SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TO DENOUNCE THE FRAUDULENT MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD

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1 CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 3, 2015 CONSENT CALENDAR SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TO DENOUNCE THE FRAUDULENT MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD INITIATED BY: MAYOR LINDSEY HORVATH Andi Lovano, Project Development Administrator 0 STATEMENT OF SUBJECT: The City Council will consider adopting a resolution to denounce the fraudulent media campaign against Planned Parenthood and to express continued support for access to reproductive healthcare and all reproductive healthcare providers. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Adopt Resolution No ( 0, " A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TO DENOUNCE THE FRAUDULENT MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD." 2. Send copies of the signed Resolution to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, Congressman Adam Schiff, and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton. 3. Direct the Communications Division to utilize all appropriate communications tools to express the City' s position in support limited to, the City' s website and social media tools. BACKGROUND ANALYSIS: of Planned Parenthood including, but not For nearly 100 years, Planned Parenthood has been the nation' s leading provider of reproductive healthcare and sex education to women, men, and young people. Planned Parenthood has often faced opposition from groups that are against its mission and practices. Recently, opponents have made particularly atrocious and deplorable claims. The Center for Medical Progress, the group behind the claims, has released heavily edited videos that accuse Planned Parenthood of violating laws related to tissue donation including selling tissue and profiting from tissue donation for medical research. The individuals behind the claims are extremists; their goal is to ban abortion and defund Planned Parenthood, thereby preventing women from receiving birth control, life- saving cancer screenings, and accessing other preventive healthcare services. AGENDA ITEM 2. R

2 Over the last eight years, this group has participated in at least 10 separate fraud campaigns that have included harassing Planned Parenthood staff and doctors and misleading the public with false claims. The current media campaign is an effort to misrepresent the facts and limit people' s access to healthcare services. Planned Parenthood has released a much longer video to prove that the Center for Medical Progress' s video was edited and fraudulent. In addition, Planned Parenthood has explained that it helps patients who want to donate tissue for scientific research just like every other high- quality healthcare provider does with full, appropriate consent from patients, under the highest ethical and legal standards, and with no financial benefit for the tissue donation for either the patient or for Planned Parenthood. Even with such assurances, the video has caused some conservative politicians to try to defund Planned Parenthood and push for federal legislation banning some abortions. With approximately 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. The City of West Hollywood stands in strong opposition to this attack on Planned Parenthood and other healthcare providers that offer reproductive healthcare services. Support of Planned Parenthood is consistent with the City's existing policy regarding women' s reproductive rights and its legislative priorities. Since its incorporation, the City has adopted several resolutions supporting women' s health and reproductive rights. The City of West Hollywood was the first " pro- choice" city in the nation on record in support of a woman' s right to choose. The City annually recognizes the anniversary for Roe v. Wade and has co- sponsored forums regarding Roe v. Wade and women' s reproductive rights. The City previously approved the development of two social marketing campaigns concerning women' s reproductive rights: Plan B Campaign and the Pro Choice City Campaign. CONFORMANCE WITH VISION 2020 AND THE GOALS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PLAN: The item is consistent with West Hollywood' s Core Value of Respect and Support for People and the Ongoing Strategic Programs: Actively Participate in Regional Issues and Support People through Social Services. This item is consistent with the following General Plan goals: HS- 1: Maintain and Pursue Humane Social Policies and Social Services that Address the Needs of the Community EVALUATION: Staff will track and report back to Council on any developments related to this issue.

3 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEALTH: N/ A OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: Office of Mayor Lindsey Horvath FISCAL IMPACT: None. ATTACHMENT: Resolution No. 15- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TO DENOUNCE THE FRAUDULENT MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD."

4 RESOLUTION NO. 15- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD TO DENOUNCE THE FRAUDULENT MEDIA CAMPAIGN AGAINST PLANNED PARENTHOOD leading WHEREAS, For nearly 100 years, Planned Parenthood has been the nation' s provider of reproductive healthcare and sex education to women, men, and young people; and, WHEREAS, Opponents of Planned Parenthood have released videos and launched a media campaign that is fraudulent and intentionally misrepresents the facts in order to discredit the organization; and, WHEREAS, The individuals behind the media campaign are extremists whose goal is to ban abortion and defund Planned Parenthood, thereby preventing women from receiving birth control, life- saving cancer screenings, and accessing other preventive healthcare; and, WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood has shown that it helps patients who want to donate tissue for scientific research just like other high- quality healthcare providers do with full, appropriate consent from patients, under the highest ethical and legal standards, and with no financial benefit for the tissue donation for either the patient or for Planned Parenthood; and, WHEREAS, The City of West Hollywood stands in strong opposition to this attack on Planned Parenthood and other healthcare providers that offer reproductive healthcare services; and, WHEREAS, The City of West Hollywood has demonstrated its commitment to women' s reproductive rights including by being the first "pro- choice" city in the nation on record in support of a woman' s right to choose, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of West Hollywood to denounce the atrocious and fraudulent media campaign against Planned Parenthood and to express continued support for access to reproductive healthcare and all reproductive healthcare providers.

5 Resolution No. 15- Page 2 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 3rd day of August, Lindsey Horvath, Mayor ATTEST: Yvonne Quarker, City Clerk