Planned Parenthood has a few laughs in the face of historic attacks against choice

Host Mike Evitts

A big thanks to a group of comedians who put on a show last night at the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase to benefit Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan.

It was nearly a year ago that comic Mike Evitts approached Planned Parenthood about doing a benefit. A 2008 Eastern Michigan University graduate, Evitts was concerned about all the conservative political attacks facing the organization, despite the fact that 97 percent of Planned Parenthood’s services are essential, reproductive health care like birth control, annual exams, cancer screenings and HIV tests.

“I was sick of seeing the attacks against Planned Parenthood,” he said. “I asked, ‘What can we do?’”

A year later, the political landscape for Planned Parenthood hasn’t improved. While the state wallows in economic decline, the Michigan Legislature has wasted time proposing more than 30 anti-choice bills that have nothing to do with jobs or the economy.

Last night, Evitts offered nearly 100 supporters of Planned Parenthood a chance to laugh at the bizarre conservative obsession with the organization that does more than any other to help people avoid unplanned pregnancies. A handful of anti-choice protestors gathered outside of the Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase, which is located in the basement below Seva, a vegetarian restaurant. (By the way, Seva now has a location in Detroit. The food is YUMMY!)

“Have you seen those graphic signs that those protestors always carry?” Evitts asked the audience. “I think that’s really tasteless. Especially in front of a vegetarian restaurant.”

Joining Evitts were Katie Brindle and Andy Beningo. Beningo, who brought an affable “Animal House” humor to the stage looked over the audience, noting how many women were present.

Andy Beningo

“Either this is a Planned Parenthood event, or eHarmony screwed up,” he said.

The headliner was Dwayne Gill, a Michigan State Police officer. Gill was on the security detail for Governors John Engler and Jennifer Granholm, and spent 10 years in the Marines.

“I’m a cop by day and a comic by night,” he said. “Like a superhero.”

The Detroit native joked about his own experience as a black police officer working in Ionia, which was like “sending P. Diddy to Paw Paw,” he joked.

Dwayne Gill

“I responded to a call about a stolen John Deere tractor,” he said. “I asked them ‘What color was it?’”

Gill pulled no punches with his politically-incorrect comedy that had the audience in stitches. His main goal was to entertain while helping to call attention to an important cause.

“With cuts in funding, more women of modest means will seek birth control counseling from organizations like Planned Parenthood,” he said the married father of three.
To support Planned Parenthood’s advocacy efforts, click here.

CeCe, Rae, Dwayne Gill and Desiree