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Since the US House of Representatives passed a bill that would cut funding to Planned Parenthood earlier this year, the organization, which offers birth control, cancer screenings and sexual education (among other services) has received a large amount of news coverage. In the recent budget agreement reached by members of Congress, however, the funding stayed intact.
This is not the best news, as Planned Parenthood clearly doesn’t have the support it needs in the federal government. Since the bill passed in February, there has been a push by many women’s health and rights advocates to stand behind Planned Parenthood. This movement reached Conn with the help of two Planned Parenthood Campus Action Interns, Sokkha Hak ’12 and Megan Reback ’12.
Both Hak and Reback have been tabling for Planned Parenthood at events such as Vagina Monologues and International Women’s Day, and have also recorded a PSA for the radio station. Both believe that Planned Parenthood is an essential resource for women in this country.
“Not only does Planned Parenthood provide individuals with access to primary care on a sliding fee scale, it also provides education, counseling, family planning and support programs within the communities they are rooted in,” said Hak.
“Not many people know this but Planned Parenthood does more than provide reproductive health services like STI testing and access to contraceptives. It also has programs in the community to promote better health for everyone, including youth and men. Most of the people they service are those in lower income communities who don’t have adequate access to health care or can’t afford it. Personally, I think it’s a human right to be able to manage your health, and Planned Parenthood allows these people to do that.”
During the “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” event that took place in the Charles Chu room this semester, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England’s Public Affairs Fellow informed members of the community about the struggle in Congress over Planned Parenthood’s funding.
Reback believes that it is important to recognize the opposition to a woman’s right to have an abortion. “Since there are very few students here who would identify as anti-choice, the opposition does not really feel alive on this campus. However, we need to remember that Connecticut College is a bubble, and that everywhere outside of here, there are people and organizations dedicated to eradicating a woman’s choice and access.”
In support of Planned Parenthood, Dvora Walker ’11, Chris Krupenye ’11, and Reback worked together to make a video called “Connecticut College Has Sex!” The video features students explaining that the services provided by Planned Parenthood are essential for sexually active young people. Although the video has received much praise from the campus community, Walker thinks it is important that the film continues to be promoted.
“I would love to see the school openly recognize our video,” said Walker. “This is something that the Connecticut College administration should be proud of: students working together to ensure that people of all social locations can receive vital health services. In addition, my friend Chris noted that with all the attractive people talking about the hot sex that they have, this video could really serve the college well in terms of recruiting perspective students.”
Even though the Pence Amendment – the legislation meant to cut Planned Parenthood’s funding – did not pass, it is clear that those involved in the push to support Planned Parenthood believe there to be a good chance that a similar bill may be proposed again in the future.
Reback says that students who are interested in continuing the fight for women’s rights should go to the Planned Parenthood website and sign up for their Action Alerts. She also explained harmful legislation passed recently that highlights how women’s health rights are slowly being infringed upon. “We should support women in DC, where they have seemingly been neglected. Lawmakers included a policy rider that forbids the District of Columbia from using its own money to fund abortion services. This is crucial, and shows to us that the fight is not over. Get informed, and get active.” •
