MILLIONS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD SUPPORTERS RALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR NATIONAL PINK OUT DAY

Supporters Close to 300 Events across the Nation to Protest Repeated Attacks Against Planned Parenthood and Women’s Reproductive Health Care

Supporters Hold Rallies, Sex Ed Teach-Ins and More in 90 Cities; Health Centers Offer Free STD Testing in 31 Cities; Volunteers Deliver More Than 2.4 Million Petition Signatures in Support of Planned Parenthood to Leaders Capitol Hill

Washington, DC --- On Tuesday, September 29, millions of volunteers will be rallying in support of Planned Parenthood. Dubbed “National Pink Out Day,” supporters will hold close to 300 volunteer-led events in nearly 90 cities across the country; supporters and patients will deliver more than 2.4 million “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” petition signatures to Congressional leaders; Planned Parenthood health centers will offer free STD testing in 28 cities across the country; and supporters around the country are tweeting using the#StandWithPP and#PinkOuthashtags, and turning their social media profiles pink to show their support for Planned Parenthood. Some supporters are also sharingphotos of their petsadorned in pink “I Stand With Planned Parenthood” gear.

The events come amid unprecedented attacks on the nonprofit health care provider. Over the past two months anti-abortion activists have released nine fake videos; extreme politicians are leading four Congressional investigations; a slate of Republican presidential candidates have resorted to making up lies to attack Planned Parenthood; and Congress has taken 14 votes to restrict women’s access health care in this Congress alone. Now, as an extreme flank of Congress is continuing to push to block Planned Parenthood nonprofit health centers from receiving federal funds, millions of Planned Parenthood supporters across the country are fighting back.

Quote from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America:

“Women and men across the country turn to Planned Parenthood as a trusted provider of reproductive health care --- one in five women in America has relied on Planned Parenthood for care in her lifetime. Denying people the ability to go to Planned Parenthood would harm millions of people. These baseless, political attacks are about one thing --- interfering with women’s personal medical decisions. The American people are sick of these attacks, and that’s why they’re fighting back with hundreds of events across the country and more than 2 million signatures we’re delivering to Congress today.”

Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of high-quality reproductive health care in the United States. Planned Parenthood’s nonprofit health centers serve 2.7 million women, men and young people each year with basic health care --- including cancer screenings, STD testing and treatment, and birth control. Defunding Planned Parenthood would mean endangering that health care --- and leaving millions across the country without the reproductive health care they’ve come to rely on.

“I’m participating in Pink Out Day because Planned Parenthood literally saved my life,” said supporter and patient Natarsha McQueen, from New York City. “If it wasn't for my screening,  I never would have gotten the early breast cancer detection that I needed. My situation would have been much worse.  So I want to celebrate the organization that helped give me new life.”

Planned Parenthood health centers will be offering free STI tests at28 locations across the country that are disproportionately impacted by STIs. The volunteer events range from a large scale rally with bands in Stapleton Area Park, CO, to a march to the state capitol in Salt Lake City, UT, to a sex-ed teach in in Reno, NV, to an evening light brigade in Concord, NH.

A diverse coalition of 373 organizations are participating Pink Out day as well, including MoveOn.org, CREDO Action, and People for the American Way --- helping to organize grassroots events across the country, gathering signatures on grassroots petitions in support of Planned Parenthood and against recent attacks on reproductive health.

To see a full list of events taking place across the country, click here: https://istandwithpp.org/events

“When I needed medication support that I could no longer afford, Planned Parenthood was there to support my goal of respecting my health while pursuing my dreams,” said Courtney Everette of Chicago, IL. “Because of that support, I was able to keep my endometriosis at bay, and give birth to 2 beautiful children when I was ready for motherhood. That’s why I wanted to show my support for Planned Parenthood today.”

Stephanie Ann Diaz, a supporter from Miami, FL, added, “Accounts of what happens on this day will be remembered as being on the right side of history.”

###

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With approximately 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.