(Albany, NY) Today, supporters of Planned Parenthood held a press conference to speak up for the quality health care services and compassionate care that Planned Parenthood has provided for nearly a century. Among those present were Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, BiPartisan Pro-Choice Caucus co-leader Senator Liz Krueger, members of the New York State Assembly and Senate, as well as statewide organization leaders including Sonia Ossorio, President, NOW- New York State, and Corinne Carey of NYCLU. The event followed an outpouring of support by community members earlier this week when patients and women’s health advocates posted notes of thanks on the doors and entrances of health centers.
At the press conference, supporters stood up for Planned Parenthood in recognition of their trusted services statewide and rejected political attacks, condemned a recent smear campaign that’s part of a decade-long pattern of illegal harassment by extremists whose focus is banning abortion, and preventing women from accessing preventive health care at Planned Parenthood health centers.
100 activists and legislators held a press conference to speak up for the quality health care services and compassionate care that Planned Parenthood has provided for nearly a century. Photo Credit: Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood affiliates are located in urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods across New York State and are an integral component of New York’s health care safety net and key to community health. One in five women will receive care from a Planned Parenthood provider.
Planned Parenthood’s family planning services are the entry point for primary and preventive health care for many women, and in fact is reflective of how women actually access health care. More than 6 in 10 women who receive care at a family planning center consider it their primary, or only, source of care.
Last year, nationally, Planned Parenthood provided birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and other services to 2.7 million patients, and sex education to 1.5 million people. In 2013, 1,228,700 women in New York were in need of publicly supported contraceptive services and supplies. Planned Parenthood affiliates across the state are critical in teen pregnancy prevention and the health and safety of their patients has always been their top priority.
Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul:
“Planned Parenthood provides a valuable service to women across the country and is an integral part of our nation’s health care system. Just as I stood with them in Congress, defending them against political extremists who orchestrate a smear campaign to achieve their goal of eliminating a woman’s right to choose, I proudly stand with Planned Parenthood and defend it so that women’s healthcare is not compromised.”
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Democratic Conference Leader, 35th Senate District:
“Planned Parenthood has always been on the front lines standing up for women’s equality and health and now it our time to stand with them. The Senate Democrats will continue to fight for women’s rights and health and we will not let Planned Parenthood be unfairly attacked. Together we will build a stronger and fairer state and nation for our daughters and granddaughters.”
Senator Liz Krueger, 28th Senate District:
“For almost a hundred years, Planned Parenthood has addressed a vital need for women across the country, providing access to a wide array of reproductive healthcare services. In the face of relentless attacks by extremists who want to deny these services to millions of Americans, it is more important than ever that we stand with Planned Parenthood. We must not let anti-choice radicals turn back the clock on women’s reproductive rights.”
Sonia Ossorio, President, NOW – New York State:
“Planned Parenthood has been a trusted provider of women’s health services for nearly a century. In the US alone, nearly 3 million women rely on these critical health care services for annual pap smears, birth control, abortion care and more. It’s no surprise that voters consistently and overwhelmingly are opposed to Planned Parenthood being defunded. We urge our pro-choice lawmakers to join voters – women and men – in standing with Planned Parenthood and for the health and safety of women and their families.”
Corinne Carey, Co-Chair, Assistant Legislative Director, NYCLU:
“We should be looking for ways to expand women’s access to health care, not restrict it. Women rely on Planned Parenthood for crucial health care services, including pregnancy tests, cancer screenings and testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. For many low-income, uninsured or underinsured people, Planned Parenthood is a primary health care provider. That’s why the New York Civil Liberties Union stands with Planned Parenthood and its commitment to ensuring all women have equal access to reproductive health care.”
Senator Mike Gianaris, 12th Senate District:
“After decades of struggle, we cannot allow women to be stripped of their hard won reproductive health care rights and protections. We need organizations like Planned Parenthood standing up for women’s health and equality and I stand with them in this effort.”
Miriam W. Yeung, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF):
“We are disgusted by the recent sting operations targeting Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has been a critical ally to NAPAWF and a tremendous resource for women in my community — giving us the opportunity to plan our families so we can pursue our own dreams and shape our destinies. Today, we stand with Planned Parenthood.”
Assemblymember Richard N. Gottfried, Chair, NYS Assembly Committee on Health, 75th Assembly District:
“Medical research using fetal tissue donated by the woman is producing significant life-saving advances in our efforts to treat diseases like Parkinson’s, diabetes, and muscular dystrophy. This attack on Planned Parenthood is anti-life as well as anti-woman and anti-choice. This is a dishonest attempt to vilify Planned Parenthood, through videos edited to imply falsely that Planned Parenthood takes fetal tissue and sells it. It doesn’t. This phony claim is now being used to try to deny Planned Parenthood’s patients federally-funded health care. I stand with Planned Parenthood.”
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, 67th Assembly District:
“Once again anti-abortion militants have set their sights on women’s health care and legally protected rights by twisted and doctored videos. Despite the fact that Planned Parenthood provides life-saving health care to women and men from across the country, these vigilantes have sunk to a new low with their specious attacks against the organization. Everyone who supports families and medical health privacy has a responsibility to stand with Planned Parenthood and say once and for all, it’s time to end this war on women.”
Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee, Co-Chair, BiPartisan Pro-Choice Caucus, 97th Assembly District:
“For over 99 years Planned Parenthood has been one of the most trusted health care organizations for women in the country. The recent release of heavily edited videos is part of a three year smear campaign orchestrated by one of the more extreme anti-abortion groups whose goal is to prevent women from accessing the care they need. Planned Parenthood, a non-profit health care organization, provided 378,692 pap screenings for cervical cancer, detected 87,988 cases of early breast cancer, performed 487,029 breast exams and does more to prevent unintended pregnancies than any other organization in the country.
The donation of fetal tissue is not against the law and is often very cathartic for the women who choose to donate. It is seen by many in the medical and research field as an invaluable part of research for prevention of several diseases. I will continue to support Planned Parenthood as they continue providing the kind of care women can count on.
Senator Martin Malavé Dilan, 18th Senate District:
“For many low-to-middle income women in New York, Planned Parenthood is their sole-source for quality healthcare. The fact is, one out of every five women visit their community Planned Parenthood centers seeking treatment and testing, sex education services and early-detection cancer screening. These are but a few of the many services offered that would be lost if this community asset goes unfunded.”
Senator Brad Hoylman, 27th Senate District:
“Planned Parenthood is an indispensable community resource for women across New York and throughout the country. With a service portfolio ranging from cancer screenings and STD testing to sex education and family planning, Planned Parenthood fills a major gap in access to life-saving and emergency medical care for many Americans. We need to ensure continued support for its work now more than ever.”
Senator Jose Peralta, 13th Senate District:
“Reproductive healthcare is an essential service for families and must be protected. Attempts to cut funding to Planned Parenthood on the federal level are a step backwards. We must support Planned Parenthood and the crucial work the organization is doing for low-income families who otherwise go without access to reproductive healthcare.”
Assemblymember Didi Barrett, 106th Assembly District:
“For generations of New Yorkers, Planned Parenthood has been an invaluable health care provider in communities across our state. Whether for birth control, STD testing or cancer screening, Planned Parenthood is where millions of women — and men — turn for safe, dependable services and information they can trust.
Assemblyman David Buchwald, 93rd Assembly District:
“For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has been expertly assisting and advising women across New York State on various aspects of their health care, including lifesaving cancer screenings, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and assistance during pregnancy. The vital work of Planned Parenthood needs to continue so that women throughout New York do not lose access to vital health care options.”
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, 103rd Assembly District:
“For too long the anti-choice (not to be confused with the pro-life) movement has attempted to distort the mission of Planned Parenthood and other family planning organizations. These sensationalistic fictions are disgraceful and even damaging to the cause of those who are sincerely arguing against legalized abortion. It is time to call on legitimate Right to Life and other related organizations to hold these radical elements accountable for their deceptions.”
Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell, 69th Assembly District:
“I commend Planned Parenthood and its centers for the important work that they do to promote safe reproductive health and maternal health services. Planned Parenthood’s National Week of Service highlights the vital role they play in the lives of women, men and children by providing sex education, birth control, cancer screening, STD testing, and much more. I firmly believe that Planned Parenthood’s accessibility and lower rates are essential to ensuring the health and education of low and middle income New Yorkers. I have stood with Planned Parenthood in the past, and will continue to do so moving forward.
Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, 66th Assembly District:
“It is because of organizations like Planned Parenthood, that women have access to all services so that they can make health care and reproductive decisions that are best for them with the consultation of a doctor. Planned Parenthood is a trusted and vital provider of health care services and I am proud to continue to support their work.”
Assemblymember Todd Kaminsky, 20th Assembly District:
“Adequate healthcare is essential for all New Yorkers—and Planned Parenthood has long been a fundamental provider of reproductive education and care, especially to those who need it most. I am proud to support Planned Parenthood and grateful for all they do for New Yorkers everywhere.”
Assemblymember Amy Paulin, 88th Assembly District:
“Planned Parenthood’s National Week of Service is a chance to reflect on the important work of Planned Parenthood volunteers and staff. Planned Parenthood centers provide basic healthcare such as STD and cancer screening for many people who would not otherwise be able to access these services. They are truly an invaluable part of the community and I am pleased to ‘Stand with Planned Parenthood.”
Assemblyman Dan Quart, 73rd Assembly District:
“Planned Parenthood does the essential work of providing reproductive health care to my constituents and all across New York. They bravely operate in an increasingly hostile climate, often serving as the only abortion provider for miles around. I’m proud to stand with Planned Parenthood today and every day.”
Andrea Miller, President of NARAL Pro-Choice New York:
“Every day, abortion care providers risk harassment just for providing compassionate care to women who have decided to have an abortion. We will not stand by as extremists spread lies and misinformation in order to ban abortion and shut down clinics. We thank our pro-choice New York elected officials and join them in standing with Planned Parenthood, abortion providers, and the women and families who benefit from abortion care.”
Planned Parenthood Advocates of New York is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of the Planned Parenthoods of New York State. PPANY engages in education and electoral activity including voter education campaigns, grassroots organizing and legislative advocacy. PPANY is a non-partisan organization committed to supporting pro-choice, pro-family planning candidates for elected office.
