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Just the facts. No judgment.
No apologies.


	In This Issue: Know Your Rights + Pronoun Power + The ADA

Oppressive language does more than represent violence; it is violence; does more than represent the limits of knowledge; it limits knowledge."

— Toni Morrison, Nobel Lecture December 7, 1993


	We honor the life and legacy of Toni Morrison, the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Ms. Morrison's works focused on the Black experience and centered the lives and voices of Black women. Read more about her life and legacy. Photo Credit: Damon Winter/The New York Times

Know Your Rights

As of 2017, there were an estimated 44.4 million immigrants living in the United States.¹ This includes documented and undocumented immigrants, people covered under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

As a Moroccan-Cameroonian DACA recipient, I know firsthand the barriers immigrants face in accessing health care.

Federal law blocks undocumented immigrants from accessing Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) entirely, and bans them from purchasing affordable health insurance on the ACA Marketplace, even with their own funds. Legal, permanent residents can buy health insurance on the ACA Marketplace, but they have to wait up to 5 years before they can access Medicaid.

Increased fears of deportation, harassment, and discrimination mean immigrants may be reluctant to get the health care they need. These barriers often translate to poorer health outcomes for immigrants. They are less likely to receive preventive care, such as Pap tests, STD screenings, and birth control, and often lack necessary maternal care.

Planned Parenthood is committed to helping immigrants get the care they need — no matter what. It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. Everyone deserves access to quality health care. Learn more about your rights.

Be an ally — here are some organizations doing the groundwork to fight for immigrant rights:

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UndocuBlack Network: a multigenerational network that advocates for and supports undocumented Black people.

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Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI): an organization that helps Black immigrant communities advocate for racial and social justice.

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The National Immigration Law Center (NILC): an advocacy group for immigrants and their family members.

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The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC): a grassroots organization that works to organize Korean and Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice.

•

United We Dream: the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation.

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Informed Immigrant: site with resources for individuals, educators, and providers to support undocumented families.

Lauryn is the State Policy Media Intern at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. As a political science major at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, she uses her proximity to Washington, D.C. to stay engaged in politics and activism year-round. Lauryn is passionate about using communications to advocate for intersectionality in progressive policies.

Send us Feedback:

Fact Tank: Key findings about U.S. immigrants

#MissionMoment

Meet Jocelyn, a Planned Parenthood sex educator in Wisconsin. Jocelyn believes that when you get something — like accurate, shame-free information about sexual and reproductive health — you don't keep it for yourself. Learn more about Jocelyn's work.

What we're listening to:
Pronoun Power


	In this episode, Call Your Girlfriend’s co-hosts Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman dig in with linguist Dr. Kirby Conrod (@kirbyconrod) on best practices for using pronouns and the power behind them. Listen to the episode.

"Are there negative side effects when you go off the pill?"


	Any time there's a change in your hormones — like when you go on or off hormonal birth control such as the birth control pill — there's a chance of side effects. When you go off hormonal birth control, your body will eventually return to the way it was before you started using your method. Say the pill helped clear up your acne — it may come back after you go off the pill. Your periods will also go back to the way they were pre-birth control. So if the pill made your periods lighter, they may get heavier once you stop taking it. But everyone's body is different, and our bodies also change over time. If you're really worried about the side effects of going off the pill, chat with a health educator or visit your nearest Planned Parenthood health center. They may be able to give you more specific information about what to expect based on your personal medical history. — Kendall at Planned Parenthood


	The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed 29 years ago, and federally codified disability as a category of discrimination, creating protections for people with disabilities. However, there are many barriers to getting sexual and reproductive care for people with disabilities. Disability rights advocate Kristin Duquette writes, "...when I went for a common preventive sexual health exam — a Pap test — I was surprised and disappointed to feel like my disability was an inconvenience to my doctor." Read more on our blog.

What we're reading:

How Abortion Care in Puerto Rico Has Gone Ignored Since Hurricane María

How To Tell If A Sexual Health Resource Is Legit, According To A Sex Educator

Allyson Felix Wants to Save Black Mothers

Civil Rights and Gun Reform Orgs Show Solidarity, Demand Action Against White Supremacy

Black Women Stand in Support of Planned Parenthood's Role in Family Planning

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.

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