Planned Parenthood Mourns Loss of American Icon and Beloved Friend and Advocate Katharine Hepburn

Planned Parenthood ^ | 6/30/03 | Gloria Feldt

[marshmallow]

Statement by Gloria Feldt, President Planned Parenthood Federation of America

NEW YORK CITY — When Katharine Hepburn died yesterday at the age of 96, the world lost one of the most dynamic and original screen actors of all time.

We also lost a woman who was as independent, self-confident, and forceful off screen as on in such films as Adam’s Rib and Woman of the Year.

It is Planned Parenthood’s great fortune to have been on the receiving end of this woman’s powerful advocacy for reproductive freedom.

Her support of reproductive rights was bred in the bones. Hepburn’s mother Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an ardent suffragist and supporter of birth control who joined Margaret Sanger in helping to free women from the bonds of unintended motherhood.

A member of the Planned Parenthood Board of Advocates and Honorary Chair of the National Committee to Keep Abortion Legal, Hepburn was a committed supporter of our advocacy and our fundraising.

Speaking of Margaret Sanger in 1981, Hepburn said, “It is imperative that I join Planned Parenthood because sadly even today there are those who would completely destroy all of her tireless work and deprive all of us of our right to plan our families.”

Even today! That was more than 20 years ago, and today, with the president and Congress waging an unprecedented war on women’s rights, we need voices like Katharine Hepburn’s more than ever.

The greatest honor we could bestow on this selfless, determined, and principled woman is to go on fighting this war in her memory and with the example of her great energy and good common sense.

Had Katharine Hepburn done nothing more than entertain and touch us with her witty and poignant performances, she would have made her mark on history. But she chose to help all women secure the birthright of reproductive freedom, so that they could realize their destinies and their dreams - just as she had done.

Katharine Hepburn embodies the Planned Parenthood Promise: Creating Hope for Humanity: The freedom to dream, to make choices, and to live in peace with our planet.

The Planned Parenthood family sends our heartfelt sympathies to her family and friends.

[marshmallow]

The sort of obituary one doesn't want.

[tbpiper]

Her support of reproductive rights was bred in the bones.

Reckon so. If I'd sported around with a married man as long as she did, I'd want to kill any accidental offspring, too.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, since she speaks highly of Margaret "Eugenics is pretty cool" Sanger, I guess I won't be speaking highly of Miss Hepburn...

[areafiftyone]

We all know that Katherine Hepburn was an atheist. She did not believe in marriage and would never marry again, after her first marriage went bad. She lived with Spencer Tracy and went with him even though he was married but she would never be seen in public with him because she said she didn't want to hurt his wife (which doesn't make any sense if she had any kind of conscience). But all those things aside she was a terrific actress and there will never be another one like her. She was one of my favorite actresses.

[BMiles2112]

Good riddance....

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The left has done a great job promoting an illusion--reproductive freedom. A typical liberal (I mean "progressive") euphemism that sounds wonderful and necessary, but is actually the opposite of what it purports to be. Freedom to vote means that you are allowed to vote. Freedom to reproduce should mean that you are allowed to bear children, as if the government was somehow preventing women from doing so, like they do in China. The left has bastardized the expression "reproductive freedom." To them, it really means the right to kill your unborn baby, up to and including the very moment of birth.

[stanz]

That's what makes America great...being able to speak up for your convictions and live your life which is what Hepburn did. I am sad to see her go...she was a gifted actor and one of a kind.

[areafiftyone]

The thing about Katherine Hepburn that I liked is that she didn't get on a soap box and preach to the public like most liberal stars do nowadays. Sure she had liberal opinions and ideas but she kept them to herself and did most of her things in private. This is just coming out now which shows that she wasn't a braggard about her feelings which most of Hollywierd is now. They can't keep their freaking mouths shut! I respect her for that even though I don't believe in the same things she did.

[laweeks]

One more disgusting adulteress being lionized by a community with blood on its hands. I was glad to hear that Spencer Tracy's family kept her away from the funeral. I'm sure God will be interested in her Planned Parenthood references on her lifetime resume.

[newgeezer]

I heard on the radio yesterday she is credited with making it acceptable for women to wear pants. (The only good thing about pants is shorts.)

Sure, she was a great actress. The African Queen is one of my all-time favorites. But, that doesn't change the fact that she was a twisted, liberal b*tch on the order of Babs Streisand.

[Aquinasfan]

The sort of obituary one doesn't want.

Sheesh.

[John Beresford Tipton]

It appears that too many posters never learned, or followed, the lesson that if you don't have something nice to say, it is better to say nothing.

[Zack Nguyen]

Hepburn’s mother Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an ardent suffragist and supporter of birth control who joined Margaret Sanger in helping to free women from the bonds of unintended motherhood.

Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist. She wanted only certain classes of people to have fewer babies - the handicapped, blacks, and other "undesirables." Sanger was pure evil, in my opinion.

[wardaddy]

The Planned Parenthood family

That's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it?

[newgeezer]

I think it's a generational thing. With a few notable exceptions, her generation kept their mouths shut regarding politics and religion.

These days, it's just the opposite, as if they feel some obligation or peer pressure to make waves every time a stupid thought crosses their minds.

[Malesherbes]

Oh, yes, dear Margaret Sanger - the woman who wanted to stop the "Hebrews" and other undesirables (including Catholics) from breeding. Apparently, the Hepburns finally overcame their animus against Catholics, since Katherine's father eventually married one, and Katherine herself was the long-time mistress of Spencer Tracey.

[mombonn]

I was glad to hear that Spencer Tracy's family kept her away from the funeral.

I saw coverage on different stations about that. One said she was kept away, another said she stayed away out of "respect for the family".

She sure didn't show much respect for the family while he was living, did she?

I'm a little tired of hearing what a great romance they had.

[TheDon]

Well, we can all be glad Katie wasn't aborted!

[John Beresford Tipton]

"they feel some obligation or peer pressure to make waves [and post?]every time a stupid thought crosses their minds."


I could not agree more.

[gathersnomoss]

Yeah, maybe so. But still a slut.