Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania

Action Fund

April 12, 2007CONTACT: Erika Fricke

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE412-434-8957, ext 119

Artists blend Pro-choice Politics and Fashion at PantyPalooza 2007

Pittsburgh, PA --- Pittsburghers get ready; a new kind of panty-raid is coming totown!

Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania Action Fund (PPWPAF) will celebrate the art of personal politics in the form of oh-so-intimate undergarments for the organization’s annual fundraiser.

The event, titled“Panty Palooza: Declare the Unmentionable” will feature artists, crafters and fashion designers displaying their version of politicized panties from 6 to 9 p.m. at the New Hazlett Theater on June 14. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

“Public policy around sexuality and reproductive health care is everybody’s intimate business,” said Kimberlee Evert, President and CEO for PPWPAF. “Just as Planned Parenthood believes that people can make responsible decisions about sexuality and parenthood, PPWPAF believes that individuals need to be responsible for creating a political environment that makes good health care possible.”

Artists, knitters, sewers, sculptors and other crafters – amateur or professional – are invited to participate in this first ever event to illustrate the link between intimate decisions and politics. The call for artists plays on the jargon about underwear people use to express themselves:

Got your “panties in a wad” over legislators obsessed with chastity belts?

Had enough of powerful “tighty-whities” attacking reproductive rights?”

About ready to forget it all and “go commando”?

Don’t just wear your politics on your sleeve…

Participate in Panty-Palooza, Declare the Unmentionable

There is no entry fee and entrants receive one free admission to the event.

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Planned Parenthood Western Pennsylvania Action Fund is no stranger to edgydesign projects that incorporate the spunky, and sometimes biting, work of emerging artists. The inaugural “Stiff Competition: Where Safe Sex Meets Pop Art” in 1999 raised eyebrows and inspired giggles with its condom package design contest. Over the years, this design contest has received national attention with its irreverent winners including a Rosie the Riveter, “We can do it, if you use it” condom and stadium-inspired themes for the sports-crazed Pittsburgh. But the overall goal of these annual events is to raise awareness and support of safe and available reproductive health care and education.

A panel of judges will select the winners of the contest but attendees can also vote on a “People’s Choice” winner. All attendees can bid on their favorite undies-inspired artwork and winning designs may be reproduced for sale benefiting PPWPAF.

For more information about Panty Palooza, call for entries and buying tickets in advance go to

Proceeds from the evening will support activities of PPWPAF including research and production of a pro-choice/pro-family planning voter guide, grassroots organizing and education, and lobbying efforts on behalf of reproductive health care and education.

Established in 1992, PPWPAF engages in educational and electoral activity including issues related to education, grassroots organizing, public opinion research, lobbying, and independent expenditure campaigns.

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