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Planned Parenthood Withdraws From Title X Federal Funds. Here’s What That Means


Planned Parenthood has announced that it will withdraw from Title X, a federal program that helps make birth control, pregnancy tests, and screenings for sexually transmitted diseases accessible and affordable. The decision is due to the Trump administration’s new “gag rule,” which restricts what health providers can tell patients about abortion. Under this rule, if Planned Parenthood wanted to continue to receive funds through the program, it would no longer be able to offer abortion referrals or even suggest where a patient could get an abortion.

The Trump administration first introduced the new Title X rules in May, but it wasn’t until last week, when a federal court failed to halt them, that Planned Parenthood decided to pull out of the program.

Planned Parenthood has received Title X funds since the 1970s, but these federal dollars have never been used to fund abortions. And according to the New York Times, “Planned Parenthood receives about $60 million of the $286 million given annually by Title X to about 4,000 health centers providing reproductive health care, as well as screenings for breast cancer and cervical cancer, to about 4 million patients.” Without these resources, more than 1.5 million low-income women who rely on Planned Parenthood for pregnancy tests, birth control, STI screenings, and other services through Title X support could be affected. The organization has shared that one of their programs, a mobile health center in Cleveland, will have to close and that other clinics will feel similar pressure from the cuts.

“By forcing Planned Parenthood out of the Title X program, Trump is fulfilling his debt to the anti-choice movement—a vocal, extreme minority in this country—for their work to put him in the White House,” NARAL Pro-Choice America president Ilyse Hogue shared in a statement. “Millions of women and families who rely on Planned Parenthood for a full range of reproductive health care will be forced to pay the price for political payback by the Trump administration and their reckless Title X gag rule. The decision about when and with whom to have a family is one of the most personal and important decisions a person will ever make, and it’s definitely one that should be free from political interference.”

Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications at Emily’s List, echoed Hogue’s sentiments. “Since day one, Trump and his Republican cronies have tried to defund Planned Parenthood and strip valuable reproductive care from millions of women. Today, those efforts have real and dangerous consequences for too many women in America. The Trump administration is using one of the largest and most valuable programs for providing affordable birth control and reproductive health care to bully providers, like Planned Parenthood, into withholding information on abortion. As the gag rule takes effect, millions of women will be left with nowhere to turn for essential health care like affordable birth control, cancer screenings, maternal care, and more,” she wrote in a statement.

Supporters of Planned Parenthood have also taken to Twitter to share their outrage. Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke wrote, “Trump is taking tens of millions of dollars away from Planned Parenthood—jeopardizing the health of more than a million people across our country. Please donate to @PPFA today, so Trump can’t stop patients from receiving the care they need.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar tweeted, “Trump’s gag rule is forcing Planned Parenthood to withdraw from Title X. Last year alone 53,000 Minnesotans relied on Title X-funded clinics for cancer screenings, well person visits, birth control, and more. Losing access to this care puts lives at risk. Period.”





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Scarlett Johansson Withdraws From "Rub and Tug" After Criticism of Her Casting as a Trans Man


Scarlett Johansson has withdrawn from the film Rub and Tug following widespread criticism of her casting as a transgender man, Dante “Tex” Gill. The actor announced the news on Friday in a statement to Out Magazine:

“In light of recent ethical questions raised surrounding my casting as Dante Tex Gill, I have decided to respectfully withdraw my participation in the project,” she said. “Our cultural understanding of transgender people continues to advance, and I’ve learned a lot from the community since making my first statement about my casting and realize it was insensitive. I have great admiration and love for the trans community and am grateful that the conversation regarding inclusivity in Hollywood continues.”

“According to GLAAD, LGBTQ+ characters dropped 40% in 2017 from the previous year, with no representation of trans characters in any major studio release,” she continued. “While I would have loved the opportunity to bring Dante’s story and transition to life, I understand why many feel he should be portrayed by a transgender person, and I am thankful that this casting debate, albeit controversial, has sparked a larger conversation about diversity and representation in film. I believe that all artists should be considered equally and fairly. My production company, These Pictures, actively pursues projects that both entertain and push boundaries. We look forward to working with every community to bring these most poignant and important stories to audiences worldwide.”

Johansson’s words are a significant departure from her previous statement. In the wake of the immense backlash against the news of her casting, she originally shifted attention to other cisgender actors who have portrayed transgender characters. “Tell them that they can be directed to Jeffrey Tambor, Jared Leto, and Felicity Huffman’s reps for comment,” she said simply, via a rep, to Bustle.

Previously, Johansson’s casting was heavily criticized by many, including trans actors Trace Lysette, who stars in Transparent, and Jamie Clayton, who stars in Sense8.

“Oh word?? So you can continue to play us but we can’t play y’all? Hollywood is so f*cked… I wouldn’t be as upset if I was getting in the same rooms as Jennifer Lawrence and Scarlett for cis roles, but we know that’s not the case. A mess,” Lysette wrote on Twitter. “And not only do you play us and steal our narrative and our opportunity,” she added, “but you pat yourselves on the back with trophies and accolades for mimicking what we have lived… so twisted. I’m so done…”

Clayton chimed in with the same criticism. “Actors who are trans never even get to audition FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN ROLES OF TRANS CHARACTERS,” she tweeted. “THATS THE REAL ISSUE. WE CANT EVEN GET IN THE ROOM. Cast actors WHO ARE TRANS as NON TRANS CHARACTERS. I DARE YOU #RupertSanders @NewRegency #ScarlettJohansson”

Johansson was previously criticized for playing a whitewashed version of a Japanese character in Ghost in the Shell, which was also directed by Rupert Sanders, the director of Rub and Tug. It is unclear who will be replacing her in Rub and Tug, and whether the film will cast a transgender man.

Related: Scarlett Johansson Called Out James Franco for Wearing a Time’s Up Pin





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Casey Affleck Withdraws From Oscars, Won’t Present Best Actress Award


Casey Affleck has reportedly withdrawn from the upcoming Academy Awards, where, as last year’s Best Actor winner, he was set to present the Oscar for Best Actress. According to Deadline, the actor told the Academy that not only will he not be presenting any awards at the 2018 Oscars, but he has also declined his invitation to the entire ceremony. “Affleck did not want to become a distraction from the focus that should be on the performances of the actresses in the category,” a source told the publication.

Affleck’s withdrawal comes amid criticism that he, an accused sexual harasser, would be allowed to present such an important statuette. In 2010, while directing I’m Still Here, a mockumentary starring Joaquin Phoenix, Affleck was sued by two female employees who claimed that he “led and fostered an environment of sexual harassment on set.” One of the women also claimed that Affleck climbed into bed with her one night and touched her without her consent. At the 2017 Oscars, Affleck won Best Actor for his performance in Manchester by the Sea. (Brie Larson, who presented the award after winning Best Actress in 2016 for her role as a victim of sexual assault in Room, notably did not clap did for the actor.

With the recent rise of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements, it seems Affleck would rather avoid the public scrutiny altogether at this year’s Oscars (where he isn’t nominated for any awards) than face the certain backlash he would receive for presenting such a prestigious award to a woman. Celebrities have been supporting Time’s Up during awards season by wearing pins and dressing in all black on red carpets. At this weekend’s Grammys, musicians will wear white roses to demonstrate support for sexual assault victims. There have not yet been any plans announced for a demonstration on the Oscars red carpet.

Recently, James Franco, who was accused by five women for sexual misconduct following a win at the 2018 Golden Globes for The Disaster Artist—he was snubbed in this year’s Oscar noms—skipped the Critics’ Choice Awards. And Aziz Ansari, who was accused of sexual misconduct, skipped the Screen Actors Guild Awards, despite being a nominee. Ansari had also won at this year’s Globes for Best Actor in a Comedy.



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