Planned Parenthood apologizes for adult handout at children’s museum

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. Planned Parenthood later also apologized for the incident. 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 also contained a section called “Sexlibs,” a spin on the popular children’s word game “Mad Libs.” 

Has Planned Parenthood responded to the claims? 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.

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, she said. 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.