Equality California Calls on the LGBT Community and Allies to Support Planned Parenthood

Los Angeles - January 5, 2017 - In response to today's announcement by House Speaker Paul Ryan that he intends to target Planned Parenthood funding in his attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Equality California Executive Director Rick Zbur issued the following statement:

"Equality California is calling on all members of the LGBT community and our allies to contact their members of Congress today to protect healthcare for LGBT people and all Americans provided through Planned Parenthood. Federal law already prohibits Planned Parenthood from using federal funds for abortion services. But Speaker Ryan's plan endangers a vital health lifeline not only for women, but for tens of thousands of LGBT Californians and for hundreds of thousands of LGBT people across the country. Planned Parenthood offers transgender health services, lifesaving cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and sexual healthcare  information and education, among other things.  Planned Parenthood is a strong ally in the fight for full LGBT equality--including supporting the recently introduced federal Equality Act and other legislative priorities.  Planned Parenthood also has joined Equality California in strongly advocating for comprehensive, LGBT-inclusive sex education for our nation's young people.

Continued attacks on Planned Parenthood are especially baffling in light of polls showing that a solid majority of Americans support the organization and its work. We urge Congress to cease efforts to defund this critical healthcare resource that serves millions of Americans.

Equality California also is committed to defending the Affordable Care Act from repeal efforts. The ACA brings quality, affordable healthcare to millions of LGBT people, many of whom would otherwise lack access to coverage due to HIV status or preexisting conditions."

Equality California is the nation's largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society. Our mission is to achieve and maintain full and lasting equality, acceptance and social justice for all people in our diverse LGBT communities, inside and outside of California. Our mission includes advancing the health and well-being of LGBT Californians through direct healthcare service advocacy and education. Through electoral, advocacy, education and mobilization programs, we strive to create a broad and diverse alliance of LGBT people, educators, government officials, communities of color and faith, labor, business, and social justice communities to achieve our goals. www.eqca.org