"Gay" Planned Parenthood Billboards Criticized

This news won't come as any shock:

Planned Parenthood billboards advertising services to the LGBT community in rural New York have prompted objections from critics, including a state senator who says the billboards use tax dollars to promote same-sex marriage.

The Advocate's Julie Bolcer reports that last February Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes installed the billboards in locations throughout Chemung, Steuben and Tompkins counties in Western New York. Planned Parenthood says the billboards aim to engage isolated rural LGBT people in their personal health. While there is so mention of same sex unions in the messaging, state senator Thomas O’Mara who is a Republican (no shock there, either) represents the area and interprets the billboards differently.

“I object to this message that seems to be in support of same-sex marriage and using tax payer dollars to support that political agenda,” he told the station. His office did not respond to a request for additional comment from The Advocate.

In the article, Bolcer explains that the billboards form part of Planned Parenthood's multi-faceted programming under a five-year grant from the New York state department of health. "The grant aims to address documented health disparities in rural LGBT communities such as those found in the Institute of Medicine report and local surveys. Objectives include increasing access to health care, improving health outcomes and building awareness of health issues."

Get the full story, and watch the news report, on The Advocate.