"Planned Parenthood's Big Sex industry is now exploiting children in the same way Big Tobacco did-with a cartoon," said Ed Szymkowiak, national director of STOPP International.

Szymkowiak was referring to Planned Parenthood's latest affront-a walking, talking, sperm-like cartoon wearing sunglasses. On Sept. 16, children watching the Celebration Parade in Eugene, Oregon were exposed to Joe Sperm as he marched along with giant condoms and birth control pills-with a bevy of humans, dressed as sperm, chasing others dressed as eggs. Joe Sperm ads are now on Eugene city buses.

"Planned Parenthood has created a cartoon character that will cause even very young children to become interested in sex," Szymkowiak added. "Joe Sperm deserves the same negative response drawn by Camel cigarettes' Joe Camel. Joe Camel led kids to think smoking is 'cool.' Joe Sperm will do the same for contraceptives and sex. Planned Parenthood's so-called 'safe sex' can lead to sexually transmitted diseases, abortion and serious post-abortion problems. The citizens of Eugene should kick Joe Sperm and Planned Parenthood out of town."

Bill Sheppard, executive director of Planned Parenthood in Southwestern Oregon, admitted recently that Joe Sperm is part of a birth control program aimed at the poor in the region. "The beauty of this program for Oregon," he said, "is that the federal government will match our state funding on a 9-to-1 basis. Right now Oregon's putting in $1.5 million, and the federal government is adding $13.5 million" (Eugene Register-Guard, Sept. 19, 2000).

"Obviously, Planned Parenthood is counting on the Joe Sperm ad campaign to help them get a huge chunk of this $15 million pot of taxpayer money, and they don't care if they harm children in the process," Szymkowiak said.