Parents Sue Kentucky Science Center, Planned Parenthood Over Distribution of Explicit Coloring Book to Child

By Mary Beth Sallee, Managing Editor / Hart County Herald-News

 

A Grayson County, Kentucky family has filed a lawsuit against the Kentucky Science Center and multiple Planned Parenthood organizations, alleging that their nine-year-old daughter was given a sexually explicit coloring book during a school field trip earlier this year.

The complaint, filed August 7 in Jefferson Circuit Court by Heather and Jason Terry of Clarkson, Kentucky, claims their daughter, identified in court documents as W.T., received the “Planned Parenthood Coloring + Activity Book” during a Health and Wellness Day event at the Kentucky Science Center (KSC) in Louisville on March 21.

According to the lawsuit, W.T’s field trip to KSC occurred at the same time that a KSC event known as “Health and Wellness Day Science Celebration” of which Planned Parenthood was in attendance.

The lawsuit further states that a Planned Parenthood staff member distributed the book to children, including W.T., without parental consent or prior review by Kentucky Science Center staff. The Terrys say their daughter opened the book on the bus ride home and discovered pages containing sex-related content, including: sexual terminology, anatomical drawings including both male and female genitalia, and activities referencing contraception, abortion, and reproductive health.

The coloring book included an activity page titled “SexLibs”, a word game in which a person can fill in the blanks with specific parts of speech. Another coloring page depicted various methods of birth control, such as condoms and a tube of spermicide. A word search page found in the coloring book instructed individuals to find numerous sexual words, including clitoris, vagina, and abortion. Various other pages depicted large breasts that could be colored and a maze regarding abortion in Texas.

The Terrys argue that the material was “wholly inappropriate” for a child of their daughter’s age and caused her embarrassment, shame, and humiliation. They further claim Planned Parenthood’s actions deprived them of the right to decide when and how to discuss sexual topics with their child.

The suit names the Kentucky Science Center, Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America as defendants. Allegations include negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of Kentucky’s statute prohibiting the distribution of obscene material to minors.

According to the lawsuit, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates CEO Jennifer Allen initially denied distributing the book at the event but later acknowledged that a staff member “inadvertently” provided the materials. Allen apologized for the incident and said the organization was reviewing internal protocols.

The Kentucky Science Center also issued a statement saying Planned Parenthood failed to submit its materials for vetting and arrived late to the event, which “made it difficult to assess the materials.”

The lawsuit further states that this is not the first time Planned Parenthood has been accused of distributing the “Planned Parenthood Coloring + Activity Book” to minors. At an event in Oregon around April of this year, Planned Parenthood representatives distributed the coloring book to children who were attending the event.

The Terrys are seeking damages, including punitive damages, and have requested a jury trial.