Planned Parenthood has been around for nearly 100 years and provides the resources and information people need to make informed and independent decisions about their bodies and sexual health.

On September 18, the House of Representatives voted to block all federal financing to Planned Parenthood on the accusation that its chapters sell aborted fetuses for medical research.

Defunding Planned Parenthood would be a huge step back for women’s health and human rights. Taking away this fundamental right to meet basic health care needs has no grounds, and those who support this block of federal financing are so focused on doing this for a “just cause” that they fail to see the big picture.

Flashback to August when the Center of Medical Progress uploaded video footage showing Planned Parenthood employees “haggling” for the best price for fetuses and doctors talking about changing the procedure to make more money, but forensic investigation found it to be manipulated.

Planned Parenthood retaliated with #PinkOut, a social media movement where people wore pink in support of their cause, as well as statements from its president, Cecile Richards, and support from celebrities and political figures.

https://instagram.com/p/8N9_LHAZ2o/?taken-by=plannedparenthood

Though the Senate voted against the bill, the fact that the House of Representatives passed it means that there’s an issue that needs to be addressed.

First, though the main arguments against Planned Parenthood are linked to abortion, abortion services only account for 3 percent of the services the organization provides. The majority of Planned Parenthood’s funding is spent on screening and testing for sexually transmitted diseases and infections and providing contraception.

Taking government funding away from this organization would not only mean reduced access to abortions but a reduction in access to reproductive health measures as a whole. Education is a key component to Planned Parenthood’s purpose, and providing reliable information and resources can help people make informed decisions about their sex life and in general.

What these anti-Planned Parenthood activists fail to acknowledge is that while it does take two to tango, only one party has to go through the physical and emotional toil of carrying a growing organism inside them for nine months. Shouldn’t they have the opportunity to choose whether or not they want to take on that task?

In addition, conception can occur out of non-consensual sex and it would be inhumane for a woman to be obligated to have a child she never consented to having.

Defunding Planned Parenthood would undermine the freedom of choice, one of the principles on which this country was founded. Some people think that Planned Parenthood’s services are morally wrong, but denying access to those services would be imposing one opinion on everyone.

If someone doesn’t like Planned Parenthood, they don’t need to go there. Just don’t deny the rest of the nation access to it.