2000s
In the 2000s, women's rights were increasingly under attack by opposition groups. The decade saw an explosion of crisis pregnancy centers opening throughout Michigan. These crisis pregnancy centers, often staffed by people with no medical training, advertise vague "services" for pregnant women and attempt to guilt women into keeping unwanted pregnancies. Many crisis pregnancy centers in Michigan also focused on evangelism and sought to promote abstinence rather than other birth control methods. Anti-abortion activists were not the only groups seeking to shame women into keeping unwanted pregnancies. Continuing their trend of making abortion access as difficult as possible, the Michigan legislature proposed a bill in 2005 that would force women to view ultrasound photos of their fetus prior to receiving an abortion.
May 09, 2005 (vol. 115, iss. 125) - Image 4
Opnion piece written in the Michigan Daily in May 2005 advocating against a proposed bill that ould required abortion providers to show mothers photographs of the fetus prior to providing this service. The writers argue that this is a "demeaning tactic" and there are other "more humane ways the state can pursue a lower abortion count" if this is their goal.
Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance
In 2001, Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan went through an organizational transformation, merging with Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Michigan, describing their new identity as "an alliance formed to deliver the best reproductive health and education services to people in southwest and mid-Michigan" (Planned Parenthood of Mid-Michigan). The expanded chapter was renamed Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance. The name change reflects not only the joining of the two groups, but also the organization's renewed commitment to grassroots advocacy and community involvement throughout the 2000's.
In the 2001 Annual Report, Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance identifies three key priorities for the upcoming year: expanding medical services, strengthening grassroots advocacy, and promoting comprehensive sexual education. Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance's priorities can be explored in the gallery below.
In the following years, Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance continued working to make their priorities a reality. The Annual Reports from 2002-2004 provide more context for the abortion landscape in the early 2000's.
2002 Report
Letter from Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance President/CEO
In a letter to Planned Parenthood Mid-Michigan Alliance, CEO and President Robyn Menin addresses the shifting political landscape in the US in light of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
2003 Report
2004 Report
