reproductive health care

In August, the LA Times reported on allegations that Beverly Hills city officials, including the Mayor and Chief of Police, colluded with landlord Douglas Emmett and antiabortion radicals to block an all-trimester clinic from opening in the city. We are asking the city to do the right thing and protect our access to legal, life-saving healthcare with the following:  An independent investigation and public disclosure into communications between Beverly Hills City Officials, the Beverly Hills Police Department, Douglas Emmett, and the ant-abortion extremists. Resolve the DuPont Clinic's situation so that they can open their doors asap.  Pass an ordinance prohibiting city agents and agencies from using city resources to cooperate with out-of-state entities related to abortions performed within California state. WHAT HAPPENED?Reproductive rights are under assault across our nation.  With 22 states banning abortion, Beverly Hills, CA has been thought to be a safe haven. In May of 2022, the Beverly Hills City Council Members released a public statement in support of Reproductive Freedom. When Roe was overturned, Beverly Hills City Hall was lit up in pink as an act of protest. These public assurances led the Washington, D.C. based DuPont Clinic to choose Beverly Hills to open a west coast office. Beverly Hills is a vital medical care hub for residents throughout LA County, and this clinic would be only the 14th all-trimester clinic in the country. Late term procedures are rare - only ~1% of abortions are late-term, and they are performed due to late diagnosed catastrophic health issues for the fetus and/or the mother.  Douglas Emmett, a Santa Monica real estate trust investment company, was fully aware of the clinic's services when DuPont signed a lease with them in 2022 and began construction of the clinic. Construction was moving along until an antiabortion group got wind of the clinic and came into the city to oppose the opening. A small number of protesters attended City Council meetings last spring, with demands to close the clinic. The Mayor of Beverly Hills allegedly met with this group privately, and the Beverly Hills Chief of Police sent a letter to Douglas Emmett warning of further harassment and possible threats of violence. In the face of this pressure, Douglas Emmett terminated DuPont’s lease. As residents, we are extremely concerned about these events. IT IS CLEAR THAT BEVERLY HILLS DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH ON THEIR SUPPORT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM AND WOMEN’S EQUALITY.   This failure to uphold the law is an erosion of public trust. The loss of DuPont Clinic further diminishes access to vital healthcare for those in the greater Los Angeles area, the state of California and all over the country.  Further, the city has set a very dangerous precedent.  When learning that the landlord terminated the lease, the leader of the antiabortion protest proclaimed “Now, we will shut down abortion clinics from sea to shining sea.” This emboldens all extremist groups to use tactics of harassment to reach their desired goals. In an August 24 op-ed, the LA Times editorial board called this "appalling." We agree.  Please sign this petition asking the City of Beverly Hills for:  An independent investigation and public disclosure into communications between Beverly Hills City Officials, The BHPD, Douglas Emmett, and the anti-abortion group. Resolve the DuPont Clinic situation so that they can open their doors asap.  Pass an ordinance prohibiting city agents and agencies from using city resources to cooperate with out-of-state entities related to abortions performed within California state. We sincerely hope you will support us in our efforts to support  Reproductive Rights, The Rule of Law and restoring public trust in our City Officials. Sincerely,BHforChoice Please note: change.org will prompt you for a donation but we are not asking for or collecting donations. The money goes to change.org. 

The Family Planning Program (FPP) is a state-based program that provides critical sexual and reproductive healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of Texans. This popular program is one of the best ways for people to get same day health services. The only problem is that FPP often runs out of money halfway through the year due to high demand, and this has been going on for a long time. Clients have even been put in waiting lists that that last up to two months for highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive methods such as hormonal implants and IUDs. The Title X Family Planning Program also provides live-saving preventive services, prenatal care, testing and treatment for STIs, contraceptive care and basic health screenings. It is important to note that ‘fully funding the family planning program’ means that we are meeting current need at current clinics, but we still have a lot of work to do in the coming years/decades to ensure that all Texans have access to healthcare. The Legislature can increase funding for FPP to meet the current and growing need for family planning services in Texas. Legislature must appropriate at least $153.6 million in all funds for the Family Planning Program. On February 2024, State Representative Bryan Slaton filed House Bill 2709 which could open doors for Texans to be prosecuted for the use of emergency contraception. This could potentially hurt the full funding of FPP as this funding could help inhibit Title X clinics from giving contraceptive services. As an additional note abortion is not covered by the Family Planning Program (nor it is legal in Texas), while some conservatives feel comfortable advocating for the kinds of services covered by FPP—prenatal care, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and contraceptive care—others might not because of a pervasive belief that family planning care is shorthand for abortion. This issue is very focused on maternal health; talking about reproductive health in the Texas Legislature is VERY delicate. While the FPP is funded in the base budget, there is always the possibility that funding can get taken out if someone gets upset about it. What Can We Do? Sign this Petition! We plan to send these signatures to the Senate Finance Committee as that is one the committees in Legislature that control the budget. They decide which programs should get increases and which programs should be cut. Because this is an issue that specifically deals with funding, those are the important committees. We also plan on sending these signatures to State Representative Bryan Slaton. Find your Rep: Look up your representative through https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home Call your Rep: Now that HB 2709 is filed, we have no time to waste, call your Rep. today! What can you say? You can say something along the lines of “My name is ____ and Representative _____ is my representative. I want to ask him/her to not sign on as a co-author to House Bill 2709 by Representative Slaton to ______ ”

Imagine this … Twelve weeks into your second pregnancy, you begin to miscarry. But, because of religious directives that dictate the care you receive, it takes you three trips to the emergency room of your trusted Catholic hospital – and you almost die – before getting the care your condition required. This actually happened to Laurie Bertram-Roberts.  All around the country, people are being denied the health care they need and their lives are put at risk because their medical needs conflict with religious doctrine. The directives that dictate the reproductive health care people receive are written by Catholic bishops, not doctors. This is wrong. It’s dangerous. And, because Catholic hospital systems are growing so rapidly and are among the largest health care networks in the U.S., you or someone you love could be denied medical procedures. Imagine this … Your IUD dislodges after you fall, causing you bleeding and pain. But, the doctor you see at a local Catholic hospital refuses to remove it, despite acknowledging it must be taken out. That's because the Catholic Church’s religious directives prevent doctors from following standard reproductive care. This actually happened to Melanie Jones.        1 in every 6 acute care hospital beds nationwide is owned or affiliated with Catholic health care. In some states, it is 1 in 3. Due to mergers, Catholic hospitals are the only provider in many rural communities. In 19 states, women of color are more likely than white women to give birth in Catholic hospitals. As a result, women of color are more likely to have their reproductive care determined by Catholic bishops and not doctors. Imagine this … At 36 weeks pregnant, your OB/GYN induces labor because your amniotic fluid is dangerously low. After three days you still have not given birth, so your doctor schedules a caesarean section. You see a bright spot. Because you and your husband don't want to have any more children, you plan to get your fallopian tubes tied at the same time. Doing it this way means you can avoid the risks and costs of a separate medical procedure. But, your long-time OB/GYN tells you the Catholic hospital you’ve been admitted to won’t allow it. Worse, during a follow-up visit, she tells you she can no longer prescribe birth control for you because she sold her practice to the same Catholic hospital. This actually happened to Angela Valavanis. When religion takes priority over medicine, it harms people. Demand the House Energy and Commerce Committee and state attorneys general require Catholic hospitals follow standard, evidence-based medical practices for reproductive health care. Adding your name to this petition will help us put a stop to religious intrusions into reproductive care.  It's important that you leave your email address too.