House Cafe Surprise Party to raise funds for Planned Parenthood

By Jerene-Elise Nall

Surprise!

This song’s for you, Planned Parenthood (PPH), and the proceeds are, too.

The Surprise Party for PPH is 7 p.m. March 15 at the House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway. The event will feature five acts, including DeKalb musician Emanuel Vinson and local duo the Motherfolkers. Admission is $6, with a large portion of the proceeds of the show going to Planned Parenthood.

Women’s reproductive rights in general have become, for better or for worse, a hot political topic of 2012. Earlier this year, Cancer advocate Susan G. Komen for the Cure revised a policy to exclude PPH from receiving funding from the foundation. Although the foundation reversed the decision as of early February, the issue remains fresh in the minds of those familiar with Planned Parenthood.

With so many people polarized on the issue, local musicians Dave Green (of the Motherfolkers) and Vinson found it more important than ever to stand up for what they believe in.

“The two sides are so strong at this point, and so passionate,” Vinson said. “I feel like there’s a lot of people in DeKalb who will support PPH and who will feel good about going to support something like this.”

The musicians themselves certainly feel good about supporting PPH, and with good reason.

“I think a big part of why it feels imperative to me to support PPH is I’m a young person, most of my friends are young people, I know the kind of situations we can get into, Vinson said. “On a personal level, PPH helps people out with situations.”

While PPH might call to mind sensitive topics like contraception and abortion, the organization is much more than the controversial issues that have come to characterize it.

“In addition to the obvious thing that springs to mind when you hear ‘Planned Parenthood,’ like the availability of contraceptives, they provide far more than that,” Green said. “They also provide a good amount of general health care for those who need it.”

Vinson said PPH’s controversial nature distracts from it’s benefits.

“It’s a shame that it’s inside this political crossfire because to me, it’s just a fact that it helps the people I know out with their lives,” he said. “It’s really important to communities that need help that don’t get help from a lot of institutions.”

Supporting organizations like PPH means working toward a greater good to the musicians playing the show.

“As a young person, I’m invested in the well-being of the people I know, at least 50 percent of whom are women,” said Green. “I just care about doing what I think is right, and I think that Planned Parenthood is more than deserving.”