Monday Monitor: January 23, 2017

Contact: M’Evie Mead, 314-531-7526 ext. 348, [email protected]

Weekend Wrap-Up: Women's Marches & PPGP Intersectionality Panel

Women’s March in Columbia

More than 3,600 people gathered in Columbia on Saturday afternoon for the Mid-Missouri Solidarity March. Planned Parenthood Great Plains partnered with more than 20 area groups; it was an excellent opportunity for coalition building, intersectionality and building the progressive future we want together. Planned Parenthood Great Plains' Assistant Vice President of Health Services Kristin Metcalf-Wilson spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of supporters at a rally at the end of the march. 

• Columbia Missourian: Columbia residents come out for the Mid-Missouri Solidarity March
• Photos from the March

Women's March in Springfield

Three thousand enthusiastic participants took part in the Women’s March on Springfield to show support for diversity in our community. Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri sponsored this event and worked with community members; this was truly a citizen-led march. Supporters marched downtown streets to Park Central Square for a rally with a diverse list of speakers on topics such as women running for office, reproductive rights, intersectionality, racism, unity, and inclusion. Planned Parenthood volunteers canvassed the crowd for petitions, led chants and kept the rally informative and energized!

• Springfield News Leader: More than 2,000 attend Women's March on Springfield
• Photos from #SGFWomensMarch

Women's March in St. Louis 

More than 20,000 marchers filled the streets of Downtown St. Louis on Saturday morning for the Women’s March. Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri partnered with many local organizations to stand up for reproductive rights, racial justice, LGBTQ equality, gender equity, immigrant rights, economic justice, disability rights and more! Macy, a student in PPSLR’s Teen Advocates for Sexual Health (TASH) program, was one of the featured speakers at the rally following the march — she did an amazing job!

• St. Louis Public Radio: St. Louis Women's March Draws Thousands Downtown
• Photos from #WomensMarchSTL

PPGP Intersectionality Panel

On Sunday, panelists from local racial justice and health justice organizations came together in Kansas City for a panel discussion on intersectional advocacy in health care hosted by Planned Parenthood Great Plains. It focused on how to take action that supports the multiracial movement for gender equity, and racial, economic and social justice in our communities. More than 150 participants engaged in meaningful dialogue on social justice work that is fully representative of our communities. 

MoLeg Weekly Wrap-Up

Despite clear evidence that Missouri voters said they wanted change in the last election, the Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, and Children was business-as-usual last week when they prioritized five separate anti-reproductive health bills for their second hearing of the year. They spent so much time on these unconstitutional bills that they had to extend the hearing later in the day and still did not get to the fifth bill! Here are numbers of each bill they heard: SBs 41, 67, 96 and 196. They scheduled but did not hear SB 230.

• Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: 2017 Bill Summary
• Planned Parenthood Advocates in Missouri: 2017 Bill Fact Sheets

Stand with Planned Parenthood: #IDefy

Sexism. Homophobia. Racism. Transphobia. Abortion stigma. Slut shaming. We are up against a lot. What will you defy?

For more than 100 years, Planned Parenthood has defied the odds to create a world of care, education, and activism — no matter what. #IDEFY is your chance to stand with us and fight for the future you want. 

• Planned Parenthood: #IDEFY
• Speak Out! Share your perspective as a Planned Parenthood supporter/patient:
  • Planned Parenthood Great Plains
  • Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri

STL Board of Aldermen Hearing

Last Wednesday, a St. Louis Board of Aldermen committee heard Board Bill 203, which would add reproductive decisions to the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance. Alderwoman Megan-Ellyia Green’s measure would make it illegal for landlords and employers to discriminate against individuals because they use birth control, are pregnant, or have had an abortion.

Several proponents, including NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri and Advocates of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, testified in favor of the bill.

• St. Louis Public Radio: St. Louis aldermen consider adding pregnant women to list of protected classes