Judy Blume Plus Planned Parenthood = Widespread Anti-Choice Hysteria

Sorted under anti-choice extremism, reproductive rights on May 7, 2009
Judy Blume, Planned Parenthood

Judy Blume wrote a Mother’s Day letter for Planned Parenthood soliciting donations for the organization. For Judy Blume and Planned Parenthood to team up seems only natural to me, with Judy Blume being a household name for girls and women spanning several decades and in some cases, was the only introduction to puberty for girls around the world. As a true mentor for young girls, Judy Blume has made the excellent decision to share her thoughts about Mother’s Day and the importance of mothers through an organization that truly cares about the well being, the health, and the happiness of every person who seeks their unrelenting support and guidance without any sort of judgment.

But anti-choicers were not only outraged about Judy Blume’s decision to write this letter soliciting donations for Planned Parenthood, they decided to skew the entire situation to best fit their agenda. Really, are you surprised?

Life News distorted the facts of what Blume wrote, which Jezebel points out. Life News reported:

Blume notes how more woman are seeking abortions form Planned Parenthood because of the difficult economy and she urges readers of the email to use that as a reason to support the abortion business.

The accurate wordage from Blume herself goes a little something like this:

If you know a mother who is struggling to raise strong, independent, and confident children in the face of unbelievable odds… Say thanks. Say thanks this Mother’s Day with a gift that honors her courage by making a donation to Planned Parenthood in her name. I guarantee you that she’ll be pleased. I know I would be.

It’s not easy to be a mother these days. And right now – with more and more women seeking care from Planned Parenthood health centers – we need to do all we can to support them. By honoring a mother in your life, you’ll be making a gift to millions of mothers and families who seek care from Planned Parenthood. That’s a gift any mother will appreciate.

Other anti-choice blogs are mimicking the same falsities and also adding that Blume is a “controversial” children’s author (controversial? Because puberty and learning to grow into your maturing body as you morph from child to tween to teen is a bad thing and something we should shield the kids from?) who supports what they are calling the United States’ largest abortion provider.

Obviously, (and as per usual) these anti-choice “advocates” need some clarification. Planned Parenthood is not an abortion provider, they are a reproductive health clinic. In fact, a great deal of Planned Parenthood locations do not even perform abortions; I should know, I live in one of those locations. In fact, where I live, if you want a safe and legal abortion, you have to drive up to 3 hours away to a town not so pressured by anti-choice smears and bullying. The services provided at a Planned Parenthood reproductive health clinic include screenings for breast, cervical, and testicular cancers, birth control services, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, pregnancy counseling where options are discussed which include carrying the fetus to full term and giving birth and adoption (Imagine that! Options!), testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and infections, comprehensive sex education, menopause treatments, vasectomies, and tubal ligation.

Because of the anti-choice hysteria that ensued as soon as they saw Judy Blume’s face sitting on an email from Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood has issued a call to action to support and stand up for Judy Blume. No one should face the email harassment that Blume has since this email hit inboxes by the anti-choice brigade, so show your support for Judy Blume and her decision to support Planned Parenthood.

I’m also willing to bet that Judy Blume does not necessarily need the book sales she may lose from anti-choicers now, but for good measure, I’m sure every free-thinking feminist out there will be buying Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret for their children, friends, themselves, whichever.



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  • They are reading between the lines too much. And as for as I know, reproductive health clinics are not allowed to conduct abortion. Because that's not very "healthy" for your reproductive health, right?
  • I really like Judy Blum.Seriously to hell with the anti-choices.It provides to many poor woman who don't have insurance.i have already used parenthood.
  • Buffy2q
    The problem is that the "pro-lifers" object not only to abortion but to women having any control whatsoever over their reproductive organs. That's why they detest any sort of clinic like Planned Parenthood.

    Ironically I was just thinking about "Blubber" a few days ago and realizing how much the clique in that book was like the fundamentalists. Everything was about controlling others and making life h*ll for the "outsiders". And they'll turn on you like rabid animals if you dare step out of line. I rather want to read that again for old time sake.
  • I like Judy Blum.I have used parenthood health.
  • I absolutely love Judy Blume. Seriously to hell with the anti-choicers . Their fixation on abortion blinds them to the wonderful health services the Planned Parenthood provides to many poor women who don't have insurance. Their myopic position is not in the least surprising since they are all about controlling women under the guise of protecting us.
  • boyo
    Just to add my own experiences: I have personally used planned parenthood health services in the past, and have never had an abortion at any of their clinics.
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