Former Planned Parenthood Southeast staff sue over alleged firings tied to policy shift

Six former workers of Planned Parenthood Southeast have brought a federal case alleging wrongful termination after they objected to a perceived abandonment of the affiliate’s core reproductive-rights focus. The complaint names former Georgia State Director Kaylah Oates-Marable, former Vice President of Communications and Marketing Jaylen Black, and two other staff members, who say they were fired weeks after reporting discomfort with Executive Director Karen Rene’s comments on personal child-bearing decisions.

They also accuse former CEO Mairo Akposé of steering the organization away from abortion advocacy and ordering staff to stop participating in LGBTQ+ health campaigns. Black further alleges she was dismissed while on disability leave after reporting that a transgender colleague was deadnamed on a call. Planned Parenthood declined comment, and an earlier internal probe concluded the accusations lacked merit. The plaintiffs’ attorney urges donors and supporters to demand accountability and remediation for the alleged misconduct.