What goes on inside so-called crisis pregnancy centers.
Ah, America. Land of the free, home of the brave, and now, apparently, the birthplace of the crisis pregnancy center explosion. Ever since Roe v. Wade was given the boot, these delightful establishments have been popping up like weeds in an untended garden. For every real abortion clinic, there are now three fake ones. Yes, you read that right — three! It’s like a twisted version of Starbucks, except instead of caffeine, they’re serving up misinformation and guilt.
I paid a visit to one of these fake clinics on a reporting trip to Arizona recently, and I saw first-hand just how freakishly deceptive they are. The sign advertised the religious establishment (because that’s almost always what they are) as a “women’s clinic” that offered “free pregnancy tests” and that didn’t require insurance. I couldn’t believe anyone could lie to women so overtly and get away with it. Here’s a video I filmed outside the fake medical facility while a security camera announced that it was filming me the entire time.
The Misinformation Marathon
Picture this: You walk into a clinic expecting to get real medical advice about your pregnancy, only to be told that getting an abortion will give you breast cancer, make you suicidal, and turn your uterus into a defunct carnival ride. Sounds like a bad joke, right? Well, welcome to the world of crisis pregnancy centers, where facts are as rare as a unicorn at a dog show.
Let’s debunk some of these gems, shall we? First up, the old “abortion causes breast cancer” myth. Hum…it doesn’t. The American Cancer Society and a bazillion studies have debunked this one more times than I can count. Then there’s the “abortion will make you suicidal” scare tactic. Again, no credible research supports this claim. The American Psychological Association even says so. In fact, it’s when women are denied abortions that their mental health and financial future suffer. But why let facts get in the way of a good scary story?
Money, Money, Money…But Not for Healthcare
Here’s the most infuriating part: Since Roe v. Wade took its last breath, these CPCs have raked in a cool $1.4 billion. That’s billion with a “B.” And guess where a chunk of that change comes from? Federal money and taxpayer dollars. Yes, your hard-earned cash is helping to fund places that prioritize anti-abortion propaganda over actual medical care. It’s like paying someone to tell you the earth is flat.
Imagine if that $1.4 billion went to real healthcare services. Maybe we could have more clinics that provide comprehensive reproductive care, including safe and legal abortions, or get our abysmal Black infant and maternal mortality rates under control. But no, let’s give it to the centers that make women feel like they’ve stepped into a bad 1950s horror movie.
The Health Fallout
The rise of these CPCs isn’t just annoying; it’s dangerous. By dishing out false information and delaying access to real medical care, they put women at risk. Delayed access to abortion means more complicated, riskier procedures. Plus, scaring women into carrying unwanted pregnancies to term has serious physical, emotional, and socio-economic consequences. It’s like telling someone their house is on fire, but hey, don’t worry about it — just enjoy the warmth.
Time to Get Loud
So, what do we do about this mess? First, we need to shout from the rooftops about what’s really going on in these CPCs. Women deserve accurate information and real healthcare, not fear-mongering and fairy tales. We also need to hold our lawmakers accountable for funneling taxpayer dollars into these deceptive centers. And most importantly, we need to support organizations that provide genuine medical care.
In this post-Roe reality, it’s up to us to fight for a world where women’s health and rights are respected. Let’s champion policies that protect our autonomy and access to accurate information. Because, at the end of the day, women deserve better than this circus of misinformation.
The rise of crisis pregnancy centers post-Roe is like a bad episode of “The Twilight Zone” — misleading, manipulative, and just plain wrong. These centers thrive on misinformation and scare tactics, all while pocketing billions in funding that could be better spent on real healthcare. It’s time to call out this nonsense, advocate for women’s health, and ensure that every woman has the right to make informed decisions about her body. Let’s turn the tide and demand better — for all of us.
Liz Plank is an award-winning journalist and international bestselling author. She hosts Synced, a podcast with Monica Padman and Dax Shepard, and the Man Enough podcast with Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath, where they interview influential figures about their journey to manhood. Plank regularly appears on national and international television programs to provide a perspective on politics, gender issues, and reproductive rights, including The TODAY Show, The Daily Show, MSNBC, CNN, ABC News, Fusion, Al-Jazeera America, and BBC World.
This piece originally appeared in Liz Plank’s substack Airplane Mode, which you can subscribe to here.
