#$@&*!!!

Organizations that help women should help organizations that help women.

Yes, typing things in bigger font makes them more true.

But, seriously. It makes sense. Not just for women, but really, for any cause that any organization is working for. Otherwise, you're just undoing any progress that anyone else is making, which is most likely somehow benefitting your organization or helping you contribute to your field, directly or indirectly. I haven't been in this working world for too long, but I have learned that nothing gets done alone and teamwork is paramount.

In this case, I'm talking about the teamwork between Susan G. Komen (SGK) and Planned Parenthood (PP). These two organizations provide, at the very least, healthcare and access to services that women really need when they really need them. More than that, they both represent stability at uncertain times, whether those times be during cancer diagnosis and treatment, during unexpected pregnancy, both at the same time, or anything in between.

So, what's the problem? Oh, just that SGK has withdrawn their financial support of PP due to an ongoing federal investigation of PP to discover whether or not they spent federal funds on abortions. This federal investigation was initiated by Rep. Cliff Stearns, an elected official with a history of attacking reproductive rights, who was allegedly likely pressured by his anti-abortion backers. The backers have money and votes, and he wants both, so he wants to keep them happy. He can keep them happy and prevent SGK from giving PP money by investigating them. This isn't rocket science, and it isn't right.

Presumably, an organization like Susan G. Komen would put women's health as a priority. More of a priority than making sweeping policies like, "We don't give money to any organization under federal investigation." What idiocy! Then feds could "investigate" anyone they wanted for as long as they wanted to block donors. 

I was sad, but now I'm over that and I'm angry. With Rep. Stearns for a lot of reasons, and at the people who decided that this was a good policy for SGK. I can't be mad at the whole organization because they have done some amazing things and contributed to research that people I know are benefitting from. I just wish that they would realize they're fighting the same fight as Planned Parenthood, which offers a whole host of things that are vital to women's healthcare and by default, anyone who cares about any of these women. So, pretty much anyone ever has benefitted from the services of Planned Parenthood. Hey, SGK - Abortion is only 3 bloody percent of what they do! Don't let it stop you from helping them do all these other amazing things because of some idiotic general policy.

So what can you do? I am clearly hopping mad about this, so I figure there are many options:

1. Contact your local legislators! Voice your opinion! About funding for Planned Parenthood, the use of federal investigations as strategic blocking of funds, or anything else. They want your vote, so they care about what you think. If you're in Massachusetts, click here. Otherwise, I found a great directory here.

2. Give to Planned Parenthood. They accept gifts as little as $5. They have hundreds of thousands of dollars to make up, and I figure even if only 1% of the population feels the same way I do, or benefits from services of Planned Parenthood (and I have a feeling it's more than that), we can help make up the difference.

3. Contact Susan G. Komen and tell them how you feel about this withdrawal of funds.

Tell them you support organizations that help women helping organizations that help women.