Tag: LGBTQ

Gov. Hutchinson and A.G. Rutledge: Schools Should “Disregard” Obama Admin. “Guidelines”

Last week we wrote about a radical, new set of “guidelines” the Obama Administration’s Department of Education and Department of Justice issued concerning, among other things, gender-identity and public school restrooms.

I want to take a moment to highlight the fact that, among many others, Governor Asa Hutchinson and Attorney General Leslie Rutledge are standing up against the Obama Administration’s radical reinterpretation of federal law.

Governor Hutchinson issued a statement last week, saying,

“The recent letter from the federal government providing guidance to Arkansas schools on gender identification is offensive, intrusive and totally lacking in common sense.  There is no recognizable problem in Arkansas on this issue. The federal government is stirring the pot and meddling in the local control and administration of our schools.

“As Governor, I recommend that local school districts disregard the latest attempt at social engineering by the federal government and continue to use common sense to ensure a safe and healthy environment in Arkansas schools. While the letter implies federal money could be withheld, the letter is nothing more than guidance and is not legally binding.”

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued a statement, saying,

“The President is taking his abuse of power to a new level today by forcing a liberal social agenda on school-age children. This radical and outrageous policy drastically expands the federal government’s role in our local schools and raises serious safety concerns for students and parents. Threatening local districts with a loss of funding unless they comply with this non-binding ‘guidance’ is potentially disruptive to the entire education process and lacks all common sense. These bullying and blackmail tactics are unlawful and unconscionable.

“I stand with Governor Hutchinson in urging local districts to disregard this latest attempt from the administration to force a social agenda on the states. I will also work with my colleagues across the country to determine if legal action against this directive is necessary in order to keep our students safe.”

I realize many in Arkansas and across the nation have spoken out against the “guidelines” the federal government issued last week, and I am extremely grateful to them.

I think it is especially important to highlight Gov. Hutchinson’s and A.G. Rutledge’s opposition. As Governor of the State of Arkansas, Gov. Hutchinson is the state’s chief executive, and as Attorney General of the State of Arkansas, A.G. Rutledge is the state’s attorney. Their leadership will be important if the State of Arkansas and the federal Department of Education end up going toe-to-toe over these radical, new “guidelines” from the federal government.

You can learn more about the federal government’s new “guidelines” for public schools here.

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Bathrooms, Biology and Federal Overreach

Last Friday we told you about the federal government’s new guidelines affecting bathroom and locker room policies at schools across America–including Arkansas.

Today our friends at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview have put together a solid commentary on the new guidelines and their implications.

John Stonestreet at the Colson Center writes,

Was everyone who lived before 2015 an unenlightened bigot? Recent statements by this administration may give you that impression. . . . .

[O]n Friday . . . Obama administration officials—specifically the assistant secretary of education for civil rights and the head of the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department—directed schools, including “all public schools and most colleges and universities that receive federal funds,” to—as the Washington Post described it—“provide transgender students with access to suitable facilities—including bathrooms and locker rooms—that match their chosen gender identity.”

Schools that fail to comply with this edict from on high are, the officials announced, in violation of Title IX, the federal sexual anti-discrimination act, and would therefore—you guessed it—risk losing federal funding. Comply or you don’t get the money. It’s ideological extortion, not policy making.

You can read Stonestreet’s entire commentary here–or listen to it below.

[audio:http://www.breakpoint.org/images/content/breakpoint/audio/2016/051616_BP.mp3|titles=Bathrooms, Biology and Federal Overreach by John Stonestreet]

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Target Stock Takes Hit Amid Boycott

Recently we told you about Target’s decision to open its restrooms and fitting rooms to anyone regardless of their biological sex–meaning biological males can use the women’s restrooms and fitting rooms at Target, and vice versa.

In response, the American Family Association launched an effort calling on Americans to boycott Target.

The boycott effort has been very well received, with more than 1.2 million people pledging to boycott the store as of this morning, and now some are noting that Target’s stock has taken a hit in the past month.

Josh Enomoto at InvestorPlace.com writes,

Two weeks ago, the big box retailer announced that its guests and team members can use restrooms or fitting rooms that correspond to their gender identity. According to the Associated Press, Target became the first major retailer to publicly stand up for so-called transgender rights.

At the same time, they drew unwanted attention at a particularly sensitive time, potentially harming the Target brand and TGT stock. . . . .

The decision to weigh in so strongly on such a divisive issue has to be worrying for holders of Target stock. Since the retailer’s April 19 announcement, TGT stock has dropped 6.5%.

As Enomoto also notes, Target stock is not exactly imploding, but it does seem like more than coincidence Target’s stock would take a hit during one of the American Family Association’s most active boycotts in the organization’s history.

We encourage you to join us and more than one million other Americans in boycotting Target, if you have not already.

Also, below is a list of Target stores in Arkansas along with each store’s contact information; you can use it to make your opinion on Target’s bathroom policies known.

	Bryant Target	7377 Alcoa Rd	Bryant, AR 72022-6204	(501) 776-4360
	Conway Target	501 Elsinger Blvd	Conway, AR 72032-4717	(501) 328-5739
	Fayetteville Target	3545 N Shiloh Dr	Fayetteville, AR 72703-5359	(479) 443-5517
	Fort Smith Target	4001 Phoenix Ave	Fort Smith, AR 72903-6099	(479) 709-8940
	Jonesboro Target	3000 E Highland Dr	Jonesboro, AR 72401-6321	(870) 934-9661
	North Little Rock Target	4000 McCain Blvd	North Little Rock, AR 72116-8039	(501) 771-4220
	Little Rock University Target	420 S University Ave	Little Rock, AR 72205-5246	(501) 801-3412
	Little Rock West Target	12700 Chenal Pkwy	Little Rock, AR 72211-3360	(501) 217-0200
	Rogers Target	2404 Promenade Blvd	Rogers, AR 72758-9080	(479) 986-1100

Photo Credit: By Mike Kalasnik from Fort Mill, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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