I've never been a big fan of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. With the pink ribbon everywhere, and after they sued smaller charities that use "for the cure" in any variation as if they owned the phrase, they always looked to me more like a brand and a business than a real charity. In addition, Nancy G. Brinker, its founder and CEO, is a major Republican donor. All of these, of course, does not deny that they've donated tons of money to really positive causes. But I've never donated to them because I never felt comfortable with all of the above. I just found out that Susan G. Komen has decided not to give Planned Parenthood a $600,000 grant to be used for breast exams for low-income women. Their reason for doing so is that Planned Parenthood is under Congressional investigation (an investigation brought by the same folks who destroyed ACORN). Most people, though, believe they are caving to the pressure of anti-abortion groups. It is really a shame that such a powerful
But it looks like the story might have a positive outcome. Not only the backlash has been huge (read the comments on Susan G. Komen Facebook wall, there are so many negative ones that they can't erase all of them), but people have started donating to Planned Parenthood in response. According to this article,
Planned Parenthood announced on Wednesday that it has received $400,000 from about 6,000 donors since Komen announced it was cutting funding to the organization on Tuesday afternoon.So if your finances allow it, please donate to Planned Parenthood today! Myself, I just sent a $100 donation. And if you are thinking about donating to a breast cancer non-profit, please choose one other than Susan G. Komen. I am not an expert, so I can't recommend other organizations, but feel free to leave suggestions in the comments if you want.
Planned Parenthood was the only place I was able to go for YEARS in order to get birth control and annual exams. I was low income, got everything for free, and never got pregnant or had an abortion. I had excellent service there, and will always be grateful. I'll donate.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm sure you read my post about how my Catholic school refused to let our insurance cover birth control pills? Well, today, I was at Walgreens picking up my new prescription. They said, "Your insurance rejected it," and I said, "Yeah, I know. Just take my insurance off that prescription. They'll never pay for it." The pharmacist asked if I wanted to sign up for their Walgreens plan. You pay 20 dollars a year, and they give you discounts on several different kinds of medicines, etc. It took my pill down from 35 dollars to 12, which is less than I would have paid with insurance coverage. I was very pleased and signed right up.
So Walgreens is also getting my support for sticking it to the Church. Oh, your right-wing religious employer won't let you have the pill? Well, we'll fix you right up, lady! Thank god for secular laws. ;)
I only used Planned Parenthood once, my last year in grad school when I started my serious relationship with my now husband, so we got tested there when we decided it was a committed, monogamous relationship. Otherwise, I was lucky enough that I would get my Paps done when I went back to Buenos Aires every year. My grad school health insurance did not cover Pap (nor the test I got done at PP) because they were "elective". They did cover the Pill, though.
ReplyDeleteAnd good for Walgreens!!!