Planned Parenthood Action Fund Hosts “Fireside Chat” with Members and Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg
For Immediate Release: Feb. 18, 2020
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is hosting a series of events connecting Action Fund members with presidential and senate candidates to discuss the importance of protecting and expanding sexual and reproductive rights.
LAS VEGAS – Planned Parenthood Action Fund (Action Fund) hosted a Candid Candidate Conversation between its members and U.S. Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg on Sunday. Health care, including safe, legal abortion, is a top issue for voters in 2020, and the Action Fund is engaging presidential and Senate candidates to join our event series to talk with our members about sexual and reproductive health and rights. These events should not be considered an endorsement of any campaign.
The event brought together 60 enthusiastic Action Fund members to ask questions about Buttigieg’s plans to protect and expand sexual and reproductive health and rights if elected. During the event, he heard from Action Fund members in Nevada about their top concerns on a range of issues related to reproductive rights, including eliminating barriers to access for people of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ people.
For Planned Parenthood Action Fund and the 13 million Planned Parenthood supporters nationwide, electing a sexual and reproductive rights champion as the next president is essential. Planned Parenthood Action Fund members want to hear from presidential candidates about their plans to protect their health and rights. And with 77 percent of Americans supporting the protections secured under Roe v. Wade, candidates need to be talking about access to comprehensive health care – especially abortion.
Quote from Kelley Robinson, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:
“Nearly eight in 10 Americans support access to safe, legal abortion — that’s more than support any one political party or candidate. It is critical for anyone who wants to lead this country to be dedicated to protecting and expanding sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. We thank Pete Buttigieg for joining Planned Parenthood Action Fund members in a lively discussion today, and look forward to engaging other candidates on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as key issues in 2020."
Statement from Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada:
“We thank Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg for visiting with Planned Parenthood Action Fund members in Nevada to discuss abortion access and reproductive health carein the lead up to next weekend’s Caucuses. With abortion rights and access increasingly under threat nationwide, especially for communities of color and rural service areas, it is of the utmost importance that we know where presidential candidates stand on our issues.”
Quote from remarks by Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Democratic candidate for president:
"I consider it especially important for a candidate like me to stand strong for women’s reproductive freedom and to stand with Planned Parenthood. I believe this is a moment, when more than ever before, these rights are under attack. I’m from Indiana — I’ve seen it up close. A presidential candidate like me should be thinking every day of how to make myself useful to those whose rights are coming up for debate at a time like this.”
###
Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.