Justice

How Planned Parenthood Intends to Move Forward

November 9th 2016

In the wake of the news that Donald Trump has been elected as the next U.S. president, Planned Parenthood has been trending on Twitter with the majority of tweets urging people to donate to the organization.

"These. Doors. Stay. Open."

People might wonder what will happen to Planned Parenthood in a Trump presidency, considering that both Trump and his Vice President-elect Mike Pence have been waging their own battles against Planned Parenthood throughout their campaign. During a speech at Liberty University in October, Pence vowed to defund Planned Parenthood. Trump told MSNBC in March that "there has to be some form of punishment" for women who get abortions.

donald-trump-mike-penceAP/AJ Mast, AP/Steve Helber - apimages.com

But Planned Parenthood does more than abortions -- it's a health care provider. The organization wrote a tweet on Wednesday that made its immediate plans for the future clear:

An email from Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards explained the next steps for the organization following Tuesday's election results (excerpts via Life News):

"Let’s get all these words out of the way: Devastated. Angry. Heartbroken. Outraged. Shocked. Sad. Disgusted. Ashamed. Discouraged. Exhausted. Shattered.

And now four more words — the most important ones:

These. Doors. Stay. Open.

I know that you and I can’t possibly have enough words to describe our feelings about what happened in this election and what lies ahead.

If you want to stay in bed or hide from the world, I can’t blame you. But I hope you won’t. Instead, I hope you’ll join me in focusing on those important four words: These. Doors. Stay. Open.

[...] We will continue to stand and fight. And we’re not alone. Most people believe in access to health care, reproductive services, and abortion. We have seen what our opposition is capable of and the consequences are inconceivable. You, me, and the rest of the Planned Parenthood family must — will — stop them. That’s what we do."

Republicans have the majority. 

This increase in interest to make donations to Planned Parenthood isn't solely because of Trump; Republicans were able to maintain control in both the House and Senate. And, that's not all.

"For only the second time since 1929, the Republican party will control the House, Senate, the White House, most governorships and state houses, and will decide a Supreme Court pick," The Week reports.

Trump will also have the opportunity to make picks for the next U.S. Supreme Court justices. As The Economist reports, "Mr. Trump has pledged to appoint highly conservative justices who will uphold gun rights, walk back the 18-month-old decision allowing gays and lesbians to wed and 'automatically' overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling recognizing [sic] a right to abortion choice."

Whether this actually happens remains to be seen, but Planned Parenthood is making it clear that for now, at least, its doors are open.

ATTN: has reached out to Planned Parenthood and will update when we hear back.

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