Commentary: There is lots of anti-Planned Parenthood (PP) propaganda in the air these days. Reality differs. Pandering to revised videos from a discredited organization known for severe editing, paste ups and false “news” is not funny, nor accurate. State-by-state Republican defunding occurs. Nothing new about that. Why, as Jeb Bush even said in 2015 during his now failed campaign:“I’m not sure we need to spend $500 million on women’s health issues” (NPR). Really? Yes we do - and I am proud of Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood is a national, legal, non-profit organization. Its services are available in urban centers and are especially helpful to rural and poor women who have the fewest options. Abortion is one important option for women who have unplanned pregnancies as are accurate sex education and birth control. PP also provided services for STD testing, treatment and prevention education; pregnancy avoidance education and pre-natal care; cancer services and education and other miscellaneous services. Planned Parenthood is proud of its full-service activities and is expanding throughout the Rocky Mountain area even with the right’s war on PP.
New Mexico stands strong among the states that allow abortion, though barely 50% of our counties have a provider. Consider Washington state with similar statutes but coverage offered in over 90% of counties (Guttmacher institute) PP of the Rocky Mountains (PPRM), affiliated with national PP, is now getting established in Las Cruces and growing. It partners with the NMSU Student Alliance for Reproductive Justice (SARJ) and Las Cruces Coalition for Reproductive Justice, among others. For further information and volunteering, people may contact PPRM locally at 505-363-5885 and the NMSU SARJ on Facebook.
"The emphasis must be not on the right to abortion but on the right to privacy and reproductive control.” (Ruth Bader Ginsberg)