Share This Issue:

TBH (To Be Honest) is a monthly newsletter dedicated to learning about our bodies, talking about sex and relationships, and challenging health inequity and injustice.

Send us your feedback. 👍 👎

IN THIS ISSUE:

A note from Planned Parenthood President & CEO Alexis McGill Johnson

"Immigrant rights are a Black issue and Black liberation is the key to immigrant rights."

— Nana Gyamfi of Black Alliance for Just Immigration
Watch her full five-minute speech here.

I hope you're finding time to relax and recharge as we approach summer.

It can be hard to unplug, even for a little while, in the midst of everything going on right now — especially as we face the urgent threat of a congressional budget bill to "defund" Planned Parenthood and force nearly 200 health centers to shut down. But it's important to remember that, as hard as things are, none of us has to bear the burden of this moment alone.

We are part of a diverse, powerful, and growing movement. We can find strength in one another and in community.

Juneteenth is just a couple of weeks away, and many of us will mark the holiday by celebrating the power of movements and the promise of liberation. I hope you'll join me in supporting The Afiya Center, a Dallas-based organization dedicated to transforming the lives, health, and futures of Black women and girls.

The Afiya Center is just one example of how community-centered activism, education, and resources can help people find the freedom to live the lives they deserve. Make a gift to support the Afiya Center, and you'll notice something: There is joy in uplifting one another.

If we can hold on to that joy and keep our sights on the future we believe in, together we can be unstoppable.

Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO

Planned Parenthood Federation of America

What we're watching, reading, listening to, and taking action on:

I’m watching Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) Executive Director Nana Gyamfi’s rousing speech from the 2025 People’s March. It's a powerful reminder of what we're fighting for and, just as important, who we're fighting alongside.

I’m supporting BAJI to honor Nana's leadership and celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month — and I hope you will, too. It's not enough just to feel inspired. We must be ready to do something about it.

I'm reading The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.

I'm listening to Bad Bunny, Stacey Abram's podcast "Assembly Required," and Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson's podcast "IMO."

Ask the Experts:

Are Planned Parenthood health services free?

Short answer: It depends. There may be a range of low-cost or even free services available to you at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center. The best way to know for sure is to call and let them know your financial situation.

The cost for services at Planned Parenthood health centers depends on many different things, like:

The kind of health care service you need.

The kind of health insurance you have — if any, including Medicaid.

The services your insurance plan covers.

How much money you make.

Most health insurance plans must cover 100% of the costs of preventive care like birth control, STD testing, cancer screenings, and wellness visits with no copay or out-of-pocket costs to you.

If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover the cost of your visit, your nearest Planned Parenthood health center might be able to use a sliding scale. This means they’ll figure out the cost depending on how much money you make.

Everyone deserves affordable, high-quality health care. If you're worried about costs, talk with the staff at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center. They'll do their best to help you get the care you need at a price that works for you.

From the blog…

Ask the Experts: Does the pill have to be taken at a specific time each day?

Abortion is a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy. Here are the five steps to getting an abortion.

Read more on the blog >>

*Note: Planned Parenthood is not responsible for nor does it endorse any legal, medical, or other advice or information provided by any of the entities identified or referenced herein or by any other third parties, whether referenced herein or not.

Check out Ask The Experts for more Q&As on a ton of different health topics.
Got a question in mind? Ask Roo, our sex ed chatbot, or one of our trained health educators.

DONATE NOW »

Was this email forwarded to you by a friend? Subscribe.

visit plannedparenthood.org