Over the past few weeks, our efforts to protect Title X have brought on an onslaught of news, actions, messages and more, all to stop the Trump-Pence administration from decimating health care that millions of people rely on.

The fight to protect Title X will be a long and winding road. We need all the help we can get to defend this life-saving program, our nation's only program dedicated to affordable birth control and reproductive health care for people with low incomes. And to harness the support we need, we have to make sure that people know exactly what we're fighting for and why. Here are the six questions I've been asked most often by supporters and even my own friends and family about the Title X program and our fight to preserve it. Please forward this email.

— Jacqueline Ayers, VP of Government Relations and Public Policy
Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Title X — pronounced "title ten" — is a federal funding program established in 1970 that provides affordable birth control and reproductive health care to people with low incomes.

Because of racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other systemic barriers that contribute to income inequality, people of color, LGBTQ people, and people in rural areas make up a large proportion of the people who rely on Title X for care.

The program has received bipartisan support from Congress since its inception, until now.

The Trump-Pence administration issued a "rule" that makes it illegal for health care providers that participate in Title X to talk with their patients about how and where they can access abortion safely and legally. Providers would, essentially, be gagged! The rule also includes a number of other provisions designed to block people from getting care at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Let's be clear: This is not about health care. This is about politicians putting patients at risk to advance their ultimate agenda, which is to fundamentally restrict our reproductive health and rights. It's a direct and politically-motivated attack on anyone who has gotten health care at Planned Parenthood health centers and similar reproductive health care providers.

The Trump-Pence administration's gag rule is illegal and unethical. That's why Planned Parenthood, along with the American Medical Association, took the administration to court to stop them from implementing the rule.

Our movement scored a big (but temporary) victory in that case when the court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the gag rule from going into effect. Since then, we've seen steps forward and back in the legal fight.

That's why we've also pushed for Congress to pass legislation that protects Title X and Title X patients from the administration's attacks. With President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rushing extreme judicial nominee after extreme judicial nominee onto the federal bench, we can't rely on the courts to stop this attack. Congress must finish the job and protect Title X.

Planned Parenthood health centers serve about 40% of the 4 million patients who receive Title X health care.

We know what happens when politicians block patients from getting the care they need at Planned Parenthood health centers. Look at Texas, where tens of thousands of women are not receiving care because of similar policies. Patients' care is at risk. We have to stop the gag rule once and for all.

When a case like this is making its way through the courts, it's always helpful to let people know where you stand by talking to your friends and family and doing things like posting on social media. We really need your help to take this fight to Congress.

Reproductive health champions recently introduced a provision that would protect Title X and the 4 million people who obtain birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and accurate, nonjudgmental care in the program every year.

Another thing you can do is to educate yourself on this dangerous rule and why we need to undo it.

And if you haven't already donated to support the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in this fight, you can do it here (and thank you!).