This past week, President Trump signed an executive order that would restrict non governmental organizations that receive United States funding from performing safe and legal abortions in other parts of the world. These groups are afraid to even utter to word 'abortion' for fear of losing the funding and support of the United States.
What is interesting about this executive order is that it restricts organizations from using any funding they have for abortion services or referrals, not just funds from the United States. In other words, whether or not they got this money from the United States, they are still not allowed to perform, refer, or educate people about the option of abortion.
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Regardless of your personal or religious views on abortion, this will still be detrimental to the health of women all around the world. In the support of Planned Parenthood, here are some myths that have long been debunked.
1. Ugh, all Planned Parenthood does is perform abortions.
FALSE. Sorry, friend, you have been misinformed. Only 3% of the services provided by Planned Parenthood are abortion services. In many of the health centers, general health services are provided. These are things you could receive from a regular ole doctor. Planned Parenthood also provides access to contraceptives, prenatal care, general sexual health services, and STD and cancer screenings.
2. If we restrict the abortions Planned Parenthood is allowed to perform, the number of abortions in the country will decrease.
FALSE. Again, you have been misinformed. You see, the only thing that restricting abortion services (or making abortions illegal) will do is increase the amount of unsafe abortions performed. In fact, countries in which abortion is legal have lower rates of abortion than countries in which it is illegal.
3. The only people that go to Planned Parenthood are prostitutes.
FALSE. You are 0/3, my friend. There is no standard demographic of people that Planned Parenthood serves. Centers provide services to men, women, and those in between. People visit regardless of socioeconomic status or sexual orientation. Some people turn to Planned Parenthood when they are not sure where else to go, or because that is where they are most comfortable.
4. Defunding Planned Parenthood won't really hurt anyone.
FALSE. I am sorry you have received wrong information up to this point. Defunding Planned Parenthood, whether it is nationally or internationally, WILL HURT PEOPLE. Just because you are not the one being hurt, does not mean you can ignore the hurting of others. This executive order places the most vulnerable women at more risk. This order prohibits healthcare providers from wholly informing patients about options available to them. Women in countries where they have less access to family planning methods will now have less control over their bodies. This order will increase the amount of unsafe abortions and death among women.
Like I said, I don't really care what your personal reasons are for being against abortions. If you don't like abortions, then don't get one. However, you DO NOT have the right to restrict someone of life saving services because you "would never" participate. That just shows your privilege that you may or may not be aware of. This executive order is dangerous, and it will be very hard to convince me that it is not.
