A.G. Gancarski
New legislation that would ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy is earning a long denunciation from Planned Parenthood.
“As with all abortion bans, this bill will prevent people from accessing essential health care and take away people’s power over their own bodies, their lives and their futures,” said Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates.
Goodhue was responding to SB 300, filed by Fort Pierce Republican Sen. Erin Grall, legislation that would ban doctors from knowingly performing or inducing a termination of pregnancy after the sixth week of gestation with some limited exceptions.
“Often, people don’t even realize they’re pregnant at six weeks,” Goodhue added. “As a result, this bill means many pregnant people will never have the option to have an abortion. Moreover, between the 24-hour mandatory delay and two appointment requirements, even patients who realize they are pregnant before six weeks may be unable to access abortion care before they run out of time.”
Goodhue argued the restrictions passed last year imposing a 15-week threshold are already having a deleterious effect.
“We are already seeing the toll that a 15-week ban is taking on the health and well-being of pregnant people and their families in Florida. Further restricting abortion before the Florida Supreme Court has even weighed in on the last ban can only create worse outcomes,” read the statement.
“Evidence shows that when people are denied abortions, their long-term well-being and that of their children, if they have them, suffers. That burden falls disproportionately on Black and Latino communities, who, because of systemic discrimination in employment, housing, and public resources, are more likely to have low incomes and struggle to access health care. Abortion bans like the bill introduced today perpetuate these cycles of inequality.”
Goodhue then framed the latest move as being influenced by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political aspirations, in an effort to appeal to the GOP base.
“This near-total abortion ban has nothing to do with what is best for Floridians and everything to do with Ron DeSantis’ ambition to be President and what he thinks Republican primary voters want.”
“If Florida legislators really want to reduce abortions, they would be fighting tooth and nail to ensure that everyone has access to comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education, free birth control and emergency contraception. They would expand Medicaid, and sufficiently fund supportive services that make it easier to start a family. Instead, the same politicians seeking to ban abortion also oppose measures that would reduce the need for abortion.
“Ultimately, decisions about whether to end a pregnancy, choose adoption or raise a child must be left up to the pregnant person and anyone they decide to consult. Politicians have no business meddling in these deeply personal decisions and pushing these outrageous abortion bans.”
10 comments
Richard Bruce
March 7, 2023 at 1:55 pm
How does, “systemic discrimination in employment, housing, and public resources, ” make one pregnant?
cassandra
March 9, 2023 at 8:10 am
Irresponsible ejaculation is the ONLY cause of unwanted pregnancy, Richard. Keep it zipped; or get it snipped.
Keystone Keys
March 10, 2023 at 9:56 pm
Surely, no one will be irresponsible with you.
cassandra
March 9, 2023 at 10:36 am
The ONLY cause of unwanted pregnancy is irresponsible ejaculation. Control your reckless behavior, Richard.
Dr. Franklin Waters
March 7, 2023 at 2:12 pm
Ban abortion while cutting social services.
What could go wrong!
Sandra
March 8, 2023 at 8:40 pm
Have you ever had to pay for an IUD or a month of birth control ? Have you done this while paying $1500 for an apartment and earning $11 per hour? Have you walked home late at night because you couldn’t afford a taxi? Have you walked to Dollar General because there’s nothing else around your part of town and you are hungry? If you have, you know that you are vulnerable to missing health care appointments and being taken advantage of.
cassandra
March 8, 2023 at 10:56 pm
Laura Goodhue: Realize their goal is not to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And it’s not to save “precious lives”.The *ONLY* purpose of their abortion ban is to control women’s sexual behavior. Contraceptive bans will follow. Accept that.
Why is PP just watching, Laura? Where are the peaceful demonstrations? Economic boycotts? ..,There are examples all over the world, Laura. Organize something…
(I am *not* advocating for any violence.)
Ian
March 10, 2023 at 9:39 am
Did anyone learn anything from 2022? Republicans deserve to lose.
It's Complicated
March 16, 2023 at 5:54 pm
In Florida Republicans proved Democrats are largely inept and out of step with mainstream voters. The closest Cabinet race was won by 19 points, Republicans took super-majorities in the House and Senate, took a good handful local School Board races, reelected Sen. Rubio by a mile, took control of more Florida Congressional seats, and they now have a 400K+ lead in voter registration statewide. Florida Republicans took Florida Democrats to the woodshed. It really could NOT have gone worse for the Democrats. The failure of Democrats to recognize the current predicament is their own fault assures Republican control in Florida for decades to come.
This law only applies to abortion in Florida, which is what overturning Roe v Wade accomplished.
Keystone Keys
March 10, 2023 at 9:53 pm
If Abortion was retroactive, would Laura Goodhue exercise her choice to be aborted by ending her heartbeat?
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