Listen: Judge Strikes SAFE Act; Arkansan Prosecuted for Preaching; and More

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You’re listening to Family Council in Little Rock, bringing you the latest news and updates. Here are today’s stories.

In our first story, a federal judge in Little Rock has struck down a law designed to protect children from sex-reassignment procedures. U.S. District Judge James Moody blocked the enforcement of the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (or SAFE) Act, a state law passed in Arkansas in 2021. The law safeguards children by prohibiting sex-reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones on minors.

Family Council President Jerry Cox expressed disappointment with the ruling, saying that subjecting children to sex-change procedures can have harmful, long-term effects. Cox believes that the higher courts will recognize the importance of the SAFE Act and ultimately uphold the law as constitutional.

Moving on to our second story, a federal lawsuit in Maryland highlights the significance of laws passed in Arkansas. Three families, including one Muslim, one Roman Catholic, and one Ukrainian Orthodox, recently filed a lawsuit against the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland. The lawsuit challenges the school district’s policy, which no longer notifies parents about LGBT content at school and prevents them from opting their children out of pro-LGBT material.

The families argue that the LGBT Pride Storybooks provided in the schools are not age appropriate and promote a one sided transgender ideology. Similar pro-LGBT books have caused controversy in libraries across Arkansas. The Arkansas Legislature has taken steps to prevent this type of material from being present in public school classrooms, with laws such as the 2023 LEARNS Act protecting elementary students from inappropriate sexual material and prohibiting critical race theory in public schools.

Our final story brings us to Batesville, Arkansas, where a Christian preacher named Jeremy Anders is being prosecuted for exercising his religious freedom. Mr. Anders was arrested in April for harassment due to preaching on a public sidewalk.

Attorney Bob Ballinger, the Director of Law and Policy for the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, is defending Mr. Anders in court. In a statement, Mr. Ballinger highlights the importance of protecting individual rights, including the right to preach and speak on sidewalks.

Former Senator Jason Rapert, Founder and President of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, also voiced his concerns, emphasizing that the freedom of religion, speech, and peaceful assembly are critical rights that should be protected. Mr. Anders hopes that his case will set a precedent for the protection of religious expression in public spaces.

That wraps up our news segment for today! Stay tuned for more updates from Family Council in Little Rock. You can find more information on our website at FamilyCouncil.org. Thanks for listening!

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Federal Judge in Little Rock Strikes Down Law Protecting Children From Sex-Reassignment Procedures

Transgender,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Little Rock, Ark. – On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge James Moody blocked the State of Arkansas from enforcing the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act. The SAFE Act is a state law the Arkansas Legislature overwhelmingly passed in 2021. It protects children in Arkansas from sex-reassignment surgeries, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement saying, “This is a very bad ruling. Children should not be subjected to sex-reassignment procedures. These surgeries and procedures can leave children sterilized and scarred for life. 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 subjecting children to sex-change procedures is experimental, at best. Today’s decision fails to protect the children of Arkansas.”

Cox noted that the SAFE Act received strong support when the Arkansas Legislature passed it in 2021. “The SAFE Act is commonsense legislation that protects children. It received overwhelming support from the Arkansas Legislature, and polls show the people of Arkansas support the law as well. Arkansans understand this is a good law. Our courts should too.”

Cox said he believes Judge Moody’s decision will be overturned once the case is appealed. “We’ve said all along that this case ultimately would be determined by the higher courts. Arkansas’ SAFE Act is a good law that protects children. We believe higher courts will recognize that fact and uphold this good law as the case is appealed.”

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Most Americans Say Transgenderism is “Morally Wrong” and Athletes Should Compete Based on Sex: Gallup Poll

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In a new Gallup Poll, most Americans surveyed say that transgenderism is “morally wrong” and that transgender athletes should compete according to their biological sex — not their gender identity.

The survey findings released on Monday show 55% of Americans consider “changing one’s gender” to be “morally wrong.” That’s up from 51% in 2021.

The percentage surveyed who said it is “morally acceptable” for a person to change genders has fallen from 46% in 2021 to 43% in 2023.

The survey also found fewer Americans believe biological male athletes who identify as female should be able to compete in female sports — and vice versa.

In May of 2021, 34% of Americans surveyed said transgender athletes should be able to play on the sports team that matches their gender identity. This year’s survey shows that number has fallen to 26%.

Meanwhile 69% of Americans said athletes should compete based on their biological sex. That’s up from 62% in 2021.

The numbers do not break clearly along party lines, either.

Gallup’s researchers noted, “Republicans, Democrats and independents are all modestly less supportive of transgender athletes playing on current gender identity teams today than two years ago.”

The reports show public opinion nationwide tracks with laws that Arkansas has enacted in recent years.

For example, Act 461 of 2021 by Sen. Missy Irvin (R — Mountain View) and Rep. Sonia Barker (R — Smackover) helps protect fairness in women’s sports by preventing male student athletes from competing against girls in women’s athletics at school. In January a federal district court upheld a similar law in West Virginia as constitutional.

In 2021 the Arkansas Legislature overwhelmingly passed the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act. The SAFE Act is a good law that protects children in Arkansas from cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and sex-reassignment surgeries. However, the law has been tied up in court since the summer of 2021. 

This year the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 274 by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville). This good law lets a child who undergoes a sex-change procedure sue the healthcare provider who performed the procedure if the child suffers any physical, psychological, or emotional injury as a  result. The law also includes informed-consent requirements for sex-change procedures.

Over the past few years we have seen biological males dominate women’s athletics in some parts of the country.

For example, in 2019 Rachel McKinnon — a biological male who claims to be female — won the female Cycling World Championship.

More recently, biologically male athlete Lia Thomas shattered women’s swimming records and was even nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year.

Letting males compete in girls’ sports reverses 50 years of advancements for women and effectively erases girls’ athletics.

It hampers girls’ abilities to compete for athletic scholarships, and it hurts their professional opportunities as adults. In some sports, it can even be dangerous.

That is part of the reason states like Arkansas, Texas, and West Virginia have enacted laws that uphold fairness in women’s sports.

More and more, scientific evidence shows sex-reassignment procedures may be harmful to children. That is why it is important for our laws to protect children from these procedures and give them legal options they can follow if they are harmed by one of these sex-change procedures.

In 2021 a major hospital in Sweden announced that it would no longer give puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to kids.

Last year the U.K.’s National Health Services closed its Tavistock gender clinic that gave puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children for many years. Many families have indicated their children were subjected to sex-reassignment at that clinic despite an obvious lack of scientific evidence in favor of the procedures and inadequate mental health screenings for children with gender dysphoria.

A gender-identity clinic in Scotland faces similar accusations from former patients who say healthcare professionals rushed them into sex-change procedures.

And last July the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finally added a warning label to puberty blockers in America after biological girls developed symptoms of tumor-like masses in the brain.

The fact that public opinion seems to be shifting on the transgender issue speaks volumes. It also underscores that Arkansas’ laws preserving fairness in women’s sports and protecting children from sex-change procedures reflect public opinion on the issue.

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