The Chronicle published my letter!
Editor - As Steve Francis demonstrates in his opinion piece ("Prop. 4 - Parents should know," Sept. 22) the backers of Proposition 4 have fear-mongering on their side, but not the facts."The well-being of young teens is at stake with negative influences from pop culture, adult advertising and the Internet," he claims. But this proposition won't do a thing to change that.
The facts are: Teen pregnancies are on the decline already, most teenagers do talk to their parents and parental consent laws particularly affect and harm low-income teenagers, who are already unable to turn to their families. Furthermore, in states that have passed similar laws, teens became more likely to have second-trimester abortions.
As the mother of a little girl and future teenager, of course I want to raise her according to my values, which include open and honest communication and not becoming sexually active before adulthood.
However, I fail to see how making a vulnerable teenage girl jump through legal hoops in the middle of a personal crisis - not to mention increasing the number of late-term abortions - is good "family values." Please join me in voting "no" on Proposition 4.
KATHERINE FALK
Oakland
Leave a comment