By Angelica Jimenez–

Latinas are losing a desperately need program providing culturally competent reproductive health and family planning because of harassment and intimidation from pro-life groups. Planned Parenthood of South Florida and the Treasure Coast has succumbed to pressures from pro-life groups by ending its program, La Promesa While the need for these services is clear, opponents argue that Latinas are a pawn in promoting Planned Parenthood’s agenda.

The fallout from the strife between Planned Parenthood and pro-life groups is reflected in its decision to not seek a $50,000 grant from the Martin County Children’s Services Council to continue its La Promesa program.   The 600 women currently participating in La Promesa will be the last as the program runs through June 30.

Since 1995 Latinas have had the highest teen birth rate among all other racial and ethnic groups, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics.  Fifty-three percent of Latina teens become pregnant before the age of 20.

Research from the CDC also shows Latinos are about twice as likely as non-Latino blacks and three times as likely as non-Latino whites to lack a regular health care provider.  Approximately 71 percent of Latinos report that they received health information through their family, friends, church groups and community groups.

Bill Beckman, spokesman for the Illinois Right to Life Committee, contends Planned Parenthood is not interested in providing health care, as it claims, but to perform abortions.  He sees the elimination of the program as a help for Latinas.

“Latinas attracted to the La Promesa program are the next victims of Planned Parenthood’s trap, said Beckman.  “The elimination of the La Promesa program because of Planned Parenthood’s decision not to seek government funding is good news for Latinas.”

Beckman also asserts that the funding available for such programs is a main incentive for Planned Parenthood.

“Planned Parenthood’s agenda is to treat women, including Latinas, as sexual objects from which to generate revenue,” Beckman said.

Offering education to Latinas about such vital health issues is empowering, not demeaning in the way Beckman describes.  To assume that Latinas are so malleable and easily manipulated underestimates and insults our intelligence.

Teaching about our own sexuality doesn’t turn Latinas into sexual objects.  These programs allow Latinas to receive the reproductive health care they need and should be able to participate without fear from harassment.

In 2009, La Promesa served more than 11,000 participants by offering medical services for Latinos in the area and assists families in developing ways to discuss what are to be considered taboo topics in the Latino community including sexually transmitted infections, teen pregnancy, and safe sexual behavior.

Alicia Torres, spokeswoman for Students for Life of Illinois, said that while Planned Parenthood tries to project an image of helping minority communities, their mission is promoting abortions.  And Latinas are not part of the organization’s plan to push its agenda.

“It is a tragedy that Latina women are now being targeted by this organization,” said Torres.  “The abortion rate among Latina women is now double the rate among white women.”

The true tragedy could be the premature ending of other services around the country dedicated to helping Latinas.

Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota has a similar program, Entre Amigas, which offers a 12 week workshop in Spanish on topics ranging from sexuality, birth control methods, sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual orientation.  Former participants are encouraged to pass the lessons with the community and receive a stipend for the work they do.

According to its website, the peer educators have taught 3,600 individuals in the community.  The information participants learned during the program will positively change their lives, as well as the lives of their spouses and children, Planned Parenthood of Minnesota/South Dakota stated on its website.

The loss of the La Promesa program is a loss to Latinas in southern Florida who have few alternatives when it comes to receive culturally sensitive education about reproductive health.  This may also be a threat the other existing programs who have been harassed by pro-life groups.
Some Planned Parenthood facilities perform abortions, but La Promesa and Entre Amigas are about educating and informing Latinas about the choices we have.  Pushing one agenda without giving the wide scope of options is damaging to Latinas and women in general.

By backing down to protesters, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Southern Florida is sending the message that bullying works.  Each day can be a grueling fight, but surrender isn’t the answer.

Angelica Jimenez is a graduate journalism student at Columbia College Chicago.