Planned Parenthood goes Co-Ed!

While there were never 'women's only' signs on the doors of Planned Parenthoods across the country, if you've ever been to one, as I have all throughout college in lieu of the campus health center, you'd know that it is filled with estrogen and sometimes a few boyfriends along for the ride. Well ladies, that might be changing.

It seems as though because of today's health care crisis (un/underemployment, un/underinsured populations, budget cuts, clinic closings), men too are accessing the services at Planned Parenthood in greater numbers, though I doubt this is the only health care site of its kind seeing this shift. While some arguments can be made about this changing the feel of the waiting room, specifically, making some women less comfortable as they would have been in a predominantly female space, I must say, overall this is really exciting news. Health care centers that offer free or sliding scale care to uninsured people are diminishing at alarmingly fast rates, leaving those most vulnerable with few options to care for themselves and their loved ones. It pleases me to know that men are taking an active role in their health care, including going for STD testing and treatment and reproductive health consultations, which definitely helps us women, particularly our bisexual and queer sisters! And let's face it, Planned Parenthoods and slimier health centers will always be estrogen heavy as their main focus is women's reproductive health. So, I say, rock on dudes. Take care of yourself and those you love!