Sex, Lips and a Video

by Amy Belliveau, Public Affairs Coordinator for Planned Parenthood VOTES! Washington

I think everyone has a different ah-ha moment when it comes to toxic chemicals in our environment. Moments that move us from watching on the sidelines to really getting our hands dirty: buying the BPA-free water bottle and making that phone call to our legislator.

My moment happened years ago when I first read that lead had been found in many of the lipsticks currently on the market. I just kept thinking about women – young and old – who start everyday by unknowingly putting a toxic chemical right on their lips. I was horrified by how ubiquitous and damaging environmental contaminants are in our lives.  And, it turns out, so was my employer.

Working for Planned Parenthood VOTES Washington, I advocate everyday for reproductive health and justice so people can stay healthy and have the resources to make informed decisions about their future. For many years now, this work has included advocating for eliminating toxic chemicals in our environment – many of which are linked to reproductive harm.

Planned Parenthood recognizes that environmental contaminants have a significant negative impact on the genetic, sexual, and reproductive health of all women, men, children, and youth, as well as on developing pregnancies.  Planned Parenthood is committed to helping its clients, the general public, and legislators understand and eliminate these threats to human life and well-being.

As the nation’s oldest, largest and most trusted reproductive health care organization, we play a vital role in both protecting and advancing the health of individuals. One out of four American women receives healthcare services from Planned Parenthood sometime in her life. In 2009, in Washington State alone, we provided health and education services to over 176,000 people.

We will continue to work with our environmental partners to enact state and federal policies that protect our health from harmful chemicals by staying involved in forward-thinking and effective coalitions like the Toxic-Free Legacy Coalition and the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families Campaign.

I want future generations of women to be able to walk through a health center door – regardless of their age, race, culture or income, and be able to get the family planning services they need and want to be healthy and to have a good quality of life. I also want them to be able to walk into their local store and buy lipstick that’s not going to hurt them.

Working together, we can make this happen.