While concerns among state politicians and local officials are rising as a bill that threatens to take away federal funds from Planned Parenthood moves through Congress, a group of Monadnock region residents is doing something about it.
Led by Jane Simpson, 23 artists have stepped up to auction off their work in support of Planned Parenthood, which is facing an uncertain future following a vote by 51-50 vote in the U.S. Senate. That vote removed a provision that stops states from blocking federal funds for family-planning services from health centers that also perform abortions.
The group, which is in its seventh week, has already raised more than $1,000. Simpson originally planned on auctioning up art for 23 weeks.
“But the funding for this wonderful organization isn’t over in 23 weeks – it may actually go longer,” Simpson said.
More than 11,000 New Hampshire residents receive care at Planned Parenthood centers in the state. Those services include birth control, health screenings and infertility testing, Local Planned Parenthood employees and directors referred questions about federal funds and the Senate vote to Frizell.
In a statement, Jennifer Frizzell, vice president for policy at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said people are “sick and tired even harder for them to access health care, and they will not stand for it.”
“Our senators know that this punitive move will be used in some states to take away birth control access for a woman who wants to plan her family and her future,” said Frizzell. “Too many people still face barriers to health care, especially young people, people of color, those who live in rural areas, and people with low incomes. We will never stop fighting for the right of every person to access the care they need.”
The idea for the auction came from Jane Simpson’s daughter Paige, she said. Paige, a former ConVal High School student, printed pillowcases from her workshop in New York and put them up on social media. The prints sold quickly. Simpson, who participated in the Women’s March in Boston, said she’s used to the attack on Planned Parenthood.
“There’s always conversation about defunding it — I don’t think that’s anything new, but recently it’s really heated up,” Simpson said.
To participate in the auction search for “We Persist for Planned Parenthood Art Auction” on Facebook.