Planned Parenthood leaves Creston (for the most part)

Deb and Brenda (swiped photo from Larry's Facebook page)

Here's a letter to the editor I sent to the Creston paper recently.

I'm sad my friend Deb is losing her longtime job at PP. Teens from throughout the area have gotten "supplies", have had their first pelvic exams and probably have gotten good somewhat motherly advice from these two ladies - without feeling judged. Deb can talk about sex to anyone! It's like talking trash for me - it's second nature.

Now Deb is job hunting. I don't spose she'll need her sex talking skills for any new jobs around Creston. But her great people skills will come in handy! This will be quite a change for her - she's been working at PP since she and Larry moved back to Creston in the early 90's. I wish her luck in finding a new job that makes her happy (and pays okay too).

My letter - published Tuesday:  

From Leslie Bullock Goldsmith, former Creston resident

West Des Moines

It’s a sad week in the Creston area for many. Planned Parenthood – the source of health care and birth control services over several decades – is losing two dedicated workers as the result of funding cutbacks. In my view, the forces attacking this organization have been very short-sighted if their goal is to make life better for women and children.

Deb Peterson and Brenda Sedlmayer, the Creston Planned Parenthood staffers, have served the residents of this area without judgment. Our children and family members have gone there. Staffers have provided factual information, reproductive health services and considered no question stupid – everyone was treated with respect.
 

I’m disappointed that reduced funding due to targeting by groups and legislators has caused Planned Parenthood (to) draw back from rural locations like Creston and Red Oak. I am aware that some of the clients may not have dependable transportation and will be hard-pressed to travel to a Planned Parenthood in Des Moines for some of the services not available in the new system in Creston.

The tragedy is that some people may see this service cutback as a victory.

I question how forcing those who have depended on Planned Parenthood for pregnancy prevention, physicals, and other services such as prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases can be considered a “win” for any of us. There were likely fewer unplanned pregnancies in the area thanks to the work done at the center. In my opinion it follows that there were fewer people needing to consider legal abortion as one of their options.
 

I hope people everywhere don’t let hard fought women’s rights fall by the wayside because we’ve had it so easy thanks to the hard work done in the past by others. Speak up and vote.
 

Thank you Deb and Brenda – you served us well.