Words from our Supporters

Tell us your story.

What was it like to participate in a rally? Have you had difficulties in obtaining affordable reproductive services? Why is safe reproductive health care important to you?

Your story will be shared with elected officials and our supporters online through this blog. As a dedicated supporter, your voice helps protect the reproductive rights of every woman in Illinois.

Here are some words from a couple dedicated supporters:

"PPIL has opened my eyes to a world that is often forgotten by middle class people, women's health! Without PPIL thousands of women every year would be left out of the health care system." - Anonymous, Sept 09

"... [W]omen need the right to an abortion, as well as sex education, and access to birth control. If abortions were illegal, women that were determined enough would still receive them... As for comprehensive sex education, if women are to [be] safe, they need to know all the facts. So many women and teenage girls have incomplete or incorrect knowledge about sex, pregnancy and abortion. This needs to be changed." - Ben, Age 16

Tell Your Story is a project is to collect personal stories from activists and volunteers. Confidentiality is important to us, so we will carefully protect it and use only the information that you are comfortable with.

Please contact mystory@ppil.org with your name, number and e-mail, if you are interested in participating!

Technorati tags: Tell Us Your Story, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, pro-choice

Follow Up on Valenti Op-Ed

Unsurprisingly, the Jessica Valenti op-ed in Monday's Washington Post spurred some interesting comments from some pretty angry readers.

Her article, which focused on the ramifications of ingrained sexism within our country, was a call to action for women, as well as men, to recognize that mere representation does not make women equal. Jessica made it quite clear in her article, as well as in all of her other work, that her goal is not to cut men down, but rather to fight against the flagrant mistreatment of women within our culture. The only way to do that is to call out those who are perpetuating sexism.

As she states on her blog Monday evening, "The only kind of person who thinks hating sexism is the same thing as hating men is someone who thinks being a man is dependent on being sexist."

Read Valenti's reaction to what people had to say about her WaPo article.

Technorati tags: sexism, Jessica Valenti, anti-feminism

Not Quite Equal Yet

Let's face it, women in America are not equal. Jessica Valenti comments on this fact in her Washington Post article entitled "For women in America, equality is still an illusion."

Her main point: those who have the ability to look at the disparities within our own country have a responsibility to not only recognize gender inequality, but also fight to against it.

Inequality spans a wide range of issues within American society; one of the biggest examples being the rate of assault against women. According to Valenti, the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center projects that the number of women that were sexually assaulted in 2008 is over 1 million.

She continues to say, "The distressing statistics don't stop with violence: Women hold 17 percent of the seats in Congress; abortion is legal, but more than 85 percent of counties in the United States have no provider; women work outside the home, but they make about 76 cents to a man's dollar and make up the majority of Americans living in poverty."

There are horrible atrocities occurring all over the world, but we cannot overlook the atrocities that occur every day in the US of A.

Read Jessica Valenti's full article in the Washington Post.

Technorati tags: Jessica Valenti, feministing.com, gender inequality

Safe Sex Really is Fashionable!

Jeremy Scott, a fashion icon and firm supporter of safe sex advocacy, has collaborated with Planned Parenthood to launch his new line, PROPER ATTIRE.

"As fashion designers, so much of what we make is seen as frivolous, and being asked to design prints for the PROPER ATTIRE packaging to help promote safer sex practices reminds me of how fashion can still make a real statement." - Jeremy Scott

We want to thank Jeremy Scott for his work to promote condom use, and encourage everyone to check out his work.

Technorati tags: PROPER ATTIRE, Jeremy Scott, condoms

National Condom Week!!!

February 14 - 21 is National Condom Week!

In celebration of this week, all PPIL health centers will distribute free condoms!

Check out the PPIL website to find the Planned Parenthood health center closest to you!

According to the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention), Illinois is ranked 8th in the US for the rate of cases of gonorrhea in 2008, and 9th in rate of chlamydia cases.

The spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be prevented!! Use a condom!!

When you use condoms consistenly and correctly, they significantly reduce the risk of STIs, and condoms are 97% effective in preventing unintended pregnancies.

Condoms are the only form of birth control that also prevent the spread of disease.

For more info, read the PPIL National Condom Week Press Release.

Technorati tags: National Condom Week, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, STIs

Gaga and Lauper: Promoting Lipstick for Women's Health

Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, two of America's gutsiest performers appeared on Good Morning America this morning to promote their collaboration with M-A-C Cosmetics to fight the spread of HIV/AIDs, especially in women.




M-A-C has released a new line of lipstick to promote discussion about safe sex and female empowerment. The company is generously donating proceeds from the lipstick line to help fight HIV/AIDs. For more information, go to the M-A-C Viva Glam website.

Technorati tags: Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper, M-A-C Cosmetics, Good Morning America

Reproductive Rights are Human Rights

Loretta Ross, a passionate human rights and reproductive justice activist and the National Director of SisterSong.

In this video interview, Ross discusses the complexities of race and socioeconomic status, and how they affect issues of abortion, prevention, and family planning.

Ross discusses how legislators attempt to control their communities by passing laws that effectively control women.

We commend Ross for her work and passion for human rights.

Technorati tags: Loretta Ross, reproductive rights, abortion

Adorable Valentine's Cards for Your Sweetie

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, our sister affiliate in Greater Iowa and Nebraska, posted these hilarious Valentine's cards on their website.

Take a look and print one out for your Valentine.

You have to love a little romance, mixed with the "safe sex" message.




















Technorati tags: Valentine's Day, safe sex

Announcing Text4baby Campaign

Planned Parenthood is very excited to announce a new partnership with a new, innovative national campaign to promote healthy women and families called text4baby.

Text4baby is a free, cell phone information service designed to promote the health of women and families. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information that will benefit their own health and ensure the best beginning to the lives of their babies.

To sign up for the service, women can text BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) to receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby's date of birth.

A great number of organizations and corportations have collaborated to make Text4baby possible, and Planned Parenthood is proud to participate alongside many leaders in health care, technology, and mobile communication.

The official launch of text4baby was Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010. So services are available now!

For more information about how text4baby works, click here.

Technorati tags: text4baby, Planned Parenthood, women's health

Politics and Abortion, a PBS Report

In this PBS report, take a look at the current debate of abortion within the Democratic party.

Are Democrats willing to risk reproductive rights to remain in the majority? How would the Stupak Amendment affect lower income women? Why is choice so important?



Also, check out the PBS website for more links on related stories and interesting debate within the comments section.

Technorati tags: Democrats, Stupak Amendment, PBS NOW

Recent News on the Morning After Pill

The morning after pill has been in the news a lot lately, for a couple of exciting reasons!

Late last week, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced that all US military health facilities will stock Plan B, also known as the morning after pill. Many health facilities had this precription available prior to this decision, but the DoD wanted to make availiablity uniform across the board.

Read more about this announcement.

Also last week, news about a new emergency contraceptive drug, called EllaOne, hit the US. It has proven to prevent pregnancy up to fives days after unprotected sex. This new drug, only currently available in Europe, is expected to cause controversy in the US.

Check out this coverage on the new drug from feministing.com.

Technorati tags: morning after pill, Department of Defense, EllaOne

Response to Focus on the Family Ad

The Super Bowl is in four days, and over the last couple of weeks there has been buzz about CBS's decision to air a Focus on the Family (FoF) ad featuring Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam. FoF has stated that the ad will discuss Pam's decision not to abort her pregnancy with Tim, even when she became dangerously ill and her doctors advised her to do so.

Planned Parenthood Illinois Action would now like to respond to this heated debate.

In 1973, the Roe v. Wade court decision gave women, for the first time in American history, the ability to make private medical decisions that are the best for themselves and their families. It is Planned Parenthood's hope that all women have every medical option available to them when they face these decisions, in consultation with their doctors.

Click here to view a video response from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

A 30-second ad for the Super Bowl costs between $2.5 to 2.8 million, and Focus on the Family was able to rely on "generous friends" and "generous donors" to raise these funds. FoF has every right to spend nearly $3 million on a Super Bowl ad, but this allocation of funds is surprising all the same, when so many people are in need of aid all over the world.

However, it is important to note that FoF has been very vocal about its agenda to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortion illegal in the US. As an organization, PPIA wishes to respect the Tebow family and the decisions they made for their family, while remembering that all American families deserve that same respect.

Check out this great video from pro-choice athletes Sean James and Al Joyner.

Technorati tags: CBS, Super Bowl, Focus on the Family, Cecile Richards

Election Results

CONGRATULATIONS to pro-choice candidates Toni Preckwinkle (Cook County Board President) and Alexi Giannoulias (US Senate) for their victories in the Illinois Primary Election!

More election results to follow.

Technorati tags: Alexi Giannoulias, Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois Primary Election

VOTE TOMORROW!!!

Tomorrow is the Illinois Primary Election!!!

Make sure to take some time tomorrow to vote!!

Which candidates are pro-choice?? Check out PPIA's list of endorsed candidates for local and federal offices.

Questions on your voting location? Check out the Illinois State Board of Elections website.

Technorati tags: Illinois Primary Election, PPIA, pro-choice

Don't Miss Out!!!

Today is the LAST DAY to participate in PPIA's Dollar for Dollar Challenge!!!

Help us support pro-choice candidates with your donation! Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) is one of the most influential pro-choice organizations standing up for reproductive freedom. For every dollar you donate to PPIA today, one dollar will be matched, thanks to Bonnie Fry Rothman of the Rothman Family.

Don't miss out on this awesome opportunity to donate!!

Technorati tags: PPIA, Dollar for Dollar Challenge, Bonnie Fry Rothman

Candidate Spotlight: Barbara Flynn Currie

PPIA endorses Barbara Flynn Currie for State Representative for Illinois' 25th District.

Currie has served the 25th District in this capacity since 1979. She has proven to be a strong leader as the Chairperson of the House Rules and Special Investigative Committees. In addition, Currie was the first woman named House Majority Leader in the Illinois' history.

Stance on Choice: Currie is a leading proponent of reproductive rights. She is an ally and friend. In May 2009, NARAL honored Currie with the Champion of Choice Award for her lifelong dedication and commitment to a woman's right to choose.


Technorati tags: Illinois Primary Election, Barbara Flynn Currie, woman's right to choose

Candidate Spotlight: Elizabeth Hernandez

PPIA endorses Elizabeth Hernandez for State Representative of Illinois' 23rd District.


Hernandez was elected to this office in 2007, and she is currently serving her first term.


Stance on Choice: Hernandez is admittedly pro-choice. During her time in office, she has supported reproductive rights in the General Assembly, including voting Yes on a bill that would have allowed minors to have an abortion requiring them to notify family, as long as they met with a licensed medical counseling professional. Sadly, this bill failed.


Technorati tags: IL Primary Election, Elizabeth Hernandez, parental notification

Candidate Spotlight: Daniel Burke

PPIA endorses Daniel Burke for State Representative for Illinois's 23rd District.

Burke has held this office since 1991, and during this time, he has become the Chairmen of the Executive Committee.

Stance on Choice: During his term, Burke has been rated 100% pro-choice by Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, Planned Parenthood's statewide political arm, and NARAL.


Technorati tags: Illinois Primary Election, Daniel Burke, NARAL