Anyone who knows me knows that I have pretty strong opinions...on just about everything. But most everyone has a strong opinion on being pro-life, pro-choice, or anywhere in between. I try to keep an open mind although I am pro-choice, because I understand that other people have a right to their own opinion. When people ask if I could accept someone’s pro-life opinion, here’s what I say: I can accept that you are pro-life if you are also these three things.

First off, if you plan to adopt all your future kids. That’s right - not giving birth to (or if you identify as male, not having your partner give birth to) your own child. Here’s why: if everyone was pro-life and abortion is outlawed, there’s going to be a LOT of extra kids put up for adoption - more than there already are. So it only makes sense that you’ll be adopting, right?

Secondly, I have to assume you’re a vegetarian. I mean, if abortion is “killing” a “baby” as pro-life propaganda states, it only makes sense that you wouldn’t want to kill fully grown animals. The animals people eat are killed, generally inhumanely, once they are fully grown. Abortion humanely ends the life of a fetus who isn’t NEARLY fully formed yet, so eating animals is MUCH worse, when you think about it. For example, many animals are found to have brains as developed as a three year old’s - much more aware of pain and death than mere cells. I can accept you being pro-life, of course - as long as you can accept that by eating meat, you yourself are ending the lives of many. (If you're offended by my comparison of a fetus and animals, please realize this is just a comparison to get people thinking. There is no need to get super upset.)

I’m not even going to get into the more political things you’d have to do to be pro-life and not hypocritical such as opposing a low minimum wage, not holding anti-immigrant sentiments, or arguing against healthcare for all, because you’d then be selecting certain lives that you’re pro-life for, not all of them..but that argument is just going to make a lot of people very angry, if they weren’t already. So, onto number three:

I don't think I could ever personally get an abortion. But I can say that because I have privilege - if I became pregnant today, I'd have options, which many people don't. So number three on the list of things you should be if you’re pro-life is aware of the privilege that you have that allows you to be pro-life, which is generally money-related. There are people in this world who are completely against abortion, but have to get one anyway. Because having a kid is expensive. Some people don't have the supportive family that I (and most pro-life people) do that would help me raise the child both with their time and money.

Raising a child for 18 years is expensive, ask any parent. Even if the pregnant mother chooses to give the baby up for adoption after birth, the doctor’s visits and everything else it takes to have a healthy pregnancy is costly. Being ignorant of the fact that some people can’t afford to raise a child would be a blessing, but I can’t be blind to that truth.

I can easily recognize and validate other people’s opinions that don’t align with my own, but it's easier for me to do so when their opinion lines up with how they live their life. If you don’t like abortion, don’t get one - and leave everyone else’s rights alone.