Capitol Day Success!

On April 22nd, over 800 Planned Parenthood supporters, activists, and staff gathered in Sacramento for the annual California Planned Parenthood Capitol Day.

The theme was 'Yes, We Plan!' and participants cruised the education fair on the North Steps lawn to learn more about Planned Parenthood's programs and services across California. Throughout the day, activists and Planned Parenthood staff made visits to legislators, explaining the impact of the state budget on Planned Parenthood, emphasizing the importance of access to family planning programs like Family PACT, and educated elected officials on Senate Bill 442 , which would streamline the clinic licensing process. Planned Parenthood Mar Monte took over 350 people to Capitol Day, including Teen Success program participants and their children. These participants shared with their Assembly members and Senators the positive impact of Planned Parenthood in their lives. It was a very successful (and very hot!) day with rousing speeches from pro-choice elected officials, and great performances from the Studio T Urban Dance Academy, a peer education theater group called 'Spare Change' and an afternoon of educational workshops.

Capitol Day continues to grow every year, and as always, this year demonstrated the essential health care programs and services provided by Planned Parenthood across the state.

Victory for Teen Safety

Proposition 4 was defeated with 52.6% No, and 47.4% Yes. The Campaign for Teen Safety — No on Prop 4 is delighted that California voters rejected Prop 4 and protected the health and safety of our teenagers ONE MORE TIME!

California has always been a pro-choice state and the voters saw through this deceptive initiative and said NO to placing our teens in danger. This vote guarantees that all teens, no matter what their circumstances, will be able to access qualified doctors, nurses and counselors when they need them.

Thanks to our broad coalition of doctors, nurses, teachers, school counselors, labor, clergy and civil rights organizations and thousands of parents we were able to educate voters about this deceptive and dangerous initiative.

As always, we will if necessary, continue our work to protect teen safety as many times as the proponents bring it back.

The reproductive rights movement in California continues to build strength with every campaign we mount to defeat these dangerous initiatives. We will take the strength and energy we've built to continue our important public policy work in California. And we will also work to redouble our efforts to protect the health and reproductive rights of women, men and teens throughout the country.