On September 12, we learned that an appeals court allowed the Trump administration to block Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood while additional legal challenges carry on.

It is disheartening to see the appeals court enable the Trump administration’s efforts to block Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood, and we are deeply concerned by this administration’s continued overreach. This decision will have far-reaching and devastating consequences for Black/African American, Indigenous, and people of color communities, immigrant communities, rural communities, and queer and trans communities — not only in Oregon but nationwide.

Planned Parenthood provides essential reproductive and gender-affirming care and serves as a vital resource for comprehensive sexual education, which can be lacking in homes and schools for some. The reality is that restricting access to abortion care puts people’s physical and emotional well-being at risk, as seen in states like Georgia and Texas where near-total abortion bans have been enacted, and in states like Tennessee where gender-affirming care for minors is banned.

Family Forward remains committed to advocating for Oregonians’ right to care. We will continue to collaborate with our organizational partners and elected officials at the state and federal levels to protect everyone’s right to accessible and affordable care. By working together, we can ensure that all individuals have the healthcare they need to thrive.

– Delina Biniam, MPH, Reproductive Justice Manager