I hate needing to have the same conversation multiple times, but lately, it seems that's one of good old America's key tenets.
Let's talk about abortions again. Let's talk about gun control again. Let's talk about mental health again. Let's talk about suicide rates of LGBTQ individuals again. Let's talk about health education and care again. Let's talk about a living wage again.
For the most part, this is how those issues go: you find a couple people who are out there working incredibly hard to shape the face of change within their issue, and everyone else is standing around emulating their high school debate team practice sessions. They all hate politicians, but they all act exactly like them. The people who are out there working for it get exhausted because the politicians keep asking them, "why aren't you doing this," "why isn't anything happening," etc., but not actually offering to help them.
No wonder folks are frustrated. But as disappointed as I am about yet another mass shooting, that's it. Just disappointed. Not surprised; and this post isn't even about gun control. It's about Planned Parenthood!
I am the first to admit that Planned Parenthood, historically speaking, has its own set of issues; founded by Margaret Sanger, the organization has a colorful history of what looks an awful lot like eugenics, whitewashing, and eradicating poverty through sterilization. There's good and there's bad, and most of the time, they come in the same package. History aside, Planned Parenthood has become an integral part of the twenty-first century, offering medical care, preventative screenings, sex education, and yes...abortion...to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it, due to a lack of healthcare.
As a trans-identified individual, I have to admit some stuff upfront. I have never been very good and maintaining any interest in my biologically-female body. I don't go to OBGYNs, the last time I had a pap smear is when they thought I had ovarian cancer (three years ago), and it isn't necessarily a dysphoria thing. For most people, it is, and that's fair; for me, it's just that the vast majority of doctors no idea how to work with trans* patients, they're rude, they're insensitive, they're just plain awful. In the experiences I have had with Planned Parenthood, none of that has been present. They have a history of working with disadvantaged groups and they have a reputation that I appreciate. I know friends and acquaintances who trust them, and that's enough for me. If the mood ever did strike me to care for my body like I should, my first stop would be at my local PP. No doubt about it. But you can bet it isn't going to be for an abortion; in fact, for the focus the conservative right is claiming PP has, let's talk about how when you're growing up in the suburbs and in a right-wing family, one of the only places you can get information on being LGBTQ or queer-identified in any way, is Planned Parenthood. They don't even work exclusively with sexuality; they talk about gender identity, too! The trickiest part of that is actually getting to the Planned Parenthood near you.
So for all of you out there who are pro-life/anti-choice, but think we need to work on strengthening support for LGBTQ youth, leave Planned Parenthood alone..? Review facts for yourself, instead of just swallowing what your favored politician of the day is telling you. If you think that defunding Planned Parenthood is the only way to get what you want and prevent abortions, you're an idiot. Do you remember what happened the last time abortions were "illegal?" We now have people who make trashy Halloween costumes with wire hangers, they were done in secret anyway, and now we're here. If you defund Planned Parenthood, you're not defunding abortions. You're defunding the working class and lower middle-class of America. You're promoting racism by forcing your politics on disadvantaged groups (and leaving them in impossible positions), you're promoting discrimination based on socio-economic class, and you're endangering the lives of countless women and children, never mind the LGBTQ population who has nowhere else to turn.
