It has been circulating around the Web that the owner of the all-women's gym , Gary Heavin, is heavily anti-abortion and gives to anti-abortion causes. Only, the truth is not so black-and-white. He does give money to pregnancy care clinics that counsel adoption rather than abortion, and he does give to a teen sex ed program that advocates abstinence. But he is not linked with any of the more radical groups that tote signs with bloody fetuses or blockade Planned Parenthood. And he gives money to a lot of other good causes, like health care clinics that treat the homeless.
Good article in salon.com today clarifying the facts, and pointing out that there are other options besides boycotting (which mainly hurts small-time local franchise owners, many of whom are women). Other options are to donate to Planned Parenthood in Hevin's name, or wear pro-choice gear to your workout, or encourage other gym members to donate to pro-choice causes.
I still wouldn't go there, because I think the plan is too "one-size-fits-all" and I hate that their program book is sprinkled with scriptural passages. But, maybe they're not *quite* as evil as I'd thought.
Edited due to
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anisoptera's input: Saying he's "not linked" with radical anti-abortion groups is not entirely accurate, either. He does talk with some anti-abortion wackos, and they support what he does. However, *according to the piece in salon.com*, he doesn't actually give money *directly* to any group whose main mission is opposing Planned Parenthood or lobbying against abortion rights.
