Roe v. Wade Anniversary Events
Today marks the 46th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court’s landmark decision affirming the constitutional right to safe, legal abortion. Join with Planned Parenthood Advocates to mark this special date and look forward to work ahead!
- Columbia: Roe Anniversary Action Council Launch on Thursday, Jan. 24 @ 3:30 p.m.
- Kansas City: Reversing Roe Documentary Screening and Discussion on Saturday, Jan. 26 @ 5 p.m.
MoLeg Update: Committee Assignments
Last week, committee assignments were announced in the Missouri Legislature, including the committees typically charged with debating bills affecting Missourians’ sexual and reproductive health: the House Committee on Children and Families, and the Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, and Children. Click the links below to see which members serve on each committee and which bills have been assigned.
- House Committee on Children and Families: Meets on Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. in the Capitol. (This links to the entire committee list. Click on Children and Families for more information.)
- Senate Committee on Seniors, Families and Children: Meets on Wednesdays at 8:00 a.m. in the Capitol
When these committees hold public hearings on reproductive health-related bills, it’s a critical time to educate legislators, media and the public about what’s at stake. We need all kinds of supporters to testify, including people who have had an abortion, use birth control, provide medical care, teach and/or mentor youth, lead faith communities, and have legal expertise. There will be several opportunities to testify at hearings throughout session, which runs until mid-May. Are you interested in learning more about how to testify at a hearing? Email Sarah Felts, our statewide communications coordinator!
Learn more about each lawmaker, including where they stand on reproductive health and how to contact them by phone, email, and social media, on our Legislator Contact Information and Ratings page.
Recap: Women's Marches across Missouri
Planned Parenthood supporters braved the cold and joined hundreds of people across Missouri at Women’s Marches in Columbia, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis! Kali Assata, a member of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri’s Teen Advocates for Sexual Health (TASH) program, took the stage on Saturday morning and fired up the crowd with her commitment to reproductive justice and sex education!
Read coverage from around the state:
- Maneater: Hundreds gather at Missouri Theatre for third annual Solidarity March
- Riverfront Times: These Badasses at the St. Louis Women’s March Didn’t Let the Cold Stop Them
- Springfield News-Leader: Cold weather doesn't deter nearly 100 from attending the Women's March
Planned Parenthood Generation Action: #HandsOffIX!
Washington University in St. Louis’ PP Generation Action chapter brought students together to submit comments opposing the the Trump-Pence administration’s plan to weaken Title IX protections for students who have experienced sexual assault and harassment. This fits into the growing list of administrative attacks on our sexual and reproductive health and rights.
These changes would give more rights to people accused of committing sexual assault and harassment at schools and weaken a school’s responsibility to protect its students. This is the opposite of what we need. According to RAINN, 23 percent of undergraduate women and 5.4 percent of undergraduate men experience rape or sexual assault. Twenty-one percent of transgender, genderqueer, and nonconforming college students have been sexually assaulted.
You can help stop this rule. Know Your IX and End Rape On Campus have created an excellent guide to helping you submit an effective comment. Take action and tell the Betsy DeVos and the Dept. of Education: Hands off Title IX!
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