Healthy Teen Network is thrilled to be among the litigants who challenged what has been proven to be an unlawful early termination of millions of dollars in teen pregnancy prevention funding. The three wins in less than a week provide a ray of light in what has been a dark time for reproductive health and rights for all Americans.

Reproductive health is a critical component of general health and well-being. Understanding our bodies, knowing what constitutes a healthy relationship, being able to make informed choices, and having access to reproductive health services if and when we decide to engage in sexual activity are all components of reproductive health and must be safeguarded against the radical ideology of a few.

Abstinence is a component of comprehensive reproductive health and should be supported; but abstinence alone does not address the needs of all of our youth.

But what is equally important about these wins is that the government has been told they cannot capriciously end agreements and funding at the whim of new staff. There are safeguards for grantees and there are limits to the power of all in charge. In other words, we have a voice and we can use our voice to right wrongs.

We are grateful to our fellow litigants—Baltimore City Health Department and the City of Baltimore, King County (Washington State), Planned Parenthood, Policy & Research Group LLC, Project Vida Health Center, Sexual Health Initiatives for Teens in North Carolina, and the South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy—and all of the law firms—Arnold & Porter, Planned Parenthood, Public Citizen, and especially Jodie Morse and Democracy Forward Foundation—for their wisdom and guidance and for being on the side of reason.

#StandingStrong