NAPLES, Fla--Hundreds gathered at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club for the Southwest and Central Florida chapter of Planned Parenthood's annual fundraiser dinner. The organization said it was expecting its largest turnout in recent years and believes recent coverage of women's health issues nationwide is partly why.
Texas Senator Wendy Davis was the event guest speaker. Senator Davis said she believes Planned Parenthood is under siege under the Trump administration.
"Tom Price who is President Trump’s choice to lead the Health and Human Services Department has shown himself to be no friend to women reproductive healthcare," said Senator Davis.
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida is actively speaking out against legislation like Florida Senate Bill 348 and House Bill 203. The organization said if passed, it's just one example of the many ways lawmakers are hurting women throughout the state.
“In the Naples area there are no Medicaid providers for women's health care services and that's why the state gave us the contract to do the work,” said SWFL Planned Parenthood CEO Barbara Zdravecky.
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida provides care for more than 42,000 people. But it isn't just those seeking care who are now speaking out in support of Planned Parenthood.
"These people have been people who have been on the sideline for a number of years. They thought that their work was over, their marching days were over and that once we had Roe vs. Wade they were going to be okay and suddenly it’s no longer okay in a very big way," said Zdravecky.
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