What would our world look like without Planned Parenthood? The answer is grim, and thanks to filmmaker Alex Thompson, we can catch a glimpse of that troubling reality. Thompson crafted a poignant short film titled “UNLOCKED” that follows the lives of three women during pivotal moments when they rely on the services of Planned Parenthood.
The emotional video, hosted on his YouTube channel, underscores the indispensable role that Planned Parenthood health centers play in the lives of countless women across the nation. In the film, one woman succumbs to cancer, another contracts a sexually transmitted infection, and a third faces an unplanned pregnancy that jeopardizes her college scholarship. All these scenarios arise because Planned Parenthood is not available to assist them. The stark reality portrayed in the film reveals that a world without Planned Parenthood is not merely bleak; it is catastrophic.
Midway through the film, the narrative rewinds to showcase a time when Planned Parenthood provided essential support to these women. A mother receives life-saving cancer screenings and celebrates another birthday surrounded by loved ones, while a young woman benefits from safe sex education and avoids an STD. The third woman continues her education at college, pursuing her dreams.
The dismal future depicted in Thompson’s film isn’t merely speculative—it is already becoming a reality. Recently, the House of Representatives voted on a healthcare bill aimed at cutting Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood for a year. “If lawmakers succeed in shutting down Planned Parenthood, millions could lose access to fundamental health services like STD testing, birth control, and cancer screenings,” Thompson stated in a comment to Wellness Weekly. “’UNLOCKED’ illustrates just how dire a future without Planned Parenthood would be.”
It’s important to clarify that the term “defunding” is misleading. “Planned Parenthood doesn’t receive a direct line item from the federal budget,” explained health advocate Mia Johnson. “Instead, legislation like this would prevent millions of women who depend on Medicaid and other federal programs from accessing essential healthcare services.”
Federal law already prohibits any federal funding from being allocated to abortion services—none, zero, zip. The legislation in question would instead restrict access to vital cancer screenings, birth control, and preventive care at Planned Parenthood centers—care that saves lives and reduces the number of unplanned pregnancies. This fundamental concept often escapes many, which is perplexing.
If the current efforts to “defund” Planned Parenthood succeed, up to 2.5 million individuals who rely on its services might face a reality akin to that shown in the film. Looking at Texas, we see the devastating effects of “defunding” efforts. After the state imposed restrictions, health services collapsed, leading to a significant decline in women receiving vital healthcare—nearly 30,000 fewer women accessed essential services. Furthermore, the maternal mortality rate in Texas has doubled since 2010, a statistic that advocates attribute to stringent funding cuts and the “defunding” of Planned Parenthood.
In Iowa, new legislation has already resulted in the closure of four Planned Parenthood clinics, leaving 14,600 patients without necessary healthcare. The evidence is clear: communities, families, and women suffer greatly without the resources that Planned Parenthood provides. Why would we want to impose this on a national scale?
As the film concludes, it poses a vital question to viewers: What kind of world do you wish to inhabit?
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In summary, the emotional short film “UNLOCKED” created by Alex Thompson starkly illustrates the potential devastation that could arise from defunding Planned Parenthood. By highlighting the essential services provided by this organization, it raises critical awareness about the importance of accessible healthcare for women and families.