by Lydia Stansill

 Perhaps you have noticed the billboards around town stating, "Birth Control is Easy" and Birth Control is Harmful."  Clearly, the billboards are sponsored by two opposing organizations.  But who exactly is behind this movement?
 Initially, Planned Parenthood introduced the blue "Birth Control is Easy" signs in an attempt to emphasize the accessibility and convenience of health information and services locally.  According to their website, plannedparenthood.org, its mission statement includes "Reproductive freedom--the fundamental right of every individual to decide freely and responsibly when and whether to have a child...helps ensure that children will be wanted and loved, that families will be strong and secure, and that choice rather than chance will guide the future of humanity."
 Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive reproductive education addressing the many methods of birth control...All benefits, drawbacks, and medical warnings are explicitly stated.
 Almost immediately, cautionary red signs pronouncing "Birth Control is Harmful" appeared in response.  [The RespectLifeTulsa.org] site states, "The truth is, birth control is harmful at every level of our being:  physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.  The site offers post-abortion outreach and lists several resources for pregnant women...
 ...In response to the Planned Parenthood billboards, Eric Bell, official spokesperson for the Family Life Office of Tulsa, calls them "irresponsible" and charges Planned Parenthood with "exasperating the problem of our over sexualized society by promoting premarital sex among young people."
 However, Planned Parenthood Vice President of Education, Tommy Chesbro, insists the billboards function as a "public health message intended to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and [to ultimately reduce the number of] abortions." Chesbro's message to college students is to "be educated about your reproductive health so that you can make informed and appropriate choices."