Each year,
Oklahoma sees the proposal or passage of at least a few anti-choice laws. This
is unfortunately something we have come to count on. With the New Year upon us,
pro-choice advocates across the state wonder, what will 2014 bring?
This
year we worried over minors losing the option of Judicial Bypass to gain access
to abortion care, last year our stomachs turned over the Personhood bill, and
in the 2011 session we winced at the passage of a 20 week abortion ban. Of
these bills, only the out-right ban on abortion known as “Personhood” was
successfully defeated.
It’s a
sad truth that with the New Year comes a new fight at the capitol over a woman’s
right to choose. It’s frustrating, and hurtful, and disappointing to watch the
Oklahoma Legislature argue away our options for family planning, but don’t
fret! You can help.
We here
at Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma are keeping a vigilant eye on the
capitol and we hope you will too! We encourage you to learn more about what
your representatives represent and read about the bills that come up for debate
in the 2014 session. Know that you do not have to take these attacks lying down.
Here are a few tools to help you stay informed and support family
planning through the upcoming legislative session:
·
Visit: http://www.oklegislature.gov/index.aspx
to read about proposed bills and learn how to contact your representatives.
·
Email danielle.williams@ppcok.org to
join PPCO’s Action Alert mailer. Email with the subject line, “Add me to the
Action Alert list” and you will receive email alerts about actions taken at the
Oklahoma capitol that threaten family planning, as well as tips on how you can
be part of the concerted effort to stop them.
·
Write to your representatives! Let them know who
you are and how strongly you favor the right to choose. Use social media (no
joke, your representatives are probably on twitter!), use email, write a letter,
or train a carrier pigeon. Do whatever it takes to make your voice heard.
·
Stay generally informed. Read both local and
national coverage of family planning issues. Keep up with what is going on and
share the news with your friends and family.
Together, we can protect family planning and a woman’s right
to choose in Oklahoma.
