Steve Cortes, Senior Political Advisor at CatholicVote, said that residents of Richmond oppose their taxes being used to support Planned Parenthood, particularly its promotion of sex changes for children. He made this statement to the Richmond Leader.
“The great citizens of Richmond do not want their hard-earned tax payments funding radical Planned Parenthood, especially that group’s aggressive push to sex-change children through pharmaceuticals and surgeries,” said Cortes.
According to ABC8News, the Family Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the City of Richmond. The lawsuit challenges the sale of a former public school property to Planned Parenthood for $10. Represented by its legal arm, the Founding Freedoms Law Center, the foundation claims that the City Council’s decision to transfer the 4929 Chamberlayne Avenue property—formerly Brook Hill School—was irresponsible due to its assessed value of $1.25 million. The building was declared surplus by Richmond Public Schools in 2022 and is reportedly in poor condition with issues such as mold, lead paint, and possible asbestos. The Virginia League of Planned Parenthood plans to build a $6 million, 10,000-square-foot health clinic on this site, marking it as the third facility in the city.
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of local psychiatry practice Sheila M. Furey, MD, PC. According to ABC8News, Dr. Sheila Furey opposed the sale during a City Council meeting. She argues that the low-cost deal excluded other qualified organizations from bidding on the property and redirected potential funds away from urgent community needs like school improvements and children’s healthcare.
In September 2024, Richmond Circuit Court Judge Tracy W. J. Thorne-Begland denied a request for a temporary restraining order to halt the sale but did not dismiss the case entirely, allowing it to proceed further according to VPM.
Planned Parenthood provides gender-affirming hormone therapy—including puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)—to transgender and nonbinary youth in some of its health centers. These services typically start at age 16; however, age policies can vary by state and clinic according to their website.
Cortes serves as Senior Political Advisor and spokesman for Catholic Vote, a Catholic advocacy organization.
