Katy Perry Donates $10K to Planned Parenthood, Pens Essay on Turning 'Words Into Action'

The singer said she made her donation because the organization "educated me."

ByABC News
November 12, 2016, 11:27 AM
Katy Perry performs during Katy Perry holds Get Out The Vote concert in support of Hillary Clinton at Mann Center For Performing Arts, Nov. 5, 2016 in Philadelphia.
Katy Perry performs during Katy Perry holds Get Out The Vote concert in support of Hillary Clinton at Mann Center For Performing Arts, Nov. 5, 2016 in Philadelphia.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images

— -- Katy Perry just revealed that she has donated $10,000 to Planned Parenthood.

The group, which endorsed Hillary Clinton back in January, said earlier this week that it will "fight to make sure" its health center doors "stay open" even after the election of Donald Trump as president.

Trump said on the campaign trail that he wants to defund Planned Parenthood as long as it performs abortions. He later clarified his position saying, "The abortion aspect of Planned Parenthood should absolutely not be funded."

He added, "millions and millions of women -- cervical cancer, breast cancer -- are helped by Planned Parenthood."

Perry, 32, explained her decision to donate to the organization in a lengthy caption on Instagram.

"It's time to turn words into action!" she began. "There are so many steps to take, but my first vow is to support organizations that may have their funding support taken from them in the future by the government.

"I am making a public donation to Planned Parenthood for the teenage me who made several visits to first a clinic in Santa Barbara and then Los Angeles, CA to educate myself on my sexual health, a subject I had little to no information on because of my sheltered upbringing," she wrote. "I had no idea how things worked down there, and had no idea how to make a plan for them."

Perry said the organization gave her the ability to "focus on my dreams and us[e] my voice until I knew the timing was right for me to make a plan to have a family. Since then, I have been able to focus wholeheartedly on bringing messages of strength and becoming a voice for others. Without this education, I may have had a different life path."

Perry added that although she had a singular experience with the health organization, she feels Planned Parenthood "can sometimes be the only medical support low-income families ever see."

"I know what it's like to need help," the singer said. "I came from a lower- to middle-class family and never grew up with the option of health insurance."

Perry ended her caption by explaining that Planned Parenthood gave Katheryn Hudson, Perry's birth name, "the knowledge to plan."

"Now, more than ever, we all need to protect and create safe places for each other," she continued. "I hope I can help inspire you to make a gift as well, and become a member and an ally."

She concluded her note by encouraging others to "show your support" to Planned Parenthood with the hashtag: "#wewontgoback."

Perry was outspoken during the 2016 presidential election.

She, along with other celebrities, campaigned for Democratic presidential nominee Clinton. She also performed at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Related Topics