women’s health care.

Women are the real victims of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision and the anti-women’s health rhetoric that dominates discussions around women’s health care.  With your help, we can change that.

Planned Parenthood Statement on Komen Foundation Succumbing to Political Pressure and Ending Breast Cancer Prevention Funding

Planned Parenthood today expressed deep disappointment in response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision to stop funding breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers. Anti-women’s health groups have repeatedly targeted and boycotted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings and news articles suggest that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation ultimately succumbed to these pressures.

“As a health care provider to more than 60,000 women in our community, Planned Parenthood is trusted a leader in helping women identify breast cancer early. Women are deeply alarmed that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure from a vocal minority”, said Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS). “For years, opponents of women’s health have waged an aggressive pressure campaign aimed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the expense of women’s health and lives.”

A Huge Victory for Women!

After a massive outpouring of concern from Planned Parenthood supporters, President Obama has rejected efforts to cut off access to birth control for millions of women! Sign our thank-you card to President Obama.

Today United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius/the Obama administration announced that it will make no changes to the birth control coverage benefit under the Affordable Care Act. This decision is grounded in sound medical science and health policy and protects access to affordable birth control for millions of women, including women who are employed by a religiously affiliated hospital, university, or other religiously affiliated organization that serves the broader public.

Birth control is not just basic health care for women; it is an economic concern. This commonsense decision means that millions of women who would otherwise pay $15 to $50 a month will have access to affordable birth control, helping them save hundreds of dollars each year.

This benefit does not require that anyone dispense or use birth control.  It is simply a benefit that ensures women have adequate health insurance coverage that includes affordable birth control.

This policy represents one of the greatest advancements for women’s health in decades and ensures that millions of women will have access to affordable birth control. Thank you President Obama! Sign our thank-you card today.

Cervical Cancer Awareness Book Reviews

The cervical cancer/HPV world needs a few more Betty Ford equivalents – people willing to carve through stigma, shame and silence and advocate for those with cervical and other HPV-related cancers in the same fearless way that the former First Lady went to bat for those with breast cancer. Oh, you can already hear the naysayers: Breast cancer is different, they might say, because it’s not caused by human sexual behavior and therefore it’s not anyone’s “fault.” What a cruel and uninformed distinction to make! And what a moral quandary we create when we point exclusively to individual behavior when assessing cancers or illnesses of any kind. Here’s a sampling of a very few books out there about HPV and the cancers it causes, written by people whose willingness to tell their personal stories, expose misinformation, explore scientific advances and address controversy is much to be admired.

Planned Parenthood Releases Updated Report to Mark Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Calls for Action, Education to Address Preventable Cervical Cancer Rates and Deaths in Minnesota

Today, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota (PPMNS) released its updated report on cervical cancer prevention in Minnesota as part of a long-standing effort to raise awareness about the importance of preventive health care for women, men and teens.

Click here to download the report and visit our Your Health Matters page to hear from PPMNS’ health care providers about the need for regular Pap screenings and to learn what’s involved in getting the HPV vaccine.