Coalition Supports Planned Parenthood

I am writing on behalf of the Women’s Coalition South Bay, a recently formed coalition dedicated to empowering women. We strongly support the establishment of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Torrance.

The members of the Coalition (American Civil Liberties Union; California Abortion Rights Action League; Mid-Cities National Women’s Political Caucus; National Organization for Women--Palos Verdes, South Bay Chapter; South Bay Lesbian and Gay Community Organization; and the South Bay and Sisterhood chapters of SEA--Support Education and Action) represent thousands of South Bay residents all of whom support reproductive freedom for all women.

What do we mean by reproductive freedom? We mean that each woman (including single women and lesbians) has a right to make her own decisions regarding childbearing. We believe this right includes access to family planning information; contraceptive services; prenatal care and safe, confidential abortion services for women of any financial ability or age.

The proposed Planned Parenthood clinic will bring these services and many others to people in the South Bay, including those with low-incomes, teenagers and others who choose Planned Parenthood as their health-care provider.

Anti-choice extremists in the South Bay want to force women to bear children they do not want. I would ask them to please examine their beliefs and find compassion for the women who want to take control of their fertility and their lives by seeking reproductive health care from Planned Parenthood.

To put our wallets where our words are we are pledging to give Planned Parenthood from $.25 to $5 for each anti-choice extremist who pickets their new clinic. In this way we hope to discourage anti-choice demonstrators while raising money for women’s reproductive health care.

Vanessa Poster

Coordinator

Women’s Coalition South Bay