Politics of pink: Susan G. Komen controversy tied to lower Race for the Cure registrations in Twin Cities
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In recent years, Mother’s Day celebrations across the United States have been wrapped in pink ribbons associated with the Susan G.Komen Race for the Cure supporting efforts to fight breast cancer. With the intense controversy surrounding the Komen organization decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood (followed by huge protests and a reversal of that decision) earlier this year, the Minnesota affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is experiencing a decline in race registrations.“We are trending down between 11 and 13 percent. We are seeing a deficit in registrations compared to last year,” said David Egan, co-executive director of the Minnesota affiliate of the Komen Race for the Cure. “Our granting guidelines controversy has impacted us.” In 2011, more than 40,000 people registered for the event.According to published reports in the Indianapolis Business Journal, Denver Post and National Public Radio, organizers at Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events are seeing declining registrations, in some cases registrations are down as much as 30 percent. It appears the controversy has caused some participants to question their support of Komen.“There’s definitely going to be some backlash. Continue Reading