November 9, 2011

“As we face historic attacks on women’s health across the country, the defeat of the so-called “personhood” amendment in Mississippi and the landslide victory of Ayanna Pressley for Boston’s City Councilor At-Large are major victories for women’s health.

Sexual and reproductive health advocates were not supposed to win in Mississippi. In fact, just a few weeks back, the polls had us down by thirty points. But the more voters learned about the many dangerous and extreme consequences of the initiative, the more they opposed it.  Polling showed that in the final days leading up to the vote, when voters were given information about the so-called “personhood” amendment, support for it dropped below 50 percent. So with tireless advocacy, Mississippians for Healthy Families and its supporters were able to educate voters and defeat Initiative 26.

Too often, the debate surrounding women's health is plagued with misinformation put out by opponents of women’s health.  The fact that the so-called “personhood” amendment was defeated in one of the country's most conservative states speaks volumes about this dangerous proposal. After winning in Mississippi, sexual and reproductive health advocates believe that similarly dangerous initiatives threatened in other states are even more likely to be defeated. This victory in Mississippi is a victory for women and their families throughout the country.

While Mississippians were casting their votes to protect women’s health, Bostonians were at the polls to ensure Ayanna Pressley, a leader who has consistently stood with Planned Parenthood, retained her seat on the Boston City Council.  In the two short years that Ayanna has served on the Council, she formed the Committee on Women and Healthy Communities and tackled issues such as teen pregnancy and comprehensive sex education.  For the first time in its history, the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund (PPAF) chose to endorse a municipal race because we need leaders like Ayanna who will continue to fight for women’s health and family planning services and oppose any policies that would restrict or harm access to these vital services for Boston residents.

Both wins reaffirm that American voters do not agree with the extreme and dangerous agenda that the Republican leadership has been pushing on Capitol Hill and State Houses across the country since the 2010 elections. In this election, voters said loudly and clearly they want leaders and policies that protect women’s health.”