Planned Parenthood launches groundbreaking campaign linking sexual health to progressive issues ahead of crucial midterm elections

Exclusive: Reproductive rights advocacy group is making a case for civil rights and abortion access

Rising healthcare costs have prompted protests (REUTERS)

If any singular organisation stands to gain the most from a possible wave of Democrat wins in November's crucial midterm elections, its Planned Parenthood.

The nonprofit, which provides reproductive health care in the US and abroad, has endured nearly two years of battling Donald Trump's administration amid lengthy court battles and drastic threats to its funding. Now, the group is taking a stand for progressive causes, linking sexual health to issues like paid family leave and equal pay in a new campaign titled "UNSTOPPABLE".

"Because of the false narratives that are being propagated by people in positions of power, it’s crucial to set the record straight," said Tanya Selvaratnam, an Emmy-nominated producer who formed an artist collective of women to create the campaign's "manifesto" video, along with other upcoming projects. "It's a beautiful experience to bring together a vital organisation that's more than a hundred years old with a lot of creative people who are honoured to support its work."

The new campaign is not a push for voters to head to the ballot box in 2018, but it does seek to link Planned Parenthood's priorities to national policy. The UNSTOPPABLE manifesto includes eight core tenets: affordable access to birth control, health care and abortions for all, freedom from sexual violence and government regulation surrounding women’s bodies, economic equality, paid family leave and LGBT rights.

"The Trump-Pence administration has worked to restrict access to abortion, undermined birth control access by allowing virtually any employer to refuse to provide coverage for birth control based on a religious or moral objection, and tried to block people from getting care at Planned Parenthood health centres," a statement on the campaign website reads. "We should be working towards a world where our bodies are our own, and women are able to access full reproductive care."

In establishing UNSTOPPABLE, Planned Parenthood seeks to answer a common question for Americans concerned by threats to progressive causes under Donald Trump: What can be done to fight back?

For years, the Republican Party has sought to defund Planned Parenthood for providing abortions — one of the reproductive health services the organisation offers.

Planned Parenthood supporters hold signs at a protest in downtown Denver (Reuters)

The White House has recently undermined the organisation by blocking abortion access at Planned Parenthood locations funded in part by Title X, which provides health-care to low-income Americans.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump is stacking conservative judges in federal courthouses across the country, and appointing Supreme Court justices like Neil Gorsuch and the recently-nominated Brett Kavanaugh, who is reportedly "hostile" to abortion rights. If the Supreme Court were to overturn or undermine Roe vs Wade, the landmark case establishing abortion access as a constitutional right, it would prove further damaging to groups determined to provide women with safe and legal abortions.

But Planned Parenthood is looking to be at the vanguard of a movement to protect those rights. The UNSTOPPABLE website provides facts about each of its eight core issues, along with ways to get involved in the organisation’s fight and information on donating to progressive causes.

"The UNSTOPPABLE Manifesto video is a rallying call for people to join the movement and build the world we want to see — where everyone has the freedom and opportunity to control their own bodies and their own futures — regardless of race, gender, income, zip code, or immigration status," said Dawn Laguens, executive vice president for Planned Parenthood. "There is unprecedented energy and momentum to unite around full equality for all — and women are leading the way."

"One of us can be dismissed, two of us can be ignored. But, together, we are a movement, and we are unstoppable," she added.

The manifesto video, which showcases women of various backgrounds discussing equality and civil rights, is just one of several art projects Ms Selvaratnam will create for UNSTOPPABLE.

"We're going to be making many more videos — this first one is the launch of the manifesto to encourage everyone to sign it and become part of our network. Then we are going to be making videos inspired by each of the 8 tenets of the manifesto," she said. "I think because it’s hard to navigate these difficult and divisive times, it’s important to give people tangible, laser-focused ways that they can help and that they can join a broader community."