@Whymommy Love Fest Held As Susan G. Komen Cuts Off Planned Parenthood Funding

Great discussion- thanks for opening up the issue! For those of you who haven't had a chance to experience PP's services, here're some testimonials that'll give you some insight:

Planned Parenthood Saved Me

http://plannedparenthoodsavedme.tumblr.com/

First off, my prayers go out to @WhyMommy. My family has been touched by breast cancer. My grandma died of it. Just today we received news that my mom's biopsy came back benign. Thanks be to God!!! I don't want to take away from her pain, Lisa's, or anyone who is a breast cancer survivor, fighting the disease, or someone who has lost a loved one to it.

However, I don't understand why Planned Parenthood and its supporters immediately started politicizing the announcement and making it more divisive than it should have been. To be fair, I am vehemently pro-life. So you know where I'm coming from here. Yet, I doubt Komen was choosing the sides in the abortion debate. Instead, the way I see it is the non-profit organization’s decision to was a focused effort to be better steward of Komen’s resources. If your organization provides low-cost mammograms to women who need them, it will still be available for grants. Planned Parenthood offers manual breast exams in their clinics. It does NOT offer mammograms onsite. Instead, some Planned Parenthood locations REFER women to low-cost mammograms. So PP takes Komen's money to provide grants to women to receive low-cost mammograms at other organizations. Why does Komen need a middle man? Why should Planned Parenthood receive money to give grants for mammograms to other organizations? It just makes logical sense - no matter your stand on the issue of abortion - to give the money directly to the clinics that actually give the breast cancer screenings rather than funneling it through Planned Parenthood (or any other establishment for that matter).

Likewise, I don’t understand why so many Planned Parenthood supporters are threatening to stop giving to Komen and saying even though it's backed off its position to defund PP, its reputation is now somehow tainted. Were these individuals only giving to Komen to support Planned Parenthood, or were they interested in finding a cure for breast cancer and/or helping it to be detected early in women of all socioeconomic levels? People can still give to Komen and then also write a check directly Planned Parenthood. Opponents of the initial policy change were arguing that Komen’s decision would reduce access to care to women who need lifesaving screening exams but as I pointed out above, this policy change really just removes an unnecessary middle man. The very people who are going to stop giving to Komen because of a fear of reduced access to care are the real ones who will be disenfranchising women looking for affordable breast screenings. If they’re not only concerned about the breast screenings, then, again, like I just said give directly to Planned Parenthood.

I have discovered so many unique voices in the blogosphere over the years in large part due to the tremendous community BlogHer and its founders and employees have built word by word, blog by blog. You have empowered women from all walks of life as well as given us a voice - and a very powerful one at that. You took it a step further and helped put money where our mouths are, which is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists-turned bloggers like myself to find. I can't tell you how many people have approached me in recent months to write for free. So thank you for supporting women in social media and backing them up financially.

Nevertheless, I did feel this post, especially since it was headlined in a BlogHer email newsletter, did come across as partisan. I wish there had been another perspective offered. I don't want to discount the pain people have suffered because of breast cancer in any way or partake in any mud-slinging, but it seems as is the case with virtually all media companies, it's impossible to not to marble in personal agendas. I'm not faulting Lisa, but I'm not sure I can feel like this is a non-partisan space or publishing network any longer.

Thanks for the charitable discourse.

"Just as women are about more than our breasts, so is health care for women about more than abortions" Exactly. Thank you for this.

It's really this simple, PP was there for me when I needed them, and now that they need me, I am there for them.

This thread is crazy with emotion, and that belies the beauty of our freedom - of speech and of choice - and hopefully that never changes.

A few years back there was a group that set out to change the world. They championed the humane treatment of animals, passed animal conservation laws, warned the public about the dangers of smoking, funded public welfare, invented a form of affordable transportation, revolutionized their country's highway system, pioneered rocket technology, and found treatments for diseases that we still use today. You could say that taking the lives of millions of unwanted and inconvenient human beings was only a small percentage of what they did. Maybe even as low as 3%, if you use creative math. But I don't think anyone would write an article like this about pulling funding from the Nazi party. They might have done some amazing things--for poor people even--but what they ultimately stood for was death.

Ladies, there are plenty of clinics out there that give needed women's services to the uninsured. Who cares what good things Planned Parenthood has done, when their entire existence is shrouded in death. In this case, the smallest percentage can far outweigh any good they might have done. I welcome the break between these two foundations.

Who will set up an alternate organization, because I'm not donating to the Susan organization any longer. it's time to start a NEW fund that won't discriminate against the lowest income women in society - since obviously people like Sarah Palin have high-level insurance plans that mean she does not have to depend upon Planned Parenthood for HER mammograms.

Okay, so I'm researching into this "3%" that keeps getting thrown around. Here is some facts about that number (which is from 2006, I'd love to know what it is today):

While Planned Parenthood officials claim that abortions constitute only 3% percent of their services, this figure is misleading. Out of the 10.5 million individual services they provided in 2006, 289,750 were abortions—roughly 3%. But this figure fails to account for the fact that a woman visiting Planned Parenthood for an abortion will receive several services—from a pregnancy test to some manner of counseling to the abortion itself—each of which is counted separately, making their overall 'services' appear much higher than it really is. A closer look at Planned Parenthood’s client and income numbers shows that the abortion figure is actually three times what they claim. Moreover, abortion accounts for at least a third of Planned Parenthood’s total income from clinic services.

Pro-lifer do not think that it is okay for any women not to have access to medical services - that is just a stupid argument. Planned Parenthood doesn't need to be that place.

Finally, I would like to say that real pro-lifers don't think that "being Pro-life stops at birth" Pro-life advocates think that ALL life is worth fighting for, from the baby in utero all the way through the elderly. People should be allowed to live from natural birth to natural death.

It had been an unlikely alliance from the beginning--with one group setting out to save lives, and Planned Parenthood dedicated to ending them. Since 2005, the Foundation had justified the relationship by insisting that the money only funded breast cancer screening, education, and health programs. Then the news broke. Planned Parenthood didn't need the money for mammograms, because it never provided them! The clinics only offer manual breast exams, which the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warns is an ineffective form of cancer screening.

Under Komen's new policy, the Foundation will only award grants to organizations that actually do mammograms. That seems reasonable to everyone but the Left, which has spent the last 24 hours unleashing the fury on the Komen Foundation for "politicizing" the issue--when in reality, the Foundation is just trying to protect its resources. As the charity points out, Planned Parenthood is currently under investigation for misusing taxpayer funds. And unlike most in Congress, Susan G. Komen wants to be good stewards of your money. In just the last few years, Planned Parenthood has racked up a record of fraud, Medicaid overbilling, criminal cover-ups, falsifying medical information, violating safety standards, encouraging prostitution and sex trafficking, medical malpractice, accepting racially-motivated donations, and huge profits. Any legitimate organization should back away. (Even wasteful organizations like the federal government!) There are plenty of respectable health clinics out there (1,200, in fact) that would host the screenings without promoting abortion--a procedure that may have more to do with causing breast cancer than curing it.

Not surprisingly, Planned Parenthood and its allies are on the warpath. After all, this isn't just the loss of millions of dollars but another major public relations defeat as well.

Lisa, I think this was the most touching and powerful pieces I've ever read of yours. My heart goes out to all those women battling cancer, their families, and all the families who cannot afford medical care in our country- The land of the free, home of the brave.

All this chatter about how Womens Health should not be about Politics is simply absurd. Just as all the pro-choice ladies on this thread are up in arms and offended that SGK has withdrew funding, those of us who speak for the unborn babies that Planned Parenthood murders have been offended that SGK ever gave them funding in the first place. The only difference is that the Politics that have ALWAYS been there are now not working in your favor. If you are willing to take the blinders off, I encourage you to read unPlanned, written by a former Director at Planned Parenthood - she gives you the real look into the deceitful goings on behind this organization that claims to be all about womens health.

I also need to know - does it not matter to anyone that the whole reason the funding has been pulled (and that, sadly, it might be temporary) is because this supposed wonderful PP is UNDER CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION?!?

Why doesn't Planned Parenthood separate its books and operations so that one brand handles only abortions and the other handles everything else? SKG, the federal government and others could fund the non-abortion branch. Everyone who believes in abortion could support that branch. True transparency.

Thank you Lisa for shining a light on Komen and our brave friend Susan. Since hearing about Komen, I have developed a fantasy that we women will join together to out-raise the money contributed to PPFA by Komen and donate it in the name of our Susan--Susan Niebur. Susan is an advocate for all women and it would be fitting tribute.

A part of me is surprised about the comments on this post - surprised to see that so many women seem clueless about the services that Planned Parenthood provides for women. I am going to own my beliefs, and I will decline to donate to SGK or buy anything pink for breast cancer in the future. Because you know what? Breast cancer doesn't discriminate - and neither should organizations that fight to cure it. My donations will go directly to Planned Parenthood. And Susan, @Whymommy, my thoughts are with you and your friends and family.

Great piece glad you wrote this...cheers to BlogHer!

I understand the point made in this article, and by so many of the posts below. However, it seems to me as if PP is being glorified and not looked at objectively. Has it helped a lot of lower income women? Absolutely. Is it also a corrupt agency with immoral practices? Absolutely. I used them at a time in my life I thought I didn't have any other options for basic screenings. My experience was traumatic. No joke. I found a way to go to a real doctor instead of the crackpots at PP, and my outlook on my health and well being shifted dramatically. You cannot ignore the issues in PP because of the ideals put forward by it. SGK is about fighting breast cancers. PP doesn't do mammograms, and breatst exams can be done yourself, or at other places. SGK has no business supporting this agency. The fact that my tax dollars have gone to it despite my strong, personal objections has sickened me. It's about time PP get examined for what it really is, not what it claims it SHOULD be.

it is so sad that people can see all the benefits of planned parenthood and then totally dismiss komen.

yoo hoo! here i am, over here *waves both hands* i am a person who directly benefited from Susan G. Komen foundation and the support the community provided me when I first found the cancer all the way through treatment and beyond!

yeah they have admin costs and maybe someone isn't checking to see if the *pink brand is everything is should be. have you ever seen an Amercican Cancer Society building? what if every cent you donated to the AMC went to research instead of admin costs? would scientists be working out of their garages then?

and to be fair, planned parenthood was the first place i went for an ob/gyn appointment. to. get. birth. control.

dismissing the right to lifer's opinion isn't right either.

but the topic of the conversation is really boycott Komen isn't it?

Thank you for your thoughtful and informative post Lisa. You covered the pros and cons of public opinion and didn't shy away from stating your own. Kudos. I feel it's your duty to say where you stand in full transparency and to balance the press that SGK is getting for the opposite reason. If both opinions are not provided then only ONE opinion will be weighed. Readers deserve both. The difference is that you stood for yourself, not for Elisa or Jory. SGK leaders weren't so transparent, they instead used the entire organization to front their personal mission.

Our online "voice votes" carry far more weight than the political elections. Once women understand that, they'll understand their responsibility to say what they think often, loudly, and with civility.

I am very dismayed by SGK's stand because it is playing to politics and not helping women. I will not be supporting SGK any longer. There are many places that are more focused in their mission to help all women, Planned Parenthood is one of them. When I was a starving college student, PP was my primary health screener. Later I did volunteer work at PP to pay back for my healthcare; one of the things we were trained on was how to check yourself for lumps and why it was important. They have been consistent in their mission to help all women stay alive and healthy often during the most dire of times.

I feel like I can weigh in by personally vouching for ine thing: PP does provide medical services. For four years, they were my healthcare provider. In between college, which provided health services, and when I got a job that enabled me to afford health coverage, I went every year to PP when I came home for the holidays.

I got an annual exam, pap smear, birth control, breast exam, and on one occasion, an HIV test.

They charged on a sliding scale (based, as I recall) on the honor system of reporting your income.

It's the same service I get now, with my excellent health coverage (Kaiser), and I was very thankful for it.

The two things PP is most well-known for are abortions and contraceptives - both of which have been linked to breast cancer. I've always wondered why SGK supported PP, simply because of this.Also, no PP clinic does mammograms. Call any of them and ask. They don't do this; they will refer you to a "regular" health clinic.

I don't think this move on the part of SGK necessarily has anything to do with politics... I never thought it made much sense for them to support PP in the first place. Perhaps now they will direct their funding in more appropriate ways.

I have to say that I'm both surprised and saddened at the comments on this post. Women's health should not be about politics. It is well know that several of SGK's top people have been outspoken about their anti-choice beliefs and have ties to very anti-choice groups. Rep. Sterns initiated the "investigation" into PP because of pressure from anti-choice groups, and SGK only revised their policy after this investigation began. It's clear to me that SGK was looking for a reason to stop grants to PP. This is sad on so many levels, especially because of the ignorance of so many who are celebrating this decision. Only 3% of PP's services are for abortions. The real issue here is why some people feel that being "pro-life" stops at birth.

I celebrate our right of freedom of speech and lord knows I have an opinion on just about anything (just ask my family!) I also feel a responsibility as a human being to be respectful of another's right to their opinion, especially if it differs from mine and have read all of the comments posted to this post - some of which I agree with and some I disagree with - but I do not know your life story so I am cautious about forming a snap decision but it does not change my personal opinion but respect your right.

I am disappointed with BlogHer. My disappointment comes from my opinion that a co-founder of this blog would step outside of her responsibility to provide a forum that is "non-partisan" and weigh in on an issue that is emotionally charged and intensely personal to everyone.

You do have a right to speak your mind - there is no denying that fact. But as a co-founder where is the responsibility to continue to insure a safe place for bloggers? Moderating any kind of social media forum is difficult - especially for those of us very opinionated people! - to make sure everyone plays nice while allowing everyone, even those with whom I do not agree with, have a place to state their opinion.

I would venture that a lot of thoughtfulness went into writing your post and you gave thoughtful consideration to how it would be received. I'm sure you knew that this would alienate some of your members and yet you felt so strong about this issue that you felt that was worth it in order to have your say.

I know that it "isn't about me." My re-evaluating whether this is a place that I feel safe and welcome and that those who set the rudder of this "ship" recognize the need to remain neutral as moderators in is not going to affect the success of BlogHer. It just no longer feels like the community I can trust.

the reason sgk cut their funding to PP is because PP is under investigation by the government.

personally, i am a breast cancer survivor and if not for Komen, i'm not sure how i would have coped during the time from when i found my lump until treatment was over. i would never have even thought of contacting planned parenthood for support during my breast cancer journey.

komen is about the cure for Life. planned parenthood is about helping people decide whether to give life or abort it. it seems appropriate that they would have a different stance.

i shed tears for whymommy ... she is so brave. i am going to join in on the love fest.