Health

Three Republican women team up to defend birth control access in Idaho

Boise State Public Radio News | By Julie Luchetta
Published December 14, 2023 at 5:20 PM MST

Two former Republican state representatives and a former state senate candidate are teaming up to educate people about contraception and defend access to birth control in Idaho. ... Business Owner Tara Malek, and former State Representatives Kelley Packer and Laurie Lickley started the Idaho Contraceptive Education Network in the wake of the repeal of Roe v. Wade. The idea behind the organization came after the founders noticed some policy discussions conflated contraception with abortions.

“We want to make sure that everyone is crystal clear that there is a difference between contraceptives and abortion, and there is a critical and crucial role that contraceptives play,” Malek said.

The network wants to counter misinformation about birth control, ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Malek said they saw there was a lack of understanding about the role and function of birth control.

An abortion is defined by the deliberate termination of a pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization, contraceptives do not cause abortions, they prevent pregnancies from occurring in the first place, either through disrupting the menstrual cycle, blocking passageways or preventing fertilization.

{snip}

Julie Luchetta
As the Canyon County reporter, I cover the Latina/o/x communities and agricultural hub of the Treasure Valley. I’m super invested in local journalism and social equity, and very grateful to be working in Idaho.

HEALTH

Three Idaho Republican women launch organization to preserve access to contraceptives

Idaho Contraceptive Education Network to address confusion between abortion and contraceptives

BY: MIA MALDONADO - DECEMBER 14, 2023 4:40 AM

{snip}