Contact: DeAnne Cuellar, 210-896-9141, deanne.cuellar@equalitytexas.org

Austin, Texas – After months of investigation, a Harris County grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast of all wrongdoing and allegations of unlawful misconduct. Equality Texas supports early intervention and prevention programs to prevent and reduce HIV-affected communities and publicly requests the Texas Department of State Health Services to move expeditiously to reinstate prevention funding contracts with Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

Texas’ largest city and surrounding communities depend upon Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast for HIV testing, condom distribution, PrEP risk prevention programs and vital care counseling. Reinstatement of funding for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast’s HIV prevention services is critical to the health of our communities.

Quote from Chuck Smith, Executive Director of  Equality Texas

“Equality Texas understands firsthand how the spread of malicious lies and false accusations of illegal activity can affect the public safety and public health of LGBT communities. Now that a Harris County grand jury has cleared Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast of all wrongdoing we are calling on the Texas Department of State Health Services to reinstate HIV/PrEP prevention funding to Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.”

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Equality Texas works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.