Sweating With the Enemy

If getting fit also means enriching a millionaire who donates to antiabortion groups, why is Curves sweeping across New England with the force of a blizzard? Thousands of Massachusetts women are facing the question of health versus choice. How will they reconcile the personal with the political?

Curves franchise owner Joyce Harty (right side, left photo) says she knows of only one defection from her six Boston clubs over the founder's antiabortion donations. She is pictured at her Haymarket club with Joanne Baldini of Winchester, who supports Curves and abortion rights. Katy Delaney (right), who owns the Brookline Curves, says she doesn't agree with founder Gary Heavin's politics, ''but I certainly respect them.'' (Photos / Webb Chappell) Photos / Webb Chappell

By Elaine McArdle

June 19, 2005

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Joanne Baldini is what you might call a deep-blue liberal: passionate about the environment, a strong supporter of gay rights, a John Kerry voter. Ten miles northwest of Boston, in the affluent and progressive suburb of Winchester, Baldini lives her politics every day, recycling at home, buying organic foods, even organizing neighbors to keep tax money flowing into the town's ... (Full article: 3664 words)