Arkansas Governor Vetoes Good Bill That Would Protect Children From Gender-Reassignment Procedures

LGBT,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 5, 2021

Little Rock, Ark. – On Monday Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson vetoed H.B. 1570, the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

Family Council President Jerry Cox issued a statement saying, “The Arkansas Legislature needs to step up and override the governor’s veto to make sure this good bill becomes law. Gender-reassignment surgeries can leave children sterilized and scarred for life. Medical researchers do not know the long term effects these procedures can have on kids. That is why many people equate them with experimenting on children. Arkansas must protect its children from these sex-reassignment procedures.”

Cox pointed out that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not authorized puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to be used for gender-reassignment. “The FDA has never approved puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the purpose of gender transition. Doctors are giving children these drugs off-label. They are having children use these drugs in a way that the FDA never intended. That’s unethical, and it endangers the children of Arkansas. H.B. 1570 would stop this dangerous practice in Arkansas.”

Cox called on Arkansas’ lawmakers to override the governor’s veto and enact the SAFE Act. “Arkansas has good lawmakers who strongly support this good bill. We hope Arkansas’ legislators will do the right thing and override the governor’s veto on H.B. 1570. This is a good bill that will protect children. It needs to become law.”

Family Council is a conservative education and research organization based in Little Rock.

###

READ MORE

A Few Statistics on Abortion in Arkansas

Abortion

The Arkansas Legislature has passed several really good, pro-life laws this year.

In particular, legislation has passed that will protect women from dangerous chemical abortion practices in Arkansas.

Chemical abortions use the RU-486 regimen to kill the unborn child.

Since 2010, surgical abortion in Arkansas has decreased 55%, but the number of chemical abortions performed in Arkansas has risen 69%.

Since 2015, abortionists have performed 4,274 chemical abortions in Arkansas.

And in 2019, roughly two out of five abortions in Arkansas were chemical abortions.

Even though Arkansas’ overall abortion numbers sit at historic lows, chemical abortion is more common in Arkansas than ever before.

H.B. 1402 by Rep. Sonia Barker (R – Smackover) and Sen. Blake Johnson (R – Corning) updates Arkansas’ restrictions on abortion drugs like RU-486, and H.B. 1572 by Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R – Springdale) and Sen. Scott Flippo (R – Mountain Home) will help ensure women get all the facts about chemical abortion — including its risks, its consequences, and its alternatives.

Both of these bills will help address chemical abortion in Arkansas, and they will protect women and unborn children from dangerous abortion drugs.

READ MORE

Family Council Opposes S.B. 622

Hate Crimes,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 2, 2021

On Thursday legislative leaders in the Arkansas Senate and Arkansas House of Representatives filed S.B. 622, a bill commonly being referred to as a “hate crimes” measure.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement opposing the bill, saying, “We have taken a few hours to thoughtfully review and consider the merits of S.B. 622. Our conclusion is that this bill’s language is vague and subjective. The bill fails to define important terms like ‘recognizable and identifiable.’ This bill is so ambiguous that it’s impossible to know just how far-reaching this legislation may be.”

Cox said he is concerned S.B. 622 could carry serious, unintended consequences. “S.B. 622’s protections for religious liberty are not adequate. The bill does not contain sufficient safeguards to prevent cities and counties from enacting their own, more stringent hate crimes ordinances. It does not do enough to protect free speech or prevent thought-policing. These are serious concerns.”

Cox said Family Council will oppose S.B. 622. “This is a vague bill that could have serious, unintended consequences. We intend to oppose it.”

###

READ MORE