It was an honor to speak at the Press Conference today with Planned Parenthood and so many amazing supporters of women’s rights. Here are my comments:
Access to a full range of quality health care services is the bedrock for women’s safety and equality.
Access to accurate sexual health education, contraceptive services, health screenings, and abortion services are imperative for women’s equality in this society.
And this access that is basic for our health and safety is affected by our access to political power. Women’s health consistently is framed as a political issue that we must fight to protect, instead of a basic part of our lives that we have the intelligence, ability and right to control.
If we are concerned about women’s safety and improving the lives of women, we should be should be supporting Planned Parenthood and all the other caring doctors and professionals that are providing access to quality programs in our urban and rural areas. If we were concerned about women’s safety, we would support Medicaid Redesign and raising minimum wage and advocate for women’s equal pay. We would recognize the connections between racism and sexism as root causes of violence in our society, which is an epidemic for women worldwide.
So let’s join in our sincere concern for women and stand up to protect our rights to freedom, access to a full range of health care services, equal pay, safe and compassionate communities free from violence and exploitation, systems where all women’s voices are heard and respected regardless of race, religion, nationality, physical ability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or class.
