Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund rallies volunteers with proactive advocacy plan

More than 100 event attendees committed to protecting reproductive rights in new national political environment

BOSTON— Longtime supporters and new volunteers joined Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts Thursday evening to learn more about PPAF’s legislative goals and how they can take part in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health and rights in Massachusetts.

“In this new national political environment, Massachusetts has a responsibility to set an example for the rest of the country and serve as a national leader in health care access, equal rights, and reproductive freedom. I can tell you with confidence that we have the support of voters and elected officials to do just that,” Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president of PPAF, told the crowd.

President-elect Trump continues to surround himself with politicians, such as Vice President-elect Mike Pence, Representative Tom Price, and Senator Jeff Sessions, who all oppose safe and legal abortion and have long records of supporting dangerous measures that would block millions of people from lifesaving preventive sexual health care and repeal the Affordable Care Act.

The majority of Americans, including many of Trump’s own voters, support access to health care at Planned Parenthood, and do not want to see women lose access to safe, legal abortion. In Massachusetts, 74 percent of voters support access to safe, legal abortion and 88 percent support government funding for family planning services.

“Planned Parenthood has always faced challenges and attacks from people opposed to our mission, and we have never stopped fighting back. Now, we are gearing up for the biggest fight of our lives - and we are mounting the most aggressive campaign ever to defend access to health care in this country. You are part of that campaign,” Childs-Roshak said in her remarks.

The forum is part of a multi-layer effort PPAF is embarking on to mobilize volunteers to advocate for state legislation that will expand access to sex education in public schools, protect patient confidentiality, provide paid family and medical leave, and protect access to no-copay birth control. Next month, just a week after Trump’s inauguration and the anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, participants will join other PPAF advocates at the Sexual Health Lobby Day where they will meet with legislators and ask them to support these key legislative measures.

“State lawmakers need to show courage and bold leadership on Beacon Hill,” Childs-Roshak said. “We’ll be there every step of the way to make sure they prioritize our proactive legislative agenda that safeguards and strengthens reproductive health and rights.”