Support the Limited Service Pregnancy Centers Signage Ordinance
Support the Limited Service Pregnancy Centers Signage Ordinance What are Limited Service Pregnancy Centers? Limited Service Pregnancy Centers are also known as Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs). CPCs are anti-choice organizations that advertise free services to women. The most common services include free pregnancy testing, options counseling, and short-term material assistance for women with an unplanned pregnancy. CPCs do not offer or provide abortion or comprehensive birth control services, and often give out false and misleading information in an effort to discourage women from seeking abortion or using contraception. How do you know CPCs give false and misleading information? Since 2005, NARAL Pro-Choice Texas has been publishing annual reports about taxpayer financed crisis pregnancy centers in Texas. Through analysis of in-person visits, websites, pamphlets distributed by CPCs, and information secured through the Freedom of Information Act, it was revealed that 100% of the investigated centers provided misinformation concerning birth control and abortion. Over the past two years, four Austin CPCs were visited to assess the types of information and services provided. Each one of them gave false and misleading information about abortion and/or birth control and no CPC would give a referral for birth control. What types of false information are CPCs distributing? Here are just a few examples of the kinds of false information NARAL Pro-Choice Texas volunteers were given:
- Abortion makes future pregnancies very difficult. - An abortion significantly increases the risk of breast cancer. - Abortion can cause anorexia, bulimia, weight gain, and suicide. - Abortion is a decision that every woman regrets. What will this ordinance do? This ordinance will ensure that women visiting an Austin CPC are informed that they will not receive comprehensive birth control or abortion services or referrals. Women seeking information about pregnancy, birth control, or abortion should be able to make informed decisions about which facility will best meet her needs. Why is this ordinance necessary? Women seeking information pertaining to their health care need factual information and timely services. In Austin, CPCs do not always disclose information about the limitations of services, particularly birth control services, which is valuable information for a woman seeking to prevent unintended pregnancy. Why doesn’t this ordinance require CPCs to provide medically accurate information? NPCT has no objection to a center that offers women who have decided to carry their pregnancies to term any help they like. But lines are crossed when a CPC is not up front about its services, or when a center uses misinformation. The Limited Service Pregnancy Centers Signage Ordinance simply asks that CPCs disclose what is true – that they do not provide or refer for comprehensive birth control services or abortion so that women know up front whether the facility suits their needs and understands the limitations of its services. Will the bill force CPCs to provide services they are against? Will CPC volunteers have to say things in which they don’t believe? No. This bill merely requires CPCs to post a sign clearly communicating that the facility does not provide or refer for abortion or birth control services. Why don’t CPCs refer for abortion or birth control if that is what a woman wants or needs? The vast majority of CPCs are opposed to abortion and birth control (drugs or devices approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy like birth control pills or condoms). CPCs generally only support abstinence for single men and women. Married couples are sometimes referred for what is called "natural family planning," a fertility awareness method. This troubles groups that work to prevent unintended pregnancy and the spread of STI's. Are there any other ordinances like this in Texas? No. In fact, if enacted, this will only be the second ordinance in the United States requiring CPCs to disclose the limitations of their services. It is important to note that only facilities in the City of Austin will be affected – to apply throughout Texas, other communities would need to pass similar laws or the Texas legislature would need to pass a law.
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