Planned Parenthood opened its first clinic 100 years ago this month. Women’s health advocate Margaret Sanger opened the women’s clinic in Brooklyn back in 1916. In 100 years, the clinic has opened 650 other health centres across the country. Each clinic provides free or low-cost access to health services to people regardless of their genders, sexual orientations, or social class.
Back when Planned Parenthood opened, women didn’t even have the right to vote. Sanger’s idea centred around the idea of women controlling their reproductive choices. However, Sanger’s ideas and actions weren’t always backed by the public. Sanger was arrested repeatedly for handing out contraceptives and sharing public health info in a time pre-google.
“Over the last 100 years, Planned Parenthood has played a critical role in advancing public health in this country,” said a statement from Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “For a century, their leadership and dedication to increasing access to the full range of reproductive health services has not wavered.”
The organisation has fought to legalise birth control and keep abortion safe and legal. It also offers treatment for STI/STDs in all fifty states in the USA. Despite recent battles, Planned Parenthood still receives support from the public and is on the forefront to many sexual health battles today.