Earlier this week, we published a story about 51&, a new organization that aims to make women’s health both bipartisan and apolitical. Through an AARP-style membership organization and a PAC, it’s supporting both Republican and Democratic politicians—and has decided not to touch the issue of abortion. Founder Jodi Neuhauser believes that abortion has been a “third rail in D.C.,” preventing progress on a host of other women’s health issues—from lower reimbursement rates for doctors (which affect access to care) to funding for research on cardiology, autoimmune disease, and other conditions that impact women.
After publishing the piece by Fortune‘s Lila MacLellan, we heard from people with passionate responses to the approach. It’s clearly a strategy that drives strong feelings and debate. Is leaving aside the issue of abortion a pragmatic solution to an unfixable political stalemate, one that is harming women’s overall well-being? Or is it a betrayal of women’s most fundamental need for bodily autonomy?
In the latter camp was Dawn Laguens, a former EVP and chief brand officer of Planned Parenthood; she also held roles leading global strategy and innovation over 15 years at the organization. She sent in a response to the launch of 51&. Below is some of her perspective:
