{"id":255928,"date":"2021-10-27T16:43:02","date_gmt":"2021-10-27T21:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=255928"},"modified":"2021-10-26T21:51:32","modified_gmt":"2021-10-27T02:51:32","slug":"wnba-planned-parenthood-abortion-vital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/wnba-planned-parenthood-abortion-vital\/","title":{"rendered":"WNBA union teams up with Planned Parenthood to promote abortion as ‘vital’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On October 17, the WNBA Union teamed up with Planned Parenthood and other abortion advocacy organizations to run a full-page New York Times ad<\/a> attacking the Texas Heartbeat Act.<\/p>\n

“As professional athletes, our bodies are our instruments. Our livelihoods. Our crafts,” the ad read. “Which means control of \u2014\u00a0and over \u2014\u00a0our bodies, both on and off the basketball court, is about much more than athletic performance, earning potential, or personal politics. Abortion, birth control, and fertility care are vital.”<\/p>\n

The ad continued, “That’s why we as members of the WNBA are proud to stand with everyone who’s fighting back against the cruel abortion bans in Texas and across the country,” and asked readers to “join us in speaking out against oppressive laws — and lawmakers — that dehumanize us, deny our fundamental freedoms, and attempt to dictate our most basic rights.”<\/p>\n

The letter concluded with 11 signatures. Only four were those of active female professional basketball players. The rest of the signatories were members of the Executive Committee or the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), a union representing WNBA players.<\/p>\n

READ: Seattle Storm WNBA team is raising money for Planned Parenthood<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

While unsurprising, the WNBPA’s official stance on the Texas Heartbeat Act, which protects preborn human beings past six weeks gestation from abortion, was nonetheless disappointing. Their abortion advocacy directly undermines the efforts of female professional athletes<\/a> calling for policies that embrace rather than penalize<\/a> parenting athletes. Many female professional athletes have testified that they are less likely to receive support and accommodations for their pregnancies when abortion is considered the norm \u2014 and it has even become an expectation<\/a> for female professional athletes who conceive.<\/p>\n