LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- She may be only 19-years-old, but already, Bristol Palin, the daughter of former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, is blazing a trail, speaking about the importance of abstinence, protecting unborn children and raising awareness of the struggles of single, teenage moms all over the country.
Wednesday night she spoke in Louisville on behalf of the non-profit organization Lifehouse, a home that helps single and teen mothers cope with the struggles of pregnancy. Joan Smith, executive director of the Lifehouse Center, says "A lot of time we look at celebrities and see them as not dealing with the same issues as our young women are and vice versa. A lot of people say the women who come to Lifehouse cannot be compared to Bristol Palin, but in reality they can."
However, some critics say there is a difference. For one, Palin is getting paid $14,000 to speak at this fundraiser, which members of the public can attend if they pay $125 for a ticket. But Smith says that doesn't matter. Smith says "It just amazes me how people equate their financial wealth with taking care of all your problems, but that's not true."
We would have asked Bristol Palin about that ourselves, but media was not allowed to speak to her, or attend this event. However, according to people who did see Palin speak, her thoughts about being a pregnant teen and practicing abstinence were uplifting and optimistic, even though she admits she did not practice abstinence herself.
Mary Conrad says "Not everyone is perfect and we all have problems and we all have things that we don't do right, but we're all human and we have to ask God's forgiveness and continue on."
Jeff Luckett says "We're adoptive parents and we believe in what this is all about."
