Page 508 – Family Council

Senate Advances Bill Protecting Children From Drag Performances

Jan 26, 2023Jerry CoxTransgender, VideoTransgender, Video

This week the Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill protecting children from drag shows.

Watch this video to learn more.

Measure Permitting Pro-Life “Baby Boxes” Passes Arkansas House Without Opposition

Jan 25, 2023Jerry CoxAbortion, Legislation, LegislatureAbortion, Arkansas Legislature, Life, Pro-life, Sanctity of Human Life

On Tuesday the Arkansas House of Representatives passed passed H.B. 1098 without any opposition.

H.B. 1098 expands Arkansas’ Safe Haven law that lets women anonymously surrender a newborn.

The Safe Haven Act lets a woman surrender her newborn baby to law enforcement, medical personnel, and first responders.

The law gives women with unplanned pregnancies an option besides abortion, and it protects newborns from being abandoned.

Similar laws are on the books in all 50 states.

Act 185 of 2019 by Sen. Cecile Bledsoe (R – Rogers) and Rep. Rebecca Petty (R – Rogers) improved Arkansas’ Safe Haven law by letting fire stations install Safe Haven Boxes — sometimes called ‘baby boxes’ — where women can anonymously place their newborn. Placing a baby inside the box triggers a silent alarm notifying first responders about the child.

Since then, multiple babies in Arkansas have been saved by these baby boxes.

H.B. 1098 by Rep. Julie Mayberry (R – Hensley) and Sen. Missy Irvin (R – Mountain View) makes it possible for volunteer fire departments to install baby boxes at their stations, provided that the department maintains and monitors the baby box in accordance with state law, and first responders are able to reach the baby in less than four minutes.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas Senate for a vote.

You can see how your representative voted here.

Updated: Arkansas Senate Overwhelmingly Passes Bill to Protect Children from Drag Performances

Jan 24, 2023Jerry CoxLegislation, LegislatureArkansas Legislature, Drag Queen Story Time, LGBT, Transgender

*Above: Sen. Gary Stubblefield presents S.B. 43 in the Arkansas Senate.*

On Tuesday the Arkansas Senate overwhelmingly passed a measure protecting children from drag shows.

S.B. 43 by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) clarifies that drag shows are a type of adult performance under Arkansas law, and it prohibits adult performances on public property or in view of children.

We have written repeatedly over the past few years about how public schools, colleges, and libraries in Arkansas have scheduled drag performances — including performances intended for children.

Some of these events have been canceled following public backlash.

At public libraries in particular there has been a push to let men dressed in hyper-sexualized, female costumes read books to children. In some parts of the country events like these have exposed children and families to sexual predators.

On Tuesday the Arkansas Senate passed S.B. 43 by a vote of 29 to six.

Drag shows should not take place on public property or anywhere near children. S.B. 43 will protect children from these performances.

The bill now goes to the Arkansas House of Representatives for consideration.