Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri Celebrates US Supreme Court Decisions Supporting Marriage Equality and the Affordable Care Act

OVERLAND PARK—Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri celebrated today the United States Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage in Obergerfell v Hodges, granting marriage equality for same-sex couples as a Constitutional right. Planned Parenthood also applauded yesterday’s decision in King v. Burwell to uphold a key component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that helps make insurance more affordable for more than 70,000 Kansans and 198,000 Missourians.

“We are thrilled about this tremendous step forward in our common fight for equality and dignity in this country, which has seen extraordinary progress on LGBTQ issues in the past 10 years,” said Laura McQuade, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri. “LGBTQ rights and reproductive rights stem from the same values of the dignity and autonomy of the individual. Today, we applaud the progress and overwhelmingly positive national trend toward openness and inclusion, enshrined in law by the Supreme Court, while recognizing there is still work to do.”

“Additionally, yesterday’s King v. Burwell ruling is a victory for thousands of low and middle-income Kansans and Missourians whose affordable health coverage will not be stripped away,” continued McQuade. “As the nation’s leading women’s health care provider and advocate, we know our health care system only really works if it works for everyone. Although the ruling is a significant victory, 150,000 Kansans and 300,000 Missourians lack access to affordable coverage because our state leaders have failed to act on Medicaid expansion.”

“We are committed to fighting for reproductive rights and health care access. We will expose all extreme political measures aimed at denying a person their autonomy and well-being. And we will be here to provide compassionate, high-quality, culturally competent health care and sex education for people of every gender identity and sexual orientation, no matter what.”

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Planned Parenthood is a vital resource for our community and for women and families throughout Kansas and Missouri. We are a trusted advocate and source of health care and education for thousands of women, men, and children. For 80 years, women have relied on Planned Parenthood to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy.