The U.S. Supreme Court has stopped an effort to allow boys access to the girls bathrooms in a Virginia school district. At least until they can decide if they will review the Gloucester County School board’s case.

Justice Stephen Breyer said in a statement that he concurred with the four conservative justices in the 5-3 action as a “courtesy,” because the hold will “preserve the status quo.”

Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of 50 concerned parents, students, grandparents and community members urging the court to reverse the lower court’s decision. Jeremy Tedesco is an ADF allied attorney.

“Schools have a duty to protect the privacy and safety of all students,” he said. “The Supreme Court did the right thing in placing the 4^th Circuit panel’s mandate and the preliminary injunction entered by the district court on hold until the high court itself has a chance to decide if it will take up this case.”

A pamphlet put out by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission has churches wondering if they may be forced to allow men access to women’s restrooms in places of worship.

The brochure argues that since churches are public places, they are required to comply with sexual orientation and gender identity laws.

First Liberty Institute is representing Cornerstone World Outreach, a church in Sioux City. Hiram Sasser is the group’s director of litigation.

“It (the Commission’s brochure) further compels our client to use specific pronouns when referring to certain gender identities,” he told Todd Starnes of Fox News, “and prohibits our client from even teaching its religious beliefs.

“Cornerstone World Outreach cannot be made to open its restrooms for use by individuals in accordance with their gender identities, rather than their sex assigned at birth.”

The Family Leader of Iowa is one of Family Policy Alliance’s nearly 40 state-based family policy groups. They’re concerned the free speech of pastors could be next.

“Banning what preachers can say? That kind of government intrusion into church doctrine is exactly what the Bill of Rights was written to prevent,” said Bob Vander Plaats, executive director of the group. “But when Iowa’s policy effectively becomes, ‘Call it a sin, and the government steps in,’ we no longer have a First Amendment. Even talking about God’s design for male and female might make someone feel ‘unwelcome’ and prompt government action. That’s wrong.”

Paul Weber, president and CEO of Family Policy Alliance, said it was clearly the next move by activists.

“We’ve known that this would never stop at civil unions, equal rights, or marriage,” he said. “This has always been on the agenda and churches must realize they are not immune from this fight. If they want to maintain their religious freedom, they’re going to have to stand up and say ‘enough is enough’.”

Several states have jointly filed a lawsuit against the Obama Administration for pushing its bathroom agenda onto public schools.

An announcement was made recently, giving “guidance” on Title IX and opening all public school bathrooms, showers and locker rooms to all students regardless of their biological sex.

Policy Director Autumn Leva tells us that there is a lot to be hopeful about in this latest round of legal wrangling.

We’ve compiled a list of elected officials who are standing against President Obama’s edict on bathrooms in public schools. You’ll find articles attached if you’re interested in reading more.

Alabama
Attorney General Opposes
Article

Arkansas
Governor Opposes
Article

Idaho
Governor, Lt. Gov., and Top Education Official Oppose
Article

Indiana
Governor Opposes
Article

Kentucky
Governor Opposes
Article

Mississippi
Governor Opposes
Article

Missouri
Lt. Gov. Opposes DOJ’s NC Lawsuit
Article

Oklahoma
Attorney General Opposes
Article

South Dakota
Attorney General Opposes
Article

Tennessee
Governor Opposes
Article

Texas
Governor, Lt. Gov. and Others Oppose
Article

Utah
Governor Opposes
Article

Wisconsin
Governor Opposes
Article

In addition, West Virginia, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, and Maine signed onto a brief asking the Fourth Circuit to rehear the Gloucester case in which it sided with a transgender student.

 

U.S. Senators Oppose

Bill Cassidy – Louisiana

David Vitter – Louisiana

James Lankford – Oklahoma

John Thune – South Dakota

Lamar Alexander – Tennessee

John Cornyn – Texas

Ted Cruz – Texas

 

 

Members of Congress Oppose

Gary Palmer – Alabama

Martha Roby – Alabama

Steve King – Iowa

Ralph Abraham – Louisiana

Bill Huizenga – Michigan

Kristi Noem – South Dakota

Diane Black – Tennessee

 

Additional Notes

32 Louisiana Legislators Oppose
Article

Alabama legislator promises to bring bill in next session to block implementation in Alabama
Article

Wisconsin legislator promises to bring his bathroom privacy bill back again
Article

 

We want you to hear from Kate. We think her opinion matters.

As we all consider the policy changes we’re seeing concerning privacy in restrooms and locker rooms, we think there are certain voices being ignored — perhaps on purpose. We encourage you to share Kate’s story to offer people a different perspective on this issue.

North Carolina’s governor is taking a lot of heat for signing a bill to protect the privacy of women and girls just like Kate. The governor could use your support right now. We encourage you to send a hand-written note to let him know he’s not alone. Gov. Pat McCrory staff has let us know how much it’s meant to hear from you. Please write to him at the address below. If you’re in a hurry, you can always send an email through our Action Center.

Gov. Pat McCrory
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-0301

 

Fifty-one families signed on to a lawsuit seeking to change a dangerous restroom policy enacted by a Chicago-area public school. It allows students to use the restroom of the gender which with they say they “identify.” It would give boys access to girls restrooms, locker rooms and showers.

Township District 211 instituted the policy after the U.S. Department of Education threatened to pull federal funding from the school. The DOE claims the school is in violation of Title IX.

“No government agency can unilaterally redefine the meaning of a federal law to serve its own political ends,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Matt Sharp. “The Department of Education is exceeding what it is legally and constitutionally allowed to do. In fact, at least five other federal and state courts have rejected the DOE’s interpretation of Title IX.”

The lawsuit asks that the policy be overturned and any agreements with the Department of Education deemed illegal. Attorneys with the Thomas More Society are serving as local counsel on the case.

“It’s a massive step backwards to force women to give up their inherent right to bodily privacy,” said Thomas More Society attorney Jocelyn Floyd. “To impose such a rule on still-developing teenage girls, as they’re already struggling with puberty’s changes on their bodies and social pressures to look a certain way, undermines their dignity and tells them that their rights don’t matter. This isn’t a message our schools should be sending to our girls.”

Target announced a change in policy that allows men access to the women’s restrooms and changing rooms in their stores.

In a statement, the company said: “We welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”

The store’s Facebook page lit up with people condemning the policy, like this post from Laura Prater.

“…in your desire to be inclusive, you have failed to be inclusive to women and children. If anything, change all your bathrooms and changing rooms to single stall. You need to seriously consider this decision. You are not above the laws to protect ALL your guests, not just the LGBT community.”

Texas Values, one of Family Policy Alliance’s nearly 40 state-based groups, is asking Texans to express their opinion.

“Legitimate concerns about these policies are to be expected,” they wrote, “and are based on growing instances where men have entered women’s bathrooms to take video and pictures of women and girls, assault women or expose themselves in the restrooms. It is simple common sense for voters across the nation to protect women and children from being forced to share bathrooms or dressing rooms with grown men.”

TAKE ACTION
We’re sending a petition to Target telling them we “Expect more.” We want restrooms and changing areas that keep women and children safe.

CitizenLink is proud to work with an alliance of nearly 40 state-based family policy councils, including the North Carolina Family Policy Council. John Rustin is the President and Executive Director of the group.

http://www.ncfamily.org/business-opposition-hb-2-hrc-orchestrated-not-organic/