One in five women in the U.S. uses Planned Parenthood services, according to their website. The proposed bill to cut government funding for healthcare clinics that provide abortion services, backed by Congressional Republicans, has sparked nationwide debate.
According to NPR, it is already illegal for government money to be used for abortion, but Republicans argue that government funding frees money from other services to be used for abortion.
This policy debate came to Greensboro last week with both a rally and a panel to inform citizens and the Guilford community about the effects of possible funding cuts.
Planned Parenthood’s Truth Tour has been traveling around the country This policy debate came to Greensboro last week with both a rally and a panel held to inform citizens and the Guilford community about the effects of possible funding cuts.
Planned Parenthood’s Truth Tour has been traveling around the country in a pink bus, stopping at cities to raise awareness about these “attacks on women’s healthcare.” According to their web page, the purpose of the Truth Tour is to reverse false propaganda on Planned Parenthood practices spread by Republican politicians and to demonstrate the support found in communities and online.
The bus came to Greensboro on April 4, bringing an explosion of pink to the Planned Parenthood parking lot on Battleground Ave. The estimated 70 people in attendance were handed bright shirts and signs boasting the “I Stand with Planned Parenthood” slogan.
Gathering in front of the bus, the group listened to speakers including Director of Public Policy at Planned Parenthood Systems Jessica Bearden, Guilford County Senator Gladys Robinson and Jasmine Hubbara from Teens Taking Action.
Current patient Robin Heyer spoke on how she does not attend the clinic for contraceptive purposes, as she is unable to conceive children. Instead, she relies on their healthcare services such as cancer screenings.
“Women could die if we lose Planned Parenthood,” said Heyer. “This shouldn’t happen because of misinformation.”
This problem of misinformation was addressed at the panel held in Bryan Jr. Auditorium. Speakers included Community Health Educator at Planned Parenthood Mary Connor, Assistant Professor of Political Science Maria Rosales and senior Grayson Schmidt, who is a double major in sociology/anthropology and women’s studies and was trained as an abortion doula, while Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Julie Winterich moderated.
Connor stressed that there is an inaccurate stigma attached to Planned Parenthood and emphasized that in the entire Planned Parenthood Federation of 112 affiliates, only 10 percent deal with abortion.
While many healthcare programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or “Obamacare”) could possibly lose funding, the majority of the panel focused on the proposal to cut all funding from Title X, or the Family Planning program.
At the rally on April 4, Senator Robinson and longtime friends Sally S. Cone and Leigh Seager explained their concern for young women today.
“All our life, we have been fighting for equality, especially in healthcare,” said Seager. “It was horrible then, and I am afraid that today’s generation will take advantage of what has been given to them and not come out to fight against this.”
An estimated 30 Guilford students attended the rally.
“I see this as a war against women,” said senior Cordelia McKusick. “So currently, it should be the most legitimate concern for students.”
While the group was enthusiastic, lining the road to get the public’s attention, some showed disappointment at the turnout.
“More people should have been here,” said junior Devinne Melecki.
Despite the Truth Tour’s invitations to all Greensboro media outlets, UNCG’s The Carolinian and The Guilfordian were the only newspapers to cover the rally.
At this time, there are several Planned Parenthood locations that provide services such as STI testing, pap smears, contraception and pregnancy testing for free. Other sites offer these services at a reduced, affordable price, according to Connor.
Defunding would affect all of the establishments. According to Connor, birth control prices could go from $20 to $70 a month.
The temporary federal budget was set to expire on April 8, and the Republicans and Democrats in Congress could not reach an agreement for the rest of the fiscal year. This funding cut was one of the last policies to be decided, and in their final compromise, the bill was not passed.
The eleventh-hour budget decision did not include any of the policies against Planned Parenthood, according to NPR. The debate for the funding, however, is not over, as the government plans for the 2012 budget.
“This is just a start,” said Connor. “Hands off my body. Don’t tell me how to spend my money. The next attack will be on Plan B (the emergency contraceptive) and birth control.”