Reproductive Rights and Sex Education

I completely support Planned Parenthood and other organizations, believe in reproductive rights for all people, support universal age-appropriate mandatory sex education, and affirm that healthcare is a universal right best determine between a patient and doctor.

I have been asked to complete a number of surveys of my views from groups who support these same beliefs and from some who do not. I want to provide clarity in to my views on many aspects of reproductive rights and so have decided to provide my answers to the Planned Parenthood survey.

My 100% Rating from Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund

Reproductive Health Care Questionnaire

Protecting Planned Parenthood Health Center's Ability to Serve Patients

National attacks on Planned Parenthood’s funding could jeopardize the ability of Planned Parenthood patients to access essential health care locally. Each year more than 187,000 New Yorkers rely on Planned Parenthoods across New York State for sexual and reproductive health care services, including birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, STI testing and wellness exams. Planned Parenthood health centers also provide patients with full and accurate pregnancy information — offering options to support each patient’s personal medical decisions, including access to abortion care. Planned Parenthood health centers provide care no matter what and are dependent on state, local and federal funding as well as private donations to serve all New Yorkers regardless of insurance, immigration status, or income. No one is turned away if they cannot pay.

Extreme politicians are attempting to defund and shut down Planned Parenthood health centers, which would deny millions of people across the country, access to the birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing and treatment and other care they rely on. Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading reproductive health care provider, and if these politicians succeed, it will be a national public health crisis. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that blocking patients from going to Planned Parenthood in Texas was associated with a 35% decline in women in publicly funded programs using the most effective methods of birth control and a dramatic 27% increase in births among women who had previously accessed contraception through those programs. Without Planned Parenthood, many patients would have nowhere else to go for care.

Do you support efforts to protect federal, state, and local funding for Planned Parenthood?

Do you support efforts to ensure public funding for family planning services?

Abortion Access

Planned Parenthood believes that individuals must make their own personal, private health care decisions, including the decision of whether or not to obtain confidential, safe, legal abortion care under the standards set forth in Roe v. Wade; and that in all cases individuals, their families, and their health care providers should be able to make decisions that protect the individual’s health. In 2019, New York State aligned our law with with Roe v. Wade by passing the Reproductive Health Act. However, across the country we continue to see efforts to undermine access to abortion care; such as instituting bans and enacting unnecessary and harmful restrictions that strip individuals of their constitutional right to care.

Do you support an individual's right to obtain a safe, legal abortion?

Consistent with existing state and federal law, do you support the right of an individual, in consultation with a medical provider, to access the abortion method deemed safest to protect their health?

Do you support the ability of young people to confidentially access sexual and reproductive health services, including safe, legal abortion?

Do you support continued New York State Medicaid funding of abortion for an individual who otherwise could not afford it?

Do you support efforts to ensure commercial insurance plans that provide coverage for maternity care, also provide coverage for abortion care?

Do you support efforts to create a voluntary contribution fund, allowing New York residents to designate a portion of their state tax return to support access to abortion related care?

Do you oppose targeted restrictions on abortion access?

Do you oppose attempts to undermine Roe v. Wade through legislation that creates separate legal rights for fetuses distinct from those of a pregnant individual?

Maternal Mortality

Despite our progressive policies surrounding access to women’s health care, New York ranks 30th out of 50 states in its maternal death rate. Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to be impacted compared to white women; in New York City that rate hurdles to 12 times. While New York State has taken some steps to lower our maternal mortality rate, such as creating a maternal mortality and morbidity review board, our rates are still at crisis levels.

Would you support additional funding and policy changes aimed at lowering our maternal mortality and morbidity rates in New York?

Access to Contraception

The recent increase of attacks on contraceptive access at the Federal level could leave many unable to access the best method of contraception for them at an affordable price. New York has taken steps to ensure that insurers cover all FDA approved methods of contraception with no co-pay; emergency contraception can be accessed over the counter without a prescription or co-pay; and that individuals are able to obtain 12 months of contraception at one time.

Do you oppose any attempt to repeal the New York state law referenced above?

Do you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception for all New Yorkers?

Will you base your public policy views on established scientific evidence rather than politics?

Sex Education

The need for comprehensive sexual health education for New York students is urgent. Rates of STIs have dramatically increased with two-thirds of all infections occurring among adolescents. The National Sexuality Education Standards call for comprehensive sexuality education to start in kindergarten and build up through 12th grade so that schools foster safe environments for all students early on. Comprehensive sexuality education includes: teaching anatomy & physiology, puberty, pregnancy, STIs and HIV prevention and treatment; as well as the respect of others’ values and identities, positive body image, and healthy relationships and consent, which includes anti-bullying and partner violence measures. Research shows that comprehensive sexuality education is effective in helping young people make healthier decisions, setting them on course for a healthy future.

Do you support implementing comprehensive, inclusive, age-appropriate, medically accurate, k-12 sexual health education in public schools?

Access to Health Care Services

Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) often use deceptive practices to appeal to women experiencing unintended pregnancies. The limited services they provide can delay or prevent women from accessing the information and care they need. CPCs often misrepresent themselves as reproductive health providers, yet the vast majority are volunteer-run and do not employ licensed medical professionals. They discourage abortion and the use of birth control and often provide biased counseling and misleading and stigmatizing information. They are frequently located near legitimate reproductive health care providers and use deceptive tactics to interfere with individuals looking for accurate medical care.

Do you support efforts to hold CPCs accountable for their deceptive tactics?

Do you support efforts to improve health care quality equity for the transgender community and protect health care coverage for transgender-related services?

Do you support policies to ensure that incarcerated individuals have access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care services?

Do you support policy initiatives like the Essential Plan for All, which will provide affordable health insurance coverage to immigrants who currently lack access due to their immigration status?

Check out Planned Parenthood of Greater New York Action Fund