After temporarily pulling funding for Planned Parenthood last week, backlash against the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has raised awareness about the necessity of legislation that protects women’s health care and how whims of legislators, lobbyists and funding providers can affect women’s rights.
Tracey Brooks, president and CEO of the Family Planning Advocates of New York State, says the backlash is indicative of New York’s staunch support for women’s health issues. “New Yorkers support a woman making her own personal, private health care decisions,” said Brooks. “It is the reason seven out of 10 New Yorkers want the Reproductive Health Act passed.”
In the last few weeks, according to a Planned Parenthood memo, the Komen Foundation contacted Planned Parenthood health centers to say their breast cancer initiatives will not be eligible for new grants, due to pending legislation.
According to Planned Parenthood, the Komen Foundation withdrew its support as a result of increasing anti-choice political pressure after partnering with Planned Parenthood.
Since 2007, the Komen Foundation’s funding allowed Planned Parenthood to provide nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams, as well as more than 6,400 mammogram referrals.
“While this is deeply disturbing and disappointing, we want to assure women who rely on Planned Parenthood for breast care that we’re still here for them and we always will be,” Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America said.
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation released a statement last Wednesday, saying they are “dismayed and extremely disappointed” their actions have been “widely mischaracterized.”
The Komen Foundation said they implemented stronger performance criteria and more stringent eligibility standards. “Consequently,” they said, “some organizations are no longer eligible to receive Komen grants. Some might argue our standards are too exacting, but over the past three decades, people have given more than just their money. They have given us their trust and we take that responsibility very seriously.” The Komen Foundation stated their priority has been, and always will be, the women who rely on them, and regret the impact their new standards have on grantees, like Planned Parenthood.
In a post on their website last Friday, Komen Foundation CEO and founder Nancy G. Brinker apologized for misconstruing their intent. “Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation,” Brinker wrote. “We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.”
Brinker said their only goal is to support women and families in their fight against breast cancer and will reverse their earlier decision. “We will continue to fund existing grants,” Brinker said, “including those of Planned Parenthood, and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants, while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities.”
Closing, Brinker asked for understanding and patience while they refocus their attention and get back to work.
Patricia McGeown, president of the Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, praised the Komen Foundation’s reversal. “We are at a thrilling time in history,” McGeown said, “when people from all levels of society can come together and, using the power of social media, rally to win critical battles for a greater good.”
McGeown said this sends a message to lawmakers and the country overall. “The message of the moment is that the health of American women must take precedent over political ideology, and that Planned Parenthood health centers are a vital part of the network that ensures that all women, regardless of income or insurance status, should have access to early preventive screening and cancer prevention services.”
According to Brooks, anti-choice lobbyists and political action committees threaten some women’s health organizations because they know they cannot win legislatively.
“The will of the people is for women to make their own personal, private health care decisions and have the full range of reproductive health care. Therefore, they have turned to bullying organizations like Komen to get their way,” Brooks said. “Bullying is not acceptable in a school yard and it must not be acceptable when women’s health and lives are at risk.”
In response to the funding loss, Planned Parenthood created a Breast Health Emergency Fund. The Amy and Lee Fikes Foundation gifted $250,000 to Planned Parenthood to continue cancer screenings.
“Our family has granted $250,000 to establish a Breast Health Fund at Planned Parenthood, so that their health centers across the country can continue to put the real needs of women ahead of right wing ideology,” the foundation said. “We encourage others to join us in replacing the funds lost, so that no woman’s health is imperiled by Komen’s unfortunate decision.”
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also pledged $250,000 to Planned Parenthood. On his Twitter page, he announced last Thursday he would match each dollar donated to Planned Parenthood, up to the promised $250,000. “Politics has no place in health care. Join me in standing with Planned Parenthood” he wrote. “We must continue to help women access life saving breast cancer screenings.”
In the 48 hours following the Komen Foundation’s announcement, more than $900,000 in donations have poured in, replacing and exceeding the $700,000 Komen gave Planned Parenthood last year.
Women’s reproductive health has come under scrutiny lately, with New York state legislators pushing for women’s health resolutions and the passage of the Reproductive Health Act.
The Assembly passed a resolution on Tues., Jan 24, urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to declare Jan. 22-28 Reproductive Rights and Justice Week. Resolution K828, sponsored by Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, D-Greenwich Village, was introduced after the same resolution, J2980, sponsored by Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, D-Queens, was censored by Senate Republicans on Jan. 18.
Stavisky’s resolution was returned to the Senate on Jan. 18, renamed “Women’s Health Week,” with more than 90 percent of the wording changed.
Andrea Miller, president of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws Pro-Choice New York said Stavisky’s resolution should be “the kind of common ground provision that legislators of all parties can get behind.”
The resolutions, aimed to encourage public awareness of the issues and challenges women face in regards to making personal, private health decisions, were introduced in the wake of the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and a push for the Reproductive Health Act.
The RHA, which would ensure availability of abortions for women in New York state, decriminalize abortions and allow women to choose or refuse contraception, has been a point of partisan contention. The legislation has been polarizing, with support split mostly along party lines.
Miller says reproductive health is “one of our core values that transcends politics and makes New York stand out.” She says passing the resolution is important, but it is time to focus on the Reproductive Health Act. According to Miller, the RHA “will not only stand as a bulwark against the attacks on choice we see across the country, but it will improve the lives of New Yorkers by ensuring a woman’s right to make her own reproductive decisions.”
