I was diagnosed with an invasive form of breast cancer last September. I've had surgery and gone through treatment, and although I still have some reconstructive work to be done (and have to take Tamoxifen for five years), I'm now basically OK.
I have to admit that prior to my breast cancer diagnosis, I was one of those women who just mindlessly donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation when a friend was in one of their walks, or bought their products. A pair of pink scissors sits on my desk right now as I type this diary.
So I was shocked to learn after my diagnosis that SGK was not really doing all that much to help women with breast cancer and that many of their corporate sponsors where likely producing goods that where causing breast cancer. I was also informed that high overhead costs meant that not much money was actually going to research or helping women with breast cancer.
So, I entered this week with dubious feelings about SGK to begin with.
But, even knowing this, I have to admit, when I saw the headline that SGK was defunding Planned Parenthood my heart just sank. When I found out that SGK was headed up by a Bush Appointee and that it had hired the blatantly anti-choice Karen Handel as a vice president, I asked myself "How could this happen?? How can the largest breast cancer charity in the United States be full of anti-choice zealots?"
But then I knew why. It happened because I allowed it to happen. It was my fault that a women's charity could be overrun with so many people antithetical to women's rights.
How did I do this? It happened because I did not do enough to support organizations and political candidates who are solidly for reproductive rights.
I depended on Planned Parenthood through college and graduate school for exams and contraceptives. I actually had insurance coverage through my parents, but my parents where pretty old school Catholics. My Mom never took me for a gynological exam, and even brought it up as a possibility. I only got my first exam because I wandered into Planned Parenthood trying to find a way to not get pregnant.
For that, I've always sent Planned Parenthood checks every now and then out of gratitude, and when the news broke about Komen, I dutifully sent another check to show my support.
But then it occurred to me that sending a check every now and then doesn't really do much. It's nice that Planned Parenthood got $3 million in donations from the Komen Debacle, but unless they have a steady stream of income, it makes it hard for them to plan.
So I went back to their website and set up a stream of monthly donations. It's not much every month, but it's money they'll know they'll get.
But then I realized that even that's not enough. Providing Planned Parenthood with constant income stream will help them help women, but it doesn't really help in the battle against anti-choice zealotry.
So, I went to the websites of both NARAL and Emily's List and set up monthly donations there as well.
And, now I'm here to urge all of you to do the same. It can be small, as little as $5 a month, and you can donate to one, two, all three or even more organizations that will fight the battle.
You may ask what can $5 a month do? But it's not the individual donations that matter, but the number of people who do so.
If just 1,000 pledge $5 a month, $60 a month, that's enough to hire a staff person at Planned Parenthood to provide more health screenings. It could also mean another staff person at NARAL to push back against Dobson, Palin and all the other anti-choicers spewing lies about how abortions cause breast cancer.
If 1,000 pledge $5 a month to Emily's List it could mean that they could fund a candidate to run against the Florida clown running this sham investigation against Planned Parenthood.
If 10,000 pledge $5 a month to Planned Parenthood, that would equal $600,000 annually. That would completely replace the annual funding for breast cancer screenings that Komen curerntly provides and make Planned Parenthood less vulnerable to political attacks in the future.
With $600,000 coming annually from 10,000 donors donating $5 a month NARAL could mount an effective education program to stop the spread of misinformation by abortion opponents.
Emily's List with $600,000 could fund pro-choice women across the country in their bids to oust abortion foes from office.
And, it doesn't have to stop there. Pick a pro-choice cause, any cause you believe in, and just pledge $5 a month. Make suggestions, let me know who you think deserves our support.
If you think I'm right on this, let me know. Rec this diary, post it to Facebook, Twitter it, do what you can to get the word out. If you think it's a good idea but needs refinement, let me know your thoughts.
But, most importantly, set up those monthly donations, and try to get others to do so as well.
It's easy. For Planned Parenthood you go here. : If that link doesn't work go to www.plannedparenthood.org, click on the "Get Involved" tab, then click on Donate and then the "Monthly Donations" tab.
For NARAL click here: If that doesn't work, it's www.naral.org, and click on donate.
For Emily's List go here. Again, go to Emilyslist.org and click on Take Action.
Yes, I know I can be doing more than just making small monthly donations, but this is a start, an important start. If enough of us can just take this small important step it might change the course of things in the coming years for reproductive rights.
Take the step and spread the word.