Curves gym boycott based on facts?

[sarahmichigan]

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 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.

Comments

Re: Link

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

The salon.com article says that he did NOT give money to that group (there is some confusion about the name of a group Heavin does support that's similar to something the group you linked to supports). The group approves of what Heavin does, but he's not directly linked with them.

Re: Link

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

"Gary Heavin made a five million dollar grant to Family Practice, Carenet, and McCap."

"The next piece of good news came from Planned Parenthood's abortion mill on Wednesday, September 24th. An inside source approach me as we were holding church at the gates of hell. This person informed me that for five weeks straight Planned Parenthood's "business" has suffered a decline. In fact, since last year, they have lost half of their "business." What makes this significant is that the collaborative effort sponsored by Mr. Heavin has not been implemented yet. Couple that with the fact that the most stringent state laws in the United States against abortion will not be enforced in Texas until January."

Seems pretty clear to me he is in bed with these folks.

Re: Link

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

Right, but he did NOT donate to the operationsave america, or whatever it's called. The three places you noted that he donated to provide abstinence-focused sex ed and general health care (not including abortion), but none of those three groups is a militant anti-abortion group.

I'm not saying that Heavin is a goood guy. I abhor his politics and values. Just pointing out that there are gray areas here in this debate.

Re: Link

[sarahmichigan.livejournal.com]

FYI: I edited my entry in response to your links, information and arguments.

Re: Link

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

Noted. :)