Planned Parenthood chapter apologizes for coloring book controversy at Kentucky Science Center
The regional chapter of Planned Parenthood apologized Thursday after "inadvertently" distributing coloring books containing age-inappropriate images at a recent Kentucky Science Center event attended by young students, calling the incident an "error."
The Kentucky Science Center apologized to the public for the ordeal Wednesday after word spread that Planned Parenthood representatives had distributed a coloring and activities book containing depictions of medically-accurate genitalia and contraception while tabling during the center's recent Health & Wellness Days.
Center spokesperson Taylor U'Sellis said Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Indiana and Kentucky was authorized to use a table at the event Friday and Saturday. Both days were marketed as family-friendly, but students ages 8-13 years old from five local schools were in attendance Friday, she said.
In a statement issued Thursday, Jennifer M. Allen, director of external affairs for the regional Planned Parenthood office, said the books were handed out mistakenly and apologized.
"We have learned that a staff member inadvertently distributed an item that wouldn't typically be used in a setting like this event, along with many other accurate and age-appropriate materials. While all material at the event was medically-accurate, we apologize for this error and are reviewing our internal protocols," Allen said.
U'Sellis said center officials requested to review the materials the organization intended to distribute prior to the event, but they were not provided, U'Sellis said. She added that representatives of the organization showed up to the event more than an hour late, making it challenging to thoroughly inspect the materials.
"We sincerely apologize for the distribution of a Planned Parenthood coloring book at our recent Health & Wellness Days event. Planned Parenthood provided this material without our consent and it does not reflect our policies or the intended content for the event," the Kentucky Science Center said in a statement.
Officials with the center said they are taking steps to ensure materials distributed at future events are reviewed ahead of time. Officials also said in the Wednesday statement that Planned Parenthood will no longer be welcome at the center, but it was unclear if that changed Thursday.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Planned Parenthood apologizes after adult coloring book handed out in KY
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