Here’s how much Melinda Moseley cares about supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure: She completed the organization’s three-day, 60-mile fundraising walk last fall, even though she had been hit by a car while training for it.
Moseley would not be denied the chance to walk alongside the men and women with whom she shared a deep and urgent sense of mission: raising breast cancer awareness.
For her, the recent dust-up with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America felt “like a kick in the gut.”
She’s long supported both organizations, but felt compelled to choose between them — a choice that hurt.
“I don’t know if I want to be associated with them [Komen] right now,” said Moseley, 48, an attorney who lives in Virginia-Highland. “I didn’t want people to see my pink ribbon and affiliation with Komen as saying that I think what they did with Planned Parenthood was the right thing to do.”
Planned Parenthood is the country’s largest provider of reproductive health services, which include contraceptives, abortions and other services. For years, the Komen foundation has given money to Planned Parenthood to perform breast examinations and breast health education at 19 centers around the United States, none in Georgia.
Last year, Komen gave $680,000 to Planned Parenthood. The foundation decided to discontinue future funding, citing a recently revised policy that forbids the organization from underwriting any agency under government investigation.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., is investigating whether Planned Parenthood violated law by using federal funds for abortion services.
When news of Komen’s decision got out nearly two weeks ago, it touched off a furious debate. Some cheered Komen’s stance; others accused Komen of playing politics. Much of the discussion took place on the Internet, where people found themselves again divided over one of the country’s most electric issues, abortion.
Talk also focused on former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel, a vocal opponent of abortion who joined Komen last year as senior vice president for public policy, as the person responsible for discontinuing the funding.
The uproar continued until Komen announced on Feb. 3 that it would revise its policy. Planned Parenthood would remain eligible to apply for future grants.
Handel has since resigned, saying politics never influenced her work.
Since then, thousands, perhaps millions, of Americans who feel personally invested in Komen and its mission are looking at the organization in a new light. Regardless of their opinions about Planned Parenthood or how the two organizations handled the dispute, many said Komen’s bright and hopeful image has been sullied. For them, pink has become the color of dillusionment.
“I’m glad [Komen] reversed, but I wish they’d quit lying about it not being political. Can’t support them again unless they do,” tweeted Ashley Mavis of Roswell.
“Never another dime from me. Disappointed doesn’t say enough,” tweeted Eve Trader of Atlanta, after Komen changed course on Feb. 3.
Jennifer Lewis, who is actively battling breast cancer, wasn’t sure how to feel about the debate. For people like her, Komen has been the most widely recognized cheerleader in the fight against cancer. She worries that Komen’s goal to beat the disease may have suffered a setback.
“I think that’s somewhat tarnished Susan G. Komen’s reputation in the eyes of some people,” she said.
It did for Jean Witcher of Stone Mountain. When she learned that Komen was so extensively involved in funding other organizations, Witcher was surprised — disappointed, too.
“I would really be upset if I gave a fair amount of money to Komen and found this out,” said Witcher, 68. “I’d say: ‘Where is my money going?’”
Janet Beebe, founder of the statewide nonprofit Breast Cancer Survivors Network, stewed with indignation when Komen reversed itself, allowing Planned Parenthood to apply for future grants.
Beebe, a 28-year breast cancer survivor, believes the decision will have an adverse impact on Komen’s future fundraising.
“They [Komen] do some good things,” said Beebe, who acknowledged that her organization unsuccessfully applied for a Komen grant. “But on this one, they messed up.”
Komen did the right thing in reversing its decision, said Leola Reis, vice president of external affairs at Planned Parenthood Southeast Inc., located in Atlanta.
Komen and Planned Parenthood “have a lot of overlap in services,” Reis said, noting that Planned Parenthood has been participating in Komen fundraisers for more than a decade. “We’re ready to move forward in providing health care.”
The flap has distracted attention from breast cancer awareness and prevention, said Chris Cox, a breast cancer survivor who volunteers with people undergoing cancer treatment.
“I think this has gotten totally blown out of proportion,” the Dunwoody resident said.
“The fact of the matter is that it’s highly important for women to realize their risks,” she said. “All this other stuff needs to be defused.”
Despite the controversy, Cox said she doesn’t plan on tossing her Komen gear. “I understand its higher purpose.”
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