- Brian Chilson
- RACE FOR THE CURE: A hugely popular Little Rock event might experience fallout from sponsor’s decison to end of support for Planned Parenthood.
The anti-abortionists have won a victory over women. Their pressure and relentless attacks from Republicans in Congress have prompted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity to quietly end grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screening and similar services.
Some women, believe it or not, support family planning, affordable health screening for women and the other comprehensive services, yes, even morning-after pills for rape victims and abortion, offered by Planned Parenthood. The article about the decision quotes several of them.
No wonder Komen isn’t trumpeting the news, which could take a little of the bloom off the organization’s popularity. It should. Here’s a statement from Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, which serves Arkansas and which provided 23,000 breast cancer screenings last year.
“As a leading reproductive health care provider in our community, more than 23,000 women relied on Planned Parenthood of the Heartland for breast exams last year,” said Planned Parenthood of the Heartland President and CEO Jill June. “These women are deeply alarmed that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure from a vocal minority.”
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland was in the process of applying for grants for breast health care when notified of the Komen Foundation’s decision. Planned Parenthood is deeply concerned about the troubling precedent of putting politics before women’s health.
“In these tough economic times, more women than ever need access to essential health care services like lifesaving breast cancer screenings. Politics should never get in the way of a woman’s ability to access health care,” said June.