Last week, it was all about Utah Pride—pride this and pride that. What, in reality, does Utah have to be proud about?
In 2007, my wife, a woman who personified the principles of courage and pride, lost her 14-year struggle with breast cancer.
As most people know by now, when they donate to a charity, very little of what they donate will actually benefit the cause they support. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure is no different—50 percent of what it collects goes to administration, and 25 percent is used to research a cure for breast cancer. The other 25 percent is given to other organizations.
The Utah Pride Center is one of those organizations that inexplicably receives funds from the Komen foundation. This is money donated by people who wished to help find a cure for breast cancer. Shame on Utah Pride for diverting funds given to finding a cure for breast cancer to its own dubious purposes. Is this what it has to feel proud of?
If Utah Pride has even the most infinitesimally small amount of pride, it would immediately return every dime of that money to the Komen foundation and demand that it be used for breast-cancer research.
Before I will believe that they have anything to be proud of, they must also begin to make annual pledges to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
Ted Thompson
Salt Lake City
Editor’s note: We asked the Utah Pride Center to respond to Thompson’s letter:
The Utah Pride Center appreciates the opportunity to discuss our Alternative Women’s Wellness Program, which is funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LBT) women are at increased risk for breast cancer for many reasons, and they are also less likely to seek health care as a result of real or perceived bias from their health-care providers. Delayed diagnoses result in higher mortality rates.
The focus of the Utah Pride Center’s Alternative Women’s Wellness Program is to raise awareness about breast cancer among Utah’s LBT population and help remove barriers they face in accessing appropriate care. We do this by informing the LBT community about breast health through social and educational programs, and we also train health-care providers throughout the state on delivering culturally competent care to their LBT patients.
Together, the Utah Pride Center and Susan G. Komen for the Cure can reduce the mortality rates among lesbian and bisexual women and transgender individuals.
Marina Gomberg
Marketing and Media Manager
Utah Pride Center
Salt Lake City
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