Tomorrow, the 5th annual anti-abortion “Walk for Life” will be advancing its agenda of controlling my reproductive organs. I suppose the organizers want to slow San Francisco’s steady march towards the fires of Hell. Lest you think I can’t extend a compassionate hand towards those I vehemently disagree with, let me suggest a couple of pro-life, pro-family suggestions that may resonate in San Francisco…

Stop sterilizing poor women–end the “maximum family grant” rule: The rule works like this: low-income women who conceive and give birth while receiving public assistance (CalWorks) receive no additional cash aid to support the baby. Why? Because pushing poor families into deeper financial straits builds character and strengthens families. Note, the maximum amount of aid for a single adult supporting one child in San Francisco is $584 per month. Maximum cash aid for a family with 2 children is $723.

Encourage queer families to foster and/or adopt children: San Francisco already has an ad campaign doing just this. So maybe the pro-family folks could hop over to Arkansas where as of January 1st same-sex couples are banned from becoming foster or adoptive parents.

Extend legal protections to all parents and children: California has some legal protections, but cross state lines and it’s legal chaos. Seems like a no-brainer that Mom or Pop would be in the best position to make medical and other decisions for their kid, but nah, that privilege is reserved for heterosexuals.

Oh the list could go on…but I’ve made my point.

The Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights is sponsoring a counter protest tomorrow: 10:30 AM, Music Concourse (the end of Market at the Embarcadero BART), January 24. I’ve heard it’s been kind of a fun counter-protest in past years.

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