Feb. 2, 2012 - People For the American Way president Michael Keegan issued the following statement in response to Susan G. Komen for the Cure's announcement that it would end its long-standing partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
Susan G. Komen for the Cure has done important work over the last three decades raising awareness of breast cancer, funding important research and promoting public health. Unfortunately, this week Komen chose to place partisan politics over women's health, thereby fundamentally altering its mission and betraying the trust of the women it purports to serve.
It's not surprising that the anti-choice movement's campaign against Planned Parenthood instigated a congressional investigation from right-wing lawmakers who have always opposed comprehensive funding for women's healthcare. What is surprising – and profoundly disappointing – is that a once respected organization like Susan G. Komen would embrace the same tactics, and put the health of low-income women at risk because of it.
This highly political decision by Komen, a supposedly nonpartisan public health organization, reportedly prompted the resignation of its top public health officer in December. A clear choice was made to place right-wing politics over health care for low-income women. And that's just wrong.
Susan G. Komen should publicly acknowledge its mistake and fully restore its funding to Planned Parenthood. Then, those who are concerned with the health of American women - all American women - will have to decide whether to bring their support elsewhere.
Website: www.pfaw.org
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