Planned Parenthood Advocate

VIDEO: Elect a Pro-Choice, Pro-Women Governor

As you know, Planned Parenthood Minnesota Action Fund has endorsed Margaret Anderson Kelliher for Governor and we are working hard to make sure that she is elected as the first female Governor of Minnesota. Unfortunately, anti-choicers and social conservatives are working hard to elect the extremely anti-choice, Pawlenty-clone, Tom Emmer-- and they are using a lot of corporate money to do it.

Minnesotans need a pro-choice, pro-women candidate like Margaret Anderson Kelliher to be our Governor. It is critical that Tom Emmer be defeated, and with your help we can make it happen! Make a contribution to the Planned Parenthood Minnesota Political Action Fund to make sure that our next Governor is Pro-Choice!  

Any contribution can make a difference!  Minnesotans can't afford to have another anti-choicer as Governor. Help us elect Margaret!

Another way you can help ensure that we elect Margaret is to vote in the upcoming primary election. This year, Minnesotans will head to the polls on August 10th to cast their vote for the candidate they think should run in the November election.

With the primary taking place during the heart of summer vacation, it's important that everyone plans on how they will participate in the primary this year.  Check your calendars-- on August 10th, do you plan to be at the lake? Up north? Down south? In any case, if you aren't going to be able to make it to your polling place to cast your vote in the primary on August 10th, then you are a perfect candidate to vote by absentee!

Starting last Friday, you can now head to your local city clerk's office during business hours to cast your vote.  For more information, visit the Secretary of State's website. 

Help us get the word out about the candidate's records on choice by sharing the above video with your friends on facebook and twitter too!

STAY CONNECTED

New report shows Minnesota women still face many hurdles

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

A new report published by the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and the Humphrey Institute illustrates that Minnesota women still face an uphill battle when it comes to issues like health, safety, wages, and leadership.

Some of the reports findings(pdf): 

• • • Compared to a full-time working white man, white, African American and Latina women earn $.76, $.61, and $.56 on the dollar, respectively.
  • • Women over 65 live below the poverty line at rates more than double men over 65.
  • • By mid-life, nearly one third of women will have experienced a rape crime
  • • It’s estimated that in Minnesota about 80 girls under 18 were victims of prostitution, sold through the internet or escort services.
  • • A majority of Minnesota adult women are overweight or obese.
  • • Nearly twice as many Minnesota girls report suicidal thoughts as compared to boys. A startling 47% of Native American girls reported suicidal thoughts.
  • • Women lead none of Minnesota’s Fortune 500 companies.

 

Check out the Star Tribune’s story for a round up of other stunning facts about the current state of Minnesota women. You should also check out the report overview(pdf)—it’s a must read.

Improving access to family planning is an important way to combat some of these issues addressed in this new report. When women are able to choose when they have children, they are better able to focus on their education and career pursuits. And when women are able to choose when they have children, they are also more prepared and better equipped to manage the financial requirements needed for raising a child. Both of these factors lead to better economic success and improved health outcomes for women. Planned Parenthood is committed to improving access to family planning and health care for women all over the state.

Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota South Dakota recently published a report(pdf) on the state of rural women’s health in Minnesota. The report finds that rural women are more likely to live in poverty, more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, and more likely to have limited health care resources when compared with their urban counterparts. These are also factors that are contributing current state of women’s well-being in Minnesota.

Planned Parenthood applauds the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota for raising awareness around the critical issue of women’s equality. Next week, the Women’s Foundation will embark on a 9-day trip to present the new report and gain a better understanding of what the report’s findings look like on the ground. The Road to Equality Tour will visit Warroad, Moorhead, Grand Rapids, Duluth, Willmar, St. Cloud and Rochester. Keep up with their travels by following the Women’s Foundation on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Men's health services at our new building

June 14th-20th is Men’s Health Week! Many people may not realize that 6% of PPMNS’ patients are men. Planned Parenthood provides a wide array of reproductive and general health services to men and these services will be provided at our new state-of-the-art health care center. Here’s a sampling of some of those services...read more. 

Ensuring Quality Health Care for All Minnesotans

As you know, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota recently announced that we will soon begin construction on a new flagship health care center and administrative headquarters on University Avenue in St. Paul. We’re making the move to better serve our patients and to streamline our administrative work. It’s an extremely exciting new chapter in our history in this community, but it’s only a part of our ongoing commitment to providing quality, accessible health care to people all across Minnesota....read more. 

Candlelight Vigil for Dr. Tiller TONIGHT!

On Sunday, May 31st, Dr. George Tiller was murdered as he entered his church in Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Tiller provided abortion services in the state of Kansas and was a frequent target of harassment and intimidation. The pro-choice community is reeling from this act of violence against one of our greatest advocates, and many pro-choice supporters have contacted us asking what they can do.

Rather than letting this unspeakable act divide us, let's work together with civility and respect. Let us offer our encouragement and support to those that continue to make women's health care a priority.

Please join the Minnesota Choice Coalition in a candlelight vigil for Dr. Tiller this Tuesday, June 2nd from 9-9:30pm in the South West corner of Loring Park in Minneapolis (near Hennepin and 15th).

There will be no speaking program, no bullhorns, no chanting and no political rhetoric. We just want to gather to silently reflect on one man's life and contribution to the pro-choice movement, and to mourn among other pro-choice supporters.

Please bring your own candle, and meet us in Loring Park tomorrow night from 9-9:30pm. This event is open to the public.

If possible, please RSVP so that we have an idea of how many people to expect. You can email us at mnchoicecoalition@gmail.com or RSVP via Facebook.

Thank you for all you do for the pro-choice movement; we hope to see you tomorrow night in Loring Park.