Blue state handed COVID relief funds to Planned Parenthood for ‘queer prom,’ children’s’ sex ed club

A Planned Parenthood affiliate in Pennsylvania received $630,000 of federal COVID-19 relief money to put on events like “queer prom” and run LGBTQ+ after school clubs that provide a “confidential space” for children as young as 10 to discuss sexuality, documents show.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education issued a Pandemic Response Job Training and Education Programs Grant titled “Welcome and Safe: Strengthening the Rainbow Room’s LGBTQ+ Programming,” to Planned Parenthood Keystone, allocating $630,000 of COVID-19 relief funds for the funding of LGBTQ+ youth programs centered around sexuality and transgenderism in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The Rainbow Room and Roy G. Biv are LGBTQ+ youth programs for minors and young adults run by Planned Parenthood Keystone that provide “free, confidential & empowering spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and friends” and “inclusive education,” according to the Rainbow Room’s social media account.

Funding for the grant came directly from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to grant agreement, which specifies the allotted funds were intended to “respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts.” Grantees were required to maintain records of how the funds responded to these negative economic impacts.

The grant agreement did not specify what negative economic impacts the Rainbow Room experienced due to the pandemic, but it did note the Rainbow Room had a “400% increase in program participation over the past five years.”

Planned Parenthood Keystone did not respond to the DCNF’s request for clarification on what negative COVID-19 impacts on the Rainbow Rooms LGBTQ+ youth programming the grant addressed. The Pennsylvania Department of Education did not respond to the DCNF’s requests for comment or questions about the exact requirements for the job training grant.

Another GEM from Dr Hemlock