Business Interests File Brief Opposing Protections for Children in Arkansas

LGBT, ,

On Friday six business organizations filed an amicus brief opposing Arkansas’ Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act in federal court.

The business interests are:

  • LiveRamp Holdings
  • Acxiom
  • Kinesso
  • The Northwest Arkansas Council
  • The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
  • The Walton Family Foundation

The SAFE Act is a 2021 law that protects children in Arkansas from sex-reassignment procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

It’s a very good law that passed with strong support from the Arkansas Legislature.

Researchers do not know the long term effects puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones can have on kids. That is why many experts agree that giving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children is experimental, at best.

That’s also why a major hospital in Sweden announced earlier this year that it would no longer administer puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

However, the ACLU and others filed a lawsuit to block the State of Arkansas from enforcing the SAFE Act, and now half a dozen business interests have decided to oppose the law as well.

It’s unfortunate that these business interests oppose a law that protects children from sex-reassignment procedures, but it isn’t entirely surprising either.

During the 2021 legislative session the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Walmart opposed legislation protecting healthcare workers’ rights of conscience. Walmart’s CEO even wrote a letter to Governor Hutchinson expressing his opposition to that legislation.

In April the Walton Family Foundation issued statements criticizing the SAFE Act.

And in June the Walton Family Foundation announced plans to award $1 million in grant money to pro-LGBT groups in Arkansas. The money could go to groups like Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign, the ACLU, and others.

Unfortunately this amicus brief against the SAFE Act seems to be another example of the State Chamber of Commerce, the Walton family, and other business interests pushing a radically progressive agenda in Arkansas. However, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office is fighting back, and we believe that federal courts will uphold this good law that protects children.

You can read the amicus brief against the SAFE Act here.

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Biden Administration Challenges Arkansas’ SAFE Act

Legislation, Transgender, ,

On Thursday President Biden’s U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest opposing Arkansas’ Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act in federal court.

The SAFE Act is a 2021 law that protects children in Arkansas from sex-reassignment procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

The DOJ’s statement filed on Thursday calls sex-reassignment procedures “life-saving care” and argues that the SAFE Act violates the U.S. Constitution.

The brief also claims that Arkansas’ reasons for supporting the SAFE Act are “mere pretext for animus against transgender minors” — in other words, that Arkansas’ policymakers must secretly be motivated by hate instead of a desire to help children.

But as we have said time and time again, researchers do not know the long term effects puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones can have on kids.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never approved puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the purpose of gender transition. Doctors are giving these hormones to kids off-label, in a manner the FDA never intended.

That is why many experts agree that giving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children is experimental, at best.

That’s also why a major hospital in Sweden announced earlier this year that it would no longer administer puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

It is deeply disappointing that the federal government would use taxpayer dollars to oppose a law that protects children from experimentation. Fortunately, Arkansas’ Attorney General’s office is fighting back, and we believe that federal courts will uphold this good law.

Read The DOJ’s Statement of Interest Opposing the SAFE Act Here.

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Liberal Outlets Continue to Bash Arkansas’ SAFE Act

Transgender, ,
Rep. Lundstrum and Sen. Clark join two distinguished psychiatrists presenting the SAFE Act before the Senate Public Health Committee.

On Friday VICE News published a video regarding Arkansas’ Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

Among other things, VICE’s video features a child in Arkansas who started receiving hormone blockers at eight years old.

The video also includes an interview with Planned Parenthood’s Director of Transgender Care in Little Rock.

Like many outlets, VICE mischaracterizes the SAFE Act as a measure “banning all gender affirming medical care for trans youth.”

In reality, the SAFE Act simply protects children from sex-reassignment procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has never approved puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for the purpose of gender transition. Doctors are giving these hormones to kids off-label, in a manner the FDA never intended.

Researchers do not know the long term effects puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones can have on kids.

That is why many experts agree that performing sex-reassignment procedures on children — even giving them puberty blockers and hormones — is experimental, at best.

That’s also why earlier this month a major hospital in Sweden announced it would no longer administer puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

The hospital’s new policy even recognizes that giving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to kids “should be regarded as experimental.”

The SAFE Act is a good law that protects children in Arkansas from being subjected to surgeries and procedures that can leave them sterilized and permanently scarred. That’s something to celebrate.

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