Something really important

[jawnbc]

On a day when too many people are making cheap jokes about someone who died. Or gnashing their teeth, ad infinitum about a fucking chat website:

The Breast Cancer Society of Canada, whose mandate is to raise funs for breast cancer research, recently rejected a donation from a group of exotic dancers/strippers. These women in Vancouver hold an annual fundraiser, which nets several thousand dollars.

It sends a shitty message, that some women are acceptable and others not, based on their (wholly legal) occupation. If you feel this is important, do visit their site, click on Contact Us and send a (polite but pointed) email to their Executive Director.


Here's what I emailed:

Dear Ms. Xanthopoulo:

I am very disappointed with your organization's decision to refuse donations from a group of women based on their occupation. A fully legal occupation. I think it adds to stigmatization to these women, which neither empowers them or helps them.

Do you accept donations from real estate agents, or investment bankers, or City of Vancouver parking enforcement agents? Or from OB/GYNs who perform terminations? Each of these occupations are reviled by some sectors of society. Why are you (I presume) singling out certain groups but not others?

But, more importantly, these women too have breasts. And are vulnerable to breast cancer. I would hope that issues like breast cancer would unify all women, rather than isolate and exclude some because of the opinions of others.

t's a mistake that can be easily remedied and put to bed: escind your decision, accept the monies, and publicly apologize.

Sincerely,

jawnbc

Comments

[poohbearjim.livejournal.com]

I would have expected that in the US, not in Canada. That really pisses me off.

[jawnbc]

It is response to someone's complaint. Probably a big donor. It's a bad decision, but probably not thought through in terms of the message it sends.

Even Canada is flawed, yaknow :)

[garpu.livejournal.com]

I love the implicit message that they're less women because of their profession. Gah. I babysat a stripper's kids one summer, and they make good money. For her, it was a way that she could be home with her kids (a single parent) and have some creative work outlet. Only downside was that I got paid in singles...

[querrelle.livejournal.com]

Done. But mine was shorter:

Ill-advised decision that has discredited the organization.
Thankfully easily rectified. Do it now.

[jawnbc]

eloquent.economical.excellent

[jeffbriggs.livejournal.com]

I am mortified to read that The Breast Cancer Society of Canada feels so inclined to reject a donation from a group of women who earn their living as strippers and exotic dancers that they deem UNFIT to contribute. When is it the responsibility of your group to moralize about others. It was my misunderstood that your orginization was there to help raise as much funding as is possible for this cause.
I find YOUR actions morally repugnant. It is a primary example of why woman such as those preyed on by Mr. Pickton in British Columbia are victimized due to societal attitudes such as yours painting them as lesser citizens.

Jeff Briggs

bcsc@bcsc.ca
rany@bcsc.ca
dhamilton@bcsc.ca
bcaughlin@bcsc.ca

[jawnbc]

Thanks luv

[moroccomole.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting us know about this. Here's what I wrote:

Dear Ms. Xanthopoulo:

I must say I find your decision to refuse a donation from exotic dancers lacking in both grace and good humor. For the last several years, I have participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and many women choose to participate in the walk wearing bras on the outside of their shirts, or displaying signs that say "Save the Boob." Many of these women are themselves breast cancer survivors, and they choose to battle the disease with what some might call outrageous humor.

A group of strippers hosting a fundraiser to fight breast cancer might be objectionable to some, but they are using humor (as well as other assets) to battle a disease that affects millions of women every year. If some of those women decide to use their wit or sexuality to show the world that they will not be ground into mourning drudgery by breast cancer, then more power to them.

That the Breast Cancer Society of Canada would be so judgemental as to turn down money from women who might already be or could someday be breast cancer survivors is quite frankly unconscionable. As a man who lost his mother to breast cancer -- and who has a sister who is a survivor -- I hope you will rethink this decision.

Sincerely,
Alonso Duralde

[jawnbc]

So very well said. Thanks Alonso.

[that-dang-otter.livejournal.com]

Ugh. Returning donations is the act of just one kind of person: a politician.

Which is kind of telling. Medical research should be funded based on how much "quality life" it preserves: if you spend too much time or money on a horrible but extremely rare disease, you're shortchanging diseases that are equally horrible but more common.

Breast cancer is a common disease, but for some reason it has assumed a "very special" position in fundraising that has been attracting a critical gaze for some time now. Charitable organizations run a constant danger of losing track of their original values in favor of self-promotion. It's not nice to question the motives of well-intended people... but the fact is, breast cancer foundations are already in a precarious position in the eyes of people who worry about where research dollars ought to go.

So whether they have been self-serving or not, this makes the return of the funds look particularly bad. It suggests that they don't really need the money. It's bad all around.

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

Dear Breast Cancer Society of Canada--

A dear friend of mine from Vancouver mentioned that your organization has recently rejected a donation from a group of exotic dancers and/or strippers.

Most of the women in my life, thankfully, have not had serious run-ins with breast cancer. But if they should, I would certainly hope that organizations like yours, which seek to serve them, would be accepting donations from anyone and everyone, so that you can provide the greatest possible service to those in need.

It seems terrible to send the message that a woman's breasts might not be considered worthy of your care if she happens to display them in ways of which you do not approve. It's difficult not to imagine my mother, my cousin, my best friend, or some other woman I treasure being turned away, either because actions like this create a climate in which women are forced to conform to someone else's moral code before being given medical care and support, or because the funds simply won't be there.

If my friend's impression of your actions is correct, I hope you'll reconsider and change your minds.

Best,
Pete Chvany
Somerville, Massachusetts, USA

[jawnbc]

Thanks Pete.

[jeneration.livejournal.com]

This is really disturbing. Shades of the moral majority...

I've sent an email and will put info about this in my journal. Not that my opinion (from the other side of the world) will probably mean much to them, but the more they hear about it the more they will think about it.

[jawnbc]

Thanks Jaimie

[spencer-gp.livejournal.com]

And I'm here because I saw it on his LJ, and am writing and re-posting...

[jawnbc]

Awesome! Thanks so much!

[bear-left.livejournal.com]

Just sent:

"Dear Ms. Xanthopoulo,

After learning of this story from friends in Vancouver, and investigating the national coverage in the online Canadian media, I am writing to express my profound disappointment in the Breast Cancer Society of Canada's decision to not accept donations from the Exotic Dancers for Cancer. While I understand how some wealthy donors might be reluctant to associate themselves with strippers, erotic dancers, and indeed working-class women more generally, I think your own words sum up the situation quite succintly: "Our bottom line was that any woman can get breast cancer. It doesn't matter what they do, what their profession is."

The Society's mandate is to "fund vital Canadian research into improving the detection, prevention and treatment of breast cancer as well as to ultimately find a cure and create awareness through education." Of the millions of North American women who have battled breast cancer, I can't help but wonder how many of them, as they courageously resisted the cancer ravaging their bodies, would have agreed with your Society's decision not to accept this donation because the donors weren't respectable enough to some?

I very much hope you reverse this decision as soon as possible.

Sincerely,
Dr. bear_left
University of Georgia
History & Women's Studies

[jawnbc]

thanks Ian

[devcubber.livejournal.com]

Dear Ms. Xanthopoulo,

As a woman and a Cervical cancer survivor, I find it appalling that you would deny a donation from a group of women (who chose an occupation that you and/or your organization deem inappropriate) interested in supporting the search for the cure of Breast cancer. I also wonder how many of the men (and women) who regularly and legally attend strip/exotic shows, fundraiser or not, have breast cancer survivors (or are breast cancer survivors or candidates themselves) in their lives.

By picking and choosing your donors by levels of acceptance that you and your organization set, you are sending a message that perhaps breast cancer research and treatment is also selective and availble to a particular echelon of women.

Your rejection of this generous donation, given legally and honestly, is unacceptable, and I hope you will reconsider their offer. Exotic or frumpy, comfortable or prim, stripper or nun, every woman deserves to participate in the concern, care, research and search for a cure to Breast cancer.

Elise Vandover

[jawnbc]

Merci ma belle

[dragonweir.livejournal.com]

I have sent off an email voicing my disgust with this decision. It will be interesting to see what happens.

I also asked for the names of the 'major donors' who objected to this donations. If they send that information perhaps a boycott of their business is possible, assuming that they will be business people. I doubt they will tell me though.

It is a sad day for cancer sufferers indeed.

I will be contacting the Aussie version to see if they have a problem with any donations.

Hugz
Downunder

[jawnbc]

Thank you

[feygele.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting about this - was it in the news? I heard nothing over here, nor saw anything on my news feeds... *scratches head*

I'd like to read more about it before I email, so I'm off to google news.

[feygele.livejournal.com]

Also, it might be nice for some of the letters to go to the Erotic Dancers of Canada to show support of their positive work.