The list goes on...

Mandatory parental notification laws (Nebraska and Oklahoma), forcing women seeking abortions to view an ultrasound and listen to a detailed description of the fetus (Oklahoma), banning abortion coverage within public insurance exchanges (Arizona), requiring waiting periods prior to an abortion (Nebraska and Oklahoma). The list of recent anti-choice legislation on the state level goes on, with legislation also currently being discussed in Alaska and North Dakota.

Anti-choicers call these pieces of legislation, which have been popping up over the last couple of months all over the US, the "natural progression" of the law.

We have to respectfully disagree.

Not only do these laws threaten a woman's right to privacy, but they are severely detrimental to the safety of thousands of women and teenagers. It takes the control over her body away from her and gives it to the respective state for which they live.

Read more on what PPIA is doing to ensure all women in Illinois receive safe and affordable health care.

Technorati tags: anti-choice, women's right to choose

Happy 50th Anniversary, The Pill!

THE PILL, a medication invented, ironically, by a conservative Catholic intending to find a cure for infertility (and became the first form of medication prescribed for individuals whom are not sick), is celebrating 50 years of existence! Created during a time of sexual repression, the Pill is credited with providing generations of women with new-found autonomy over their own bodies.

Let us honor, today, the birth control advocates and revolutionaries, including our own Margaret Sanger and Katharine Dexter, without whom we could not celebrate such the anniversary of an oral contraception medication. (Read more about Sanger's contribution to the movement and the evolution of the Pill over the last 50 years in this Time article.)

Unfortunately, today we see the funding and support for family-planning initiatives, comprehensive sexual education, and contraception remain to be attacked on the local, state, and federal levels. Katherine Spillar, the executive editor of Ms. magazine and executive vice president of the Feminist Majority Foundation points out, "We're still fighting those battles in Congress... To think that in 2010, 50 years after the birth control pill, we still have to fight for access and effective family planning — it's painful."

Gloria Steinem, co-founder and editor of Ms. magazine and one of the 20th century's most passionate women's rights activists, is not easily discouraged by attacks on reproductive rights legislation, or by the observation that some women of today's generation seem to take access to birth control for granted. "I don't walk around saying, 'Thank you for the vote'... I might add, as Susan B. Anthony said, 'Our job is not to make young women grateful. It's to make them ungrateful so they keep going. Gratitude never radicalized anybody.'"

Regardless of that notion, PPIA would like to express our appreciation for the unwavering dedication of the many birth control warriors that made this anniversary possible.

Planned Parenthood will continue to fight for equal and affordable access to birth control, in honor of your struggle and courage.

Technorati tags: The Pill, Margaret Sanger, Gloria Steinem

Mourning the Passing of Dr. Dorothy Height

"The nation has lost a great leader — a true visionary whose voice for women’s and civil rights will never be forgotten. Her courage, grace and wisdom guided millions during her extraordinary life and her spirit will continue to live on in the women whom she inspired across the country." -Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

The staff at Planned Parenthood of Illinois would like to express our sadness at the loss of esteemed civil rights advocate, Dr. Dorothy Height.

Dr. Height started her career as a civil rights activist in the early 1930s, while she was in her 20s. During her life, she became one of the leading advocates for equal rights for both African Americans and women. Dr. Height advised American leaders like First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, whom she encouraged to desegregate schools, and President Lyndon B. Johnson, whom she urged to appoint African American women to governmental roles. As the president of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held for 40 years, she was able to blaze a new path for immeasurable women of all colors.

"No one will do for you what you need to do for yourself. We cannot afford to be separate... We have to see that all of us are in the same boat" - Dorothy Height

Technorati tags: Dr. Dorothy Height, National Council of Negro Women, Civil rights

My Experience with Planned Parenthood and Advocates for Choice

Read this wonderful reflection from Tom Alte, a Planned Parenthood intern and co-president of Advocates for Choice at ISU, about his experience with PPIL and what he plans on doing with all that he has learned.

He wrote:

This past year, I was selected as co-president and co-founder of Advocates for Choice at Illinois State University. While I’ve always considered reproductive health an important issue, working for Planned Parenthood has given me a deeper understanding of what this movement is all about. I applied for this internship to help my fellow students and improve the campus community. In that sense, I have accomplished the goals I set for myself.

Every activity I participated in this past year has given me valuable experience that I can now apply to my career. I learned that information is the most important and influential tool at my disposal to improve the lives of my fellow students. Whether that be handing out condoms with basic instructions, fliers about sexual health, or informing the community about legislation that affects them, I tried to seize every opportunity to help those around me while showing the community the valuable service that Planned Parenthood provides.

I’ll admit, I confronted some opposition from some students and even some faculty, but the overwhelming majority of people I came into contact with are supportive of the work we do on campus. The service that Planned Parenthood is providing through Advocates for Choice is both needed and appreciated by campuses across the state. I only hope that my career, wherever it takes me, is as rewarding and has as much an impact as my internship with Planned Parenthood.

-Tom Alte
Co-President: Advocates for Choice at Illinois State


Thank you, Tom! Planned Parenthood of Illinois is so grateful of our volunteers and interns. Your help is indispensable, and we appreciate your passion and dedication.

Interested in being a Planned Parenthood intern? Apply here.

Technorati tags: Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Advocates for Choice, internship opportunities

"Save Our State" Rally in Springfield!! - April 21

The state of Illinois is in serious debt ($13 billion in debt, to be exact), and every Illinoisan is feeling the effect. Unfortunately, many of the services that we rely on are in grave danger of major cut-backs: schools, libraries, health care, police, and transit budgets are scheduled to lose funding. Resources for our children, the elderly, disabled, and unemployed face are at risk.


As Illinois residents, we must demand our legislators act now to Save Our State!

On April 21st, the Responsible Budget Coalition is organizing a massive rally and march in Springfield to urge our representatives to save that which is important to us. We demand that they stop dodging these issues and work to develop a balanced solution. This demonstration will be the largest demonstration Springfield has ever seen!

Join us! We can no longer sit around and wait for a responsible budget that considers the best interests of our children and families.

For more information or to download fliers, visit http://www.abetterillinois.com/.


Technorati tags: Responsible Budget Coalition, Springfield, State of Illinois

FAQs about STD Testing and More...

As mentioned at the beginning of the month, April is National STD Prevention Month.

In honor of this occasion, Planned Parenthood has teamed up with MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation to promote STD awareness in a campaign called GYT: Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested. The topic of STDs couldn't be more taboo, so here are some FAQs answered. The more you know about STDs, the easier they are to prevent!

Why should I get tested?

STDs are common, with more than 19 million cases in the US every year. An estimated one in two sexually active young adults will get an STD by the age of 25. Some STDs show no symptoms, therefore, many individuals with an STD are unaware of it. The good news is that STDs are treatable, and many are completely curable. The best news is that all STDs are preventable, with the proper use of contraception is a male or female condom!

Putting off testing is risky, especially for women. Some STDs can result in a higher risk of cancer or death if gone untreated. So ask your health care provider for an STD test today!

Aren't I tested for STDs during my regular doctor check-up?

You can't assume you have been tested for STDs when you have a blood test, urine test, or pap smear. The only way you can be certain you have been completely checked is to ask your health care provider to test you. Be open and honest with your provider, tell him or her about your sexual history, and discuss which STD tests would be most appropriate. Some STDs are very common, and your health care provider might suggest regular testings.

Here are more FAQs on the GYT website. Give it a look.

And here is the low-down about the most common STDs and their symptoms.

Technorati tags: National STD Awareness Month, GYT, STD testing

Celebrating 70 Years of PPIL!!

Happy 70th Anniversary to Planned Parenthood of Illinois! Over the last 70 years, passionate advocates and staff have worked tirelessly to provide safe and affordable reproductive health care for Campaign County.

A lot has changed in the field of reproductive justice and services since 1940. “In terms of what was available to women, it was quite remarkable,” said Beth Kanter, senior vice president of external affairs. “We’ve come a long way since then.”

We thank all of our staff and supporters for their dedication!

Technorati tags: 70th Anniversary, Planned Parenthood of Illinois

"Put a Ring on It"

Last month, organizations promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, reproductive rights, women's health, and gay men's health banded together to launch the Chicago Female Condom Campaign. Planned Parenthood of Illinois is proud to be a member of this coalition of organizations working to promote the use of the new-and-improved female condom by both women and men.

Why is the female condom important?

The female condom gives power to the receptive partner, because it is the only barrier contraceptive that allows both women and men maintain control of their health, by preventing unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV.

This contraceptive option is exceedingly necessary here in Chicago, where the rate of STIs is on the rise. The state reported that Cook County ranks first, second, and third nationwide for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis, respectively, and approximately 1,500 new HIV cases were reported in 2008.

“Female condoms provide a sense of power for women because they are able to choose to protect themselves. You don’t need to leave it to the guy,” said Dolores Benton, female condom enthusiast, and case manager for the Pediatric AIDS Chicago Prevention Initiative, a member organization of the campaign. “It’s not difficult to put it in. It’s a piece of cake.”

Want to become a fan of the campaign on Facebook?

Or follow the campaign on Twitter?

Read more on the Chicago Female Condom Campaign on their website.

Also, a must-read article by Serra Sippel about the need for increased funding for male and female condoms as a component of US Foreign Policy.

Technorati tags: Chicago Female Condom Campaign, "Put a Ring On It", Serra Sippel

Statement from Cecile Richards on Justice Stevens

Last Friday, Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement from the bench, after 35 years of service on the United States Supreme Court.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois would like to express our admiration for Justice Stevens, for his long-standing dedication to justice and equality for men and women in this country.

Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, put it most eloquently:

"United States Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens has served the American people with dignity and distinction.

“During his long and productive tenure as an associate justice, he protected and strengthened individual liberties embodied in our nation’s Constitution and Bill of Rights; respected legal precedent that is fundamental to the fabric of our society, and upheld the letter of the law.

“In the landmark Supreme Court case, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Justice Stevens expressed his view of equality, writing, ‘Roe is an integral part of a correct understanding of both the concept of liberty and the basic equality of men and women.’

Stevens quoted Justice Thurgood Marshall: “Our whole constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men’s minds.” And concluded, ‘The same holds true for the power to control women’s bodies.’

“We thank Justice Stevens for his service to the American people and for his fundamental understanding of what freedom means to women. We honor his legacy and wish him well in his retirement.

“As President Obama now turns to selecting a new justice for the court, we have full confidence that he will choose someone who will stand equally strong for the constitutional principles that Justice Stevens upheld so steadfastly.”

Thank you Justice Stevens.

Technorati tags: Supreme Court Justice John Stevens, Cecile Richards, President Obama

CDC Reports Drop in Teen Birthrate for '07-'08

PPIA is encouraged by the CDC report that the teenage birthrate decreased during '07-'08, after two consecutive years of increases. However, this does not mean our work is done.


The fact is that nearly 750,000 teens still become pregnant every year. How can we work together to lower this statistic? Promote education.

Teens need the support and knowledge that comes from comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education. Studies show that comprehensive sex education programs are effective in lowering the unintended pregnancy rate in teens.

President Obama and many members of Congress agree and support our efforts to include comprehensive sex ed with educational curriculum. They allocated more than $185 million in evidence-based, medically accurate teen pregnancy prevention programs.


As we commemorate National STD Awareness Month during the month of April, we encourage all young adults to GYT: Get Yourself Tested. Investment in teen pregnancy prevention is an investment in STD prevention. It's that simple.

Want more medically accurate information about birth control, sex, and STDs? Check out the Planned Parenthood website.

Technorati tags: CDC, President Obama, comprehensive sex education

We want to hear from you!

Why do you support RHAA? Why are you an activist? What did you learn in sex ed??

"Sex ed and birth control are huge. People need comprehensive knowledge and access to preventative measures so that someday we won’t have to fight about whether abortion is right or wrong because we wont need it in the case of unwanted pregnancy."

"RHAA will give age-appropriate sex education. Education defeats ignorance."

"Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate!"

"On a personal level, I love my daughter just as much as my son and believe her life and freedoms are just as precious as his. Therefore, she should have equal access to health care and the same freedom to decide heath issues legally. She is not a second class citizen."

Technorati tags: Post it

"Creating change – and because I adore the feeling of kicking some oppressive ass."

"Being part of the solutions… instead of just complaining about the problems!"

"I participate in activism because I like to express my feelings as a citizen – my civic duty!"

Technorati tags: Post it

"I learned that I don't have to be pregnant if I don't want to be."

"Abstinence only. I learned some awesome teachers are willing to put themselves at risk to educate others."

"I certainly didn't learn how to be both gay and safe."

"Not about what sex actually entails and what parts go where. I had to ask my mom."

Technorati tags: Post it

GYT: Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested

TODAY marks the return of GYT: Get Yourself Tested, an advocacy campaign designed to motivate individuals to take charge of their sexual health!!!

April is National STD Awareness Month.

So what is the big deal? One in four teen girls in the U.S. have at least one common STD. Other estimates find that as many as one in two sexually-active young people will contract an STD by the time they are 25, and most won't know it.

It's time to GYT. Find a testing center near you.

Why is STD testing so taboo? Let's start talking:

- Initiate the conversation. Check out talking tips on how to talk to your partner about STD testing or your desire to use condoms.

- You have to ask to get tested. Here are tips on how to ask your doctor about STD testing.

Get the latest news and events on the GYT Facebook page. Become a fan.

Follow @GYTnow on Twitter. Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested.

Technorati tags: GYT: Get Yourself Tested, National STD Awareness Month

Questions on Health Care Reform: Answered

What will the new health care reform bill provide for women?

- Provide millions of low-income women with preventive reproductive health care, including family planning, through changes in Medicaid (the largest public health insurance program serving women of childbearing age).

- Allow the 32 million uninsured Americans who will become insured in 2014 and after to use their private health insurance to access medical care offered by community providers, including Planned Parenthood health centers.

- Ensure that millions of women with modest incomes benefit from free or very low-cost lifesaving screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

- Extend private health insurance and Medicaid coverage to millions of women, as well as to children and young adults.

- Stop insurers from charging women more than they charge men for comprehensive private health insurance plans.

- Forbid insurers from denying private health insurance to women based on “pre-existing” conditions such as pregnancy.


What role did Planned Parenthood play in these victories for women’s health?

- Planned Parenthood worked both behind the scenes with members of Congress and their staff, as well as with White House staff to keep women's health a priority.

- Planned Parenthood also carried out a very large public campaign to influence the outcome of the bill, including fighting to defeat proposed restrictions on private health insurance coverage for abortion (namely the Stupak Amendment).


What’s next?

The passage of health care reform was the first step, but there is much more to be done to ensure the law is carried out in an effective manner.

To that end, Planned Parenthood will focus in the coming months on working with the following:

- The White House and the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that early health care reform guidance and regulation meets women’s needs.

- The administration and congressional leaders to address the unworkable Nelson provision so that health insurance companies will continue to provide health insurance coverage for abortion.

- State policymakers to encourage expansion of family planning services to low-income women through Medicaid.

This effort will not be finished until every woman in America has access to the reproductive health care they desire.

Technorati tags: Health Care Reform, Planned Parenthood, Medicaid

Population, Women and Water

Laurie Mazur, author of "A Pivotal Moment: Population, Justice and the Environmental Challenge," is in Chicago this week with representatives of the Izaak Walton League and Sierra Club to discuss the connections between population growth, water supply, reproductive rights, enviornmental protection, and global justice.

In 1995, around a half a billion people lived in areas of water scarcity, and by 2025, that number will be as high as 1.8 billion people. By then, two-thirds of the world's population will live in conditions with some level of water stress. This will mostly be caused by population growth.

And around the world, more than 200 million women lack access to the reproductive health services they desire, because they lack the ability to make choices for their own bodies. This number is projected to rise by 40 percent in the next 15 years.

How can we help?

1) Confront gender inequality by educating girls and women and supporting women's rights globally.

2) Fight economic disparities by promoting sustainable and equitable development.


Join Laurie Mazur and representatives from the Izaak Walton League and Sierra Club for a discussion of these issues at one of these locations this week:

April 7, 7pm-9pm
The Experimental Station
6100 S. Blackstone Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

April 8, 11:15am-1:30pm
(with Alliance for the Great Lakes)
DePaul University
14 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 1601
Chicago, IL 60604

April 8, 4pm-6pm
University of Illinois-Chicago
Lecture Center Building C4
802 South Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607

April 10, 1pm-3pm
Mayslake Peabody Estate
1717 W. 31st Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523

Also, read this article from Katie McKay Bryson about connecting environmental and reproductive justice.

Technorati tags: environment, reproductive justice, Laurie Mazur