LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 22: Singer Katy Perry (R) takes a selfie with dorm residents as she canvasses for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton at UNLV on October 22, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Today is the first day for early voting in Nevada ahead of the November 8 general election. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Katy Perry was one of Hillary Clinton’s most visible celebrity surrogates this fall. Following Clinton’s electoral defeat, Perry is reorienting her energies to support Planned Parenthood, the sexual and reproductive health and advocacy organization. In a letter to fans posted on Perry’s Instagram, the pop star shared a photo of her $10,000 donation and described the education she received at Planned Parenthood as a teenager.
“It’s time to turn words into action,” Perry wrote. “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.” Throughout his campaign, president-elect Donald Trump vowed to cut off Planned Parenthood’s public funding.
“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,” Perry continued. “I had no idea how things worked down there, and had no idea how to make a plan for them.”
“Planned Parenthood educated me on my body and my reproductive health, so that I could focus on my dreams and using 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 is far from the only musician to publicly support Planned Parenthood in recent days. On Wednesday, Run the Jewels‘ El-P tweeted about his $5,000 donation, and the organization has reported an overall spike in donations since election day. SPIN has also compiled a list of bands and record labels who are donating sales to Planned Parenthood and other progressive causes.
Read Katy Perry’s full letter of support for Planned Parenthood below.