Months After a Missouri Court Ruled “Defunding” of Planned Parenthood Unconstitutional, Legislature Again Seeks to Block Essential Health Care
Only months after a Missouri judge ruled “defunding” Planned Parenthood violated the state’s constitution by refusing to reimburse care through the Medicaid program, the legislature today passed a budget that again blocks repayment for care to patients. Should Governor Parson sign the bill, it would bar the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) from reimbursing Planned Parenthood for services covered under MO HealthNet — the State’s Medicaid program — including birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and other non-abortion care.
Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes and Trust Women Hold “Rock the Block” for Reproductive and LGBTQ+ Rights; Event Came Hours Before Governor Signed Ban on Transgender Care for Minors
Yesterday, advocacy organizations and supporters took to the capitol to join Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, and Trust Women for a Rock the Block Community Event.
Oklahoma House Passes Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors with an Emergency Clause; Bill will Return to the Senate for Final Passage
Today, the Oklahoma House of Representatives advanced another bill in an ongoing attack on best practice medical care for Two Spirit, transgender, and gender nonconforming (2STGNC+) Oklahomans with an emergency clause that means it would take effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature. Freedom Oklahoma, ACLU of Oklahoma, and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes again are calling on the lawmakers to stop threatening the safety and survival of already marginalized youth to advance partisan and personal political agendas.
Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Denounces Missouri Attorney General’s Unprecedented and Dangerous Restriction on Gender-Affirming Care as a “Gross Misuse of Power”
Today, in response to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s unprecedented use of an emergency rule to prohibit gender-affirming care for people of all ages, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes (PPGPV) is denouncing the regulation as dangerous, a violation of fundamental bodily autonomy, and putting politics over trans Missourians’ lives and futures.
Reproductive Rights Advocates Call on Kansas Gov. Kelly to Veto Dangerous, Misleading Bills Attacking Abortion Rights and Gender-Affirming Care
Kansas lawmakers continued their attacks on reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy late last night and into the early morning with little transparency, by swiftly passing legislation that would force doctors to lie to patients, interfere with the provider-patient relationship, and ban minors from accessing gender-affirming care, among other misleading and dangerous bills. These bills come a little more than six months after Kansans overwhelmingly voted to protect abortion rights.
Advocates Take to the Capitol to Oppose Anti-Reproductive and Anti-Transgender Rights Bills
Today, as lawmakers considered two anti-trans bills – SB 180 and SB 2238 – advocates for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights brought the fight for Kansans’ futures to the state capitol. Dozens of people from across the state participated in Kansans for Bodily Autonomy Advocacy Day, raising the alarm on these renewed attacks on abortion, gender-affirming care, and gender equity. The event was organized by ACLU of Kansas, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, Trust Women, URGE Kansas, and Vote Neigh.
Oklahoma House Passes Ban on Gender-Affirming Care and Targets Insurance Coverage and Funding, Effectively Ending Care for Trans Youth and Adults
Freedom Oklahoma, ACLU of Oklahoma, and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Call on Legislature to End Attack on Best Practice Medical Care for Transgender Oklahomans.
Kansas Senate Advances Bills Attacking Reproductive and Trans Rights; Expands Taxpayer Funds for Deceptive Anti-Abortion Centers
Despite a resounding win for abortion rights last August and continued cries to protect bodily autonomy, Kansas legislators this week passed several bills out of the Senate that attack a person’s ability to make their own health care decisions, free from government interference. Additionally, lawmakers have prioritized expanding critical taxpayer funds for deceptive anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), none of which are licensed or regulated by the Kansas Department of Health.
Oklahoma Senate Advances Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors, Denying Best Practice Medical Care for Transgender Youth
Today, Freedom Oklahoma, ACLU of Oklahoma, and Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes call upon the Oklahoma Legislature to stop the advancement of SB 613, a direct attack on transgender youth in Oklahoma. SB 613 would ban best practice medical care for transgender Oklahomans under 18, while threatening medical providers with criminalization, civil action, and license penalties, effectively ending live-saving, gender-affirming care for transgender youth across Oklahoma. This is part of the wave of anti-trans legislation being introduced in state legislatures across the country.