Insider News November 2022
In this issue:
- President & CEO Message
- Transgender Awareness and Health Care Services
- Education Team Building New Partnerships in Suffolk County
- Join Us In Albany on January 24
- How You Can Help
- In Case You Missed It
Dear Friends,
It was a long election cycle and I’m sure all of you were bombarded with mailers and commercials on tv and the radio. I’d like to say that it is all over, until the next election, but there are still votes being counted in New York and across the country for some races.
Overall, sexual and reproductive health won across the country. Four states protected access to abortion: California, Kentucky, Michigan, and Vermont. A Montana ballot measure proposed criminalizing doctors and allowing elected officials to interfere with an individual’s personal medical decisions was rejected by voters. These are huge victories and send the message that we all know is true, the majority of Americans support safe and legal access to abortion.
In Nevada, voters passed an equal rights amendment to their state constitution which will include protection from discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression among other characteristics. A few other positive notes from the election:
- Illinois voters elected their first Latina Congressional Representative Delia Ramirez.
- In Maryland, voters elected their first Black Governor, Wes Moore, and he is only the 3rd Black governor in the history of the United States.
- Massachusetts elected its first openly lesbian governor Maura Healey, who ran with Kim Driscoll, marking the first all-female ticket to be elected Governor and Lt. Governor in the state.
- Massachusetts also elected its first Black, female Attorney General Andrea Campbell.
- In Oregon, they also elected their first openly gay governor, Tina Kotek,
These are big wins for sexual and reproductive health, the LGBTQ community, and people of color.
Here in New York we have some good news and some not so good news. At the federal level, Senator Chuck Schumer won reelection and Representative Bowman also won reelection. Unfortunately, Planned Parenthood champion Representative Maloney lost his reelection bid to Mike Lawler who does not have a good record on our issues as a New York State Assembly member. In Suffolk County, the pro-reproductive health candidates were unsuccessful in their campaigns for Congressional seats as well.
At the state level, Governor Kathy Hochul was elected to office, the first woman to be elected as governor in New York. In the New York State Senate, many supporters of Planned Parenthood won reelection including Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Senators Jamaal Bailey, Nathalia Fernandez, Pete Harckham, and Shelley Mayer. In Suffolk County, Monica Martinez, a pro-reproductive health candidate, won a State Senate seat previously occupied by an anti-reproductive health Senator. Unfortunately, Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, a Planned Parenthood supporter, did not win reelection.
In the New York State Assembly, pro-reproductive health Assembly members Chris Burdick, Steve Otis, Gary Pretlow, Amy Paulin, Phil Ramos, Nader Sayegh, Steve Stern, Fred Thiele, and Ken Zebrowsky won reelection. First-time candidates who are pro-reproductive health Dana Levenberg and Mary Jane Shimsky won their seats.
There are still a few state races that are too close to call but a majority of the elected officials in the state Senate and Assembly support access to sexual and reproductive health care. This means we have a good opportunity in New York to continue pushing forward legislation to expand access to sexual and reproductive health care and education. We must pass the Equal Rights Amendment in both chambers next year so it can go on the ballot for voters in 2024, and New York can amend our state constitution to ensure abortion access is not stripped away by future elections.
Thank you for your continued support of PPHP. We could not do this work without you. To get the latest information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to learn what is happening at PPHP and issues related to sexual and reproductive health care. Please share our posts so your friends and family stay informed as well.
In this together,
Vincent Russell
President & CEO
Transgender Awareness and Health Care Services
Transgender Awareness Week, annually observed Nov. 13 through 19, is a time to raise the visibility of transgender and nonbinary people and address issues the community faces. At PPHP we believe no one’s humanity or dignity is up for debate.
At PPHP, we offer a wide range of sexual and reproductive health care for transgender individuals. Our gender affirming care includes hormone therapy, injection training, and resources for additional health care services and other services. We also offer birth control, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and treatment, PEP and PrEP for HIV prevention, HPV vaccination, and other sexual and reproductive health care services for transgender individuals.
Transgender people are our patients, staff, and supporters. We are proud to support them, always, by providing inclusive sex education and sexual and reproductive health care for all, no matter what.
To learn more about these services, visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-hudson-peconic/patient-resources/gender-affirming-care or call 800-230-PLAN (7526).
Education Team Building New Partnerships in Suffolk County
Our Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) team has established new partnerships with HELP Suffolk and the Outreach Project. HELP Suffolk is a transitional living facility that houses families and connects to the many resources they need to find stability. The Outreach Project’s mission is to encourage local community residents to seek treatment for substance abuse and meet the needs of the communities they serve through mental health and social support services.
The PREP team’s diligence to outreach and creating diverse and dynamic partnerships is evident in these new partners. Our team will begin a full cycle of Be Proud Be Responsible, an evidence-based program, in November at HELP Suffolk in conjunction with parent programming. Our team endeavors to provide comprehensive sexual education and to us that means not just to youth. We know it’s imperative that parents and guardians also receive the same education as often many of them have not received medical and scientific fact-based sexual education.
For true change in our communities and society the entire family must be involved, and our PREP team’s efforts have yielded just that!
To learn more about our Education and Training programs, please visit https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-hudson-peconic/local-education-training.
Join Us In Albany on January 24
We are excited to announce our annual Day of Action will be returning to Albany on Tuesday, January 24. The work for sexual and reproductive freedom has hit a critical point. Activists like you are essential to reminding our legislators what is at stake if we don’t advance our legislative priorities.
From comprehensive sex education to increased funding for reproductive health care, our priorities are robust this upcoming legislative session. Together, we can make progress by pressing our elected officials to pass important legislation.
We will provide bus transportation to and from the State Capitol in Albany, and breakfast and lunch will also be provided. Trainings will also be offered so everyone is prepared to lobby on our important issues.
Please register here by January 10, 2023 and share this exciting opportunity with your friends and fellow activists.
We are already planning events for next year. Be sure to mark your calendars and check your email for more details and ticket and sponsorship opportunities.
Rise Up for Repro Rights
Tuesday, January 10
Virtual event
More information coming soon
Day of Action 2023
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
The Capitol, Albany
More information available here
East End Benefit
Saturday, June 3, 2023
The Clubhouse, East Hampton
More information coming soon
For more information, visit our Calendar of Events. We look forward to seeing you!
You can continue to make Care. No Matter What. possible!
A monthly gift to PPHP ensures security for patients in your local communities. Consider joining our Monthly Giving Program today at www.pphp.org/donatetoday.
Double your impact! Does your employer have a matching gift program? Check with your Human Resources Department to find out. For questions, contact the Development Department at [email protected].
Committed to safeguarding the future of reproductive health care? Consider leaving a legacy gift to PPHP in your will. Please contact the Development Department at [email protected].
Do you have a little bit of time to get more involved? Visit www.pphp.org for ways you can help.
CBS: Planned Parenthood CEO on the future of abortion rights after midterms
Yahoo: Teens are turning to TikTok for sex ed. Here's what they're learning.
Forbes: What To Expect During Your First Women’s Wellness Exam