Con -- Teddie Ray

I find it unbelievable how uninformed the general public can be

regarding unplanned pregnancies, and more specifically, how inaccurate

Peggy Normandin’s information on Planned Parenthood was in her Letter to

the Editor.

Giving children guitar lessons is not the answer to preventing

unintended teen pregnancy. The suggestion goes right along with

“Ignorance is Bliss.”

As a proud mother of three wonderful children, I have been an active

supporter of Planned Parenthood for over 13 years and personally

benefited from their services as a young adult. I have seen the teen

pregnancy rate in California drastically reduced as a result of their

reproductive health services and reality sex education classes, which

include the message that abstinence is the only 100% effective method of

birth control.

It is important for people to know that less than 10% of Planned

Parenthood services are related to abortions. Over 60% of their services

are related to birth control, a step towardallowing women to plan when

they have their families. Whereas Normandin’s suggestion would be to

close our eyes and promote “homes” for new mothers, Margaret Sanger took

a courageous step to help women help themselves and let them stay in

their own homes.

Society has advanced, as has medicine, thus giving women control of

their lives, allowing them to balance their professional lives with their

personal lives.

The name “Planned Parenthood” is very appropriate.

They do just that -- allow people to plan when they have their

families. Not only do they provide birth control, and, yes, abortions,

but they also provide prenatal care and adoption referrals to the women

who choose to continue their pregnancies.

Cancer screening, sexually transmitted disease testing and treatment,

and the Women, Infant and Children program are additional services

offered at Planned Parenthood, all of which enable women and their

children to lead healthy, productive lives.

As for any reference to family planning being a “profitable business,”

our local Planned Parenthood reported a loss of over $500,000 last year.

Now, more than ever, Planned Parenthood and women need the financial

support of the community. We can’t afford to turn a blind eye, and

neither can the state of California, which still claims one of the

highest teen pregnancy rates in the nation.

TEDDIE RAY

Laguna Beach