The Breast Cancer Site on Facebook recently posted a ribbon that was pink and blue for male breast cancer awareness. It has since stirred up a lot of mixed emotions and caused many in the PAIL (pregnancy and infant loss) community to be upset and offended by the idea of having to share their ribbon with other causes.
I believe this month being Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month brings more emotions to the surface and that it would have been in the best interest of The Breast Cancer Site to share this ribbon graphic that states, "The Ribbons are Pink, But should be Pink & Blue, Women get Breast Cancer, But Men Get It Too!"; another month. However this also happens to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This ribbon has been established for men who have fought breast cancer for awareness since 1996, 17 years ago. There are other causes that the pink and blue ribbon represent for awareness too: Pro-life, Genital integrity, Inflammatory breast cancer awareness, and Infertility awareness.
In 1988 the month of October was officially designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. In 2002 a movement was begun first in the USA and then in the UK and other countries. 2002 was the first year the pink and blue ribbons were used to help raise pregnancy and infant loss awareness. In 2002, the first October 15th Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day occurred in the USA and UK. National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006 in the USA.
As an angel mommy I am not worried, bothered or upset to share the pregnancy and infant loss awareness ribbon with male breast cancer awareness, after all they had it first.
This is what I've learned during my research. Hopefully it can help clear up some confusion and help everyone understand some things about the awareness ribbons associated with copyright dates and causes they stand for.
Links from where information and facts were taken are listed last.
"The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Movement began in the United States on October 25, 1988, when then-American President Ronald Reagan designated the month of October 1988 as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month."
"The October 15th Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day (PAILRD) Campaign began in 2002 as an American movement started by Robyn Bear, Lisa Brown, and Tammy Novak. Together, they petitioned the federal government, as well as the governors of each of the 50 states, and by October 15, 2002 (the first observance of PAILRD), 20 states had signed proclamations recognizing the date as such. As a result of the American campaign effort, Concurrent Resolution 222, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006."
"To date, all 50 American states have yearly proclamations, with Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, and South Dakota adopting permanent proclamations."
"International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance
Contrary to the popular belief that Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is internationally legislated and observed as an international day of remembrance, this is not the case.
Through the legislative campaigns of individuals world wide Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is becoming an international day of observation. Germany and most other non-English speaking countries do not observe this day."
"As a result of the American campaign effort, Concurrent Resolution 222, supporting the goals and ideals of National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, was passed in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. House Concurrent Resolution 222 proclaims October 15 of each year to be Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States."
"The International Wave of Light invites participants from around the world to light a candle in honor of PAILRD, starting at 1900 hours on October 15 in their respective time zones, and to leave the candle burning for at least an hour. The result is a continuous chain of light spanning the globe for a 24 hour period in honor and remembrance of the children who die during pregnancy or shortly after birth."
"October 15th 2002 was the inaugural Baby Loss Awareness Day in the UK and was initiated by a group of parents inspired by Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. Through the sale of, handmade blue and pink ribbon pins they raised several thousand pounds for UK organisations supporting bereaved parents."
"The 2003 campaign saw the first ‘Wave of Light’ service held at the American Church in London and attended by representatives and members of each participating organisation. There were also services held across the UK from Scotland to Surrey. Once again, the ribbon pins were made and sold by bereaved parents."
"The 2004 campaign was a more formal collaboration between the organisations involved. The ribbon pins were commercially manufactured and balloon releases were held in several locations. The group organised a secular service at the Royal Statistical Society in London and there were over twenty other events around the UK."
"A pink and blue ribbon is sometimes used to symbolize breast cancer in men, which is relatively rare. The pink and blue ribbon was designed in 1996 by Nancy Nick, president and founder of the John W. Nick Foundation to bring awareness that "Men Get Breast Cancer Too!""
"The pink and blue ribbon is a symbol for promoting:
Pro-life
Genital integrity
Male breast cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer awareness
Infertility awareness
Infant loss awareness
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is October 15 in Canada, United States, Australia, and UK."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_ribbon
http://www.babyloss-awareness.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy_and_Infant_Loss_Remembrance_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_and_blue_ribbon
http://www.october15th.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheBreastCancerSite
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151636170741722&set=a.10150307536376722.331374.7210086721&type=1&relevant_count=1
