American women face assaults on their reproductive autonomy from all corners, but what is perhaps most disturbing is the rise of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs), anti-abortion organizations that pose as legitimate health care providers. CPCs are often located around high schools or genuine health care centers, and go by names such as "Life Choices," "Pregnancy Aid," and "Pregnancy Counseling Center" - titles that obscure their actual purpose, which is to convince women not to have abortions. They do not provide abortions or abortion referrals, they refuse to provide comprehensive contraceptive information, and they disseminate extreme anti-abortion propaganda, including films and pictures of mutilated fetuses and stillborn babies.
An investigation by NARAL Pro-Choice New York found that CPCs give women information that has been medically refuted. CPCs often claim that abortions cause higher rates of breast cancer, a falsehood that has been rejected by the National Cancer Institute. These unregulated, unlicensed centers have also been known to tell women that abortions are psychologically damaging, can lead to sterility, and that birth-control pills cause abortions.
But the shocking facts about CPCs do not end there. There are more than 4,000 CPCs across the country, and some even receive tax dollars to maintain their deceptive work. Funding can come from direct allocations or tax credits in state budgets, through "choose life" license plates (the revenues of which are used to fund CPCs), the donation of special equipment, or even through federal "abstinence-only" programs. Additionally, organizations like the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates and the Alliance Defense Fund have worked to promote the presence of CPCs in state legislatures by courting elected officials and partnering with national anti-choice organizations. Legislators are often invited to visit the CPCs and later introduce resolutions honoring the work of the "pregnancy resource centers." In their report, NARAL Pro-Choice wrote, "These resolutions – like the false advertising in which some CPCs engage – are intended to create the impression that CPCs are part of the mainstream medical community."
New York City is finally taking legal measures to uncover the truth about CPCs (New York is not the first city to attempt to regulate them). Bill 371, which was recently introduced by the City Council, would require crisis pregnancy centers to be honest to patients about what services they provide, and whether or not they employ legitimate medical professionals.
CPCs masquerade as safe havens for women when in actuality they endanger women's right to reproductive autonomy. They act recklessly and deceptively, and they manipulate women who are attempting to make responsible choices for themselves and their families. It is critical that CPCs are upfront about their anti-abortion intentions and the services they provide. No woman should be lied to when she is in desperate need of accurate information about pregnancy. Bill 371 is an essential step towards holding CPCs accountable and protecting women’s reproductive autonomy.
- Sign Planned Parenthood’s petition, "Petition to End Deception," in support of the bill.
- Read NARAL’s report on CPCs here.
- Learn more about Legal Momentum's history of work on Reproductive Justice and Sexuality and Family Rights.
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