After being declined in Utah, The Planned Parenthood Association appealed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to block the action taken by Governor Gary Herbert of cutting off the funds reserved for sex education and Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STD testing.
U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups who ruled the case last week favoring Gov. Herbert's decision refused the group's request while the lawsuit filed by the Planned Parenthood against Utah is still going on causing the movement to file a notice of appeal on Monday.
Last October, the association sued the state after the governor ended the $275,000 contract money for the mentioned health services. It was revealed that Herbert stopped the said monetary support in reaction to the leaked Planned Parenthood videos that went viral online.
The undercover videos were showing healthcare professionals discussing fetal tissue products from abortions and subsequently accusing the organization of gaining profits from selling them. Many states conducted investigations and did not find any evidence that suggests the allegation is true as to date.
Most of the states in the U.S. did not block the Planned Parenthood funds while the probe for the said sale of fetal tissue had rendered negative. In addition to Utah, states such as Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and a few other states have been sued by the group for the same reason.
The CEO of the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, Karrie Galloway, said the judge's ruling was regrettable and that Herbert acted in response to unproven allegations and the move violated Planned Parenthood's First Amendment right to advocate for or perform abortions.
Waddoups wrote in the December 22nd ruling, "While the allegations may prove to be unfounded, they are nevertheless material at this time" even though the organization has not broken any law yet.
The Planned Parenthood wants to overturn Utah's decision as it appeals to the 10th U.S. Circuit with its lawyers arguing that cutting off the money for STD and sex education programs would result in thousands of people being at risk which could lead to the rise of the said diseases and unwanted pregnancies.
