http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2004/May/18/edit/stories/01edit.htm

OPINION

May 18, 2004

As We See It: Free speech gets a workout

CURVES: Local franchise owners suffer as pro-choice members protest the women’s fitness center founder for his private donations and views.

Have you ever wondered why people living in a supposedly liberal and tolerant community seem to struggle so much with basic liberties such as freedom of expression?

This paradox was revealed yet again in the current dispute involving a chain of women’s fitness centers with five franchises in Santa Cruz County and women who believe in the right to abortion.

The dispute involves the founder of the Curves chain, Gary Heavin, and his private contributions to programs and clinics that promote both abstinence and alternatives to abortion.

It also involves the media.

Recent columns that appeared in other newspapers mistakenly reported that Heavin had given Curves’ money to a particular militant anti-abortion group, Operation Save America. After representatives of Curves showed this was not true, the erroneous information was corrected, but the protests against Heavin and the locally owned franchises have continued.

Even Santa Cruz City Councilwoman Cynthia Mathews, who is public affairs director for the local Planned Parenthood program, has gotten into the fray and said the agency is fielding numerous calls from women concerned about Curves and the company’s supposed stance on abortion.

According to a Sentinel report on the matter, published Saturday, at least 10 local women have either quit their membership at Curves or tried to get out of their contracts. Others have said they plan to make pro-choice statements while working out at Curves.

And they have a right to do that, of course, just as Heavin has a right to give his money where he wants and to espouse his Christian beliefs.

Abortion is certainly not the only issue in this county where opposing viewpoints are either not tolerated or demonized.

One can see it in the current debate over the widening of Highway 1, where supporters, in the time-honored progressive way, are characterized as trying to undermine the county’s commitment to environmental values and alternative transportation, or, worse, as tools of some sort of corporate conspiracy.

President Bush is not just opposed by many so-called liberals in Santa Cruz County, he is vilified. Nothing he touches can be even remotely positive and his every motive seems suspect.

I’m right, you’re wrong, and furthermore, you’re so wrong that I won’t even consider that you may be right.

The ironic part of the Curves issue is that the local franchises are owned and operated by women, and the fitness centers, according to many members, are a safe, supportive and welcoming place for women to come and improve their overall health and appearance.

We certainly have no quarrel with anyone who disagrees with Heavin’s stance on abortion. This newspaper believes in a woman’s right to choose and has stated so publicly many times.

At the same time, Heavin has every right to give his money wherever he chooses.

Would those who protest his contributions feel comfortable having the same kind of judgment and intolerance aimed at their contributions or stands? Should a local business owner face a boycott over, say, supporting the Sierra Club?

Should local business owners be forced to defend themselves and their own private views because Heavin has given money to abstinence-only groups and has publicly stated he believes abortion should not be used as a means of birth control?

Apparently, Heavin himself is unconcerned what his franchise owners believe on abortion, since the local women say they were never asked their religious or political views.

In fact, considering how he has been treated by the media and the rumor mill, Heavin has a great case to make about choice — a person’s personal choice on beliefs, issues and charity that he or she should be able to make without being judged by others.

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