Tell Your State Senator: Protect Missourians’ Reproductive Freedom
With seven weeks left in this year’s session, the Missouri Senate has advanced five different bills attacking our reproductive freedom. The priorities are upside down; instead of COVID plans, these politicians are trying to pass abortion bans. They want to impose insulting new requirements specifically designed to make it harder for a person to access abortion. They're filing bills to spread misinformation, shame patients who have abortions and punish doctors who provide them. They've advanced a bill that would treat abortion as murder, criminalizing doctors and patients; it could even ban in vitro fertilization (IVF) and common forms of birth control, like the pill and the IUD.
Of the five bills moving right now, the latest attempt to “defund” Planned Parenthood could harm the most people. Not only could this discriminate against thousands of patients by blocking them from getting birth control, cancer screenings and STI testing and treatment — it could also jeopardize the state's entire Medicaid program, impacting hundreds of thousands in communities across Missouri.
It's a lot, but we have power when we act together. Tell your state senator: Stop the attacks on our reproductive health, rights, and freedom. Missourians deserve a government that works so all of our families can thrive!
Recap: Reproductive Freedom Virtual Lobby Day
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Thank you everyone who joined us on Tuesday, March 23rd for our first virtual lobby day with NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri! The event featured State Reps. Emily Weber from Kansas City and Rasheen Aldridge from St. Louis as well as legislative aid Elisabeth Condon. Shout-out to Reps. Barbara Phifer, Patty Lewis, and Jo Doll for stopping by, too!
Activists modeled sharing their stories and making a call to their legislator. Nearly 70 participants called their state senator and state representative urging them to vote against attacks on the initiative petition process.
If you missed the event, it’s not too late to join the action!
Volunteer Opportunity: Virtual Phone Banks!
Want to take action to support reproductive freedom without leaving your house? Our grassroots organizers have just the thing! Join weekly virtual phone banks on Thursdays and Fridays for the rest of the legislative session. You bring the computer, phone internet access, we’ll supply the information and support you need to have impactful conversations with Planned Parenthood supporters across the state.
Expanding Access to Gender-Affirming Care
Last week, Metro Trans Umbrella Group (MTUG) and Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (PPSLR) announced TRANSforming Community TRANSforming Care, a more than $3 million program that will expand health care services, conduct trauma-informed research, and build a sex education curriculum tailored toward the transgender community. This trans and nonbinary-led partnership will increase access to health care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. PPSLR intends to expand its gender-affirming care to all of its health centers in St. Louis, Springfield and Joplin.
As we see more attacks on the transgender community by the legislature, it is worth celebrating that more areas of the state have gender-affirming care available. Planned Parenthood Great Plains (PPGP) has been providing gender-affirming care to patients, including uninsured and underinsured transgender patients, in the Greater Kansas City area and in mid-Missouri since 2016. PPGP currently has patient-assistance programs to help all patients cover the costs of care.
Recap: Black Women’s COVID Tales With Dr. Lexx Brown-James
Two weeks ago, Community Engagement, Public Policy and Education teams co-facilitated a conversation dedicated to Black women and femmes on love and relationships during a global pandemic. Thanks to our amazing special guest, speaker Dr. Lexx Brown-James! Her presentation and research on Black women and femmes exploring 21st century sexual and intimate relationships in the Black community was phenomenal.
We love working with fellow advocates and champions for sexual and reproductive health and rights!
Get Your Tickets for the Premiere of "At the Center – Caring for Columbia"
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Join Planned Parenthood Great Plains at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 13 for At the Center — Caring for Columbia. Premiering live on YouTube, this virtual event will take viewers on a journey of the history of Planned Parenthood in mid-Missouri, and provide an inside look at the future of sexual and reproductive health care in the region.
Sponsorships and tickets available now!
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