| 1. |
Who is NARAL Pro-Choice Washington? |
| Our 12,000 members: mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters and brothers work together to preserve and expand safe reproductive health care in Washington state. We are the strongest grassroots network of pro-choice activists in Washington.
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| 2. |
When and why was NARAL founded? |
| NARAL was first founded in 1969 with the goal of ensuring access to safe and legal abortion, effective contraceptive options, and quality reproductive health care. In the decades since then, NARAL has expanded its mission to include affiliate organizations in several states. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington was founded in 1975 to protect and expand reproductive freedom in Washington state.
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| 3. |
What does NARAL Pro-Choice Washington Do? |
The Mission of NARAL Pro-Choice Washington is:To develop and sustain a constituency that uses the political process to guarantee every woman the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion.
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| 4. |
Is NARAL Pro-Choice Washington pro-abortion? |
| We are pro-choice. We support every woman's fundamental right to make her own choice about pregnancy and child-bearing, including abortion.
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| 5. |
What is Roe v. Wade? |
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Roe v. Wade, ruling that a woman's right to terminate a pregnancy is encompassed in the constitution's protection of individual privacy. A woman's decision whether or not to continue a pregnancy is a fundamental right. With this ruling the Court imposed the highest degree of constitutional protection - strict scrutiny - to any government seeking to restrict that fundamental right.
Despite this landmark ruling, choice is still under attack. To learn more about the history of this judicial decision, click here. To help us in our fight to preserve the freedom of reproductive choice, click here.
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| 6. |
Is the right to choose really in danger? |
Yes - and now more than ever. Here are just a few of the ways that a woman's right to choose is currently under attack:
To help us preserve women's right to choose once and for all, click here to find out what you can do.
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| 7. |
Can men get involved too? |
| Absolutely! Reproductive freedom affects everyone, male or female. Click here to get involved today.
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| 8. |
How is sex education regulated in Washington State? |
Under the Healthy Youth Act, which was passed by the state legislature in 2007, all schools that decide to teach sex education must have curriculum that is medically accurate, age appropriate, and meets the standards set forth in the " Guidelines for Sexual Health Information and Disease Prevention" published by the Dept. of Health and Office of Superintendent of Public Intstruction.
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| 9. |
What are Crisis Pregnancy Centers? |
Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) may advertise as "clinics" and look like medical facilities, but they are usually staffed by anti-choice volunteer "counselors", not certified medical personnel. CPCs do not provide reproductive health care, rather they provide misleading and inaccurate information to women about reproductive health issues, such as birth control and abortion.
To learn more, click here.
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| 10. |
What is the difference between RU-486 and the morning-after pill? |
The morning-after pill, also known as emergency contraception (EC), is a strong dose of birth control that, if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, is up to 89% effective in preventing pregnancy. RU-486, also known as mifepristone, or the "abortion-pill," terminates an early pregnancy, and can only be taken in the presence of a doctor.
For more information, click here.
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