The Fate of Reproductive Freedom: An Interview with Melissa Reed, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Reed, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone who discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on her organization, impending Supreme Court changes and the current attacks against reproductive healthcare.

2020 has been an unimaginable year that has unfortunately been filled with uncertainty, loss, and an ongoing attack on women and their reproductive freedom. This year, we lost the great Supreme Court Justice and active supporter of reproductive rights Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) who has impacted civil, women, and human rights for the entirety of her life. Her death has now raised concern over the fate of reproductive freedom as we face new Supreme Court changes and impending cases. Though reproductive freedom has always been at risk, this year especially has posed an alarming threat to the future of affordable and safe reproductive healthcare. Following the recent changes, there is now budding uncertainty around the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court Case, Roe v. Wade, which solidifies that it is a constitutional right to access legal and safe abortions, that now has the potential of being overturned.

Along with these threats, local health care centers are now facing uncertainty within their operations as they face security threats, lack of funding, and restrictions due to COVID-19. With these restrictions, however, Planned Parenthood Keystone has amplified its current services to continue providing accessible healthcare to their community. Planned Parenthood Keystone was recently awarded a $10,000 grant as part of our Immediate Response Action Fund to amplify security measures in place at their center in response to civil unrest and potential threats post-election. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Melissa Reed, the CEO of Planned Parenthood Keystone who discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on her organization, impending Supreme Court changes, and the current attacks against reproductive healthcare. She leads us through this and more and leaves us with words of hope for the future of reproductive freedom.

Read the full interview here.