A Response to the North Dakota Republican Party Resolution

Last week, the North Dakota Republican Party released their 2020 Resolution, and it is full of inaccurate, discriminatory, and ill-advised language and policies. Among other things, the platform denies the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, calls for defunding Planned Parenthood at the federal level, and advocates for abstinence-only sex education. Not only is the resolution directly attacking Planned Parenthood’s funding, it attacks its mission and values.

Planned Parenthood believes in every person's right to make decisions about their own body, regardless of their gender, income, geography, race, immigration status, or insurance.

Federal funding makes our mission possible. Federal funds are used to provide comprehensive family planning services to low-income Americans including contraception, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing, and breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Planned Parenthood knows that science-based, inclusive sex education works. Decades of research show comprehensive approaches to sex education effectively delay sexual activity and increase condoms and contraceptive use when young people do become sexually active.

And, Planned Parenthood believes that LGBTQ+ rights are human rights. LGBTQ+ people are patients, staff, supporters and community members. Using fear-mongering and misinformation to justify discrimination is unacceptable. North Dakota must be welcoming and safe for all people and identities.

These values lead the work of Planned Parenthood. LGBTQ+ individuals not only deserve to be seen and respected, but loved and accepted. Planned Parenthood is here with you, and Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund won’t stop fighting for our shared mission and values.

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