The Quickie: Planned Parenthood Launches Groundbreaking Expansion Projects in Illinois and Missouri
For Immediate Release: Oct. 3, 2022
Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING EXPANSION PROJECTS IN ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI: Today, Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri (PPSLRSWMO) announced two groundbreaking projects in the region: the first-ever mobile abortion clinic and the opening of its first ever rural health center in Rolla, Missouri. The mobile abortion clinic will serve the border regions of southern Illinois to meet patients closer to where they are. Since the end of Roe, PPSLRSWMO has seen thousands of patients overcome a politically designed obstacle course just to access abortion care and other essential health services that politicians in states like Missouri have worked hard to dismantle. President and CEO of PPSLRSWMO Yamelsie Rodríguez said in a statement,
“One hundred days post-Roe we stand in defiance to say: we are not backing down. When Roe fell 100 days ago, we doubled down on our commitment to patients. Today we march forward, expanding access to family planning in Missouri while we take abortion care on the road in Illinois.”
Read more at NPR and the Missouri Independent.
ARIZONA TOTAL BAN REMAINS IN EFFECT: On Friday, the Pima County Superior Court denied Planned Parenthood Arizona’s motion for a stay blocking the state’s 1864 total abortion. The Civil War-era ban has now been in effect for over a week since the same court lifted the injunction blocking the law on September 23. The court’s decision has created chaos and confusion due to overlapping and contradictory restrictions, including a 15-week ban that also took effect last week, which the court has declined to harmonize. Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Arizona, responded to the news saying,
“We are outraged by the Pima County Superior court’s denial of our request for a stay pending our appeal. Let’s be clear, this ruling is not in line with the views of Arizonans who believe abortion should remain legal. Arizonans should rightfully feel enraged… The fight to restore abortion access to Arizonans is far from over as we will continue to appeal the court’s ruling.
Read more at AP and AZ Mirror.
STIGMATIZING ABORTION IN ‘BLONDE’: Blonde, a biopic film about Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe released last month, has come under criticism for its depiction of pregnancy and abortion, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film depicts Monroe having two abortions against her will, with stigmatizing depictions of abortion, and the inclusion of a photoreal CGI fetus. Caren Spruch, PPFA’s National Director of Arts and Entertainment Engagement, said of the movie:
“As film and TV shapes many people’s understanding of sexual and reproductive health, it’s critical these depictions accurately portray women’s real decisions and experiences. While abortion is safe, essential health care, anti-abortion zealots have long contributed to abortion stigma by using medically inaccurate descriptions of fetuses and pregnancy. Andrew Dominik’s new film, Blonde, bolsters their message with a CGI-talking fetus, depicted to look like a fully formed baby. Planned Parenthood respects artistic license and freedom. However, false images only serve to reinforce misinformation and perpetuate stigma around sexual and reproductive health care. Every pregnancy outcome — especially abortion — should be portrayed sensitively, authentically and accurately in the media. We still have much work to do to ensure that everyone who has an abortion can see themselves onscreen. It is a shame that the creators of Blonde chose to contribute to anti-abortion propaganda and stigmatize people’s health care decisions instead.”
Read more at Hollywood Reporter and Cosmopolitan.