Planned Parenthood, MoveOn Deliver 325,000 Signatures to HHS to Preserve Contraception Access
August 20, 2008 - 12:12pm (Print)
Millions of Americans know that contraception is not abortion. And 325,000 of them have signed a new MoveOn petition to block HHS draft regulations that would redefine contraception as abortion. Today at 2:30pm, representatives from Planned Parenthood and MoveOn will hand-deliver the petitions to the Department of Health and Human Services.
One of the petition's signers is Megan Kelly, a woman who in 2005 was refused both birth control and emergency contraception by a pharmacist in St. Charles, IL. At that time, Kelly already had one child, and noted on a conference call with reporters today that, "Family planning is really about deciding when it is right for you to have a child." Once press accounts of her story spread, plenty of anti-choicers told her she was taking an "abortion pill." Then as now, "it's very unnerving for women to be told they're having an abortion when they're taking contraception," Kelly added.
Updated at 2:45pm
RH Reality Check's Scott Swenson called me from the hand-off.
Samantha Smoot, National Field Director for Public Policy at Planned Parenthood, led a group of 25 activists, carrying baskets of signed petitions and toting "Protect Women's Health" signs, to HHS headquarters. The group was refused entry to the building, and was ultimately met outside by a representative of Secretary Michael Leavitt, who carried the petitions into the building.
Said Smoot, "Three hundred twenty-five thousand Americans is an extraordinary number of people to weigh in on a proposed regulation. It shows that individual Americans are concerned about women's health and that an important part of that is contraception. Clearly people are opposed to the new barriers for access to birth control."
MoveOn's Adam Green added, "This shows that there is a ton of energy around this issue. Americans do not think that contraception is abortion. McCain has been silent on this issue and he should explain to the American people if he thinks birth control is abortion."
Green shared a selection of comments made by petition signers around the country:
"As a retired nurse who spent many years working with at-risk families and children, and as a mother of three children, I am appalled at the notion that the president would even hint at further moves toward an abortion ban by including birth control pharmaceuticals in a 'rule change' not needing congressional approval." -- Ruth Y, Surrey, Maine
"I happen to be on birth control pills to treat an ovarian condition that is causing me to be infertile with hopes that I will ultimately be able to get pregnant. So I find this attempt to redefine birth control incredibly offensive." -- Ann Marie F, Miami, Florida
"As a mother of one completely planned and wanted child, I feel strongly that the lifelong goal of parenting is not one that should be encouraged without ample forethought. I do not consider birth control to be abortion. I do consider intelligent and thoughtful family planning important to the future of the planet." -- Cheryl J, Topsham, Maine
News of the petition delivery quickly spread to the mainstream media. ABC News covered the story, putting it in context of the larger struggle over the draft regulations and what effects they would have on state law guaranteeing access to birth control and emergency contraception.
Pictures coming soon!
Read all of RH Reality Check's coverage of the draft regulations here.
Photos credit Jay Mallin/MoveOn.org Political Action and Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Hurray! So many signatures. I hope they get the message!
If a health worker tried to deny me contraception because of their "moral" beliefs, I would leave immediately and tell the front desk that I refused to pay the person. No way.
Birth Control is about health.
I signed it. I hope you did too.
But some forms of contraception ARE in fact an abortifacient. I would definitely NOT sign this petition.
You've been brainwashed by some church. This is the only explanation for this point of view. Why don't we go back to the times when women gave birth to 10 children, among which, if she was lucky, just a few survived. And then she would die in childbirth giving birth to the 10th child.
This whole issue of reproductive rights is essential to our liberation. Keeping us barefoot and pregnant is to prevent us from reaching our potential. It is meant to keep us down, and to ensure that men rule the world.
Those churches who disseminate those beliefs are usually ruled by men. Aren't they?
Those churches of which you speak are not ruled by men (or women), but by God Almighty.
Do you claim to live by man's law or by God's law? There is a difference, you know.
We must be very careful to follow God's commandments, for if we do not, we will have eternity to think about the repercussions of our actions. Plenty of prophets (Moses, Miriam, Abraham, Jesus) have been sent to tell us how we are to live and act. Have we forgotten God's message spoken through them already?
As far as having 10 children, why do you see that as a bad thing or a burden--instead of it being a blessing?
if God was so interested in us living by His law, why didn't He make it a little clearer? Why didn't He write the laws so that they would translate into every age? by that i mean, do believe we should be able to stone a sinner to death? do you eat shellfish? do you eat pork? the temple/church you attend ('cos you must, it's His law, right?) built by His express directions, as He described in the old testament? PLEASE. God's law. as if YOU know His law personally.
You can believe whatever it is you believe - but stop trying to force the rest of the population to believe it, too. why can't you fundies do that? you've been trying to chip away at my right to do with my body as i wish, to terminate an unwanted pregnancy - and now you close-minded, backwards thinking, all-in-the-name-of-YOUR-god, unamericans want to trample on my health?
i SUFFER from endometriosis. if you're even a female, try this wonderful health problem sometime. i often end up curled up in a ball, sobbing, sometimes SCREAMING out in pain. the pill is the only thing that's ever come close to elleviating my pain. and people like you come along and think that your religious beliefs should trump my right to health care?!? go away. just go away, please!
also, i'm assuming you must be male - who on earth would consider putting their body through 10 freaking pregnancies a freaking blessing!!! someone who has NO IDEA what a pregnancy does to a body.
and i'd like to add that i wouldn't care if the pill was only meant to protect a woman from an unwanted pregnancy. you close-minded, ignorant religious fanatics need to stop denying that science is FACT. the pill does NOT do what your ilk claims it does.
god, i could go on forever. i know your type - i grew up around them - you'll never see past the bible in front of your face. and that's fine - FOR YOU. just STOP trying to legislate YOUR beliefs!!! you are NOT the dictator of me, nor any other woman.
Vivienne, yes God is indeed interested in all of us knowing his law so much so that he made the incredible sacrifice 2,000 years ago to send us his only son to make it all clearer. Jesus began a universal church which still exists and still proclaims God's law--and which translates into every age, including the year 2008.
You have my most sincere sympathy for your struggles with endometriosis. I know a few other women with the same condition and they too find comfort and pain relief from estrogen and progestin pills. Nothing wrong with that.
Don't worry, I won't "chip away" at your right to do with your body as you wish. But, once another life is formed inside of you, it ceases to be a part of "your body". Incredibly though you at that time become elevated to the honorable role of mother and co-creator (with God) of this new, unique, eternal-living creature called a baby.
FYI, my wife and I have four children and despite the long days and nights and feedings and diapers, we do see them as nothing less that gifts and blessings.
Also, I know I am not the dictator of you or anyone else, but I am responsible to speak the truth of God's law (back to where we started!) and speak it I will. You may choose to listen and obey or not. We all have free will. What we don't have is the ability to live outside of God's laws or make up our own laws which contradict his. That never seems to work!
I'll pray for you and pray for a miracle that your pain is lessened and eliminated. God works wonders. Believe.
My God says your an idiot and you should go drown yourself. He also says that birth control, abortion etc. were all made available to us by Him so using them does not go against His Word.
Sugar, using threatening words is unbecoming of a human being -- so is killing another human being. Be nice and play fair. Oh, and I would suggest not mocking God.
for your kind words. i can tell by your comments that you do have a good heart, even though we don't see eye to eye on reproductive choice. i do always appreciate when anyone says they will pray for me - regardless of their religion, or my religion, it's a beautiful, sincere sentiment. thank you.
i was going to go on to argue about my life vs. a zygote - but, i know that wouldn't do either of us any good, we clearly have different beliefs.
i think it'd be much better karma to just thank you again for the prayer. i do very much appreciate kindness from anyone - even a stranger on the internet.
Thank you, Vivienne! Well said. I do not suffer as you do, nor have I had to make the choices you have (there but for the Grace of God...) but I want you to have and maintain your right to do so.
Unless a woman has enough money to feed, clothe, house, and educate 10 children, and a partner to share the parenting and discipline with, and someone else to do the washing, scrubbng, cooking, ironing, bathing, diaper changing, and carpooling for 10 so that she can actually have some time to give comfort, bond with, nurture, and just be there for 10 kids without her feeling like an exhausted dishrag, then it is a HUGE burden. Get real. Unless you live on a farm and need more hands, any family with 10 kids is using up more than their share of the world's resources and creating way too much garbage that the rest of us all have to live with. Using birth control when you have sex is the only responsible way to behave and to prevent STD's. Abortion has existed in one form or another for centuries. It will never be eliminated unless people have easy access to simple birth control methods. If it says anything in the Bible at all about abortion, that proves that there have been women for at least 2000 years who have NOT felt that bearing children was a blessing. We no longer need to be fruitful and multiply--we finished that job.
You are correct that there is a difference between God's law and man's law. The principle of Separation of Church and State that this country WAS founded upon (and most of us still support) dictates that one person or group's personal view of God's law cannot preclude the majority of the peoples' common law, agreed on by men (and now women!!), for the most logical common governance of all. We will naturally bring our beliefs and values to the table when agreeing on those laws. But we cross the line when the the laws we pass interfere with any person's most personal and important life decisions.
I'll bet I hold many of the same personal religious beliefs as you. The difference is that I don't believe I can thrust those beliefs on another person. Especially when I am forcing that person into a situation of caring for another human being for the next 30+ years (it doesn't really end when they leave for college, after all).
My accidental 18-month-old is the best thing that ever happened to me and my husband! She is also a huge financial burden and a drain on our time and energy, and has shifted our responsibilities and choices and lifestyle in a major way. Is that all bad? No. Is it a decision that in good conscience I could dictate to another person to make? Absolutely not! I am now MORE THAN EVER pro-choice, because I now understand more than ever the herculean task that being a parent is. I was not ready for this before it happened--for years. I would have been a lousy parent 10 or even five years ago (I hope I won't be now). And one child is enough. I don't want two, let alone ten! How can anybody have the audacity and arrogance to decide this life choice for another person?
I think one look at our society will show you than many people who are parents are not ready for the task. Furthermore, our society does not offer much support to parents, especially single parents. I'm willing to bet that you are also against any type of federal aid to help single parents feed, clothe, house and educate their children. What does God say about caring for the least of us? And how do you think we're doing?? You can't have it both ways. We can't force this kind of decision on women and not give them the support to raise a child that will be a well educated, healthy, and productive individual. Many people were able overcome the obstacles of being raised in extreme poverty by an absent or overworked desperate parent and a poor education and contribute to our society. Many more are not able, and the problems in our society are the proof.
The decision to have a child should be between one woman, her God and her doctor. Period. It is not a man's decision. And it sure is not the government's. I don't go to my doctor for spiritual counseling and I don't go to church for medical advice. And I sure as heck don't go to the government for guidance on either subject.
If you are against abortion, then you must support the ability of ALL women to readily get contraception and honest, unbiased family planning advice. If you are TRULY pro-life, pray for a society that values the lives that are already here on this planet and vote for a government that supports them with health care and education and the opportunity to earn a living. Only then will society value all life and embrace all children as a blessing.
Otherwise, I have to assume that you believe that sex should only be for procreation and God didn't really mean it to give us some pleasure on this earth. Once upon a time the only way to assure no children was complete abstinence. I wonder how many men really want to go back to that reality. All the Viagra commercials lead me to believe that men are generally looking for sex more than 1-10 times in their lives. I can guarantee you that we women can hold out a lot longer than you, given abstinence as our only option!
Please get out of my womb, and accept that the vast majority of women do not need your moral compass to lead us to the correct decision when it comes to readiness to have a child (or two--or ten).
Children are a blessing that is true. But what are we offering those 10 children when the parents are having trouble feeding & clothing them. Never mind paying the rent and/or the doctor/dentist. Is that really fair to anyone? Children should be WANTED. If Mom died giving birth to #10 what is that offering the kids now? Think people.
I have an IUD which would fall under that description but I got pregnant twice, both times being on birth control pills. I have a chronic condition for which I take medication. That medication conteracted the birth control so my OB/GYN gave me an IUD. No unplanned pregnancies from that point on.
I signed it, and I think that anybody that believes birth control is abortion, should move to a third world country, because if this insane Republican proposal is allowed in the USA we will become a third country!.
Republican right wing religious fundamentalists are as bad as the nuts in the middle east.
Let progress in our medical society stay alive and well!
I just answered the same thing to another woman who refused to sign.
Only in this country, which is supposed to be part of the enlightened world, do we have those religious nuts.
The Muslim extremists and the American evangelists should really like each other. They believe the same things about women.
When is the stoning of women coming back here?
We are having enough problem with whether the government should make legislation with regard to abortion. Birth control is not killing a life, but preventing the start of a life with blocking the conception. This also is a decision of the woman as to her conscience and religious beliefs. Government needs to stay out of this one.
I believe this is a decision best left between the WOMAN and her God if she believes in such. I think a male or males should not be allowed any say in this. I do not understand how a male with daughters can sit on his "throne" and not even allow special circumstances for rape and/or incest. This whole thing just boggles my mind. Please look up the meaning of the word contraceptive since you do not seem to know the meaning.
It also boggles my mind that the people who proclaim to be FOR LIFE are the ones I read about taking lives.
We have enough on our plates right now and I have to wonder if this is not another wag the dog.
This country allows people of all religions to practice in peace. It does not, however, allow them to legislate their beliefs on others. This is what prevents us from living under groups like the Taliban. Let's not forget that. Medical doctors are bound by laws that require them to provide the best healthcare possible. If, for instance, a doctor was "morally" opposed to anesthesia, for whatever reason (maybe they practice some obscure anti-anesthesia religion) this doesn't make it legal for them to operate on someone without properly anesthetizing them. It would make them vulnerable to a huge malpractice lawsuit. Maybe those who are "morally" opposed to providing the best healthcare possible should reconsider before going into the medical profession.
As described, the proposed rules would appear to classify contraception, which includes pills, condoms, and abstention, as abortion. Now isn't that silly! Abortion occurs only after conception, not before.
I do believe in a woman's right to choose, and always have... This is my problem with the big question: When will men be held accountable by law for producing those unwanted babies.
Sure, if the religious right is going to press women into parenthood because of their strict beliefs, then why can't they also address the role of the fathers?
If abortion is to be illegal, then men should be incarcerated for not taking responsibility for unwanted pregnancies. A mother would be arrested for abandoning a child - why not the father too?
A woman suffers so much from being single moms of unplanned/ unwanted babies - loss of opportunities, social stigma, financial burdens,etc. A man should be branded with the same stigma and financial drain.
Our technology makes it possible to prove paternity, so it's not beyond our capabilities. If the zealots believe that a woman has no right to choose, then the men should not only be held financially accountable, but should be imprisoned for not supporting their offspring. Further, a man who spreads his seed too often should be neutered. I'm all for three strikes and it's OFF.
This reminds me of the Japanese health insurance outrage of a few years ago - insurance covered the cost of Viagra, but not the cost of birth control. That double standard was rectified. When will our country grasp the basic rights and responsibilities that both sexes have?
yeah, birth control pills are the "abortion" that occurs, even when of their principal methods of WORKING is that they PREVENT YOUR BODY FROM OVULATING.
these fairypixiemagicladies that the rule change is targeted to can get pregnant without ovulating, and they do it just so they can take BCP and have an abortion afterward. woohoo.
Cindy McCain yesterday told CBS she favors abortion in the case of incest or rape, and did not agree with her husband on the point.
It is called "right to choose". You can "choose" for yourself, but please, don't "choose" for me...... I should also have the "right" to believe what I believe and not be forced to believe what you want me to believe....
I also believe that it's a womens right to choose, both in terms of contraception and abortion. For some people the thought of bringing a child into this world without a family able to support it emotionally & financially is truly terrible and I don't see that anyone has the right to judge them for that. This should be about freedom of choice not about one group of people trying to force their views onto another group or vice versa.
