Planned Parenthood and Walt Disney World

Growing up in Southern California, I've always loved going to Disneyland... as a kid, as a teen, and now as a dad. In fact, our family made a "final" trip there a couple months ago, just days before we moved to Illinois. It was our second visit during their 50th anniversary celebration. Not having spent as much time in Florida, I've only been to Disney World once (actually, Epcot), but it was still with much dismay that I read the following on the front page of Planned Parenthood Orlando's website:

Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, Inc. was one of 38 recipients of Walt Disney World's annual Helping Kids Shine Grant on March 28. Chosen from over 200 entries, the PPGO Empowerment Grant will develop a peer education program for young women culminating with a summit on the importance of positive decision making. In a news release, Walt Disney World chose to support "community organizations that demonstrate such a deep dedication to improving the lives of children in Central Florida." PPGO received a $18,500 Disney grant in 2004 for our Teen Resource Center, and is the only Planned Parenthood in the country recognized by Walt Disney World.

This year's $20,000 grant will give PPGO much needed seed money for our student to student education program and underscores PPGO's importance as a voice for adolescents in our community.

On this same front page, there's a huge ad with a smiling teen boy, clad only in underwear and looking down his pants. It reads, "Why Condoms? Because they work" (do they?). Right above this ad is one with a smiling teen girl next to an offer for, "low-cost birth control with or without a pelvic exam... it is quick, easy and confidential". Moving down the page, we see a plug for their "wonderful[ly] inspir[ing]" Speak Up!Series with gay author and activist, Kenji Yoshino. This shouldn't surprise you, but Planned Parenthood, in addition to being the world's largest abortion provider, is unrelenting in pushing their no-restraint, no consequences brand of sexuality. And now Walt Disney World is helping fund their programs (as if they needed the money). It baffles my mind, not that some of the higher ups at Disney World would support abortion rights (many people do), but that they would be so brazen as to actually give public, financial support to this decadent, anti-family organization. Definitely something to think about as you plan your next Florida vacation...