Via The Children First Foundation.
“Choose Life” license plates became available in Washington, D.C. last week.
Sponsored by The Children First Foundation of DC, a “pro-adoption,” anti-abortion group that provides funding to so-called “crisis pregnancy centers,” similar plates are also available in 29 other states, including Virginia. But unlike in Virginia, where the plates were sponsored by gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli and help fund Christian group Heartbeat International, no money from the purchase of the plates in D.C. goes to an anti-abortion organization. NARAL Pro-Choice America challenged whether the crisis centers receiving money in Virginia were qualified for the money. Some of these centers have also been taped by NARAL giving out misinformation about birth control.
A representative from the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles said that no money from sale of the plates will go to the organization that sponsored the plates. But for a person to get a tag on their car, they must be a dues-paying member of the organization. From the Children First Foundation’s website:
4. Who gets the money raised by the Choose Life specialty plates?
Non-governmental, not-for-profit agencies that do not perform or refer for abortion or abortifacients and that offer free counseling and services to desperate women facing crisis pregnancies are eligible to receive funding from the Choose Life specialty plate. The DMV or the sponsoring organization may retain a small percentage of the annual fee in order to administer the program and to promote the sale of the Choose Life plate.
Children First also explained on their website why purchasing a DMV-approved plate, rather than a bumper sticker, is important:
Unlike the purchase of a bumper sticker, a specialty license plate creates an annual revenue stream to the sponsoring organization.
Applying for an organizational vehicle tag in D.C. is rather simple. From the DMV, here is what you need:
- A sample of proposed tag design.
- Copy of organization’s charter or articles of incorporation.
- Proof of organization’s non-profit status.
- Signatures from at least 25 organization members attesting to their intent to display the proposed tag.
- Proof that the person submitted the application is authorized to do so.
In a release, Dr. Elizabeth Rex, president of the Children First Foundation, and D.C. representative Larry Cirignano said they were “very grateful to the many DMV officials” that they “encountered during the entire application and approval process. “Everyone was very professional and helpful from start to finish,” Cirignano said in the release.
The Children First Foundation is the first organization of its kind to be approved for organization plates, according to a list posted on the DC DMV’s website. The Children First Foundation is currently not listed on the website as an eligible organization. DC DMV director Lucinda Barber said in an email they’re “in the process of updating the list,” which is below.
- Alpha Kappa Alpha
- Alpha Phi Alpha
- Bad Boys Club
- Blue Knights
- DC Fire Fighters Local 36
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
- Disabled Veterans
- District of Columbia Lodge/FOP
- Florida A&M University
- Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
- Morehouse College Alumni
- NC A&T SU Alumni
- National Association of Black Scuba Divers
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
- Porsche Club of America
- Prince Hall Masonic Family
- Spirit of Faith Christian Center
- St John’s College
- The George Washington University
- University of Michigan
- Veterans of Foreign Wars of US
- Washington Nationals (Note it is not necessary to obtain a letter from the Washington Nationals to obtain this organizational tag)
- White Stars
Samantha Gordon, director of public affairs for NARAL, said “It’s unfortunate that the [crisis pregnancy center] proponents are taking advantage of the specialty-plates policy in the District to funnel money to CPCs here in our nation’s capital. We will be monitoring the situation and continuing to educate lawmakers about the dangers CPCs pose.”
