The Komen Foundation: Just the Tip of Iceberg.

[xchrom]

http://www.aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/komen-foundation-just-tip-iceberg

I’m thrilled that the Susan G. Komen foundation just announced that they would continue funding to Planned Parenthood. Their quick reversal was a response to the PR nightmare their defunding decision sparked. People from all walks of life and from all over the country criticized Komen’s decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood, and took to the streets (well, their computers) donating money to Planned Parenthood and demanding that Komen stand by its commitment to women’s health. And rightfully so. The Komen Foundation appeared to have bowed to pressure from anti-choice extremists willing to put women's lives at risk by denying them breast cancer screenings in order to advance their radical agenda.

But here is the thing. The Komen Foundation’s decision to strip Planned Parenthood of its funding is just the tip of the iceberg. Last year, state after state put politics before women's health and cut off funding for Planned Parenthood and other health care facilities that provide critical health services for low-income women and men because those organizations provide or refer for abortion care.

What happened in Kansas is typical. In its zeal to shut down Planned Parenthood, the state stopped federal money from going to Planned Parenthood and other health centers that provide critical health services. This money was designated by the federal government to provide basic health care — services like contraceptives and cancer screenings. But, just like the Komen Foundation, the legislators in Kansas put abortion politics before women's health. Had it not been for the ACLU's lawsuit , the Dodge City Family Planning Clinic would have been forced to shut its doors leaving the low-income residents of a large three county area without any means to access these basic services.

And it doesn't end there. The state of Arizona went so far as to kick organizations that even refer a woman for an abortion out of a program that encourages individuals to donate to organizations that serve the working poor. Again, legislators were literally willing to put women's lives at risk in an effort to scare off organizations, like our client, the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence, from having anything to do with abortion. On behalf of the coalition, whose members sometimes refer their clients — domestic violence survivors who have been the subject to sexual assault — for abortion, the ACLU sued and won. But, already a bill has been introduced in the Arizona legislature that would again attempt to penalize organizations involved in abortion care.

[northoftheborder]

1. Thanks for calling our attention to all these attempts to advance a radical agenda.

[MuseRider]

2. In Kansas that is just the first thing they did.

The legislation being introduced is so bad, so controlling that this was just the opening shot. I would post them all but don't have the time right now but Kansas is just short of asking us to stay at home locked up and pregnant. Sadly what did not pass in other states is likely to pass here. It will not happen without a fight but with the governor and the legislators we have at this time, listening to women is the last thing on their minds.

[xchrom]

3. they don't have to over turn roe -- they're doing fine by attacking

women's reproductive health county by county -- state by state.

[MuseRider]

5. Sadly yes.

I have come to the thought that like other social movements we women need allies, loud and brave men to stand with us. There are not enough women in office, and here they often sell us out to their biblical beliefs. We do have a few very strong women in office but few is the keyword. We have a truly amazing NOW chapter. The chair and lobbyist is really something, but I fear there are enough men who truly don't care as long as they get what they want. I hear too often that they are just not interested in women's issues as if that does not affect them negatively. Does that mean that it is a positive movement for them? In many I do believe that is the case. It makes me sad.

[myrna minx]

4. I'm so glad that this issue is finally being reported through the proper frame of healthcare

not radical right wing frame of anti-woman and anti-poor. I think people are waking up in horror to the cruel and radical agenda of the right wing.