Media Contact:
Joe Hui
Director of Communications
jhui@aplahealth.org
213.201.1342
6.24.2022
APLA Health CEO Craig E. Thompson released the following statement:
“APLA Health is profoundly disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. By overturning Roe v. Wade, millions of Americans have lost access to safe and legal abortion care. The consequences are devastating for women and members of the LGBTQ+ community who need access to reproductive health services and deserve the right to make their own health care decisions.
“We also know that LGBTQ+ rights are inextricably linked with reproductive rights. In recent years, we have witnessed a growing wave of anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the country – including efforts to allow doctors to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and to limit access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. These attacks are part of a coordinated strategy to undermine access to abortion and take away the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
“While we are fortunate that California remains a national leader on LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, Dobbs v. Jackson will have far-reaching implications not only for women and LGBTQ+ people but for all Americans and their fundamental right to privacy. APLA Health stands with our partners across the country in condemning this decision and we will continue fighting to ensure that LGBTQ+ people have access to the full spectrum of health care services.”
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ABOUT APLA HEALTH:
APLA Health restores dignity and trust within underserved communities by providing world-class LGBTQ+ empowering healthcare, support services, and HIV specialty care. Since 1983, APLA Health has remained steadfast in its commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our lifetime. The agency is a multi-site operation includes eight Federally Qualified health Center (FQHC) locations, serving more than 18,000 people annually in Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous. We provide 20 different services including: medical, dental, behavioral health and HIV specialty care; PrEP counseling and management; health education and HIV prevention; and STD screening and treatment. For people living with HIV, we offer housing support; benefits counseling; home healthcare; and the Vance North Necessities of Life Program food pantries; among several other critically needed services. Additionally, we are leaders in advocating for policy and legislation that positively impact the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities and conduct community-based research on issues affecting the communities we serve. Our signature fundraising event, AIDS Walk Los Angeles, has drawn hundreds of thousands of supporters to walk, and millions more to donate, raising more than $92 million to combat HIV and AIDS since 1985. For more information on APLA Health visit https://aplahealth.org.
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APLA Health (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles) restores dignity and trust within underserved communities by providing world-class LGBTQ+ empowering healthcare, HIV specialty care, food, housing, and other essential support services. Since our founding in 1983, APLA Health has remained steadfast in our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic in our lifetime. We operate eight Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) locations in Los Angeles County, serving more than 19,000 people annually, regardless of ability to pay. Our list of comprehensive services includes LGBTQ+ primary care, dental care, behavioral healthcare, HIV specialty care, and Out Here Sexual Health services (PrEP, STD screening & treatment, DoxyPEP, and PEP). For people with HIV, our wraparound support services include housing assistance through the Alliance for Housing & Healing and nutritional support via the Vance North Necessities of Life Program, the largest food pantry in the United States for people with HIV, distributing over 800,000 meals annually. APLA Health’s annual fundraisers include AIDS Walk LA — the world's first and oldest AIDS Walk — and Best in Drag Show. We are leaders in advocating for policy and legislation at the local, state and Federal levels that positively impact the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities. For more information, visit aplahealth.org.
