Reproductive health centers see "an outpouring of support" since Election Day

Local organizations that provide reproductive health services, like CHOICES and Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region, have seen an increase in donations and volunteer inquiries since the election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence on November 8.
 
During the debates, president-elect Trump called himself “pro-life” and promised to nominate Supreme Court judges who will overturn Roe v. Wade—a promise which he again reiterated in an interview with 60 Minutes on November 13. These positions, as well as his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, concern the clinics’ staff and supporters.
 
“People are worried they will lose their health care. Many of the people we serve, as well as staff and volunteers, are also concerned about their safety, and the safety of their families and friends,” said PPGMR director of external programs Aimee Lewis.
 
“People are expressing sadness, fear, and worry — yet still so much courage and defiance. We have seen vicious acts of hate targeting people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ folks, and other marginalized communities — and a determination and unity to push back against these attacks. Through it all, we will continue to support our staff, colleagues, partners, and patients in the face of threats.”
 
Planned Parenthood reports that they have received 500 donations and volunteer sign-ups in the three weeks since Election Day, which Lewis describes as an “outpouring of support” that surpasses what they see on a usual basis. CHOICES has received over $2,000 in donations, 75 percent of which came from people who had never donated before.


 
More than 20 of those gifts were made in the name of Mike Pence and other politicians who oppose reproductive rights.

CHOICES received such an unusually high number of volunteer applications in the days following the election that they held a special orientation session. CHOICES’ community partnership assistant, Holly Calvasina, reports that they have had one or more volunteers present every every shifts since the election.
 
Before the election they could go weeks without having a volunteer, she added.
 
“We were all horrified after the election. Working in progressive fields such as abortion care, HIV/AIDS, and LGBTQ healthcare, we're pretty sure that we have an uphill battle during the Trump presidency,” Calvasina said.
 
“However, we know for a fact that our community is standing with us, and with support like this, we know that we'll come out of this stronger than ever.”
 
Both organizations say they intend to “keep fighting.” PPGMR also held a supporter rally on November 12 where they counted nearly 300 people in attendance. The healthcare provider plans a Community Action Team training on December 10 to organize their supporters to be ready to act to protect reproductive rights during the next administration.
 
“We are so grateful to this community, and we will never stop fighting for them,” said Lewis. “And we continue to ensure that everyone has access to the basic health care they depend on, no matter what.”