Last year, I took a proactive role in the largest non-profit reproductive
health and education organization in the State, Planned Parenthood of
Arizona. Following in my grandmother and mother's footsteps, I became a
member of the board of trustees. In addition, to better understand the work
this organization does, I volunteered in a local clinic.
The December 2009 issue of Phoenix Magazine paid homage to my family's
involvement in this organization throughout the years. Only then did it
occur to me to ask, "Is my involvement because of my family influence, or because I
truly feel a passion for the mission of the organization?" I never felt an
obligation or pressure to be active; however, my family's involvement
definitely opened my eyes.
Back in the 1930s, my grandmother, Peggy Goldwater, helped a team of women
assist Margaret Sanger in setting up one of Arizona's first Planned
Parenthood health centers. She was very brave in a time when birth
control, sex education, and other such topics were not discussed.
Here in Arizona, Planned Parenthood's community evolution has been
significant for our state; teaching women and men about sexual education,
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), birth control and most importantly,
empowering personal responsibility for their bodies, a topic that many
families struggle to discuss. In addition to vital reproductive information,
a small portion of what P.P.A. services offer is a medical termination
procedure. This procedure is performed only after a woman has carefully
reviewed the situation with the medical staff and her family. Then, at that
time, she is given a choice. Local government interference has eroded the
rights of women to exercise their legal rights regarding when and how they
reproduce.
Unfortunately, proper sexual education is still limited in our state.
Arizona youth are being taught abstinence-only lectures, which have
been proven ineffective as Arizona teen pregnancy rates continue to
climb. I was shocked to hear that nearly 50 teenage girls are getting
pregnant in Arizona every day. Planned Parenthood offers sexuality
education that is abstinence-based, but also comprehensive and medically
accurate so that Arizona teens are equipped with the information they need to
make educated decisions. Local government interference has eroded the rights
of women to exercise their legal rights regarding when and how they
reproduce.
Arizona lawmakers are being ignorant about this subject in passing a new
state regulation known as the omnibus abortion law. This law creates substantial
burdens on some pregnant women, increases cost, and denies access to
services for women who seek abortion and some methods of contraception. It
is designed to make accessing abortion and contraceptive care in Arizona
more complicated while also making it difficult for medical providers to
offer accessible, affordable care. We run the risk, if we continue down
this path, of losing lives because women will be forced to revert back to
taking the matter into their own hands if there is not a safe, legal provider.
What was once a non-political topic has become just the opposite.
Politicians want to demonstrate compassion, but are actually harming the
services family planning centers provide for women and girls who are
frequently left to fend for themselves I don't know any politician who can
get through a campaign without being asked their opinion on the subject.
Choice is a woman's decision. Now, unfortunately, it's become the
bailiwick for all politicians and their view often play a significant role
in who's and how much support they garner. I ask you: don't they have any
other better topics to debate?
Considering Arizona leadership's conservative nature, one would expect for
the state's residents to be non-supportive on the issue of choice, when in
fact it's just the opposite. Many who support choice are closeted, fearing
they will let their party down by standing up for this controversial
subject.
Thirty-seven years ago Roe versus Wade decided this issue nationwide, and
now it appears Arizona and other states are going backwards. Unfortunately,
most in local government are still living in the dark ages. For instance,
one of Arizona's more exclusive communities, Paradise Valley has a mayor who
still refers to Planned Parenthood as a "pro-abortion organization." No
one is pro-abortion. It takes a lot of soul searching to arrive at the
decision to end a pregnancy. This decision may hinge on factors such as
paternity, timing, or health and welfare of the mother. No other
organization does more to prevent abortion in the state of Arizona than
Planned Parenthood. Similar to faith and values, choice is personal right.
Having a family is a magnificent gift, having that choice is ours and ours
alone.
So, in many ways, my grandmother Peggy and my mother Joanne had a big
influence on me. They got involved with other hard working women to help
make a difference for all women in Arizona. And my grandfather, the late
Senator Barry Goldwater stood by Peggy by saying "no one should tell a
woman what to do with their bodies. It's private matter and should be left
to the individual. Government should stay the hell out of it. It's not up
for political debate." As family we always knew where he stood.
I have had some great individuals influencing me, but it has always come
down to my personal beliefs and commitment to the cause. Whether I am
volunteering in one of Planned Parenthood Arizona's health centers, or my
new role as a trustee, it is important to have a full understanding of the
organization and have the dedication to do what I can to help.
These are my thoughts; this is my passion. Think about it, and please do all
you can to support family planning. Don't be afraid to speak from your heart,
and join me in celebrating the lives of women everywhere.