As editor of Alaska Watchman, I sign up for emails from many different groups. Normally, I light up when someone wishes me “happy birthday.” That wasn’t the case when I saw this greeting the other day.

“It’s you! Happy birthday month, Joel, from all of us at Planned Parenthood. We believe everyone deserves access to comprehensive healthcare … and that everyone deserves to be wished a happy birthday (throw in some cake too)!” It concluded with, “Thank you for being you, and happy birthday!”

Signed by Christine Charbonneau, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood.

I was born in 1974, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion was legal through all nine months of pregnancy. Thankfully my mom chose to love and welcome me into the world on my birthday. But millions of children conceived after 1973 have been aborted on their birthday by Planned Parenthood. In Alaska we lost 1,253 children last year, most of those at the hands of this organization.

Needless to say, it’s awkward to accept a “happy birthday” greeting from a group that actively works to ensure that millions of children never get a chance to hear those words.

The writer is editor-in-chief of the Alaska Watchman.