Groups around the nation gathered Tuesday to show support for Planned Parenthood by participating in #PinkOut Day.

The nationwide event garnered more than 5,000 online RSVPs for the 249 events taking place across the country.

Only two of the events were taking place in the entire state of West Virginia. One was held in Morgantown and one at Marshall University’s Memorial Student Center.

Turnouts were small, but participants were vocal about their concerns if Planned Parenthood were to lose funding. One of the biggest concerns Planned Parenthood supporters have is the effect it will have on poor women and minorities if it is defunded.

Many women depend on the services Planned Parenthood offers for little or no charge. Without these services women will be putting themselves and their partners at risk. Planned Parenthood is currently able to offer STD and STI screenings as well as pregnancy tests, mammograms, breast exams and pap smears—all preventative services for reproductive health.
If women can’t afford to get tested and there is no Planned Parenthood, they might not realize they are infected with an STI, or the warning signs of cervical cancer might go ignored. It isn’t safe for women to ignore their reproductive health.

Several cities offered free STD testing for the event to showcase the services Planned Parenthood has available for its patrons.

Planned Parenthood fills the gaps in healthcare for women because even though most people don’t think of it as such, reproductive health care is a privilege. Most insurance doesn’t cover trips to the gynecologist and if it does, there is probably co-pay. For most women, that’s not a feasible solution to their reproductive needs.

Prominent figures know the importance of Planned Parenthood. Popular author Lemony Snicket and his wife announced a donation of $1 million to the organization Tuesday, and hopefully others will follow their example.