Friday Five: Another pro-life bill, school choice & transgender-obsessed schools, and more
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1. JOURNAL NOW: This bill would ban abortion based on whether unborn baby can feel pain. It was introduced by Forsyth Wilkes and Yadkin lawmakers Sen. Krawiec, Ballard, and Sawyer.
"Three local Republican state senators have introduced another bill in the N.C. General Assembly in Raleigh that would limit abortion rights in North Carolina.
Senate Bill 547, submitted Tuesday, would prohibit abortions from taking place after pain receptors form"
"The primary sponsor is state Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, along with Sens. Deanna Ballard, R-Wilkes, and Vickie Sawyer, R-Yadkin."
2. THE FEDERALIST: Only school choice can set families free from transgender-obsessed public schools
"When a biologically female student walked into the boys’ locker room in Chasco Middle School in Pasco County, Florida, recently, she quite literally caught some male students with their pants down.
When the boys ran to their gym teacher, embarrassed over being 'observed changing by an obvious girl,' the teacher was not permitted—because of a school district gag order—to talk to them about it. Nor had he been permitted to warn them about possibly confronting a naked biological female in their locker room. When the gym teacher refused to supervise the locker room while the girl undressed, school administrators put him on administrative leave and threatened to transfer him to a different school."
3. THE BLAZE: Transgender woman sues McDonald's for discrimination claims incorrect pronouns used
"Kelly filed a discrimination charge against the Smiths with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Ledger reported, and the EEOC on March 20 issued a notice of Kelly's right to sue. The suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, the paper said."
"'We are manufacturing transgender kids,' Walt Heyer said. 'We are manufacturing their depression, their anxiety, and turned [it] into a huge industry that people are profiting from after kids’ lives are completely torn apart.'”
5. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: 'Unplanned' box office: Controversial anti-abortion pic surprises with strong $6M debut
"Graced with a coveted A+ CinemaScore, the controversial anti-abortion drama Unplanned opened to a strong $6.1 million from 1,059 theaters at the U.S. box office despite a relatively modest footprint."
WEEKLY PRAYER: LIFE
LORD, we recognize that you are Sovereign over all creation. We recognize you made man from the dust, and in your mercy crowned creation with man and woman made in your image. What a wonder it is that you would bestow upon us this blessing and responsibility!
We pray LORD that we would not take this for granted. We pray that both this great responsibility, and this great dignity, may motivate us to love you more, love our neighbor more, and love ourselves more.
Father, we pray for all the pro-life bills moving through the NC House and Senate. We pray that we may see them pass and protect women and unborn babies. Help us, Lord, to rise to the call for action to show up at legislative rallies and committee meetings to show our legislators how strongly we support the right to life. Give our legislators courage to stand up for the unborn and to champion protecting the unborn as the centerpiece of their own public service. Never let us rest until we change our society so that it sees the value of life in the womb and abortion becomes unthinkable.
"And Moses said to the people, 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.'” (Exodus 14:13-14)
Amen
Friday Five: Born Alive Bill Edition
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1. WRAL: NC House & Senate updates on Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
"Social conservatives aligned with North Carolina Republicans won more political clashes over abortion on Thursday, as committees approved legislation addressing newborn care should the procedure result in a live birth.
Identical House and Senate bills, one of which could receive a floor vote as soon as next week, require physicians and nurses to care for children born alive after the procedure. They could face a felony and active prison time if they don't, along with potentially $250,000 fines and other monetary damages.
The legislation is designed so that babies born alive 'whether it be through an abortion or through the actual childbirth, that they are treated the same, with the same care that any medical person would give to a naturally born baby,' Rep. Pat McElraft, a Carteret County Republican, told the House Health Committee."
2. TAKE ACTION: Contact your state representatives to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
🚨 Urgent: Tell your State Rep to Oppose Infanticide in NC.
We urgently need you to contact your state Representative and Senator and encourage them to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. SB359 and HB602 are common-sense legislation introduced by Sen. Krawiec, Hise & Harrington, and Rep. McElraft, Conrad, Stevens & Hurley, that is all about preventing infanticide.
We beg you to take a minute to use our click to contact form to CONTACT your representatives and ask them to OPPOSE infanticide and PROTECT babies born alive during abortions by VOTING FOR the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (SB359 & HB602).
3. TAKE ACTION: Get educated about the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
If there is anything that all representatives and all North Carolinians should agree on—regardless of their political party or political convictions—it is that infanticide is wrong. That's an undeniable starting point for any moral and just society. We should all be able to agree that, once born, all children deserve protection.
Any so-called “right to abortion” does not extend to children born alive in the course of an attempted abortion. A “right to an abortion” should not translate to a right to a dead child no matter what. If a child survives an abortion, he or she should be treated with the same degree of medical concern and attention as any other child born prematurely at the same stage of development.
Click here to learn more about the bill, or click here to learn about whether abortion survivors are a myth made up by pro-life politicians.
We need pro-lifers to show up at the General Assembly on Monday at 3:30pm for the House Rules Committee in room 1288/1327 in the Legislative Building, and for the Senate Session at 7:00pm.
The bill will get votes during both of those timeframes, and we need as many of you to show up as possible!
5. THE BLAZE: Abortion clinic director mocks NC anti-infanticide bill, questions why newborns should be considered legal persons
"An abortion clinic director mocked a piece of state-level pro-life legislation being considered in North Carolina, and questioned why the survivors of botched abortions should be considered legal persons under state law.
In the tweet published Wednesday afternoon, Calla Hayes mocked the pro-life bill, arguing that, because infants under 30 days old cannot be added to wills in North Carolina, they shouldn't qualify as legal persons under a proposed anti-infanticide law."
WEEKLY PRAYER: LIBERTY
LORD, you are the giver of life and liberty. You are the One in whom we find true freedom. We pray with the deepest of gratitude, because you've broken our chains of depravity, and have gifted us a freedom born in love and service.
LORD, may we not take our liberties lightly. Even today, our brothers and sisters all across the globe experience physical, emotional, and social torture because they rightly cry out: "JESUS IS LORD!" Every day, our brethren across the globe experience persecution, and this has been a shared story of the church since its inception. Be with our brothers and sisters all across the world who suffer for crying out alongside us, "Jesus is LORD!" Grant them the fullness and power of your Spirit.
Finally, LORD we ask you to give babies—born and unborn—the freedom to live! To be cared for and treated with dignity and respect, so that they may live the lives You created them for.
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Amen
Friday Five: Pro-life NC, 'Unplanned', and more
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1. NC VALUES: We're planning towards a pro-life NC
We've been very busy working with legislators and influencers to advance the pro-life movement through legislation and events. Would you consider making a needed $100, $50, $25 or more donation today towards our end-of-the-quarter fundraising goal to ensure our second quarter campaigns as just as successful as our first?
To celebrate your giving, we'll even be giving away a free ticket to go see Unplanned this weekend to one random giver who donates any amount before 11:59pm, March 29th 2019.
2. NEWS & OBSERVER: NC abortion law is unconstitutional, federal court rules
“This court declines to act in a manner that would deprive the North Carolina legislature the opportunity, in the first instance, to either pass legislation or challenge this decision on appeal, whichever they decide may be in the interests of the citizens they represent,” wrote District Court Judge William Osteen.
3. THE BLAZE: Female HS student files civil rights complaint: 'I felt very violated' changing in locker room when transgender student was 'looking at me'
"The unnamed female student appears in the clip and said "while I was putting on my pants I heard a man's voice, so I turned around, and he's standing there on the opposite aisle looking at me. I glanced down and could tell that he was wearing women's underwear and what was underneath it."
She added: "When I knew that a man was looking at me, I felt very violated and very scared — especially looking at me while I'm getting dressed.""
"This weekend, history will be made as the Unplanned movie will open in more than 1,100 theaters across the nation. And you can expect the backlash to be intense. And I mean very intense. The foundations of the pro-abortion movement, in particular, those of Planned Parenthood, will be challenged. Evil will be exposed and hope will be exalted."
'Unplanned' is now in theaters. Find your nearest location here.
5. LIFENEWS: Every Democrat Who Voted Against the Born Alive Bill Received Money From Planned Parenthood
"Of the 44 senators who voted against ending debate and proceeding to a vote on the Born Alive bill, 42 were Democrats – all of whom received funding from Planned Parenthood during their latest election cycle."
WEEKLY PRAYER: OFFICIALS
LORD, you are the Judge of the nations. You are Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. You are sovereign over all.
LORD, may we find assurance and comfort in the reality that you are the LORD God. In spite of the political events that are unfolding in our country and around the world, we remind ourselves that you are in control. That the Church is within the protection of your providence. That Jesus is our Prince of Peace, and that one day every knee shall bow and declare His Lordship.
LORD, show us the truth. Help us to see through political ads and empty rhetoric so that we cast our votes for women and men who serve You first and foremost in their lives. Help us to reflect Your character in our citizenship and in our voting. Most of all, LORD, help the Church to vote!
“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1)
"For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations." (Psalms 22:28)
Amen
Friday Five: The Equality Act, Pro-Life Trigger Laws, and More
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1. HERITAGE EXPLAINS: The Equality Act: How could sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) laws affect you?
"On Wednesday March 13, Nancy Pelosi introduced the so-called Equality Act, a bill that would add 'sexual orientation' and 'gender identity' as protected classes under federal civil rights law.
Where the original Civil Rights Act of 1964 furthered equality by ensuring that African-Americans had equal access to public accommodations and material goods, the Equality Act would further inequality by penalizing everyday Americans for their beliefs about marriage and biological sex. Similar sexual orientation and gender identity laws at the state and local level have already been used in this way.
Here are 5 groups who would be harmed if the Equality Act becomes law:"
2. LIFE SITE NEWS: Drag Queen Storytime: Convicted pedophile, dressed as a woman, reads to kids at public library
"HOUSTON, Texas, March 19, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – A pro-family activist group has uncovered the truth about the pedophile past of a drag queen who reads to young children at a public library’s 'Drag Queen Storytime.'
Thirty-two-year-old Albert Garza is a registered sex offender who was convicted of assaulting an eight-year-old boy in 2008, yet that has not hindered him from dressing in garish women’s clothing, calling himself 'Tatiana Mala Nina, [which means "Bad Girl Tatiana"]' and performing in front of kids."
3. THE CHRISTIAN POST: Christian B&B must serve same-sex couples, Supreme Court lets ruling stand
"The United States Supreme Court declined to hear oral arguments in a case about a Hawaiian bed and breakfast that refused on religious grounds to serve a lesbian couple, allowing a ruling against the business to stand."
"Parents were not informed by their public school that their kindergarteners would be read a factually false transgender picture book by a cross-dressing male LGBT activist who calls himself 'Sarah.'"
This is why legislation like Parents Right to Know is so important to both parents and children in North Carolina. Parents Right to Know prevents situations like the one in Virginia by empowering parents to know what their kids are being taught in their schools about sex.
5. CBS NEWS: Abortion would automatically be illegal in these states if Roe v. Wade is overturned
"States across the country are preparing for a possible day when Roe v. Wade is overturned.Roe, the 1973 Supreme Court decision, specifies that a woman has a right to an abortion, and states are not allowed to interfere with that right. But abortion activists — both for and against — say the high court will be forced to rule on it in upcoming sessions. Five states have already outlawed abortions with 'trigger laws,' legislation that isn't active unless Roe v. Wade is no longer in effect. 'Trigger laws' are a way to ensure that abortion will be automatically illegal in the event that states are allowed to regulate the procedure." Click here to read more about how states are prepping for post Roe.
Check out what some other states and territories have been doing as it relates to pro-life legislation and updates:
- Arkansas:
- New Mexico:
- Oklahoma:
- Kentucky:
- Minnesota:
- Indiana:
- Mississippi:
- South Dakota:
- Illinois:
- Nevada:
- Puerto Rico:
WEEKLY PRAYER: FAMILY
LORD, we cry out to you as Father. You are a model of the love, mercy, and authority of the perfect parent. We thank you for modeling for us what every parent should strive for, and for creating this wonderful institution called family.
LORD, we thank you for creating us with a basic nature designed to not be alone. You made us to desire the intimacy of relationships, and it is here where we experience joys indescribable: the joys of marriage, the joys of having children; the joys of seeing our children have children. What a blessing and mercy you gave us in the family! In it we find our first teachers, our first guardians, and our first authorities.
LORD, we recognize how deeply you love your children, and how deeply it pains you when they go astray. Alongside our adoration and thanksgiving, we pray in confession--as individuals and as members of larger communities--over any sins we may have committed that undermine your beloved institution. Forgive us when we endanger your institution through selfishness and arrogance. Forgive our communities and nation for attempting to redefine some of the most basic and deepest parts of being human--being made male and female, having lifelong marriage vows and responsibilities, and having parental rights over educating one's children.
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:12-17)
Amen
Friday Five: Planned Parenthood is mad.
1. LifeSiteNews: New Method to 'Reserve' Abortions Causes Outrage at Planned Parenthood
A new medical study involving 700 patients is due to come out this fall from AbortionPillReversal.com. The new method to reverse a chemical abortion is outraging leaders at Planned Parenthood. Dr. George Delgado says, "If people start to recognize that women do change their mind sometimes after starting the process of a chemical abortion, well then, that casts into doubt whether or not abortion is truly a good thing, because if it were such a universally good thing, why would women change their minds and try to reverse it?” Over 300 babies have been saved from abortion through the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol first created by a North Carolina physician, including twins born in Concord, NC this week after seeking medical treatments at the Cabarrus Women's Center.
2. American Lens: NC Makes the Top Ten List of "Ghost Voters"
"Ghost Voters: North Carolina has 22 counties in which there are more registered voters than there are eligible voters living in them. Just how many ghost voters are there in the state? 189,721. Yet, the NC Board of Elections has reported that they only found 508 ineligible votes cast in the 2016 election"
3. National Review: Iceland Eliminates People with Down Syndrome
"CBS News reported earlier this week that Iceland is leading the world in “eradicating Down syndrome births.” One might be forgiven for assuming that Iceland has developed an innovative treatment for the chromosomal disorder. It turns out Iceland’s solution is much simpler, and much more sinister: using prenatal testing and abortion to systematically exterminate children with Down syndrome. This isn’t progress; it’s eugenics."
4. Official Report: Record Visitor Spending in 97 of North Carolina's 100 Counties in 2016 Proves HB2 Did Not Cause Economic Doom
Remember when opponents of HB2 said that common-sense bathroom privacy protections were destroying NC's economy and tourism
Seems reality is painting a different picture, according to the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina:
- In 2016, NC visitor spending INCREASED in 97 out of 100 counties.
- In 2016, NC was the 6th most visited state (over 48 million visitors).
- in 2016, NC's visitors spent a record nearly $23 billion (4.4% higher than the year before).
The truth about the misleading headlines and fake news on HB2's alleged "harmful effects" can no longer be ignored. On many occasions our coalition was mocked and ridiculed by the media and liberal politicians when we assured you that entertainment & state boycotts, media hype and travel bans would have little-to-no impact our the vibrant North Carolina economy. Today the numbers stand for themselves and the state media and LGBT activists cannot deny it. The evidence is now clear that the rhetoric by the Human Rights Campaign was nothing more than a fear-based economic intimidation campaign targeted toward the business and tourism communities to convince them to abandon privacy protections for our kids in schools and government buildings.
5. Public Discourse: The Human Rights Campaign rewards Walmart for having the same bathroom policy as North Carolina
"Degendering bathrooms was inarguably the biggest LGBT beachhead last year, taking up every last bit of oxygen in the room. Walmart held fast to a traditional and “discriminatory” bathroom policy, the very same as that which prompted HRC to condemn the state of North Carolina in the strongest terms. North Carolina passed HB2, a bill that simply codified a longstanding state policy that no one in state-owned buildings may use the restroom or locker room of the opposite biological sex. (North Carolina allows individuals to officially change the biological sex noted on their birth record to reflect sex reassignment surgery, and it allows for accommodations, in the form of single-occupancy facilities, for those who are uncomfortable using a bathroom or locker room for their biological sex.)"
Will you chip in $100, $50, $25, or even $10 to help the NC Values Coalition find out which schools LGBT activists are targeting, and help equip parents and pastors to make their voices heard? You can donate by clicking here. Our goal is to build a team across the state to begin investigating which schools are planning on making these changes. However, we need to build and fund a team. What you donate this month will determine the size of the team we can build.
Special Friday Five: Inauguration and Pro-life Events
Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.
As always, share any ideas for stories with us on Facebook and Twitter.
1. Join us in praying for President Trump, Vice-President Pence, and the new administration.
2. EVENT: Prayer Breakfast for Life, Raleigh.
The North Carolina Right to Life Prayer Breakfast for Life – 2017 will be its 18th year – has become a very popular annual event for pro-life advocates and legislators from across North Carolina. By providing information, inspiration, and fellowship to bolster pro-life efforts for the new year, the prayer breakfast is a must-attend event for all who work to protect the members of our human family from conception to natural death. (Read here)
3. EVENT: Rally and March for Life, Raleigh.
Thousands of North Carolinians will gather in the state capital to acknowledge the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and recall the more than 58 million unborn children whose lives have been taken by abortion in our country since 1973.
Join us as we march to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to standing for life until unborn children are safe from the violence of abortion. (Read more)
4. EVENT: Evangelicals for Life, Washington D.C..
If you’re planning to participate in this year’s March for Life, I want to encourage you to think about arriving in D.C. a day early for the Evangelicals for Life conference. It’s our chance as committed, born-again believers to stand up and tell the world that the sanctity of life is something more than a political issue—that it is, in fact, an indispensable element of the gospel message. (Read more)
5. EVENT: March for Life, Washington D.C..
The March for Life Rally will take place at noon on the grounds of the Washington Monument, near the corner of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue. Following the Rally, the March will begin on Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets at approximately 1:00 pm. (Read more)
Friday Five: Pro-Life Group Endorses Forest, McCrory Releases New Ad, and More
1. National Pro-Life group Susan B. Anthony List endorses Dan Forest for Lieutenant Governor.
SBA List president Marjorie Dannenfelser had this to say about Lt. Governor Dan Forest: "I know Dan and know he will work hard to save innocent lives. His opponent Linda Coleman has been endorsed by EMILY’s List and is opposed to even the most reasonable pro-life initiatives, like legislation to limit late-term abortions more than halfway through pregnancy." (Read more)
2. Governor McCrory releases a new ad discussing the truth about protecting the privacy and safety of our children.
3. Senator Tillis Co-Sponsors Conscience Protection Act.
The bill protects health care providers that decline to be involved in abortions as a matter of conscience. The Conscience Protection Act passed the House in July by a vote of 245-182. NC Congressmen who sponsored the bill in the House were: Walter Jones, Robert Pittenger, Mark Meadows, Richard Hudson, Virginia Foxx, and Renee Ellmers. (Read more)
4. Shocking lawsuit out of a Minnesota public high school: Girls exposed to transgender sexually explicit behavior in locker room.
A Minnesota public high school has been accused of turning a blind eye to a transgender student's sexually explicit behavior in a girls locker room that left girls in tears. One plaintiff who later used a vacant boy's locker room to maintain her privacy was walked in on by the transgender student while she was in her underwear. The transgender student then proceeded to remove his pants in front of the girl, which left her deeply upset at the fact that there was nowhere in the school she could preserve her privacy. (Read more)
5. Conservative champion Phyllis Schlafley's memory is honored after she passed away this week.
NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald had this to say upon the passing of the conservative icon: “Starting in the 1970’s, Phyllis’ embrace of being feminine without being feminist has influenced legions of women, myself included. She has stood as a leader in our culture to expose darkness, untruth, and cultural trends that destroy the family. Her courage, wisdom, and determination to stand on Biblical principles regardless of the backlash, the elitist snubs, and the consequences, has inspired and instructed many of us to carry on her legacy.” Schlafley's son also paid a beautiful tribute to his mother on a post written on Dr. David Noebel's blog. (Read more)
Friday Five: Judge Schroeder & HB2, Richard Land on Trump, and more
Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.
As always, share any ideas for stories with us on Facebook and Twitter.
"Schroeder, a George W. Bush appointee to the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, ruled two transgender students and a transgender employee "are likely to succeed" in their challenge of H.B. 2's bathroom use provision because that provision violates Title IX of the 1972 federal Education Amendments, as interpreted by the Obama administration.
The relevant precedent in the UNC case, Schroeder wrote in an 83-page opinion, is the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' April ruling that a transgender high school student in Virginia is entitled to use restrooms and other facilities corresponding to her gender identity. The Fourth Circuit ruled, Schroeder stated, that "controlling weight" should be given to the Department of Education's interpretation of "sex discrimination" in Title IX as including gender identity discrimination."
While the media has presented the decision as a victory for anti-HB2 proponents, HB2 remains in effect for all others at UNC and across the state. The irony of the decision is how little impact it would even have, given UNC has alleged some sovereignty to ignore state law. (Read more)
2. Two of the nations leading mental health scholars release 143 page report that surveys 200 peer-reviewed studies and argues most of the common claims heard about sexuality and gender are not supported by science.
"The belief that sexual orientation is an innate, biologically fixed human property—that people are ‘born that way’—is not supported by scientific evidence.
Likewise, the belief that gender identity is an innate, fixed human property independent of biological sex—so that a person might be a ‘man trapped in a woman’s body’ or ‘a woman trapped in a man’s body’—is not supported by scientific evidence." (Read more)
3. Texas and a dozen others states file brief in NC cases arguing in favor of HB2 and against the Obama administration's involvement.
"Texas and a dozen other states are asking a federal judge in North Carolina to side with Republican leaders defending a law governing transgender restroom access. The group behind the amicus brief Wednesday largely overlaps with states that won a ruling last week against Obama administration guidelines on transgender restroom access in schools.
The states also argue the North Carolina proceedings should be halted temporarily because of that ruling and a Virginia case that the U.S. Supreme Court may hear.
Meanwhile, states including New York and dozens of companies have filed amicus briefs attacking North Carolina's law." (Read more)
4. Richard Land writes editorial supporting and encouraging evangelicals to vote for Trump over Hillary.
We have all heard "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." Just so, we should not let the bad be the friend of the worst. In other words, don't let a flawed candidate deter us from opposing the much worse opponent." (Read more)
5. Religious liberty hangs in the balance in Governor Pat McCrory’s bid for reelection.
Friday Five: HRC endorses Cooper, ObamaCare transgender lawsuit, and more
1. Human Rights Campaign endorses Roy Cooper for his work opposing HB 2.
Check out what HRC's president had to say about Cooper when they endorsed him this week:
"As governor, Roy Cooper will work to repeal HB2, stand up for common decency and fight to pass statewide, LGBTQ-inclusive, non-discrimination protections. The choice this election couldn’t be clearer.”
The only thing we would add here is that he's already worked towards repealing HB2 when he should have been defending it. It's no surprise that one of his top donors was also the owners of Preferred Women's Center—the largest abortion providers in Charlotte and Raleigh. Anti-family and anti-life activists know their allies when they see them.
2. Five states join Christian healthcare providers in lawsuit against ObamaCare's transgender mandate requiring sex-change treatment for transgenders that includes children.
"After mandating that all persons must be given the same basic care, a new Obama Administration 'nondiscrimination' decree not only forces Christian hospitals and other healthcare charities to allow transgenders to use the toilets and intimate facilities of the opposite sex but could require transgender hormonal treatments be available upon request, regardless of the moral or religious convictions of the provider.
Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Texas, and Wisconsin joined the Franciscan Alliance, the Christian Medical Association, Specialty Physicians of Illinois, the Christian Dental Association, and other healthcare providers in the lawsuit. The new rules are a part of the ObamaCare mandate requiring coverage of abortion, sterilization, and contraception."
"'North Carolina Values Coalition agrees with the 20,000 members of the American College of Pediatricians, who earlier this month called for the end to the normalization of gender dysphoria in children,' Fitzgerald continued. 'Young children are being permanently sterilized and surgically maimed under the guise of "treatment."'
The family values leader charged, 'The Obama Administration is attempting to force insurance coverage for sex reassignment treatments when there is no medical or scientific proof that such treatments actually work.'
Fitzgerald noted that opposite gender curiosity, and even experimentation, is a common, passing stage in prepubescent and adolescent children. 'Studies have found that when gender dysphoria occurs in a prepubertal child, it is naturally resolved in 80-95 percent of patients by late adolescence, after they pass through puberty,' she explained." (Read more)
3. Vermont cancels women's basketball game vs. UNC, even though UVM's Patrick Gym has the same bathroom policy as UNC.
According to the University's website the policy states, "Athletics staff have identified a single-user, gender neutral restroom, changing room, and shower facility that trans people can use." This policy of accommodation is identical to North Carolina's HB2 when it comes to public accommodations available to all students, faculty and players at University of North Carolina. (Read more)
4. NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald writes editorial in the Daily Signal discussing NC schools' anti-bullying transgender agenda.
"It is clear that the new “anti-bullying” policy adopted by the district is in truth a model LGBT policy for the rest of the state. What better way to indoctrinate the masses to believe that there is no difference between boys and girls than to force them to share showers, bathrooms, homecoming crowns, sex ed classes, hotel rooms on overnight field trips, and sports teams?" (Read more)
5. Texas Federal District Judge Reed O'Connor issued a ruling on Sunday maintaining status quo for school bathrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities.
Great news! In a ruling issued late on Sunday by Texas Federal District Judge Reed O’Connor, teachers and students returning to the nation’s classrooms will be required to maintain the status quo when it comes to bathrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities. Judge O’Connor concluded that there is a strong likelihood the coalition of 13 states would win their case against the Justice Department and issued a nationwide stay of the Obama Administration’s transgender bathroom directive issued to all schools and universities requiring that students be granted access to the bathroom, locker room or shower facility matching their gender identity or risk losing federal funding.
Yesterday’s decision is at least the third legal setback for transgender rights in federal court this month. The U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lower court ruling requiring a Virginia school district to allow a biologically female student to use the boy’s restroom on August 3. And last Thursday, a federal judge in Detroit upheld the firing of a transgender funeral home employee, ruling that “neither transgender status nor gender identity are protected classes” under anti-discrimination laws. (Read more)
Sincerely,
North Carolina Values Coalition
Friday Five: CharMeck rally, students choosing own pronouns, and more
Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.
As always, share any ideas for stories with us on Facebook and Twitter.
1. Community gathered outside CMS to protest planned transgender policies.
2. Religious group keeping annual conference in Charlotte despite HB2
"While HB2 has many saying no to North Carolina, one religious group is saying yes.
'In spite of the negative attention north Carolina has received surrounding HB2, the leaders stood in solidarity as we spoke of the spiritual and the economic impact of aim conference in our city,' Bishop-Designate Dr. Michael Anthony Stevens said."
"'We will not compromise our values nor will we be bullied into a position that we do not agree with to allow men to have access to our women's bathrooms,' Auxiliary Bishop for North Carolina Patrick Lane Wooden Sr." (Read more)
3. N.C. company critiqued for public stance against House Bill 2
"Shareholders of Raleigh-based Red Hat faced criticism Thursday in connection with the software company’s public stance against North Carolina’s House Bill 2.
Justin Danhof, general counsel of the National Center for Public Policy Research, attended Red Hat’s annual shareholders meeting to question the company about its endorsement of the U.S. Justice Department’s legal action challenging H.B. 2, the so-called “bathroom law.” (Read More)
4. CMS teacher training video recommends teachers no longer call students "boys" or "girls," and instead let students choose their own pronouns.
5. Major victory for religious education in California as state senator drops proposal that angered religious universities
"Faced with intense opposition from religious colleges in California, a state Senator said Wednesday he has decided to amend a bill by dropping a provision that would have allowed gay and transgender students to more easily sue private universities for discrimination if they are disciplined for violating church teachings." (Read more)