Alexis Bonbrake

Fund Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood is an extremely controversial nonprofit organization due to the services it
provides for women. Many people say that it should be defunded by the government due to the fact
that they preform safe abortions for women. While this medical service my be controversial, Planned
Parenthood is much more than just a “baby killing factory”. Planned Parenthood should continue to be
funded by the government because it is an essential organization that provides affordable and safe
services to women, men, and children alike.
Planned Parenthood is often connected to abortions. While this is a service provided, they also
provide affordable services such as, male and female STD testing and STD services, general healthcare,
LGBTQ+ care, male and female cancer screenings, various forms of contraceptives, and pregnancy
services. The main focus for Planned Parenthood is safe and affordable. According to “Irreplicable Roll of
Planned Parenthood,” “Seventy-five percent of Planned Parenthood patients have incomes at or below
150 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL), and at least 60 percent of Planned Parenthood patients
access care through the Medicaid program and/or the Title X family planning program.”
Due to being so important for lower income and poverty-stricken communities, if Planned
Parenthood were to be defunded, all of their patients would be dispersed to other community health
centers in these areas, causing an overwhelming influx of new people that many of the health centers
don’t have the capacity for. This could potentially cause a community wide and possibly class wide
healthy crisis due to lack of sufficient health care space. In “Irreplaceable Roll of…” “The public health
community has been clear – community health centers (CHCs) cannot absorb Planned Parenthood’s
patients. Blocking patients from coming to Planned Parenthood would cause a national health care
disaster, with many completely losing access to the timely health care they need.”
Often times the main argument for defunding Planned Parenthood due to its abortion services is
due to the fact that it goes against a person(s) religion. There are more than 300 religions and
denominations present in the United States today. As stated in the first clause of The Bill of Rights,
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Therefore, defunding of Planned
Parenthood should not be pursued on the principle that it goes against a certain religion.
Planned Parenthood, while controversial, it a vital nonprofit organization that continues to help
millions of people across the United States. Planned Parenthood should continue to be funded by the
government because of it’s essential services that is provided to women, men, and children, and safe
and affordable prices.
“The Irreplaceable Role of Planned Parenthood Health Centers.” Planned Parenthood, Planned
Parenthood Care, Jan. 2019, www.plannedparenthood.org/uploads/filer_public/33/63/3363814b-938e-
4ad5-87d2-57ee98790766/190117-irreplaceable-role-pp-v01.pdf. Accessed 21 October 2020

Engrossed Bill of Rights, September 25, 1789; General Records of the United States
Government; Record Group 11; National Archives. Although 12 amendments were originally
proposed, the 10 that were ratified became the Bill of Rights in 1791.