Read the latest news below on reproductive health and rights reported from outside media outlets. Also, learn about events hosted by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.
Salem-Keizer School Board Members Need Your Vote!
The Salem-Keizer School Board election is coming up Tuesday, May 21st, and three leaders are facing opposition solely because they support Planned Parenthood providing age-appropriate and medically accurate sex education. Your vote matters!
Oregon Right to Life is funding candidates who would prevent teens from getting the information they need to stay safe and healthy in this increasingly complicated world. Fear-based, abstinence-only education isn't realistic and it doesn't work. We need to make sure our kids have the tools they need to resist peer pressure and make responsible decisions. That's just what the TOP program provides.
Three of TOP's strongest supporters on the Salem-Keizer School Board are now being challenged by extremists who want to eliminate this program. Please re-elect Chair Nancy MacMorris-Adix (Zone 3), Vice-Chair Rick Kimball (Zone 5) and Chris Brantley (Zone 1) and help ensure students have the information they need to stay healthy!
Remember: Ballots are due Tuesday, May 21st. Please share this urgent action alert with your neighbors!
Purchase Tickets for the 2013 Courageous Voice Breakfast with Sandra Fluke!
The 2013 Courageous Voice Breakfast, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon's major annual fundraiser, is returning on Wednesday, May 22nd to Portland Art Museum's Kridel Grand Ballroom. Click here to reserve your seats!
Following sold-out keynote addresses by Professor Anita Hill in 2011 and author/spy Valerie Plame Wilson in 2012, we are thrilled to add Sandra Fluke to this stellar lineup of powerful women who speak truth in the face of hostility. This is how she was described in her nomination for TIME's Person of the Year 2012:
The daughter of a conservative Christian pastor, Sandra Fluke, 31, became a women's-rights activist in college and continued her advocacy as a law student at Georgetown. After being denied a chance to testify at a Republican-run House hearing on insurance coverage for birth control, Rush Limbaugh called Fluke a "slut." Democrats and many Republicans reacted with outrage, and the left made Limbaugh's slur Exhibit A in what they called a GOP "war on women." Fluke, meanwhile, weathered the attention with poise and maturity and emerged as a political celebrity. Democrats gave her a national-convention speaking slot as part of their push to make reproductive rights a central issue in the 2012 presidential campaign — one that helped Barack Obama trounce Mitt Romney among single women on Election Day.
The Courageous Voice Breakfast will also bestow the 3rd Annual Marilyn Epstein Champion Award to Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum for her years of advocacy on behalf of contraceptive parity, paid
family leave and domestic violence prevention.
WHAT: Courageous Voice Breakfast with Sandra Fluke
WHEN: Wednesday, May 22 (doors 7:30am, breakfast 8-9am)
WHERE: Portland Art Museum’s Kridel Grand Ballroom, 1219 SW Park Ave.
TICKETS: $75 general admission, $150 VIP admission (includes after-breakfast reception and commemorative photograph) available here
Pour One for Planned Parenthood on May 9th in Eugene!
Pour One for Planned
Parenthood will be a festive celebration of our accomplishments
featuring tasty microbrews, local entertainment from GRRRLZ ROCK and
raffle prizes. The Granary Pizza & Nightclub (formerly Jo
Federigo’s) will be serving rustic Italian pizza and homemade pasta
using local, organic and sustainable ingredients. (Vegan and gluten-free
options are available.)
Proceeds benefit the Lane County
Legislative Action Team, which supports the political and legislative
work of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon by meeting once a month
for planning and strategy meetings and participating in activities that
protect the basic health care services our community needs. If you’re
interested in participating in advocacy at a higher level, please join
us!
WHAT: Pour One for Planned Parenthood: A Benefit for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon’s Lane County Legislative Action Team
WHEN: 6-8pm Thursday, May 9th
WHERE: Granary Pizza & Nightclub, 259 E Fifth Ave., Eugene
COST: $15 at the door or $13 in advance here
RSVP: Please help spread the word by joining our Facebook event page here
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Bill to Protect Women's Health
SB 490 addresses so-called "Crisis Pregnancy Centers," which are run by organizations that are opposed to safe, legal abortion and certain forms of birth control. Young women go to CPCs looking for medical care and nonjudgmental counseling about their pregnancy options, but instead they get wildly inaccurate medical claims: abortion causes breast cancer, birth control is a form of abortion, condoms don't prevent sexually transmitted diseases, etc. In fact, a congressional investigation revealed that 87% of CPCs provide false or misleading information about the health effects of abortion. In addition, women are denied needed referrals for basic health care services. To make matters worse, CPCs are not required to follow the same protocol and standards to protect the privacy of patient records as real licensed medical facilities.
"More than 13,000 Oregonians have signed our petition calling for passage of SB 490," says Laura Terrill Patten, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. "Young women in crisis are being misled at the most vulnerable time in their lives with misleading information and scare tactics. This has to stop."
If passed, SB 490 would establish minimum consumer rights by requiring CPCs to post notices accurately disclosing the services they provide and by prohibiting them from disclosing personal medical information without consent. The Oregon Medical Association, the Oregon Nurses Association and NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon have endorsed the measure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Women's Health Care Day at the Capitol
What issues will we be working on?
Our main focus is always first to preserve and protect the critical funding for women’s health care. As you probably know, family planning is a smart investment that saves Oregon taxpayers millions of dollars every year, and we want to ensure that the state budget isn’t balanced on the backs of vulnerable patients who need lifesaving health care services.
Additionally, we will be working hard to pass a bill demanding truth and transparency at so-called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers,” which are fake medical clinics that often mislead and misinform young women about their health care options. We will also fight back against any anti-women’s health care bills that would limit access to safe and legal abortion.
Why do we need to lobby?
Once every two years Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon gathers supporters from every corner of the state and sends them off to meet with their local elected leaders in Salem. It’s a powerful way to remind our representatives that their constituents back at home believe that women’s health issues are economic issues, that it’s important that abortion remain a safe and legal medical procedure, that education and access to family planning services prevent unintended pregnancy and keep women safe. Plus, it’s incredibly empowering to represent your home district on behalf of the organization and the issues you care most about. Join us!
How will meetings get set up?
Key organizers work to prearrange meetings with your legislators. When you arrive, we will give you all the information about where and when your meetings will be.
How do I get to Women’s Health Care Day?
People are responsible for their own transportation to and from Salem, but we are happy to help you facilitate a carpool. If you are interested in being a carpool driver or rider, please let us know when you register.
Is there training available?
Yes! We will start the day with an extensive, robust and fun training on the messages of Women’s Health Care Day. (Please be sure to arrive on time so you don’t miss our special guest speakers!) Don’t worry if you’ve never lobbied before: You can feel confident that after the morning session, you will feel prepared to storm the Capitol on behalf of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon!
What should I wear? What if the weather is bad?
Rain, shine, sleet or snow – unless the Capitol is closed, Women’s Health Care Day will still take place. After lunch there will be a march from Mission Mill Museum to the Oregon State Capitol, which is about a 10-minute walk, so please dress in layers and be prepared for rain and/or the cold. We ask that you dress appropriately when conducting meetings with elected officials. Comfortable shoes will help you navigate through the Capitol more easily, too! We will happily facilitate accommodations for people with physical limitations.
I have friends who want to attend. Should they just show up?
We need participants to sign up in advance. Please have people register here no later than March 11th.
How can I stay updated?
Upon registration, you will be mailed a packet of information to prepare for Women’s Health Care Day at the Capitol. Your local Field Organizers will follow up with regular updates via email – and they can’t wait to meet you! If you have any questions before you register, please contact Field Organizer Alicia Temple at alicia.temple@ppcw.org.
Register Now for Women’s Health Care Day at the Capitol!
Join Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon for a day at the Capitol and meet with elected officials to discuss bills that affect women’s health care. One of the most effective ways to influence public policy is to educate key decision-makers about your concerns and to propose concrete solutions. We will provide you with coffee, lunch and training before you head off to meet your lawmakers.
Concerns? Click here for a handy list of Frequently Asked Questions!
WHEN: 9am-4pm Thursday, March 14, 2013
WHERE: Mission Mill Museum’s Spinning Room, 1313 Mill St. SE, Salem
REGISTER: Click here to sign up!
Join Us to Honor 40 Years of Roe
On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a historic ruling in Roe v. Wade, confirming that the constitutionally protected right to privacy includes every woman’s right to access safe and legal abortion.
Unfortunately, politicians still insist on interfering with a woman’s personal medical decisions about her pregnancy. To fight back against these attacks – and to honor the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade – a new book is being published titled Get Out of My Crotch! Twenty-One Writers Respond to America’s War on Women’s Rights and Reproductive Health. On January 22nd, Portland will host a launch event for this powerful anthology, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.
PPAO’s Jimmy Radosta will host an evening featuring readings from these contributors:
- Lidia Yuknavitch, author (The Chronology of Water, Dora: A Head Case)
- Kevin Sampsell, author (A Common Pornography)
- Sarah Mirk, journalist (The Portland Mercury, Bitch Magazine)
- Camille Hayes, social advocate and writer (LadyTroubles.com)
- Kim Wyatt, publisher and editor (Bona Fide Books, Cherry Bomb Books)
As the nation’s leading women’s health care provider and advocate, Planned Parenthood knows firsthand why it’s so critical that women have access to a comprehensive range of reproductive health care services. We look forward to commemorating this historic milestone and to sharing how you can get involved to help protect choice and keep women healthy.
WHAT: Get Out of My Crotch! Book Release Party
WHEN: 7pm Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
WHERE: Crush, 1400 SE Morrison St., Portland
COST: Free, but donations will be accepted for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
Bad Dates, Good Laughs
We’ve all had them: dates that go terribly, hilariously awry. Let’s commisserate together - while supporting Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon - at our 4th annual Valentine’s Day benefit, It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating!
Brave local personalities will share mortifying memories about their worst dates for your entertainment...their pain is your gain! You’ll leave either feeling grateful for your current relationship or with the realization that being single isn’t so bad after all.
Proceeds will help Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon continue its work to defend reproductive freedom and to hold politicians accountable. All advance ticketholders are entered in a drawing for fabulous door prizes, so get your tickets today!
WHAT: It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating (Eugene)
STORYTELLERS: Mark Lewis, two-time Emmy Award-winning storyteller; Serena Markstrom, reporter (The Register-Guard); Seth Milstein, comedian/writer/podcaster; Sarah Ulerick, aka Queen Bananita Sluginsky, 1993 SLUG Queen; Chris Castles, entertainer; Stephanie Purtle, standup comic; Lori Ferraro, writer/performer (Mortified); Bryce Jones, standup comic; CM Hall, political activist and ASL interpreter
HOST: Anthropologist, author and burlesque MC Phil Scher
WHEN: Friday, February 8, 2013 (doors 8pm, show 8:30-10:30pm)
WHERE: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W. Eighth St., Eugene
TICKETS: $15 at the door or $13 in advance from CozmicPizza.com and the Cozmic Pizza box office
WHAT: It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating (Portland)
STORYTELLERS:
Erin Ergenbright, voiceover artist/author (The
Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook); Arianne Cohen, author (The Sex Diaries Project:
What We’re Saying About What We’re Doing); Michael Heald,
publisher/author (Goodbye to the Nervous Apprehension); Karen Karbo,
author (The Gospel According to Coco Chanel); Meagan Kate, writer/grad
student/teacher (PHAME Academy); B. Frayn Masters, writer/host/producer
(Back Fence PDX Radio); Ted Douglass, radio DJ (The Daria, Mitch &
Ted Show) and sketch comic (The 3rd Floor); Meredith Shield, politico
HOST: Humorist/activist Jimmy Radosta
WHEN: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 (doors 6pm, show 7-9pm)
WHERE: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
TICKETS: $20 at the door or $18 in advance from CascadeTickets.com and the Bagdad box office
Use It or Lose It!
It’s true! Every year, the Oregon Political Tax Credit allows taxpaying Oregonians to give $50 per person or $100 per couple to a PAC and receive this amount back at tax time. In other words, the state gives you a $50 gift to donate to the political cause of your choice. It’s a full 100% credit, not a deduction!
With your contribution, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon can continue to get results like these:
• Educating Voters: In the 2012 election cycle, we produced our first-ever online Voter Guide and made 326,768 contacts with voters, helping secure a pro-women’s health majority in the Oregon Legislature!
• Protecting Women’s Health: By ensuring support in Salem, we can continue to defend family-planning programs and block attacks on reproductive freedom. We’ll also continue to push hard to end fraudulent practices at so-called “Crisis Pregnancy Centers.”
• Defending Oregon’s Constitution: This year we kept a dangerous constitutional amendment off the ballot that would have prohibited access to medically necessary abortion coverage for low-income women. Opponents of women’s health are already working to revive this measure for 2014, and with your help, we’ll continue to fight it.
With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time to spend your Oregon Political Tax Credit before it expires. Click here to make a donation today. (For detailed instructions on how to claim your Oregon Political Tax Credit, click here.)
Celebrate Victory in the War on Women!
It’s been quite a year for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon: Komen...the all-male panel...vagina-gate...“legitimate rape”...“binders full of women.”
Fortunately, 2012 culminated in a stunning victory at the ballot box: We not only re-elected President Obama, but we regained a pro-women’s health majority in the Oregon Legislature! Celebrate with us at our 2nd annual holiday benefit, Naughty Listed: Stories of Holiday Misbehavior, in Portland and Eugene. We’ll set politics aside for the evening while listening to Oregon’s sharpest storytellers sharing hilarious memories of holiday mischief and wintry discontent. (Think: dry turkeys, ugly sweaters, awkward family moments, general humbuggery.)
Tickets are on sale now, so don’t delay! Makes for a great present, too: Give the gift of laughter!
WHAT: Naughty Listed: Stories of Holiday Misbehavior (Portland)
WHEN: Tuesday, December 4th (doors 6pm, show 7-9pm)
WHERE: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
STORYTELLERS: Bryce Black, fashion designer (Project Runway); Lidia Yuknavitch, author (The Chronology of Water, Dora: A Head Case); Mark Russell, author (“God Is Disappointed in You); Levi Greenacres, tattooer/author (Mommy’s New Tattoo); Shelley McLendon, actor/writer (Bad Reputation Productions, The Aces, The Liberators); Amber Jo Hatt, licensed social worker/writer/performer (Mortified, Back Fence); Wm. Steven Humphrey, columnist/humorist (The Portland Mercury, The Lost Boys – Live!); Joni Renee, painter
HOST: Standup comic Gabe Dinger
TICKETS: $20 at the door or $18 in advance here and at the Bagdad box office
WHAT: Naughty Listed: Stories of Holiday Misbehavior (Eugene)
WHEN: Friday, December 7th (doors 8pm, show 8:30-10:30pm)
WHERE: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W Eighth Ave.
STORYTELLERS: Laurie Notaro, author (An Idiot Girl’s Christmas: True Tales from the Top of the Naughty List); Mark Russell, author (God Is Disappointed in You); L. J. Sellers, author of provocative mysteries and thrillers; Leigh Anne Jasheway, author and standup comic; Curt Hopkins, journalist and poet; Trisha Marcy, standup comic; Camilla Mortensen, environmental reporter and college instructor; Alex Notman, arts editor (Eugene Weekly)
HOST: Anthropologist, author and burlesque MC Phil Scher
TICKETS: $15 at the door or $13 in advance here and at the Cozmic Pizza box office.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon Celebrates Election Results
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, which engages in educational and electoral activity to promote the Planned Parenthood mission, celebrates last night's re-election of President Barack Obama and regaining a pro-women's health majority in the Oregon Legislature.
"President Obama signed one of the greatest advancements for women's health in decades," said Laura Terrill Patten, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. "Tonight, women in America came together to tell politicians that they've gone too far. If you look at this as a war on women, then this election clearly shows that women won."
For the 2012 election cycle, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon mobilized activists to fight back against unprecedented attacks on a woman's personal medical decisions. The organization's political action committee, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon, conducted one of the state's most extensive voter-outreach programs to educate Oregonians about where candidates stand on women's health. This year Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon:
- Made 326,768 contacts with voters via direct mail and telephone
- Sent direct mail to 290,714 pro-women's health voters
- Completed 29,754 one-on-one telephone conversations
- Endorsed 50 candidates
- Filled 440 volunteer shifts and recruited 14 interns
Bruce Starr Facts
Democratic Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian has been a steadfast supporter of women’s health throughout his career. That’s why he has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon.
Avakian’s opponent — Republican Bruce Starr — believes politicians should be making decisions for us. Bruce Starr has voted time after time to chip away at Roe v. Wade, and he’s backed by extremists who want an absolute ban on abortion, with no exceptions.
Click here for a full picture of Bruce Starr’s terrible record on women’s health.
Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon Launches Online Voter Guide to Educate Voters About Where Candidates Stand on Pivotal Health Care Issues
Planned
Parenthood PAC of Oregon today introduces its online Voter Guide — a voter
education tool built by Planned Parenthood Action Fund in collaboration with
Planned Parenthood advocacy organizations across the country. The online Voter
Guide has been optimized for both desktop computers and mobile devices, so
voters in Oregon can cast their ballot with accurate information and ratings on
where candidates — up and down ballot — stand on issues of importance to women
and women’s health.
You can access the online Voter Guide and search for candidates here.
The Voter Guide allows users to find their candidates by entering their ZIP code. The tool then pulls up data on federal, state and local candidates and ballot measures that have been endorsed by Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon. The candidate scores presented are based on votes on key legislation related to women and women’s health, public statements and candidate questionnaires.
The online Voter Guide has been built to be printer-friendly and infinitely shareable via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter.
“The online Voter Guide will help voters in Oregon make informed decisions at the polls about which candidates to vote for based on where they stand on pivotal health care issues,” said Laura Terrill Patten, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon. “The online Voter Guide is part of Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon’s ongoing work to elect pro-women’s health candidates in Oregon and to hold anti-women’s health candidates of either party accountable. Oregon voters have the right to know which candidates will stand up and support the issues they care about.”
Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon Endorses Measure 85, Opposes Measure 84
As
advocates for medically accurate comprehensive sex education in public schools,
Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon knows the importance of protecting school funding that ensures all Oregon
students receive the education they deserve, and the programs that help them
stay healthy. Reinvesting in our schools is critical to protecting the
educational programs that are often first to be cut in a budget shortfall,
particularly health-related programs that educate youth about making
responsible decisions and preventing STDs.
That’s why we’re endorsing a YES vote on Ballot Measure 85, which will reform the corporate kicker refund by putting money into Oregon’s K-12 classrooms, rather than sending money to large, out-of-state corporations. We’re also endorsing a NO vote on Ballot Measure 84, a massive tax break for millionaires that would result in hundreds of millions of dollars slashed from Oregon’s K-12 classrooms and other priority services.
Click here for more information from Defend Oregon. Click here for a full list of our candidate endorsements.
Mark Your Calendar for "The Trudy Bauchery Variety Show"!
We're still glowing from our Summer Victory Parties to celebrate major advancements in women's health: birth control with NO co-pays, and an election year WITHOUT any anti-choice ballot measures! Now here's another fun way you can help us continue this exciting momentum.
On September 8th, The Trudy Bauchery Variety Show featuring Charlotte Treuse will pack Cozmic Pizza with a wide array of sexy, talented entertainers to raise money for our work to keep Oregon a pro-choice state! Dr. Cabinet Jones will host a wild evening featuring:
- Intoxicating burlesque performers Charlotte Treuse, Lana Louche and Babs Jamboree!
- Renegade vaudeville artist Trudy Bauchery (pictured)!
- Bluesy songstress Heather Jones!
- Hilarious comedian Chris Castles!
Advance ticket purchasers will automatically be entered to win a fabulous door prize, so reserve a seat today for the early show or the late show! For more information, please visit the Facebook event page, which you can share with friends. See you September 8th!
WHAT: The Trudy Bauchery Variety Show featuring Charlotte Treuse
WHEN: 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, September 8th
WHERE: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W Eighth St. in Eugene
TICKETS: $18 at the door or $15 in advance here (early show) and here (late show). You'll also receive a benefit voucher to redeem on the night of the show so that 30% of your food and beverage purchases goes to PPAO! This is an 18+ event.
Come Celebrate with Us! Victory Parties on Aug. 1 in Portland and Eugene!
This has already been an incredible summer for women's health. Come celebrate with us Aug. 1!
On June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act, the greatest advance in women's health in a generation. As a result, effective Aug. 1, birth control will be treated like any other preventive prescription, and will be available WITHOUT co-pays! Women spend up to $600 a year on birth control, and this decision means it will now be fully covered. The money women will save on birth control each year is equal to five weeks of groceries for a family of four, nine tanks of gas in a minivan, or one semester of college textbooks.
But that's not all: On July 4, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon learned that 2 dangerous anti-choice constitutional amendments FAILED to qualify for the November ballot. This means that we can now focus on a proactive agenda to secure a pro-women's health majority in the Legislature, instead of defending ourselves from another set of attacks.
Please join us for happy hour Aug. 1 on the patios at Mississippi Studios in Portland and Sam Bonds Garage in Eugene as we toast our progress and look ahead to a winning election! Together, we are making it clear that women's health matters!
WHAT: Summer Victory Parties!
WHEN: 5-7pm Wednesday, August 1
WHERE: Mississippi Studios, 3939 N. Mississippi Ave. in Portland, and Sam Bonds Garage, 407 Blair Blvd. in Eugene
ADMISSION: Free, but donations are gladly accepted to support our work to secure a pro-women's health majority in Salem!
A Major Victory for Choice in Oregon!
We have important news to share that will shape Oregon’s political landscape in this crucial election year: Today we learned that 2 dangerous anti-choice constitutional amendments have FAILED to qualify for the November ballot. As a result, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon can focus on a proactive agenda to secure a pro-women’s health majority in the Legislature, instead of defending ourselves from another set of attacks.
Together with our partners at the Pro-Choice Coalition of Oregon, we have been monitoring the signature-gathering process and building a campaign structure in the event of a ballot measure fight. At issue were 2 constitutional amendments that would have affected Oregon women’s access to reproductive health care:
- Initiative Petition 22 would have amended the Oregon Constitution to declare “personhood” for fertilized eggs. This extreme measure could have resulted in outlawing birth control, in vitro fertilization and abortion even in the case of rape and incest.
- Initiative Petition 25 would have amended the Oregon Constitution to prohibit access to medically necessary abortion coverage for low-income women. With no exception for the health of the woman, it would not only have denied many Oregon women access to the comprehensive health care they currently have, it would have denied services to women facing terrible health issues like cancer and severe fetal abnormalities.
Thankfully, Oregonians saw that these vague and confusing measures seriously threatened women’s health care. This is a major victory for choice – and a prime opportunity to keep our eyes on the prize. Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon is already interviewing candidates, making endorsements and registering voters to ensure a strong turnout in November. By making a donation today, you can help us achieve these goals. (Remember, the Oregon State Political Tax Credit allows Oregonians to give $50 per person or $100 per couple to the PAC of their choice and receive this amount back at tax time.)
Thank You, Mayor Adams!
The U.S. Conference of Mayors voted June 16 to pass a resolution, co-sponsored by Portland Mayor Sam Adams, in support of women's reproductive rights and funding for Planned Parenthood. The nonpartisan organization, which includes representatives from about 1,200 cities across the country, "urges Congress and the states to pursue a positive agenda that reaffirms fundamental rights and improves women's access to safe and comprehensive reproductive-health care." Here is the full text of the resolution:
SUPPORT WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
WHEREAS, Americans believe that women should be able to consult with their doctor, family, and faith about personal, private medical decisions; and
WHEREAS, states enacted twice as many anti-choice laws in 2011 as they did in the previous year, including laws that force women who choose abortion care to undergo a forced ultrasound procedure against their will and even if their doctors do not recommend one; and
WHEREAS, eight states since 2010 have enacted laws that ban abortion at 20 weeks, regardless of the women’s situation, without exceptions to protect her health, and in violation of the right to privacy guaranteed under Roe v. Wade; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to defund Title X, the only federal program exclusively dedicated to family-planning and reproductive-health care, and Planned Parenthood, jeopardizing access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other basic health care for millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed a bill that could spur the Internal Revenue Service to audit rape survivors who choose abortion care and another bill that would allow hospitals to refuse emergency abortion care to women who could die without it; and
WHEREAS, the debate around women’s access to reproductive-health services, like contraception, has drawn offensive rhetoric; and
WHEREAS, reproductive-health care and the overwhelming majority of services provided by Planned Parenthood health centers is basic health care for women, including cancer screenings and breast exams; and
WHEREAS, for many women with limited incomes, Planned Parenthood clinics are their point of entry into the health care system and their ongoing source of primary care services; and
WHEREAS, if these services disappear, more women are likely to contract diseases that will imperil their lives and lead to highly expensive Medicaid and Medicare bills borne by taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, these programs are essential to reducing rates of unintended pregnancy and preventing the increase of the number of women with cervical and breast cancers who are not diagnosed until the cancers are in the late stages; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors affirms the importance of women’s reproductive rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges Congress and the states to pursue a positive agenda that reaffirms fundamental rights and improves women’s access to safe and comprehensive reproductive-health care.
Tonight! An All-Ages Celebration for LGBT Pride Month!
Great news! Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon has been selected as the beneficiary for the next installment of Gay Skate and Game Night, a wildly popular all-ages monthly event at Oaks Amusement Park in Portland. Mark your calendar for Monday, June 11th!
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is proud of our role in advocating at the state level for increased access to health care, including affordable birth control and life-saving cancer screenings. PPAO supports legislative and policy initiatives that address disparities in health care for underserved populations, including gay and transgender people, and promoting age-appropriate, medically accurate and fully inclusive sex education for youth and teens. Please join us for a fun-filled celebration of LGBT Pride Month for families and folks of all ages featuring:
- Roller Skating: Lace up your skates as you do the Hokey Pokey at one of the oldest continuously operated amusement parks in the United States!
- Games: For the nonskaters who still want to hang out, play Trivial Pursuit, Cranium, Spoons and anything appropriate you want to bring along.
- Fab’Daddy Trivia: Form teams and win prizes based on your knowledge of all kinds of trivial stuff. Identify video clips, name tunes, answer questions, have fun! The theme for June is “Stonewall.”
- Raffle: Enter to win a Safe Sax clear vinyl tote bag displaying designer condoms by Proper Attire!
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon will also be on hand to sell T-shirts, register voters and recruit volunteers. See you June 11th!
WHAT: Gay Skate and Game Night for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
WHEN: 7-9pm Monday, June 11th, 2012
WHERE: Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland
TICKETS: $6. Please also bring nonperishable food items or unused toiletry items for Esther’s Pantry, a community program serving low-income people living with HIV/AIDS.
4th Annual Pink Party Tickets on Sale!
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is "tickled pink" to present the 4th Annual Pink Party, a wildly popular fundraiser for our Multnomah County Legislative Action Team!
This year's headliner is Blouse, which recently was named one of Portland's 10 best new bands of 2012. Willamette Week raves, "Blouse is Portland's contribution to a global resurgence of sexy, breathy synth-laden dance pop—a tide of pining for the muted side of New Wave and its bruised Casios."
There will also be music spun by DJs Cryder and Hero Worship, dancing, signature drinks, a sexy photo booth and the infamous kissing booth! Last year's Pink Party was a packed house, so be sure to get your tickets today.
WHAT: The 4th Annual Pink Party!
WHEN: 8 p.m.-midnight Thursday, June 28th, 2012
WHERE: Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St., Portland
TICKETS: $12 in advance, $15 at the door
Gear Up for 2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast with Special Screening of "Fair Game"
As a preview for the 2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast with Valerie Plame Wilson (May 3 at Portland Art Museum), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon presents a special screening of Fair Game, the critically acclaimed 2010 film based on her life story. The suggested donation is $10, with FREE admission for Courageous Voice Breakfast ticketholders! (To reserve a seat or a table for the Courageous Voice Breakfast, click here or call 503-775-4931 x3277.)
Retired U.S. Ambassador Joe Wilson (Academy Award winner Sean Penn) and his wife, CIA officer Valerie Plame (Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), become "fair game" after an op-ed column written by Wilson clouds the case being made by the George W. Bush administration to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein. This fact-based political thriller derived from the couple's memoirs (Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House and The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity) depicts the dramatic fallout from the outing of Plame's covert status.
Also starring Academy Award nominee Sam Shepard (The Right Stuff), Emmy Award winner Ty Burrell (Modern Family) and Bruce McGill (The Insider). From the director of The Bourne Identity.
WHAT: “Fair Game” screening
WHEN: 1pm Sunday, April 15
WHERE: Cinema 21, 616 NW 21st Ave., Portland
TICKETS: $10 suggested donation. FREE for 2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast ticketholders!
2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast Will Honor Kate Brown
Last year, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon launched the Marilyn Epstein Pro-Choice Champion Award to recognize a leader who goes above and beyond in advocating for women’s and reproductive health care issues. We are proud to announce that Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown will be the recipient of this year’s award at the 2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast with Valerie Plame Wilson, which will be held Thursday, May 3rd at Portland Art Museum’s Kridel Grand Ballroom.
Before being elected to office, Brown began her career as an advocate working with the Women’s Rights Coalition to pass Family Medical Leave and numerous bills on women’s health, domestic violence and economic fairness for women in the workplace. Thanks to the work of her and many others, Oregon became one of the first states in the country to allow parents to stay home with their sick family members without fear of losing their job.
As a freshman legislator in 1993, Brown helped found the Oregon Women’s Health and Wellness Alliance, a legislative coalition of advocates and elected officials who have passed multiple laws to improve the lives and health of women and their families in Oregon.
Since then, Brown has been a leader in standing up for a woman’s right to choose and protecting access to health care, even in the toughest of economic and political times. She was an early pioneer of the movement for contraceptive equity for Oregon women: In 2007, after a 14-year battle with the far right and the insurance industry, she succeeded in prohibiting insurance companies from excluding prescription contraceptives if they cover other prescription drugs. For Brown, it was a matter of basic fairness. At the time, women of reproductive age paid an average of 68% more for out-of-pocket health care coverage than men.
And that’s not all:
- Kate Brown led the effort to require hospitals to offer emergency contraceptives to women who seek them after sexual assault.
- Kate Brown introduced legislation aimed at preventing “alternative to abortion” organizations from spreading false or misleading information to women.
- Kate Brown has earned a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon for her entire career.
Please join us in honoring Secretary Brown’s extraordinary leadership at the 2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast with Valerie Plame Wilson. See you May 3rd!
WHAT: Courageous Voice Breakfast with Valerie Plame Wilson
WHEN: Thursday, May 3 (doors 7:30am, breakfast 8-9am)
WHERE: Portland Art Museum’s Kridel Grand Ballroom, 1219 SW Park Ave.
TICKETS: $75 general admission, $150 VIP admission (includes after-breakfast reception and signed autobiography) from ChoiceAdvocates.org
PICTURED: Kate Brown (left) with Marilyn Epstein. Photo by Andie Petkus.
The Nation Praises Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon!
The Nation - the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States, founded in 1865 - recognized the political influence of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon in its March 26 edition.
"The Genius of Cecile Richards," a cover story about the president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, outlines the growing power of Planned Parenthood "to convert bodies into voters, into activists." Political journalist Elizabeth Mitchell, author of W.: Revenge of the Bush Dynasty and former executive editor of George magazine, gives special attention PPAO's role in an aggressive multimedia independent expenditure campaign for the 1st Congressional District race:
In the case of the Oregon special election of Suzanne Bonamici in late January, nearly eight in ten voters for Bonamici said her opponent’s anti-choice stand made them "less likely" to vote for him. To put Bonamici over the top, Planned Parenthood coordinated with EMILY’s List on TV, print and online ads, and direct mailing. They regularly held phone-banking sessions targeting about 17,000 female swing voters.
We are grateful to have helped support the election of Congresswoman Bonamici, and we are immensely flattered by the recognition from The Nation. Please help us continue our effective political advocacy work by making a donation to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon or Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon today!
You Sing, You Skate, You Jam!
Our irreverent friends at The Portland Mercury have selected Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon as the beneficiary for the next Skate-a-Roke, an all-ages party combining roller skating and karaoke!
"This is probably the proudest event we've hosted, besides that one time we made two dogs wrestle under a blanket for a holiday ham," raves Mercury writer Courtney Ferguson. "It's going to be a huge humdinger of a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, as all the funnest people in Portland gather to sing their best skate-jam karaoke tunes and the rest of the gang rolls around Oaks Park in four-wheeled bliss. The karaoke setup will be on the rink, for an element of danger and derring-do. Dress up! I'm thinking sequins and tube socks!"
KJ John Brophy of Baby Ketten Karaoke will be providing the tunes. To preview the vast song selection, click here.
Partial proceeds go to Planned Parenthood's political arm to help preserve Oregon's status as one of the three most pro-choice states in the nation!
WHAT: Skate-a-Roke, an all-ages party combining roller skating and karaoke!
WHEN: 7-10pm Monday, March 12
WHERE: Oaks Amusement Park, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way
TICKETS: $10, which includes skates and karaoke. For advance tickets, click here.
Eugene Celebrates Wine, Women and Song
Spring is such a wonderful time to celebrate women’s health. And that’s just what we’re looking to do at Uncorked: an evening of wine, women and song.
Please join us Friday, March 9th at Studio West in Eugene. We’ll listen to the sweet serenade of Concrete Loveseat while we enjoy delicious wine and hors d'oeuvres. Our new Executive Director, Laura Terrill Patten, will be there to help us kick off the festivities and share a bit about the landscape for women’s health in the coming year.
Save the date on your calendar! You won’t want to miss this great event hosted by your local Lane County Legislative Action Team.
WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 9th, 2012
WHERE: Studio West, 245 W Eighth Ave., Eugene
ADMISSION: $20 in advance, $22 at the door. For tickets, click here. If you cannot attend but would like to support Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, click here. Please note: This is a 21-and-older event.
Tickets on Sale for 2012 Courageous Voice Breakfast
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is thrilled to share the news that Valerie Plame Wilson will be the keynote speaker for our second annual Courageous Voice Breakfast. She will discuss her New York Times bestseller, Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House, sharing her thoughts on what she views as unprecedented abuse of public trust by the Bush administration in its efforts to subvert the right of free speech.
Following on the heels of last year’s sold-out appearance by Anita Hill, Courageous Voice 2012 promises to be another inspiring celebration. We will also present the Marilyn Epstein Pro-Choice Champion Award to Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown.
Please save the date: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, May 3rd at Portland Art Museum. To purchase tickets, click here.
Love Is in the Air
Our 3rd annual Valentine's Day benefit, It's Not Me, It's You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating, was a huge success! More than 500 people - a record-setting number - packed Portland's Bagdad Theater to hear brave storytellers share memories about awkward love connections, broken hearts and bad sex.
With the generosity of these talented performers, our dedicated volunteers, local sponsors and the hosting team of Cort Webber and Bobby Roberts (of the popular podcast cortandfatboy), the event brought in more than twice our fundraising goal! Here are some of the highlights:
* Introducing our new Executive Director, Laura Terrill Patten, to the Portland crowd. She's pictured here (on the left) with former PPAO Board Chair Jennifer Williamson, who's running for Oregon House District 36 with our enthusiastic endorsement! Another one of our endorsees, Portland City Council candidate Mary Nolan, was also in attendance.
* Listening in on the "lightning round" between Portland Mercury writers Sarah Mirk and Alison Hallett, who were vying for the title of Worst Judgment Ever. The "winner" was Sarah Mirk. Congratulations?
* Wishing a happy 41st birthday to Yvonne, an audience member who donned a sash and tiara to celebrate the end of her breast cancer treatment.
Special thanks to media sponsor The Portland Mercury, photographer Andie Petkus, graphic designer Krissy Gilhooly of Potassium Design, Courtenay Hameister, Roey Thorpe and to all of the folks who came out to stand with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon!
Tickets are still available for the Eugene installment of It's Not Me, It's You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating on Friday, February 10th at Cozmic Pizza. Click here for details.
Their Pain Is Your Gain
Our popular Valentine's Day is back...and bigger than ever!
It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating is an evening featuring brave storytellers sharing hilarious memories about their worst dating experiences. You'll either leave feeling grateful for your current relationship or convinced that being single isn't so bad after all.
A beloved benefit for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon since 2010, It's Not Me, It's You is expanding to Eugene this year. All advance ticketholders are entered in a drawing for fabulous door prizes, so get your tickets today!
WHAT: Portland Edition of It's Not Me, It's You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating
STORYTELLERS: Chelsea Cain, New York Times bestselling author; Christine McKinley, musician/writer; Courtenay Hameister, host of OPB’s Live Wire!; Scott Poole, house poet on OPB’s Live Wire!; Seth Walker, storyteller; Sarah Wexler, journalist and author of Awful First Dates; Stephen Marc Beaudoin, performer/writer/director; Kevin Sampsell, author/editor/publisher; CM Hall, political activist and ASL interpreter; and Sarah Mirk and Alison Hallett, journalists
HOSTS: Cort Webber and Bobby Roberts (of the cortandfatboy podcast)
WHEN: Wednesday, February 8, 2012 (doors 6pm, show 7-9pm)
WHERE: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
TICKETS: $20 at the door or $18 in advance from CascadeTickets.com and the Bagdad box office
WHAT: Eugene Edition of It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating
STORYTELLERS: Laurie Notaro, New York Times bestselling author; Curt Hopkins, journalist and poet; Leigh Anne Jasheway, author and standup comic; Seth Milstein, standup comic; Camilla Mortensen, environmental reporter and college instructor; Chris Castles, standup comic; Dante Zuñiga-West, writer/emcee/martial arts instructor; Ashly Reiss, standup comic; and Jimmy Radosta, writer and activist
HOST: Phil Scher
WHEN: Friday, February 10, 2012 (doors 8pm, show 8:30-10:30pm)
WHERE: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W. Eighth St., Eugene
TICKETS: $15 at the door or $13 in advance from CozmicPizza.com and the Cozmic Pizza box office
(Photo courtesy Trask Bedortha, Eugene Weekly)
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon and Planned Parenthood Action Fund Join Forces with EMILY’s List to Launch Multimedia Campaign Effort
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and EMILY's List are partnering to launch an aggressive multimedia independent expenditure campaign to help elect Suzanne Bonamici in the upcoming special congressional election in Oregon's 1st District. Together they are reaching out to key voters to educate them about the extreme anti-women's health record of Rob Cornilles.
The coordinated multimedia effort includes a TV ad, online ads, a new website, and direct mail that use Tea Party Republican Rob Cornilles' own words to show women voters how extreme he is.
It means that voters will see the same message about Cornilles' out-of-touch record on women's health wherever they look, whether in their mailboxes, on TV, or online.
Watch the EMILY's List TV ad here:
The three-piece mail program will target independent women voters under 55, a key voting bloc that often decides close elections. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon is a trusted messenger to these women voters.
"Rob Cornilles is hiding the ball. He claims the House plays a 'very limited role' on choice, but last spring the Republicans nearly shut down the federal government while attempting to defund Planned Parenthood," said Amy Hojnowski, interim executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. "We're proud to partner with EMILY's List to alert voters that Rob Cornilles' extreme views are out of touch with the values of the 1st Congressional District."
"Voters are often overwhelmed with messages," said Deirdre Schifeling, national organizing and electoral campaigns director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. "That's why we are targeting voters through multiple ways to ensure they know that Suzanne Bonamici is a strong and outspoken advocate for Oregon’s women and families, and that her opponent Rob Cornilles is way out of the mainstream."
"Voters in Oregon's 1st District are very clear: They want a pro-choice representative," said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List. "Tea Party politician Rob Cornilles has tried to have it both ways - embracing the endorsement of the Oregon Right to Life and then hoping women will see him as a moderate. We'll be on the air and online making sure women voters are very clear on where Rob Cornilles stands: against their right to make their own medical decisions. We're confident that women voters in Oregon will get Democrats off to strong start in 2012 by electing a proud, pro-choice Democratic woman, Suzanne Bonamici."
The election is January 31. However, since it is vote by mail, voting will start January 13.
Use It or Lose It!
Did you know that you can make a donation to Oregon’s pro-choice political action committee…at no cost to you?
It’s true! Every year, the Oregon Political Tax Credit allows taxpaying Oregonians to give $50 per person or $100 per couple to a PAC and receive this amount back at tax time. In other words, the state gives you a $50 gift to donate to the political cause of your choice. It’s a full 100% credit, not a deduction!
With your contribution, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon can continue to get results like these:
• Protecting Choice: We’ve defeated 5 anti-choice ballot measures over the years, and we’re already building the campaign structure necessary to fight up to two anti-choice measures that will appear on the 2012 ballot, including an abortion ban that would grant “personhood” status to fertilized eggs.
• Educating Voters: In the last election cycle, we distributed our comprehensive 2010 Pro-Choice Voter Guide and made more than 250,000 contacts with voters, helping secure the election of Gov. John Kitzhaber as well as two-thirds of our endorsed candidates in the Oregon Legislature.
• Supporting Allies: By ensuring a pro-choice Legislature, we were able to block 5 attacks on reproductive rights in the last legislative session, including a ban on abortions after 20 weeks. We’ll also continue to push hard for a bill to end fraudulent practices at anti-choice “Crisis Pregnancy Centers.”
With the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time to spend your Oregon Political Tax Credit before it expires. With your help, Planned Parenthood PAC of Oregon can continue to secure access to family planning services, defeat anti-choice ballot measures and retain a pro-choice Legislature. Click here to make a donation today. (For detailed instructions on how to claim your Oregon Political Tax Credit, click here.)
Great laughs for a great cause
Santa Claus isn’t the only one who's letting out big belly laughs this holiday season. About 300 pro-choice supporters in Portland and Eugene had a wickedly good time at Naughty Listed: Stories of Holiday Misbehavior, the first-ever holiday benefits for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.
It was a fun alternative to the usual holiday fare that drew several new folks to the pro-choice movement, along with some familiar faces. The Eugene audience included PPAO Board Chair Kamala Shugar and Lane County Commissioner Pete Sorenson, while the Portland crowd included PPAO Political Director Amy Hojnowski and former PPAO Executive Director Roey Thorpe.
Over the course of the evening in Eugene, we learned about author Leigh Anne Jasheway’s hilarious Heimlich Maneuver dilemma…standup comic Seth Milstein’s trippy psychedelic adventure…and “political nerd” Karol Collymore’s twisted tale of going home for the holidays. In Portland, we heard about holiday debauchery (from Rose City Rollers founder Rocket Mean), holiday humiliation (from Road House: The Play! actress Meagan Kate), holiday hilarity (from standup comics Gabe Dinger and Ron Funches) and much more.
With your help, Naughty Listed far exceeded our fundraising goals! Special thanks to graphic designer Krissy Gilhooly, photographer Andie Petkus and all of the local businesses who donated gifts for our “Secret Santa Stocking Stuffers.”
PPAO’s next storytelling event, the third annual It’s Not Me, It’s You: Stories from the Dark Side of Dating, is slated for Wednesday, February 8th at Portland’s Bagdad Theater. Stay tuned for details!
Have you been naughty?
We’re making a list…checking it twice…and you’re on it!
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon warmly invites you to have a good laugh while supporting a great cause at our first-ever holiday benefit, Naughty Listed: Stories of Holiday Misbehavior, on Monday, December 12th in Eugene and Wednesday, December 14th in Portland. In a twist on the usual seasonal fare, we’ve asked some of Oregon’s sharpest storytellers to share their hilarious memories of holiday mischief and wintry discontent. (Think: dry turkeys, ugly sweaters, awkward family moments, lumps of coal in the stocking, general humbuggery.)
If you like our annual Valentine’s Day benefit, then you’ll love this! Naughty Listed will feature sexy raffle prizes, festive stocking stuffers and seasonal brews. Get your tickets now for the pro-choice party of the season! (While you’re at it, why not spread some holiday cheer and treat your friends, too?)
When: Monday, December 12, 2011 (doors 6pm, show 7-9pm)
Where: Cozmic Pizza, 199 W Eighth Ave., Eugene
Tickets: $20 from CozmicPizza.com
When: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 (doors 6pm, show 7-9pm)
Where: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
Tickets: $20 from CascadeTickets.com or Bagdad box office
Planned Parenthood and Oregon Lawmakers Strongly Condemn Latest Assault on Women’s Health and Birth Control
Last week, U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., and other anti-women’s health members in the House again pushed their ideological agenda against birth control and women’s health care. During a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing, Pitts made clear his opposition to the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that ensures health plans will cover preventive care, including birth control with no co-pays. In pushing to overturn this preventive care provision, Rep. Pitts ignores the fact that millions of women and families will benefit from improved access to affordable birth control.
Earlier this year in the Oregon Legislature, a majority of Republicans and Democrats came together to pass the Birth Control Matters Resolution. An official statement was sent to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, urging it to make birth control available with no co-pays in the new health care reform plan.
State Rep. Mary Nolan, D-Portland, said: “I sponsored—and a strong bipartisan majority supported—the Birth Control Matters Resolution because it’s good for Oregon families. During an economic downturn, women struggle with the cost of preventative health care, and some are forced to forgo contraception altogether simply because they cannot afford it. Providing birth control without co-pays will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and keep women and children healthy.”
State Sen. Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland, added: “I’m disappointed that conservatives in Congress are continuing to attack basic women’s health care. Nearly all women will have used some form of birth control at some point in their lives, but the costs of maintaining consistent use is a major cause of unplanned pregnancy. Denying this vital benefit to women would have real-life consequences for Oregon families.”
It should be noted that 71 percent of American voters, including 77 percent of Catholic women voters and 72 percent of Republican women, support health plans covering birth control without co-pays.
Amy Hojnowski, interim executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, said: “Across the country, Americans overwhelmingly support this provision to cover preventive health care. Our leaders should be focused on fixing the economy instead of blocking women’s access to birth control.”
We need your help!
Our opponents are at it again. Now they are organizing to dissuade Springfield City Council members from supporting the new Planned Parenthood Regional Health and Education Center in Glenwood.
In response to this anti-choice attack, we need your help: Come to the Springfield City Council meeting Monday, October 17th at 7pm at 225 Fifth St. to express your support for Planned Parenthood. We've already sent hundreds of letters to the mayor and City Council, but we must not stop now. We must show the city that we believe in the mission of Planned Parenthood to deliver vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to the women, men, and the teens of Oregon.
Will you come forward to stand with Planned Parenthood? Join us!
We will meet outside the room at 6:30pm so we can fill the room early. We'll have I Stand with Planned Parenthood stickers for you to wear. We have dedicated spokespeople prepared to speak on behalf of the issue. You can show your support by standing when they speak. Together we will literally STAND with Planned Parenthood.
Please remember, it's very important to always remain respectful. Particularly when face to face with the opposition. The idea is not to engage - we are here to be a strong visual presence, which will make a big impact on the City Council.
Let's show them our strength in numbers!
Planned Parenthood Health Center Breaks Ground Near Eugene
Originally published by Gia Vang, KEZI.com
It was a day of division and solidarity. One group was inside the fence in support of Planned Parenthood's new health center. The other was right on this sidewalk, standing together quietly, calling it an abortion clinic.
Now, construction crews can officially build up for the new home of Planned Parenthood's Southwestern Oregon's Health and Education Center.
"We are celebrating today, it's a great day for us," said Cynthia Pappas, CEO Planned Parenthood Southwestern Oregon.
A great day to know they'll soon be able to help 50 percent more clients in a first-class building. But the backdrop for this event, just beyond a single barb-wired fence, was something that has dogged every Planned Parenthood facility. A line of protesters with signs in hand.
What a Success!
By Beth Cohen, Summer Field Intern
This summer, as an intern with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, I was able to be part of an incredible group of activists. Part of our summer internship became planning a fundraising event based around a very generous donation of beer from Ninkasi. We considered a lot different themes for the event, summer BBQ, outdoor movie, a 90’s dance party, an art show—the options felt limitless.
In the end, we mixed some of our ideas together and decided on a dance night with an art show. Our next step was to come up with a name. Penning a chic name that would summarize our event was no easy feat. We shared some long moments of feeling stumped until finally the moment of elation when the title was created: “Summer Brews for the Right to Choose” was born!
Read more...Pour One For Planned Parenthood
Eat some delicious wood fired pizza by PizzAldo's and enter to win great prizes from local artists and businesses! We think it's going to be a finger-pickin', foot-stompin' good time.
Find us at Tsunami Books on Friday, September 9th from 7:00-10:30pm. Buy your ticket for $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The cover includes unlimited Ninkasi beer!
Summer Brews for the Right to Choose
My name is Beth Cohen and this summer I’m interning with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. My favorite part of this internship has been meeting other activists and talking to pro-choice Oregonians.
We’ve hit the pavement this summer to talk to supporters at farmers markets and street fairs across the state, asking people to join our I Stand With Planned Parenthood Campaign and now it’s time to have a party!
You can help support this effort and have fun at the same time by attending our Summer Brews for the Right to Choose event on August 20th. The event costs only $12 in advance and includes all you can drink Ninkasi beer. Anyone who buys an advance ticket is entered into our give-away to win two cases of beer!
My intern team and I have had lots of fun planning this exciting event! Come see great local art, get your dancing shoes on, and have a cold Ninkasi with us. There will be art for sale and multiple raffles with generous prizes from local businesses. For your listening pleasure DJs Bleach on Blonde will be spinning vinyl. Later in the evening VJ Hero Worship will be screening your favorite music videos.
Join us at The Woods in Portland on August 20th from 8:30-12:30. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The cover includes unlimited Ninkasi beer. Click here to buy your ticket in advance and be automatically entered into a give-away for two cases of beer!
Beth Cohen, Summer Field Intern
A Recap of the Third Annual Pink Party
By Robin Carol, Multnomah LAT Member
The posters were hung, the prizes were arranged, and the kissing booth was assembled…the only thing left to do at the Holocene on June 23rd was fill the bar with hundreds of people who support and advocate for pro-choice policies.
Once the doors opened, it wasn’t long before the dance floor was packed with PPAO supporters ready to make merry at the 3rd annual Pink Party. And this year, there was a lot to celebrate – despite nationwide attacks on Planned Parenthood, Oregon remains a firmly pro-choice state. And we have this large network of activists to thank who take lobbying their legislators almost as seriously as their dance moves.
Organized each year by the Multnomah Legislative Action Team, The Pink Party is a fundraiser that heavily emphasizes the “fun,” and this year was no exception. Attendees enjoyed the musical stylings of SambaGata and DJ Anjali, and tried their luck at winning raffle prizes while sipping on special pink drinks offered by Holocene to benefit PPAO.
This year’s Pink Party brought pro-choice supporters together for an opportunity to talk, twirl, sip, samba, giggle, gab, smile, and yes…even smooch at the kissing booth. With plenty of entertainment, it was a great way to visit with old friends involved in the pro-choice movement and meet new people who continue standing up for policies they believe in.
Thank you to all who attended the Pink Party this year – you made it a huge success! With your support, we raised almost $2,500.
If you weren’t able to “think pink” this year, there are plenty of other ways to support PPAO's critical advocacy work. Donations keep our efforts going. Click here to make a donation online. And we’ll see you at next year’s 4th annual Pink Party!
PPAO Releases New Video Featuring Our Work
Watch Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon's new video that highlights who we are and the work we do!
Thank you to Winning Mark for producing this amazing video.
The Oregonian Covers the 2011 Courageous Voice Breakfast with Anita Hill
Originally published on Oregon Live.
Barely a week goes by without something reminding Anita Hill of her role in U.S. history.
She'll be talking with her students at Brandeis University or catching up on the news, and she'll stumble across her name, her story or some shorthand version of that surreal scene 20 years ago when she accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment.
"There was a Time magazine piece on Dominique Strauss-Kahn last week, and the writer talked about France having its 'Anita Hill moment,'" she said in an interview. "It can feel a bit bizarre. I'm just here living my life."
These echoes of the past occur because we're still grappling with gender inequity in this country. Powerful men still take advantage of their position to demand sex or cover it up. Anthony Weiner could tell you that much.
Read more...Rep. Mary Nolan Named the First Recipient of the Marilyn Epstein Pro-Choice Champion Award
By Maddie Witte, New Media Intern with PPAO
In honor of her long and illustrious career in advancing reproductive rights for Oregon men and women, Rep. Mary Nolan was awarded by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon the first-ever Marilyn Epstein Pro-Choice Champion Award! Rep. Nolan accepted this honor on June 7th at Courageous Voice: Breakfast with Anita Hill. When it came to selecting our first recipient, many people came to mind. However, Rep. Nolan was ultimately chosen because she has used her position as an elected official for decades to advocate for pro-choice issues.
You might say that activism runs in Mary Nolan’s blood. She has been at the forefront of the women’s rights movement. Moved to action by Roe v. Wade, Rep. Nolan has been a staunch advocate for women’s reproductive health care for many years. She was one of the first women ever accepted to Dartmouth College. It was there that Mary Nolan first became involved with Planned Parenthood. While serving her sixth term in the Oregon House of Representatives, Mary Nolan continues to serve as a leader at NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon, Planned Parenthood-Columbia Willamette, and the League of Women Voters among other organizations. Of her many accomplishments in office, Rep. Nolan helped extend access to health care to over 100,000 Oregonians while greatly increasing funding for women’s health care and family planning.
I had the opportunity to touch base with Rep. Nolan and ask her a few questions about receiving this honor.
A Look at Marilyn Epstein
By Maddie Witte, New Media Intern with PPAO
It would not be possible for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon to carry out its mission without the hard work and dedication of our supporters. It takes both volunteers and donors to keep our organization strong and ensure that comprehensive women’s health care remains intact.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon values the leaders in our state who put an extraordinary amount of time and energy into the fight to protect women’s health care. We decided it was time to honor those leaders by presenting an annual award to an individual who goes above and beyond in advocating for reproductive health care issues.
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon will commence this new tradition by handing out the first-ever Marilyn Epstein Pro-Choice Champion Award. Marilyn Epstein (pictured above) has demonstrated decades of commitment to Planned Parenthood and the pro-choice movement.
Read more...The Final Stretch
A Legislative Update from Roey Thorpe, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon
We thought you might appreciate an update from the front lines of the legislative session about the status of women’s health care in Oregon.
I am proud to report that Republicans and Democrats came together in both chambers to pass the Birth Control Matters Resolution. An official statement to the US Department of Health and Human Services has been sent, urging them to make birth control available with no co-pays in the new health care reform plan.
Read more...Her Courageous Voice
By Rukaiyah Adams, member of the Courageous Voice Planning Committee
A group of women agreed to organize a breakfast to raise funds for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon. On the surface, we volunteered to be among those standing up for the provision of womens’ health care in the face of increasingly bizarre legislative threats. In hindsight, I realize that’s not entirely true—or better yet, it’s only half true. Sure, we did want to be a part of the defensive response to threats to women’s health. But, we also wanted something else, something bolder.
We settled on a vision for a series that would occur annually. Then, many questions bubbled to the surface. What would be the “soul” of this event? What impact did we want to have on the local community? What messages did we want to convey? After considerable deliberation, we chose the concept “Courageous Voice” to highlight individual leaders.
Read more...Who Do They Think We Are?
Originally published on Oregon Live.
In January, Congress and state legislatures across the country swore in a wave of extreme, right wing politicians. Immediately the attacks began.
First anti-choice politicians in Congress tried to take away Planned Parenthood’s funding. Then the state level attacks began.
It seems that these attacks make loaded assumptions about women. Susan Nielson, associate editor for the Oregonian, shared her ideas on the perceptions these anti-choice bills draw that she describes as “a shockingly negative portrait of women”.
Read more...What Do We Do? Stand Up! Fight Back!
By Senait Tadesse, New Media Intern with PPAO
Well we just heard from Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown. Wow! This woman has played such an integral role in the pro-choice movement. Kate is an active member of both the Oregon House and Senate for 16 years. She is an early pioneer in the fight for contraceptive equity for women here in Oregon and she is fearless! I loved listening to Kate Brown talk about how vital it is for legislators to hear from their pro-choice constituents. Also she loved the pink shirts we were all wearing!
After Kate’s speech, it was time for constituents to start preparing for their lobby visits. Lunch was catered and delicious! After grabbing lunch, I watched them get to work with other members from their district.
Read more...A Logistical Nightmare? Maybe. Wildly inspiring? TOTALLY!
By Maddie Witte, New Media Intern with PPAO
Women’s Health Care Day at the Capitol is officially underway! I am at the Mission Mill Museum in Salem, OR where the room is full with over 150 proponents of affordable and accessible health care for women. Opening remarks kicked off just 90 minutes ago and the energy in the room is beyond words! Many of these pro-choice supporters took the day off from work or school to be here today. I was impressed by the folks that traveled as far as Ashland to attend. Participants are definitely pumped up and excited to meet with their elected officials.
Read more...Statement by Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, on Passage of Pence Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood
Washington, DC—Planned Parenthood Federation of America released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Mike Pence’s amendment to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds for any purpose, including providing basic primary and lifesaving preventive health care to women and families. Pence offered the amendment to the FY11 Continuing Resolution, which completely eliminates the national family planning program Title X.
“Today, the Republican House leadership pushed through the U.S. House of Representatives an extreme and dangerous piece of legislation targeting Planned Parenthood, one of America’s largest and most trusted health care providers, and voted to prohibit Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds for any purpose, including providing basic primary and lifesaving preventive health care to women and families.
Read more...Planned Parenthood's President, Cecile Richards, Issues Apology
“For nearly 95 years, Planned Parenthood Federation of America has provided women with high-quality health care and preventive services. As the leading provider of reproductive health care in this country, Planned Parenthood is committed to delivering care with expertise, professionalism, privacy, and respect.
“Last week we learned that a manager at a Planned Parenthood health center failed to conduct herself according to our high standards, and her employment was terminated that very day. As President of Planned Parenthood, I apologize for this employee’s behavior to all of you who share our very high expectations for Planned Parenthood.
“Our health center staff upholds the highest professional standards and takes the safety of minors very seriously. Given our zero tolerance for any exceptions, we are requiring that all of our health center staff who have contact with patients be re-trained, by April 1, 2011, in both understanding and implementing our policies and procedures for responding to situations that indicate that the welfare of a minor is endangered. We have reiterated to our staff our zero tolerance policy for any failure to follow these procedures.
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