FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Keiko Zoll
856-906-4269
http://www.hannahweptsarahlaughed.com
The Infertility Community Speaks Out Against PETA
Change.org Petition to PETA Gains 2,000+ Signatures from Infertility Community Condemning “Win a Vasectomy” Campaign for National Infertility Awareness Week
(Salem, MA: April 8, 2011) On April 6, 2011, infertility advocate and blogger Keiko Zoll circulated a petition via Change.org to the infertility community urging supporters to condemn the “Win a Vasectomy” campaign from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) launched in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week later this month. As of 11:30AM EST the petition has gained 2000+ signatures from nearly 50 states and over 8 countries.
Zoll has spoken publicly by posting an open letter to PETA on her blog, Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed. PETA responded with two dismissive emails (also posted at her blog) and the online infertility community has been spurred into action by posting blogs of their own, condemning PETA on Twitter, and airing their concerns on Facebook.
“It’s not that we have a problem with the campaign itself,” Zoll notes. “Our issue is with the fact that PETA has deliberately stated their campaign is ‘in honor of’ National Infertility Awareness Week. PETA’s choice of publicity stunt is a mockery of everything that NIAW represents.” She continues: “PETA has decided that it's acceptable to ridicule, devalue, and trivialize the infertility patient community experience in the name of promoting responsible pet-ownership.”
Zoll’s petition demands that PETA formally apologize to the infertility community for their “Win a Vasectomy” campaign and to immediately remove any link between their campaign and National Infertility Awareness Week.
“We are a patient community of over 7.3 million men and women in the United States alone,” Zoll says. “With such a high level of cultural stigma surrounding infertility, PETA’s campaign flies in the face of our deeply personal and painful emotional and physical experiences. I am strengthened by how quickly and passionately our community has responded to PETA’s ridiculous publicity stunt. I can only hope that PETA will hear and respect our concerns as a patient community. The ball’s in their court to do the right thing.”
Keiko Zoll is an infertility advocate and blogger writing at Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed. She is a volunteer for RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, and Board of Directors member and Advocacy Committee Chair for RESOLVE of New England.
For more information, please see the petition here online: http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-peta-infertility-is-not-a-joke-2
An Open Letter to PETA:
http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.blogspot.com/2011/04/open-letter-to-peta.html
PETA’s Response:
http://hannahweptsarahlaughed.blogspot.com/2011/04/peta-responds-and-they-just-dont-get-it.html
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