You have probably heard by now that Susan G. Komen for the Cure cut all of its funding to Planned Parenthood for breast health screenings. I got notice from Planned Parenthood, MoveOn, Credo, and lots of women's newsgroups (including NOW lists, of course). This change makes breast cancer screenings inaccessible to many women - as you may know, Planned Parenthood tends to serve young women, minorities and women with lower incomes. The good news is, people are paying attention AND WE ARE MAD!! As we should be.

Anyway, please read what is going on. I have included links to many articles on this. You can find petitions against this move at moveon.org (http://pol.moveon.org/komen/?rc=homepage.sidebar, Tell Susan G. Komen to Reestablish Funding for Planned Parenthood) and a defiant petition at Planned Parenthood (https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=OnScreenThanks&id=14091) as well as petitions other places.

Check out what your women's health movement allies have to say about Komen & Nancy Brinker - http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=146265423&m=146265396

Our SE Regional NOW Director was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times - http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/komen-planned-parenthood-controversy-divides-tampa-bay-supporters/1213485
And Moveon.org quoted the following sources yesterday:

1. "Amid abortion debate, Komen cancer charity halting grants to Planned Parenthood," The Washington Post, January 31, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ap-exclusive-amid-abortion-debate-komen-cancer-charity-halting-grants-to-planned-parenthood/2012/01/31/gIQA5LbffQ_print.html

2. "Protect Women's Health, Protect Planned Parenthood," Planned Parenthood Federation of America, April 12, 2011
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/PPFA/fact_Pence_Fact_Sheet_and_TPs-4-12-11.pdf

3."Komen breast cancer charity severs ties with Planned Parenthood," The Los Angeles Times, February 1, 2012
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-planned-parenthood-komen-20120201,0,4104682.story

4. "Planned Parenthood Investigation Is An Abuse Of Government Resources, Democrats Charge," Huffington Post, November 27, 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/27/planned-parenthood-investigation-government-resources_n_984002.html

5. "Komen Cuts Planned Parenthood Grants Months After Arrival Of New VP, Who Is Abortion Foe," Huffington Post, January 31, 2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/komen-planned-parenthood-cuts-karen-handel_n_1245568.html

This is outrageous! Not renewing a grant based on a political 'inquiry'. Sign one of the petitions to share your outrage.

I feel betrayed by an organization that should be apolitical!