Dear Friend,

We have an urgent request for your help.

Along with our friends at Center for Arizona Policy, we are calling your attention to a very concerning bill in your state and asking you to urge your legislators to oppose it. The Arizona House is considering H.B. 2802, a bill that undermines the rights of religious believers, licensed counselors, and small business owners.

H.B. 2802 would ban so-called “conversion therapy” and mandate counselors adopt an “affirmative care” approach towards minors struggling with sexuality-related issues. The bill seeks to silence professional speech by licensed counselors and compel them to provide a specific type of treatment that violates the consciences of some therapists and even some of their patients. This is a First Amendment violation, but worse than that, it harms children struggling with gender dysphoria or unwanted same-sex attraction by denying them the true help they need from professional counseling.

Beyond that, this bill also adds “gender identity” and “sexual identity” to Arizona’s current nondiscrimination law. Civil rights laws like these are meant to protect people and organizations like small businesses from unjust discrimination, but H.B. 2802 does the exact opposite by turning Arizona’s civil rights laws into a sword to punish people or organizations who hold a historic understanding of marriage and sexuality.

We need your help to prevent this.

Please send a message to your representative today urging that they reject H.B. 2802.

Together with our friends at Center for Arizona Policy, you can help ensure that Arizona law helps, not harms, children by preserving their access to the healthcare they need, and that the rights of professional counselors and all Arizona citizens are protected.

Now is the time to speak up for them to your state representative.

Sincerely,Joseph Kohm
Joseph Kohm
Joseph Kohm
Policy Director

 

 

P.S. For further updates, be sure to connect with our friends and allies at the Center for Arizona Policy. They are in the halls of the state capitol working on your behalf!

Dear Arkansas Friend,

Family Policy Alliance joins with our allies at Family Council in calling on legislators to override Gov. Hutchinson’s veto of H.B. 1570, sponsored by Statesmen Academy alum, Rep. Robin Lundstrum.

H.B. 1570 is critical legislation that is needed to protect children from abusive and permanently damaging “gender-reassignment surgeries.”

Will you please take a moment to speak up to your legislators? Here’s a message from Jerry Cox at Family Council with details on making your voice heard:

Please call your state senator and state representative right now, and urge them to override Governor Hutchinson’s veto of H.B. 1570, the SAFE Act by Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Alan Clark.

You can leave a message for your senator at 501-682-2902.

You can leave a message for your representative at 501-682-6211.

H.B. 1570, the SAFE Act, prohibits sex-reassignment procedures on children in Arkansas.

Gender-reassignment surgeries can leave children sterilized and scarred for life. Medical researchers do not know the long term effects these procedures and therapies can have on kids. That is why many people equate them with experimenting on children.

The Arkansas Legislature passed this bill, but on Monday Gov. Asa Hutchinson vetoed it.

It is impossible to overstate how much pressure your lawmakers face from national groups on this bill.

Please contact your legislators right now — especially your state representative — and urge them to override the governor’s veto on H.B. 1570, the SAFE Act.

You can leave a message for your senator at 501-682-2902. You can leave a message for your representative at 501-682-6211.

Again, please urge your legislators to override Governor Hutchinson’s veto of H.B. 1570, the SAFE Act by Rep. Robin Lundstrum and Sen. Alan Clark.

Sincerely,

Jerry

Thank you so much for speaking up and for spreading the word about this urgent matter!

John Paulton
Mobilization Manager

In a well-earned triumph for children and their families, the 11th Circuit has struck down local laws in Florida that prohibit licensed therapists from providing basic talk-therapy to children who want to reduce or eliminate their same-sex attracted behaviors or feelings of confusion regarding their gender identity. The bans forced children into therapy that only guides them toward “gender transition”—including stopping their natural onset of puberty to instead pursue taking sterilizing cross-sex hormones or even life-altering surgery to remove healthy body parts. Any basic talk therapy to help children accept the bodies they were created with was banned.

In the past several years, there has been a concerted effort by LGBT-lobbyist organizations to ban therapy that allows families to receive treatment in line with their religious, ethical, or conscience beliefs. Currently, 20 states, Washington, D.C., and numerous cities and counties ban this kind of basic talk therapy, often claiming they are banning professional conduct and not speech.

These bans are devastating to families who want to seek out a licensed counselor for their child who is struggling with gender identity or sexual orientation confusion and want unbiased treatment that is tailored to their child’s needs and religious, moral, and conscience beliefs about sex and sexuality.

On Friday, the 11th Circuit ruled against the two Florida  talk-therapy bans on the basis they violated the First Amendment in several ways. The three-judge panel (in a 2-1 decision), wrote that just because a therapist is providing medical treatment doesn’t automatically mean what he says can be labeled as “professional conduct” instead of “speech,” the latter having far more protections under the First Amendment.

Circuit Judge Britt Grant wrote, “the enterprise of labeling certain verbal or written communications ‘speech’ and others ‘conduct’ is unprincipled and susceptible to manipulation” (page 7 of published opinion). He went on to say the legislative power to regulate medical professions “does not include a free-floating power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed” just because “a legislative body thinks [those ideas] unsuitable for [children]” (p. 20).

Judge Grant also declared these bans unconstitutionally forced the government’s viewpoint onto families and their children that “sexual orientation is immutable, but gender is not,” (p. 12) by prohibiting therapists from saying anything opposing the government viewpoint. This is because these laws allow therapists to provide talk-therapy that supports permanent, radical gender transition or change but not basic therapy to facilitate sexual orientation transition or change.

Today, families in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia can breathe a little easier knowing the “bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment” that “the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable” (p. 27) has been upheld.

This federal circuit judgment can now be used to strike down state laws that ban talk therapy, which stifle and obliterate the fundamental right for a minor to obtain licensed professional help to reduce or eliminate unwanted same-sex attraction and gender identity confusion. It affirms that laws cannot impede the constitutional right to seek out the help they desire.

We applaud Liberty Counsel’s monumental efforts in bringing forward these cases and working on behalf of all families to ensure their rights are protected. We hope this is the first victory of many more to come.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Curry
Policy Analyst

A Kansas City (MO) city council committee is about to consider an ordinance that would push many minors towards transgenderism.  Your quick help is needed to stop it!

Ordinance 190902 is what is known as a “counseling ban.”  It would censor professional counseling for children and teens who are struggling with their gender identity.  But the ban would ONLY forbid counseling that is designed to help them identify with their birth sex.

In other words, counseling that encourages them to change their gender – even to go through irreversible sex-change operations – would be protected by the city.  But counseling to help them accept their God-given birth sex would be outlawed.

Incredibly, such laws have already passed in California and a number of other localities.  But it has also been stopped in many.  That’s why your help is so urgently needed!

The ordinance would also affect counseling for unwanted same-sex attraction.  This type of counseling has helped thousands of young people deal with unwanted same-sex attraction, which often arises out of sexual abuse.  But if this ordinance passes, these young people will only be allowed to get counseling that encourages homosexuality.

In addition, bans in other cities have recently faced costly legal challenges. In Tampa, such an ordinance was recently overturned.

Here’s what you can do:

Emails to the council members are encouraged even after the hearing is held, as a vote by the full council will happen at a later date.

Thank you for taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

 

The radical sex ed bill, HB 1032, is now the law in Colorado. Last Friday, Governor Polis signed the contentious legislation that bans religious, moral, and ethical perspectives on sex and gender from being taught in the classroom and prohibits teachers from stressing abstinence as a healthy sexual choice.

Governor Polis (who is an openly gay LGBT-activist) also signed three other controversial pieces of legislation many of you opposed including:

The Battle is Not Over!

Though these laws are an affront to our rights, the battle for healthy families and robust religious freedoms is not over in Colorado. In fact, the real work begins now! There is still a lot we can do to protect our children, our parental rights, and our families! You must know that most Coloradans do not agree with or support the extreme legislation that our legislature is passing or what the Governor is signing into law. We are seeing what happens when both branches of our legislature and the governorship are controlled by one party with a sweeping radical agenda to force their ideology onto others.

Tens of thousands of you voiced your concern and even outrage to your legislators, objecting to these bills through letters, phone calls, and testifying. We can and must take that momentum and energy from fighting these bad bills and direct all our efforts towards the 2020 election and restoring pro-family values in Colorado.

We must stay alert, vigilant, and well-informed. We must work together to ensure that as Coloradans we are electing representatives who will actually advance legislation that represents our values in office.

Parents and families joined together to make their voices heard in a big way this year—tens of thousands of you! So we know that together, by God’s grace, we can make a difference in Colorado. This is why we are committed to you and working hard to see pro-family changes throughout our state in the next year!

Our Commitment to You!

We are committed to supporting legislators and candidates in Colorado who will uphold your traditional family values and religious liberties.

We are committed to ensuring you have up-to-date information on not only the issues that matter to you but also on legislators currently in office who may claim they’re conservative but do not vote for conservative and pro-family values.

We are committed to supporting candidates who will not tolerate or accept the chipping away of our rights but will stand firm for biblical principles and not be swayed.

We can make a difference in Colorado and we hope you’ll join us! The 2020 elections in Colorado can turn this state around and be momentous for families that wish to live in a state where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished.

Will you invest today in our efforts to ensure better leadership in our state, to keep Colorado families informed about important policies and elections that affect them, and to help families like yours take action in the Centennial state with your gift?

The Family Policy Alliance Team

 

 

The Massachusetts Governor must either veto or sign a bill that would push many minors towards transgenderism. Your quick help is needed to stop it!

This bill is a “counseling ban” that would make illegal professional counseling for children and teens who are struggling with their gender identity. But the ban would ONLY forbid counseling that helps teens identify with their birth sex.

In other words, counseling that encourages them to change their gender — even to go through irreversible sex-change operations — would be protected by the state. But counseling to help them accept their God-given birth sex would be outlawed.

The bill would also affect counseling for unwanted same-sex attraction. This type of counseling has helped thousands of young people deal with unwanted same-sex attraction, which is correlated with childhood sexual abuse. If the governor signs this bill, these young people will only be allowed to get counseling that encourages homosexuality, even if that’s not what the teen wants.

Here’s what you can do:

Thank you for taking action and making your voice heard!

The Family Policy Alliance Team
(in alliance with Massachusetts Family Institute)

A Maine legislative committee is scheduled to consider a bill that would push many minors towards transgenderism. Your quick help is needed to stop it!

The bill (LD 1025/ME HB755) is what is known as a “counseling ban.” It would ban professional counseling for children and teens who are struggling with their gender identity. But the ban would ONLY forbid counseling that is designed to help them identify with their birth sex.

In other words, counseling that encourages them to change their gender – even to go through irreversible sex-change operations – would be protected by the state. But counseling to help them accept their God-given birth sex would be outlawed.

Incredibly, such laws have already passed in California and a few other states. But it has also been stopped in many. That’s why your help is so urgently needed!

The bill would also affect counseling for unwanted same-sex attraction. This type of counseling has helped thousands of young people deal with unwanted same-sex attraction, which is correlated with childhood sexual abuse. If this bill is enacted, these young people will only be allowed to get counseling that encourages homosexuality, even if that’s not what the teen wants.

The bill has a wide-ranging scope applying to not only professional counselors but also school psychologists and guidance counselors, alcohol and drug counselors and aides, social workers, pharmacists and pharm techs, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, pastoral counselors, speech language pathologists and assistants and audiologists.

Here’s what you can do:

Thank you for taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

A Massachusetts bill that would push many minors towards transgenderism is about to get a vote on the Senate floor. Your quick help is needed to stop it!

This bill, SB 70, is even worse than the House bill we told you about last week. Both are “counseling bans” that would ban professional counseling for children and teens who are struggling with their gender identity. But the ban would ONLY forbid counseling that is designed to help them identify with their birth sex.

In other words, counseling that encourages them to change their gender — even to go through irreversible sex-change operations — would be protected by the state. But counseling to help them accept their God-given birth sex would be outlawed.

Yet this Senate bill is even worse in that it contains a child-abuse provision that would allow the state to remove a child if parents obtain counseling for their child that affirms the child’s birth sex.

The bill would also affect counseling for unwanted same-sex attraction. This type of counseling has helped thousands of young people deal with unwanted same-sex attraction, which is correlated with childhood sexual abuse. But if SB 70 passes, these young people will only be allowed to get counseling that encourages homosexuality, even if that’s not what the teen wants.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Please click here to send a note to your senator. You can reach him or her with just a click at our Action Center.
  2. After you send the note through our Action Center, watch for a follow-up message that contains your senator’s name and phone number. Please also call them and ask them to vote No on SB 70.
  3. Please pass this email along to friends so they can make their voice heard as well.

Thank you for taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance Team
(in alliance with Massachusetts Family Institute)

A Massachusetts legislative committee could vote any day on a bill that would push many minors towards transgenderism.  Your quick help is needed to stop it!

House Bill 110 is what is known as a “counseling ban.”  It would ban professional counseling for children and teens who are struggling with their gender identity.  But the ban would ONLY forbid counseling that is designed to help them identify with their birth sex.

In other words, counseling that encourages them to change their gender – even to go through irreversible sex-change operations – would be protected by the state.  But counseling to help them accept their God-given birth sex would be outlawed.

Incredibly, such laws have already passed in California and a few other states.  But it has also been stopped in many.  That’s why your help is so urgently needed!

The bill would also affect counseling for unwanted same-sex attraction.  This type of counseling has helped thousands of young people deal with unwanted same-sex attraction, which is correlated with childhood sexual abuse.  But if H 110 passes, these young people will only be allowed to get counseling that encourages homosexuality, even if that is not what the teen wants.

Here’s what you can do:

Thank you for taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

(in alliance with Massachusetts Family Institute)

By Autumn Leva, VP of Strategy for Family Policy Alliance

Tolerance and diversity. These buzzwords are the Left’s morning coffee, rallying cry, and litmus test for political office—or for anything else for that matter.

California. The state that brings us Hollywood, the LGBT mecca of San Francisco, Democratic super majorities in the legislature who can pass any Leftist policy they want, and 55 electoral votes earmarked for the Democrat presidential candidate every time.

You’d think California and “tolerance and diversity” would go together like Planned Parenthood and abortion.

But they don’t. In fact, California is the last state you should consider living in if you’re a Leftist who preaches tolerance and diversity.

California is a beautiful state. And it boasts some of the most incredible people who continue to stand strong in the face of Leftist attacks. In fact, Family Policy Alliance has its roots in California and is investing heavily there on behalf of the good people of the Golden State.

But as Californians know all too well, their politicians have been closing the state’s doors to freedom of choice, diversity of options, free speech, and even freedom of ideas for a long time. And now, a bill the state is considering this year may just be the final click of the deadbolt.

In 2012, California became the first state to ban professional counseling for children and teens who are struggling with their gender identity.  But the ban only forbids counseling that is designed to help them identify with their birth sex.

In other words, counseling that encourages children to change their gender – even to go through irreversible sex-change operations – is protected by the state.  But counseling to help them accept their God-given birth sex is outlawed. This law gives the state permission to interfere with families’ rights to direct their own healthcare goals, stifles free speech, squashes ideas that the state doesn’t like, meddles in the relationship between a healthcare professional and her patient, and, worst of all, harms children along the way by forcing them into often irreversible “gender transition” before they’re even old enough to vote.

In 2015, California’s liberal politicians passed the “Reproductive FACT Act”—now the subject of the NIFLA v. Becerra case before the Supreme Court. The Act targets prolife pregnancy centers by requiring them to advertise for abortion industry, even in their own buildings! This bears repeating. The state of California is so intolerant of the pro-life movement that it wants to not just silence prolife ministries—but force them to become billboards for the abortion industry. We expect the Supreme Court to rule that California overstepped its bounds with this law sometime in June.

Last year, the California legislature attempted to pass AB 1146, a bill targeting religious students, particularly disadvantaged minorities, that would take away their option to attend a school that aligns with their faith. The bill would have required colleges and universities to stop accepting any state funding—including students who receive Cal Grants to help disadvantaged students attend college—or else violate their faith and ministry.

In other words, it was more important to California’s leftist leaders to force Christian universities to abandon their faith in favor the state’s LGBT agenda than it was to give poor and minority students a chance to attend the college of their choice, or even to attend college at all.  Thankfully, this bill was mostly killed last year before it became law.

Now this year, the LGBT lobby is ramrodding a bill through the legislature that is perhaps the most hostile of all to tolerance and diversity. This new bill, AB 2943, would take the 2012 law banning therapy for minors even further—it would literally ban the sale of books, among other things.

The bill would ban the sale of books that express Christian, biblical beliefs about sex and sexuality. It would also classify any services (now including professional therapy for adults), speech or books to help people align their sex and sexuality with their faith, morals or personal goals as “fraud.” In fact, the bill is so broad it could censor pastors and their ability to help, or even recommend a book, to hurting people struggling with gender-identity issues or unwanted same-sex attraction.

Because the bill is so broad and clearly designed to advance the LGBT agenda with no tolerance toward differing views, it has been nicknamed the “you must stay gay” bill.

So What Can We Do? 

If You Live in California

If you live in California and haven’t yet called on your state Senator to oppose AB 2943, the “you must stay gay” bill, please use our ACTION CENTER to do so now! (If you sent a message to your Assembly member earlier, your senator still needs to hear from you.) It only takes seconds to send the message. Thousands have already sent in messages, but your state’s senators need to know that Californians want nothing to do with the Legislature’s newest attempt to silence anyone who doesn’t agree with its LGBT agenda!

TAKE ACTION

If You Don’t Live in California

The sad truth is that California’s heavy-handed policies spread to other parts of the country. For example, since California first banned professional therapy for children struggling with gender identity in 2012, 10 other states (plus D.C.) enacted the same ban, and many more states—including states in the Heartland and South—have been considering such legislation. Even some cities in conservative states passed therapy bans—forcing children into counseling that only encourages them to change their gender.

Your voice is so important in preventing California’s policies from spreading to other states like yours.

First, please visit our ACTION CENTER. There is a federal bill in Congress that would ban professional therapy for children struggling with gender identity, very similar to California’s law, that would have an impact nationwide. We need your help making sure our federal lawmakers know this policy is bad for America!

TAKE ACTION

Next, Family Policy Alliance is dedicated to working across the nation with families and our state-based family policy group allies to advance prolife, pro-family, and pro-religious freedom policies—and to prevent California’s intolerance from spreading. As you steward your resources, if this work is important to you, we ask you to consider partnering with us to support our nonprofit ministry.

SUPPORT FAMILY POLICY ALLIANCE