Eighth Circuit to Hear Arguments in Lawsuit Over Arkansas Law Protecting Children From Sex-Change Surgeries

Transgender, ,

On Monday the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis scheduled oral arguments for next month in a lawsuit over whether or not Arkansas can protect children from sex-change procedures.

In 2021, lawmakers in Arkansas overwhelmingly passed the Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

The SAFE Act is a good law that prevents doctors in Arkansas from performing sex-change surgeries on children or giving them puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. 

Sex-change surgeries and procedures can leave children sterilized and scarred for life.

Researchers do not know all 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.

Unfortunately, the SAFE Act has been tied up in court for more than two years, and a federal judge in Little Rock has blocked the state from enforcing the law. However, it’s worth noting that federal appeals courts have allowed similar laws to go into effect in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama.

That’s why Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office is appealing Arkansas’ case over the SAFE Act. Last Monday the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals announced it will hold oral arguments in the lawsuit at an en banc hearing on Thursday, April 11.

A growing body of scientific evidence shows children should not be subjected to sex-change procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

Not long after Arkansas passed the SAFE Act, a major hospital in Sweden announced that it would no longer give puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to kids, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration added a warning label to puberty blockers after discovering they caused some biological girls to experience swelling in the brain.

Files leaked from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) organization also reveal that medical professionals performing gender-transitions on kids have been fully aware that these procedures can lead to lasting regret and painful complications — some of which may even be life-threatening.

For example, the leaked files showed one WPATH doctor encountered a 16-year-old female patient who had “two [cancerous] liver masses [tumors]” and that girl’s oncologist and surgeon both agreed cross-sex hormones were to blame for the cancerous tumors.

Fortunately, public opinion is shifting on this issue, with more Americans saying it’s morally wrong to change genders.

The SAFE Act is good legislation that protects children. We believe our federal courts will recognize that fact and uphold this law as constitutional.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Group Releases Video Asking Arkansans to “Be a Voice for the Voiceless,” “Decline to Sign” Abortion Petition

Abortion,

Reach Church and NWA Coalition for Life recently released a statement and video urging Arkansans to “be a voice for the voiceless” by declining to sign petitions for the abortion amendment.

Arkansans for Limited Government is collecting petition signatures to place the Arkansas Abortion Amendment on the November ballot.

The amendment would write abortion into the state constitution, and it would prevent the Arkansas Legislature from restricting abortion during the first five months of pregnancy — allowing thousands of elective abortions every year and paving the way for taxpayer-funded abortions in Arkansas.

In a statement posted alongside a video on social media, Reach Church and NWA Coalition for Life said,

What you need to know about what’s on the Abortion Amendment⛔️

-It would permanently change the Arkansas constitution to allow abortion without restrictions through 18 weeks of fertilization (which is 20 weeks pregnant).

-Abortions would be legal up to birth in certain circumstances.

-Minors will not have to have parental consent to get an abortion.

-If passed, the Abortion Amendment would be a part of our constitution, and legislation cannot overturn it.

Here’s what you can do to help:

-Share this video
A lot of people are being fed misinformation from these originations. The more truth we share, the more informed everyone is.

-Decline to sign
Refuse to sign the petition to add the Abortion Amendment to the November ballot, and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

The video is available below.

The Arkansas Abortion Amendment threatens to nullify common sense health and safety laws that restrict abortion. Without these laws, Arkansas could see dangerous, unrestricted abortions — putting women and unborn children in serious jeopardy.

You can download a copy of the amendment here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Arkansas Driver’s Licenses and IDs Will List “Male” or “Female” as Stated on Birth Certificate

Transgender

On Tuesday the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced that state-issued driver’s licenses and photo IDs would list “male” or “female” as stated on the ID-holder’s birth certificate.

The revised policy prevents ID-holders from changing the gender on their ID without documentation. It also eliminates the option of listing an “X” in place of “male” or “female.” This will better safeguard the integrity of driver’s licenses and other photo IDs the State of Arkansas issues.

In a press release, state officials said,

Effective immediately, DFA is rescinding its existing administrative practice that allows license holders to change their gender without any verifiable information, or to utilize an “X” in lieu of gender. This action restores DFA’s long-standing policy that license and ID holders must display a gender of “male” or “female,” as indicated on an original or amended birth certificate.

“This policy is just common sense. Only women give birth, men shouldn’t play women’s sports, and there are only two genders. As long as I’m Governor, Arkansas state government will not endorse nonsense,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

All previously issued licenses and IDs with the “X” designation will remain valid through the existing expiration date. Updates will take place at renewal.

Arkansas law makes it possible to change a birth certificate — including the sex listed on a birth certificate, if the person’s name legally has been changed and the person has undergone a surgical sex-change procedure. Practically speaking, the driver’s license policy announced Tuesday will ensure people follow this process outlined in state law if they want to change the gender listed on a driver’s license.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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