LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY amethyst_hunter)

Here's the final draft of my letter. Many thanks to those of you who commented on it and told me what I needed to improve it! :)

Word count: 230 total (not counting my signature)



I’m a 31-year-old female living in LaSalle County with no insurance and little money. I haven’t been to a doctor in years because I can’t afford the cost, and I want to get contraceptive medication to regulate a health condition. I’m pleased that a Planned Parenthood is opening in Aurora. I’m also angry and disgusted that a minority with questionable motivations and ties to religion-hijacking extremists like Operation Rescue is trying to bully city officials into denying women like myself affordable health care. The demand for a specialized clinic is clear, or else the city wouldn’t have granted approval.

The vast majority of Planned Parenthood’s services consists of education (including, but not limited to, abstinence), gynecological exams and low-cost contraceptives. These things help prevent unwanted pregnancy and thus, abortion. Many women also take contraceptives for other afflictions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). To deny them services based on an authoritarian version of ideology that can’t be conclusively proven except to its believer is not only misogynistic and un-Christian, it’s life-threatening. I won't presume to judge anyone for exercising their freedom of choice when I don’t know the particular details of her life that brought her to make whatever healthcare decisions she is comfortable with.

I sincerely hope that Aurora city officials put the voices of their citizens above the harassment and fearmongering PLAN’s divisive tactics are attempting to sow.