The Defunding of Planned Parenthood

By Akii Butler

In March of 2019, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled that Ohio can defund Planned Parenthood due to the organization performing abortions. This ruling overturned a lower court ruling that blocked the state from stripping 1.5 million of annual support.

“‘Defunding’ Planned Parenthood really means blocking patients who rely on public healthcare programs from getting their care at our health centers,” said Nicole Evans, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio.

In February of 2019 the Trump administration announced it will bar federal money from organizations that provide abortion referrals. While clinics can explain abortions and talk about abortions to patients, they are not allowed to tell them where they can actually get an abortion.

In a poll created by Quinnipiac University, back in January found that 62% of Americans opposed Trump’s plan of defunding planned parenthood.

According to Evans, the organization provides STD testing, breast cancer screenings, affordable birth control and more.

“The only time we are allowed to use federal dollars for abortions is when it is rape, or incest, or if the mother’s life is in danger,” said evans.

According to an annual report released by planned Parenthood from June 2017-June 2018, they released, the organization performed 332,757 abortions last year. Only 3.4% of the services they perform each year. They also performed over 4 million STI testing and treatment services and over 500 thousand breast cancer screenings and pap smears

“President Trump Made it clear I believe last year, or the year before… when he told planned parenthood … If you dump the abortion business then you can keep all of the federal funding you currently receive,” said Mark Harrington, president of the organization Created Equal.

“Our organization raises up the next generation of leaders, students, like yourself , to go to college and high school campuses and create dialogue about abortion,” said Harrington.

According to the organization’s site, Created Equal was inspired by Mark Harrington’s vision of uniting human rights defenders.

According to the site, I Stand With Planned Parenthood, if the organization were to get defunded to the point of shut down, then 2.4 million people a year would lose access to birth control, breast cancer screenings, STD tests, and more.

“I feel like our rights [as women] are constantly attacked,” said Abrams. “Everyone but women are making decisions about women.”

There is no telling when this battle will end or if there is ever going to be an end to this battle, but one thing is for sure, both sides are willing to fight.