In the wake of the attack on Planned Parenthood, I’ve noticed that a lot of well-meaning people are defending the organization by saying that it is not just an abortion clinic, or pointing out that abortion is just one small part of the services Planned Parenthood provides. This is the exact wrong sentiment right now – as I wrote in my column today, the attacker wasn’t there because he was angry about pap smears.

Abortion is legal, abortion is moral. And right now we must support Planned Parenthood BECAUSE of the abortions they provide, not in spite of them.

Now is the time to reiterate how important abortion care is to women’s health and well-being – not just cancer screenings, not just contraception. Abortion. A procedure that saves lives, that offers freedom, bodily integrity, and equality.

When we shy away from talking about abortion as an integral part of healthcare, we are strengthening the argument of activists and politicians who would see the procedure banned. When we go out of our way to say that Planned Parenthood provides more than abortions, we are adding to the stigma that says there is something wrong with getting an abortion.

We have nothing to gain by tempering our beliefs, and everything to lose.

I ‪#‎StandWithPP‬ because they provide abortions.

Jessica Valenti