Children’s museum apologizes for Planned Parenthood handout

Update: Thursday, 10:33 p.m. ET:
In an updated statement sent to WORLD Thursday evening, Jennifer M. Allen, a chief external affairs officer for Planned Parenthood, admitted that a staff member inadvertently distributed what Allen characterized as, "an item that wouldn't typically be used in a setting like this event" at the Kentucky Science Center. Allen went on to insist that the material in the unspecified item was medically accurate, but apologized for the incident. She said Planned Parenthood would review its internal protocols for the future.

Original story:

The Louisville-based Kentucky Science Center wrote an apology Wednesday after adult coloring books from Planned Parenthood were provided at a recent event for children and families. The children’s museum said that Planned Parenthood handed out coloring books containing adult material at a recent health and wellness event. The material contained artistic depictions of male and female genitals, as well as pill dispensers, according to photos of the book posted by the Visual Aid Society. It was characterized as an adult coloring book by the designers’ agency. It also contained a section called “Sexlibs,” a spin on the popular children’s word game “Mad Libs,” in which the reader was invited to write in adjectives to describe condoms and sexual experiences.

How was something like this released at a children’s museum? The March 21 health and wellness event was marketed to children and families, museum spokeswoman Taylor U’Sellis told WORLD. The museum hosted five school groups on field trips, with children aged 8-13, U’Sellis said. She added that Planned Parenthood contacted the museum and requested to have a table at the event. That request was granted, but the museum asked to review the abortion provider’s materials beforehand. Those materials were not provided for review before the event. Planned Parenthood representatives showed up 90 minutes late, making it difficult to review their materials until after the event was well underway, according to U’Sellis. As soon as the museum became aware of the adult coloring books, representatives told Planned Parenthood to stop distributing them, U’Sellis said.

Has Planned Parenthood responded to the claims? Planned Parenthood denied distributing any coloring books at the science center, according to a report by WDRB-TV, citing a written statement from Jennifer Allen, director of external affairs for the organization. Allen went on to say that Planned Parenthood was invited to the event. She denied claims that the adult coloring book was given to children, calling them coordinated attempts to stir outrage and manufacture controversy.

How has the Kentucky Science Center responded to Planned Parenthood’s denial? Teachers witnessed the coloring books being handed out, and photos afterward showed the children with the book, U’Sellis told WORLD. One parent reported that her child came home with it from the event, the museum spokeswoman said.

U’Sellis told WORLD that representatives from the museum are scheduled to meet with Planned Parenthood representatives Thursday afternoon.

The center is taking steps to ensure all materials distributed at its future events are thoroughly reviewed in advance, according to the museum’s apology. The museum added that Planned Parenthood is no longer welcome on its premises.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s story about a pro-life film examining the history of Planned Parenthood.