Thursday, February 17, 2011

February 16, 2011 In Defense of Planned Parenthood


To the Editor:
Re “Latest Hidden Video by Abortion Foes Shows Bronx Clinic of Planned Parenthood” (news article, Feb. 9):
As the speaker of the New York City Council and the former chairwoman of the Women’s Health Committee, I want to state unequivocally what a major asset Planned Parenthood is to the women, men and teenagers of New York City.
Planned Parenthood of New York City is one of the most respected institutions in our city. It provides essential preventive and reproductive health care to more than 50,000 New Yorkers each year, including comprehensive gynecological exams, testing for sexually transmitted disease and treatment, birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings and more.
It works with our city’s parents, teenagers and most vulnerable populations to make sure they are safe and healthy, and have access to the services they need. Many of those they serve would otherwise have nowhere else to go.
If it weren’t for Planned Parenthood, thousands of New Yorkers would not have care.
Throughout my career, I have worked closely with Planned Parenthood of New York City, crafting legislation to better protect and support women’s health and safety in New York.
For so many New Yorkers, when they feel they don’t know where to turn, they always have one option: Planned Parenthood of New York City. This organization has been doing all it can to protect the health and safety of the men, women and teenagers of this city, and has been doing so for more than 90 years.
The accusations being made against Planned Parenthood of New York City are absurd. We will not allow anti-abortion activists and legislators to discredit or defund Planned Parenthood.
Christine C. Quinn
New York, Feb. 10, 2011