The Teenage Communication Theatre (TACT) is a project run by Planned Parenthood of North Texas. Founded by community health educator Beth Farmer in 1984, the group consists of of Dallas-area high-schoolers between 13 and 17 who perform “original, interactive theatre pieces about issues that affect today’s youth.” The concept for the project comes from the “Theatre Prevention Program,” initiated by a New York Family Planning center in 1973. Planned Parenthood has several of “theaters” throughout the U.S.
Planned Parenthood of North Texas have stated that TACT “is a vital part of [their] Education Department.” And a report prepared by Susan M. Wolfe, and Kathryn Allen (PPNT) stated that TACT “remains a primary piece of [PPNT]’s community education.” It is clear therefore that this project is a key component of PPNT’s plan to target youth in this area. It is also important to note that this is very much a “top-down” project whereby board members of PPNT determine the agenda, and where adults involved in Planned Parenthood coordinate and lead the kids in their “theactivism”.
Today at a busy intersection in Dallas, the group was in action, promoting greater access to sex-education. I stopped to speak with one of the groups of 3 – 4 teens which were located on each corner.
The point of this article is not to demonize these kids for standing on a street corner to promote Planned Parenthood services and political agenda.
The thing I found interesting was that Planned Parenthood is not only sending their people into schools to teach kids that having sex is ok so long as they “use protection” – but they are also training kids to teach other kids their values.
Remember that telling kids that its ok to become sexually active & providing them with the tools for “safe sex” virtually guarantees that kids who would otherwise have steered clear of sex until they were older will feel more confident, and will “get into it.” And Planned Parenthood knows just as well as you and I do that kids are even less likely than adults to use contraception correctly every time. Which means these kids are 100% more likely to end up pregnant than if they’d waited, because contraception fails, and because you damn sure can’t get pregnant if you don’t have sex. Oh but if you do kids – we’re always here for you, and we won’t tell your parents either…
Remember that Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion business in the United States. In 2008 Planned Parenthood committed 305,310 abortions, netting $137,389,500; 36.7% of the income from their health centers.
That’s all – no huge conspiracy uncovered here – just an update on Planned Parenthood’s tactics of influencing the next generation with their anti-life agenda.
Seriously, on the corner of Lovers and Greenville?
ugg… So glad I wasn’t at Central Market that day! I can hear my five year old, “mommy, what is sex-ed?”
I wonder if they know how racism is part of their origins – they need to watch Maafa21 http://www.maafa21.com and see the truth about why Planned Parenthood exists !
With all due respect, racism is a part of America’s past, not solely Planned Parenthood. To blame Planned Parenthood for a mistake committed by the majority of America is not only unfair, but is not a valid point considering they oppose racism today.
Also, as a teenager, may I say that when I received the knowledge that TACT has given me concerning not only sex ed, but isues such as dating violence and body image, I benefited tremendously. Learning about sexual education did not make me want to run out and have sex, on the contrary, it made me aware of the risks, and more weary than ever about having sex. The best method against preventing teens from not only from getting pregnant and getting an STI, but also having sex at all, is comprehensive education. There’s a reason New York is implemeting comprehensive sex ed and colleges that TACT members apply to (including ivy leagues) consistently love hearing about our involvement in TACT.
Thank you for shining the spotlight on one of the most useful and necessary organizations in the metroplex.
P.S. You make want to ask yourself how Planned Parenthood has an anti-life agenda when everything they are about is preventing unwanted pregnancies that would lead to abortions by educating though COMPREHNSIVE SEX ED and providing birth control to anyone who needs it. Only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortions. I am pro-life and I am proud to stand with Planned Parentood.
It is correct that 3% of the services PP provides are abortions. Live Action explains,
“A simple example of how they come to this calculation would be Planned Parenthood aborting 3 children and giving out 97 condoms. They would say that out of 100 services, 3 or 3% were abortion when in reality the significance and cost of the 3 abortions is much higher than 3% of their efforts.”
You are pro-life – and yet you are proud to stand with the largest abortion business in the U.S.?
Yes, I am. Though Planned Parenthood is by no means an “abortion business” and it is absurd and disgusting that you would use that term.
Planned Parenthood offers hormonal birth control for discounted, and sometimes even free, prices, encouraging protection so that less abortions are performed. They test for STIs. They provide pap smears, which tests for cervical cancer. They EDUCATE. They promote a healthy body image. They promote acceptance among the LGBTQ community. I stand for everything else they do that is so wonderful. I will admit, before I became involved with TACT, I mistakenly thought of Planned Parenthood as solely an abortion clinic, because of people like you promoting skewed facts.
The fact is, abortion is legal in the US. Some organization is going to do it as long as it is legal and in as high demand as it is (1 in 3 women will have one by the time they are 45). So you should blame the government if you are upset, not Planned Parenthood.
Of course Planned Parenthood is a business. CEO Cecile Richards is on a $400,000 salary. And they commit approximately a third of the nation’s ext. 1 million abortions annually. What makes you think that Planned Parenthood is not an abortion business?
Sure they do a lot of good – but that doesn’t mean they’re a good, worthy organization.
You mentioned that you were pro-life. What do you mean by that?
What really bothers me, bring the red headed kid in the video, is that the way we were approached. You came to us and said, “I think it’s really awesome what you guys are doing,” and continued on about how you agree with our cause, you clearly have no problem with being dishonest. Furthermore, long before I volunteered with planned parenthood I was activly involved with trying to get comprehensive sexual education taught in Texas schools. Planned Parenthood by no means fostered this I can assure you. Texas has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the U.S. which has the highest teen pregnancy rate of developed nations, and 51% of teens are having sex, I believe it is criminal to not educate people about the risks involved with their sexuality. This honestly makes my skin crawl. You approached this in a nasty way.
Also your logic in regards to your stitistics is convoluted and completely illogical. You should do some fact checking. If you think that providing pap-smears and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases at a low cost to high risk communities catagorizes Planned Parenthood as s bad organization then you are certifiable.
I’m sorry dude – I got a bit carried away. I think with “undercover journalism” there’s a thin line between dishonesty and infiltration. I got too close to that line – sorry for that. However I do think it’s awesome that you guys are being vocal about what you believe in – we need more young people to do this. Of course I disagree with certain aspects of what you’re advocating for – as well as your backer – Planned Parenthood.