Comments on: Planned Parenthood’s Painful Past, Back to Haunt Us All http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/ Repo(ssess) Repro(ductive Justice): Bringing Rights within Reach Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:18:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Jael http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-349 Jael Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:56:06 +0000 http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-349 Communities of color are rightfully suspicious of eugenics movements and people geared at limiting their reproductive choices. However, the reproductive rights movement is not synonymous with racism. The recent shift in our group’s focus to the reproductive justice framework highlights the importance of ensuring reproductive self-determination so that parents can create healthy children when they want and not create them if they do not want to. It ensures that women and men have access not only to abortion services, but sexual education, contraception, health care, etc... The real demon is the Hyde Amendment, which excludes most abortion from health care services provided to low-income people through Medicaid. Planned Parenthood needs money to support women in low-income and in minority communities in understanding and exercising their reproductive choices, including accessing abortion services; however, the fact that Planned Parenthood would accept money from an obviously racist donor is shocking, wrong and not in line with the organization’s general philosophy. Communities of color are rightfully suspicious of eugenics movements and people geared at limiting their reproductive choices. However, the reproductive rights movement is not synonymous with racism. The recent shift in our group’s focus to the reproductive justice framework highlights the importance of ensuring reproductive self-determination so that parents can create healthy children when they want and not create them if they do not want to. It ensures that women and men have access not only to abortion services, but sexual education, contraception, health care, etc… The real demon is the Hyde Amendment, which excludes most abortion from health care services provided to low-income people through Medicaid. Planned Parenthood needs money to support women in low-income and in minority communities in understanding and exercising their reproductive choices, including accessing abortion services; however, the fact that Planned Parenthood would accept money from an obviously racist donor is shocking, wrong and not in line with the organization’s general philosophy.

]]> By: Julie http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-301 Julie Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:08:16 +0000 http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-301 Greg says: With $300,000 coming in annually from the federal govt, they are in no means scraping for funds.. Well, actually, 300 grand doesn't go all that far, Greg. Think about how many services the clinics provide (gynecological exams, contraceptive services, abortion), and about how many clinics there are. Think about the expense imposed on clinics by TRAP laws. You may believe that abortion is wrong, but it's not really up for debate that planned parenthood clinics could really use more money for operational expenses. Greg says: With $300,000 coming in annually from the federal govt, they are in no means scraping for funds..

Well, actually, 300 grand doesn’t go all that far, Greg. Think about how many services the clinics provide (gynecological exams, contraceptive services, abortion), and about how many clinics there are. Think about the expense imposed on clinics by TRAP laws. You may believe that abortion is wrong, but it’s not really up for debate that planned parenthood clinics could really use more money for operational expenses.

]]> By: Greg http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-299 Greg Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:59:46 +0000 http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-299 are you kidding me? I might agree with you if these were smaller franchise clinic chains, but this was Planned Parenthood... With $300,000 coming in annually from the federal govt, they are in no means scraping for funds, and by the way, this incident happened in several Planned Parenthood locations as well, not just Idaho. Now as a pro-lifer, does this really concern me too much? Not really. I oppose Planned Parenthood for other reasons then supposed racist motives that won't really impact the media and the masses too much. I don't believe pro-choicers are racist by any means, and neither do any of the other sane pro-lifers... are you kidding me? I might agree with you if these were smaller franchise clinic chains, but this was Planned Parenthood…

With $300,000 coming in annually from the federal govt, they are in no means scraping for funds, and by the way, this incident happened in several Planned Parenthood locations as well, not just Idaho.

Now as a pro-lifer, does this really concern me too much? Not really. I oppose Planned Parenthood for other reasons then supposed racist motives that won’t really impact the media and the masses too much. I don’t believe pro-choicers are racist by any means, and neither do any of the other sane pro-lifers…

]]> By: julie http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-298 julie Mon, 03 Mar 2008 15:41:06 +0000 http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-298 I think Madison makes a great point -- that it's possible that part of the reason why this clinic worker took the bait is that clinics are so hard up for cash that they are desperate. This is so because of the Hyde amendment, and also because of TRAP laws, which require clinics to spend money on unnecessary "improvements" to the facilities to meet state standards (which are implemented solely to squeeze clinics dry). That said, clinics may be desperate, but they must never allow their staff to stoop to racism. I think Madison makes a great point — that it’s possible that part of the reason why this clinic worker took the bait is that clinics are so hard up for cash that they are desperate. This is so because of the Hyde amendment, and also because of TRAP laws, which require clinics to spend money on unnecessary “improvements” to the facilities to meet state standards (which are implemented solely to squeeze clinics dry). That said, clinics may be desperate, but they must never allow their staff to stoop to racism.

]]> By: Madison http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-297 Madison Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:54:07 +0000 http://reporepro.lsrj.org/2008/03/03/planned-parenthoods-painful-past-back-to-haunt-us-all/#comment-297 This is incredibly upsetting. There is no excuse for the employee reacting (or not reacting) the way she did. It is also unforgivable for the anti-choice organization to dangle the bait of the donation, knowing that many of these clinics are operating on tiny budgets and therefore are desperate for funding. Everyone please donate to your local clinic to help make up for the damage this publicity will do. Remember, this is designed to distract us from the basic truth that this very minute, there are women who need reproductive health services and these clinics are often the only place- especially in rural areas such as Idaho- that will help. This is incredibly upsetting. There is no excuse for the employee reacting (or not reacting) the way she did. It is also unforgivable for the anti-choice organization to dangle the bait of the donation, knowing that many of these clinics are operating on tiny budgets and therefore are desperate for funding. Everyone please donate to your local clinic to help make up for the damage this publicity will do. Remember, this is designed to distract us from the basic truth that this very minute, there are women who need reproductive health services and these clinics are often the only place- especially in rural areas such as Idaho- that will help.

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