The LSU chapter of Planned Parenthood Generation Action held its “Free Condom Friday” at Free Speech Plaza, distributing condoms, dental dams and safe-sex literature to students to raise awareness about safe sex.
Planned Parenthood Generation Action is a project of the non-profit national organization that specializes in promoting safe sex on college campuses. Planned Parenthood provides PPGA with contraceptives and other resources to the 275-plus affiliates on campuses across the country to improve sexual health for college students.
The national organization has been a subject of controversy, especially as its values were debated during the 2016 presidential election. University junior Sarah Dai said one of the goals of Generation Action is to inform students of all the services provided by Planned Parenthood.
“We’re trying to give more information about what Planned Parenthood is,” Dai said. “It basically gives all of these health services, and it’s accessible and affordable, and how it’s not just abortions.”
Proponents of Planned Parenthood have strongly opposed President-elect Donald Trump after he pledged to defund the organization should it continue to perform abortions.
“I am committed to signing into law the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would end painful late-term abortions nationwide,” Trump said in a September letter.
In a Feb. 25 Republican debate, Trump stated that he sees many benefits to the services provided by Planned Parenthood, but still plans to defund it because he is pro-life. Trump’s opponents were quick to point out that in a 1999 interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump stated the he was in favor of keeping abortion legal.
“I’m very pro-choice,” Trump said in the interview. “I hate the concept of abortion. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debating the subject. But I still just believe in choice.”
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is a strong proponent of Planned Parenthood, which endorsed Clinton’s campaign. Clinton’s campaign received $38 million in funding from the organization. Under President Barack Obama, Planned Parenthood received approximately $500 million per year in taxpayer dollars, roughly 40 percent of its annual budget.
University PPGA representatives said that Planned Parenthood hopes to continue revenue through donations while facing the possibility of defunding under Trump. In January, Congress passed a bill that would defund the organization, but Obama vetoed the bill. On Thursday, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said Congress still plans to take action.
“We’ve already shown what we believe with respect to funding Planned Parenthood,” Ryan said. “We put a bill on Obama’s desk in reconciliation. Our position has not changed.”
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the division of the organization responsible for funding. Since the election, the group has pushed for donations and funding to keep the organization thriving. The Action Fund has stated they intend to fight any legislation that may infringe upon their services.
“We now face a very different future, and there is uncertainty ahead,” Planned Parenthood Action says on their website. “But one thing is for sure: We will never back down, and Planned Parenthood will never stop providing the care patients need.”

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Jordan Marcell

Mass communication sophomore Jack Stallard speaks with a student interested in becoming more involved with the University's Planned Parenthood community during Free Condom Friday on Nov. 18, 2016 in Free Speech Plaza.