Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Fights to Preserve Access to Safe, Legal Abortion

Stands up Against so-called “Personhood” Bill

TOPEKA, KS — Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes condemns extreme legislation introduced by Kansas politicians today that would end access to safe, legal abortion in Kansas.

The so-called “personhood” bill was introduced by 21 –– all male –– anti-abortion politicians. It would outlaw abortion in all instances, even in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life and health of the mother. This extreme bill could also ban many forms of birth control, including IUDs and emergency contraception.

Statement from Rachel Sweet, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Regional Director of Public Policy and Organizing, on HCR 5004:

“This is a blatant attempt to eliminate a woman’s right to access safe, legal abortion. Women don’t turn to politicians for medical advice, and yet extremist political ideology threatens to interfere with the fundamental right of Kansans to control our own bodies.

“Decisions about pregnancy are deeply personal and must remain between a woman, her health care provider, her family, and her faith. With this bill, 21 men are trying to block all women in Kansas from making personal decisions about their own bodies –– which will have dangerous consequences. Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes will never stop fighting to protect access to health care, including safe, legal abortion.”

In a November 2018 poll from the AP and Fox News, 53 percent of Kansans said that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. HCR 5004 is not what the public wants — and that’s why voters from Colorado to Mississippi to North Dakota have rejected these so-called “personhood” measures.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes is calling on Kansans to contact their representatives and tell them to stop this attack on women’s reproductive health and rights. Supporters can take immediate action online, or come together in Topeka for Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes Lobby Day on February 5.

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Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We lobby state lawmakers, mobilize more than 120,000 grassroots supporters, and engage in issue education in order to protect and expand access to health care and comprehensive sex education in the communities we serve, and to promote Planned Parenthood’s mission.