Title X

I understand that most of you reading this are not pregnant, or going to have an abortion soon. But some women are. Some women need a safe place to go and get checkups and talk about their health. This is why Planned Parenthood is so important. Because it is not just a “killing center” it is a medical center that helps women in need. It does not just abort babies, it can help with anything from STDs, birth control, or cancer. We need Planned Parenthood.

First, look at all the good things PP does. It educates about birth control, from implants, patches, pills, shots, sponges, and rings to name a few. They even have a period tracker app that is connected to their sexual health experts. At their nationwide centers they can give women Pap smears and HPV tests, and their website is a wealth of information on how to keep your body healthy. Planned Parenthood is very important to women, especially because of its nationwide centers that provide necessary healthcare.

Unfortunately, for all the good things that it does, some people still view PP as evil. That is why on Friday, President Trump and lawmakers made a crucial change to “Title X”, the only federal program dedicated to paying for birth control. Now, all clinics that provide abortions or refer patients to places that do, get major funding cuts. The new rules require “physical as well as financial separation” between clinics that receive Title X funds and those that provide abortions.

Now, what does this mean for PP you may be asking. It does a lot. Planned Parenthood uses Title X funding to help low income patients get the birth control that they need. Planned Parenthood itself estimated that it sees 41% of women who get family planning services through Title X. More than ⅓ low income women who use Title C to get birth control, do so through PP. Without PP, this could cut off so many low income women from the birth control they need. The funny thing is, many don’t even understand what Title X does. Title X never has, and never will pay for abortions. All it does is give low income patients, usually ones without healthcare, access to birth control and STD screenings, among other things.

How is this fair? How is it fair to take away funding for low income women? They did nothing wrong. The money doesn’t even fund abortions. This rule is cruel and meant to hurt Planned Parenthood, regardless of the hundreds of thousands of women it hurts. Now is time for change. Change Title X.

Disclaimer:

These are the opinions of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Paw Print or Greenwood.