Death Agency Chief Resigns
Planned Parenthood President Resigns
Controversial Clinics Treat 2.5 Million Each Year
NEW YORK -- The president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Gloria Feldt, has resigned, the abortion rights organization announced Thursday.
"Gloria made her decision to step down after a long 30-year career, and she has not made any announcements about her next step," federation spokeswoman Elizabeth Toledo said.
A message left for Feldt, who had been president of the organization for the past eight years, was not immediately returned.
Karen Pearl, chief executive of the Planned Parenthood of Nassau County office, will serve as interim president. A national search for a new president will begin immediately, Planned Parenthood chairwoman La Don Love said in a news release.
"We honor Gloria Feldt's contributions to Planned Parenthood and to the global movement for reproductive justice," Love said. "Her leadership has resulted in significant achievements for the organization and for women and families worldwide."
During last year's presidential election, Planned Parenthood for the first time endorsed a candidate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., because of what Feldt called "the Bush administration's war on choice."
Under Feldt, the news release said, the nonprofit organization fought for passage of legislation in 22 states to require insurance plans to cover prescription contraceptives, protection of medical privacy and the introduction of abortion pills and emergency contraception. Feldt also was one of the lead organizers of the 2004 March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C., which drew tens of thousands of abortion rights supporters.
The 90-year-old organization, the country's largest provider of abortions, had been a favorite target of abortion foes, whom Feldt once described as "guerrilla fighters" who resent changes that have given women more choices about sex and childbearing.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., based in New York, has been a polarizing organization since its precursor -- a clinic in Brooklyn -- was founded in 1916 by pioneering birth control advocate Margaret Sanger. In recent years, it has been a lightning rod for protests because of its familiar name and two unswerving policies: support for abortion rights and a belief that adolescents and adults have a right to contraceptives and candid, confidential information about sex.
Its clinics treat more than 2.5 million people a year, offering contraceptives, pregnancy and breast cancer tests, gynecological exams and other services.
© 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Controversial Clinics Treat 2.5 Million Each Year
NEW YORK -- The president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Gloria Feldt, has resigned, the abortion rights organization announced Thursday.
"Gloria made her decision to step down after a long 30-year career, and she has not made any announcements about her next step," federation spokeswoman Elizabeth Toledo said.
A message left for Feldt, who had been president of the organization for the past eight years, was not immediately returned.
Karen Pearl, chief executive of the Planned Parenthood of Nassau County office, will serve as interim president. A national search for a new president will begin immediately, Planned Parenthood chairwoman La Don Love said in a news release.
"We honor Gloria Feldt's contributions to Planned Parenthood and to the global movement for reproductive justice," Love said. "Her leadership has resulted in significant achievements for the organization and for women and families worldwide."
During last year's presidential election, Planned Parenthood for the first time endorsed a candidate, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., because of what Feldt called "the Bush administration's war on choice."
Under Feldt, the news release said, the nonprofit organization fought for passage of legislation in 22 states to require insurance plans to cover prescription contraceptives, protection of medical privacy and the introduction of abortion pills and emergency contraception. Feldt also was one of the lead organizers of the 2004 March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C., which drew tens of thousands of abortion rights supporters.
The 90-year-old organization, the country's largest provider of abortions, had been a favorite target of abortion foes, whom Feldt once described as "guerrilla fighters" who resent changes that have given women more choices about sex and childbearing.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., based in New York, has been a polarizing organization since its precursor -- a clinic in Brooklyn -- was founded in 1916 by pioneering birth control advocate Margaret Sanger. In recent years, it has been a lightning rod for protests because of its familiar name and two unswerving policies: support for abortion rights and a belief that adolescents and adults have a right to contraceptives and candid, confidential information about sex.
Its clinics treat more than 2.5 million people a year, offering contraceptives, pregnancy and breast cancer tests, gynecological exams and other services.
© 2005 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
posted by R7 | 1/28/2005 08:16:00 AM
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