Conservative activist exposes Vanderbilt, demonstrates that exposing the truth can save children from mutilation

Conservative activist exposes Vanderbilt, demonstrates that exposing the truth can save children from mutilation

Thanks to online trends and social contagion, rates of transgender affiliation are soaring while a growing number of clinics are harming children with dangerous, experimental procedures. However, several conservative activists are speaking out and demonstrating that sharing the truth can make a real difference. 

Last month, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh posted a twitter thread revealing Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) dangerous so-called  “gender-affirming” practices. “My team and I have been investigating the transgender clinic at Vanderbilt here in Nashville. Vanderbilt drugs, chemically castrates, and performs double mastectomies on minors. But it gets worse…” wrote Walsh. 

A Daily Wire report stated that Walsh uncovered video and archived webpages from VUMC describing a doctor’s promotion of transgender therapies and surgeries in addition to threats against medical professionals who have  moral objections to these procedures. In videos shared by Walsh, a VUMC doctor is seen bragging about how lucrative cross-sex hormones, puberty blocking therapies, and mutilation surgeries are because they require “a lot of follow-ups.” Particular surgeries were described in dollar signs. 

Shortly after the report was published, the University put a pause on its child mutilation procedures. “HUGE NEWS: following our report, Vanderbilt has agreed to pause all gender transition surgeries on minors. The fight is far from over but this will save children from mutilation and abuse. An incredibly important victory. Praise God,” tweeted Walsh. 

The left wants to keep their radical practices in the dark, and they are threatened when the truth is exposed. Like Walsh, Chris Rufo, Libs of Tiktok and other conservative activists, we must continue to speak out against the child abuse being committed by a growing number of clinics to save children from permanent damage. With enough public backlash, these clinics will be forced to stop their “gender affirming” procedures as Vanderbilt has. 

While alarming stories of gender affirmative clinics are emerging from other states, Wisconsin children are also at risk of succumbing to the lies and consequences of gender ideology. Here in Wisconsin, the Pediatric Adolescent Transgender Health Clinic (PATH Clinic) at the University of Wisconsin Health “work[s] with gender expansive children and teens.” We don’t know exactly what the clinic’s “gender affirmative” approach entails, but we do know that these programs act as a gateway to mutilation and sterilization. Our job is to call them out for abusing children and demand that they provide those suffering from gender dysphoria with real help, not harm. 

We should also focus on highlighting the stories of detransitioners who are speaking out against the abuse they endured and detailing the irreversible physical and emotional damage they now live with. 

A new film from the Center for Bioethics and Culture shares the testimonies of three women who received different forms of “gender-affirming” services and procedures only to find that the “treatments” that were supposed to alleviate their confusion only caused them more harm.

“I wasn’t functioning at all. I wasn’t holding down a job. I wasn’t going to school. I just felt like a monster. Once I stopped the testosterone, the symptoms all went away and I started feeling like myself again,” said one detransitioner named Helena.

The three girls, and many others like them, are addressing other children who are suffering from gender dysphoria and urging them to avoid puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and any kind of “gender affirming” care. Their transparency acts as a beacon of hope in a culture that’s become obsessed with placing children in charge of their gender. 

Mangling healthy bodies should never be the solution to a mental health crisis. In fact, it’s only exacerbating the crisis. By sharing the truth about the danger that many clinics are subjecting children to and sharing the hopeful stories of detransitioners, we can make a real difference and put an end to child abuse disguised as healthcare.

Italy’s new prime minister sets an excellent example for leaders in the U.S. 

Italy’s new prime minister sets an excellent example for leaders in the U.S. 

A new leader abroad is representing the rise of conservatism in Europe, and she provides an excellent example of unwavering commitment to Christian values for our leaders here in the United States. 

Giorgia Meloni, the leader of Italy’s conservative party Brothers of Italy, was recently elected Prime Minister of Italy, making history as the first female leader of the country. Even more impressively, she is standing firm for biblical values and the nuclear family. 

Meloni’s leadership is desperately needed in Europe, as the EU’s progressive social and economic agenda is spreading much like the left’s in the United States. Despite tremendous backlash from her adversaries, Meloni has consistently and unapologetically spoken the truth. 

During a speech at the 2019 World Congress of Families that has recently gone viral online, she declared, “Why is the family an enemy? Why is the family so frightening?… Because everything that defines us is now an enemy… And so they attack national identity, they attack religious identity, they attack gender identity, they attack family identity…”

“I cannot define myself as Italian, Christian, woman, mother. No…  I must be… ‘gender x,’ ‘parent 1’… I must be a number…” she continued.

“We will defend God, country and family. Those things that disgust people so much. We will do it to defend our freedom, because we will never be slaves…”

Meloni has also condemned many of the evils that the left continues to champion such as surrogacy, same-sex marriage, abortion, and child gender transition hormone therapy. 

She has even bemoaned Italy’s low birth rate, which is just 1.2 children per woman, reflecting the culture’s poor view of marriage and family. This is an issue we’re seeing in Wisconsin, as we’ve had a below replacement birth-rate since 1974. 

Meloni’s commitment to the traditional family unit and Christian values is exactly what we need from our leaders here in the U.S., especially as a growing number of children are undergoing bodily mutilation at the hands of abusive doctors.

This kind of leadership is difficult to come across, as it comes at a high price now that censorship, name-calling, and persecution have become the norm in our political landscape

The left is criticizing Meloni’s views and politics as “semi-fascist” – although this is blatantly false – simply because her political beliefs align with biblical teachings. 

YouTube has censored her speech, claiming that the video “violated YouTube’s Community Guidelines.” In reality, the left-wing platform simply disagrees with Meloni’s politics and is silencing her voice as it often does to conservative speakers. 

Our leaders should expect the same persecution if they follow her lead, but it can’t hinder them from fiercely marching forward in proclaiming God’s truth and boldly speaking out for children and the traditional family. Children are being mutilated, and now is not the time for spineless leadership. 

Without representatives who refuse to cower to the woke mob and are steadfast in their goal of preserving traditional American values, parental rights, religious liberty, and free speech will continue to diminish. 

Thankfully, we have an opportunity this fall to elect leaders who will follow Meloni’s lead and catalyze a return to a pro-family America. Over the next month, we should focus on getting informed about the candidates and encouraging fellow Christians to elect Christ-centered leaders who will guide our country toward virtue and away from the many evils pervading our culture.  

We need to elect candidates who are proud to send the same message in the U.S. that Meloni is sending to Italy: “Yes to natural families, no to the LGBT lobby, yes to sexual identity, no to gender ideology, yes to the culture of life, no to the abyss of death.”

 

Parent group fights radical indoctrination in Wauwatosa

Parent group fights radical indoctrination in Wauwatosa

Parents with children in Wauwatosa School District are rightfully upset. The district is doing everything it can to indoctrinate their children, starting as early as kindergarten, by exposing them to inappropriate instructional material as part of its Human Growth and Development curriculum.

The board notified parents the first week of August about proposed changes to the Human Growth and Development curriculum, which include classes on gender identity, sexual-orientation, and other sex-themed topics from kindergarten through high school. 

By fourth grade, students will be expected to “have awareness of different definitions for gender, including transgender, cisgender, and non-binary,” “understand that individuals may identify beyond male and female,” and “understand the use of pronouns around gender identity.” The full guidelines can be found here.

The curriculum is possibly the most radical that we’ve seen. It exposes 5-year-olds to concepts and visuals they are in no way prepared to handle. 

The push to convince children that their biological sex is a fiction and change be changed and that homosexuality is normal and even healthy is intentional and extreme. They audaciously start as young as they dare—in this instance kindergarten—and continue bombarding the students with lies wrapped in strong emotional language and pseudo-science. 

Thankfully, concerned parents and other citizens have organized and done an incredible job of showing up, speaking up, and standing up, letting the school board know that the changes to the district’s sex ed program are entirely inappropriate. This organized group of parents and other concerned citizens now has an official nameAwake Tosa.

What we first noticed about the parents’ efforts and approach was how very knowledgeable they were about what Wisconsin’s law actually says about these programs. For instance, they knew that nothing in Wisconsin’s law requires a school district to have a Human Growth and Development, aka, sex-ed program. Having such a program is totally at the discretion of the school board.

This group also knew that if a school district decides to have a sex-ed program, then certain things are required, including an advisory committee comprised of representatives from certain groups of citizens, including medical professionals, members of the clergy, and parents. The law also clearly limits how many school-district-related people can be on the committee.

Importantly, a number of those involved with this effort have actually spent time looking at the proposed curriculum and related instructional materials. They knew exactly what they were talking about when they stood before the school board and voiced their concerns. Some read directly from the material and others made specific references to certain objectionable elements and noted the grade level. That kind of specificity shows the board and other district officials that people have done their homework and are not just speaking generally or without firsthand knowledge of what’s in the program. Specifics make it hard for officials to dismiss the allegations.

Finally, this group has paid close attention to what the district has been doing with scheduling meetings and other actions it was taking, including a public survey on the proposed changes. Using emails, texts, phone calls, and word-of-mouth, people concerned about what was happening informed others, letting them know, for instance, that the survey was available online and encouraging them to weigh in before the deadline. That’s a smart move. If the school district is going to solicit public input, then it’s fair game for people to let others know and urge them to use the mechanism the district is providing.

Unfortunately, the board approved the Human Growth and Development program with the onerous changes on Monday, September 26, 2022, but Awake Tosa still acts as a source of hope. They are pressing on and setting an important example that’s worthy of emulation. It’s vital that parents put pressure on school boards when they reach beyond their boundaries. 

We hope  Awake Tosa will remain organized and even expand. They are learning good lessons as they go along—lessons that will help them tackle other issues impacting their children. The very best way to bring about positive changes in school districts is for parents and other citizens in that district to take an active, on-going interest. One-and-done doesn’t work; it takes persistent and consistent work. And all the evidence we see right now says Wauwatosa concerned citizens understand that and will continue showing up, speaking up, and standing up for the children.

We should find solace in the fact that parents are waking up and paying attention. Hopefully, they will take their frustration to the polls this fall and elect candidates who will protect their children from radical indoctrination. 

There is power in numbers, and parents really can make a difference when they band together. 

 

WILL fights back against the DOE’s Title IX proposal, offers model policies that provide hope

WILL fights back against the DOE’s Title IX proposal, offers model policies that provide hope

President Joe Biden’s Department of Education is attempting to radically re-define “sex” in Title IX to expand the law’s protections to “transgender” individuals. Thankfully, many voices are putting up a fight. 

Under Title IX, schools cannot receive federal funding if they discriminate against any student on the basis of sex. According to a press release, the DOE wants to amend Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments so that “sex” includes “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” 

As a result, any space, program, building, bathroom, locker room, or sports team that is separated by sex would be forced to accommodate biological men who believe they are, or “identify” as, women. Schools that rightfully refuse to allow biological males into women’s bathrooms could lose their federal funding.

However, there is hope. The proposed changes have not yet taken effect, and parents, the attorneys general of several states, and organizations like Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) are working to ensure that they never do. 

The DOE received over 184,000 public comments from parents concerned about their children’s safety and the erasure of women. This is a record number of parents and other concerned citizens taking a stand for the rights of their families. It shows that parents are paying attention and are willing to take action to protect their children, which is excellent news ahead of a crucial election. 

Similarly, WILL submitted a comment to the Department of Education detailing three significant concerns about the proposed changes.  

“First, the reinterpretation of the definition of sex within Title IX is an illegal action by an executive agency because the proposed regulations are antithetical to the intent of the law – namely, to protect and support women and girls. Second, the proposed regulations will have a chilling effect on speech, including speech motivated by sincere religious beliefs, and academic freedom. Third, the proposed regulations undermine parental rights. WILL has requested that the Department respond to each of these concerns and reject the proposed rules,” reads WILL’s comment. 

Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling also submitted a comment on behalf of the organization. Our comments were along the same line as WILL’s.

WILL also has model policies available to school districts, including a model policy on student pronouns that the Education Department should take a note from. “Parents have the right to determine the names and pronouns that staff use to refer to their children while at school. Staff shall not refer to or address minor students by a different name or pronouns that differ from their biological sex, during school hours, without written authorization from a parent,” begins the model policy on student pronouns. 

Another model policy establishes parents’ right to review instructional materials and related documents: “Parents shall have the right to access, upon request, the instructional materials used in the education of their children. In this policy, “instructional materials” means instructional content that is provided to a student, regardless of its format, including printed or representational materials, audio-visual materials, and materials in electronic or digital formats.”

We need leaders on school boards and legislators who will enact policies like these to protect children and parents’ rights—not undermine them. We have an opportunity to do just that this fall; let’s not waste it!

In the meantime, please pray that the efforts to block the DOE’s radical proposal are effective. Women’s rights, parental rights, free speech, religious liberty, and academic freedom are on the line; but we should remain hopeful because of the many voices that are fighting back and offering a better way forward. 




 

The Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act treats children as commodities

The Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act treats children as commodities

California Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CD 28) recently introduced the Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act, which purportedly aims to help those struggling with infertility; but in truth, it only creates a larger issue for children’s rights. 

Currently in the United States, couples are eligible to receive tax benefits for fertility treatments only if they are in a heterosexual relationship since these are the only relationships capable of fertility in and of themselves. However, sexual revolutionaries view nature and biological truths as an injustice, and they are attempting to expand the definition of “infertility” to include those who cannot reproduce “either as a single individual or with a partner without medical intervention.” 

In response to the legislation, Joseph Backholm in WORLD explains: “Under this definition, single people, as well as people in same-sex relationships, could be ‘infertile,’ which only makes sense in a world where men can get pregnant, and no one can define what a woman is.”

This is exactly what the Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act aims to do. In a press release, Rep. Schiff says, “our tax code is sorely outdated and makes it harder for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples to afford treatments to bring children into their families, such as IVF. This bill would rectify this iniquity by allowing LGBTQ+ couples to deduct the cost of assisted reproductive treatments as a medical expense—a privilege heterosexual couples already have.”

He went on: “Every person regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, or relationship status deserves the same opportunity to start and expand a family.”

This is an entirely adult-centered view of the relationship between parents and children.

This legislation treats a child as “an accessory that exists to meet the needs of adults,” as Backholm puts it. Children have a natural right to both a mother and father, and Schiff’s proposal completely disregards the best interest of children. 

“In his view, the adults deserve the child simply because they want the child. Any disadvantage the child experiences by being commodified and denied a relationship with one or both of his or her parents is outweighed by the emotional satisfaction the adults will experience.

However, if the needs of children are primary, a child’s right to be known and loved by his or her mother and father is more important than the adult desire to have a child. After all, men cannot mother and women cannot father. Children need both mothers and fathers,” writes Backholm.

Further, this legislation encourages the use of technology to bring children into the world, which has serious moral implications. Surrogacy, for example, intentionally separates a child from one or both of his biological parents. This creates in them a “primal wound” that manifests as depression, abandonment issues, and emotional problems throughout their lives.

Artificial reproduction often disregards the physical as well as the emotional well-being of lab-created children, as only 7% of children created in a lab will be born alive. Most will perish in forgotten freezers, won’t survive “thawing,” will fail to implant, or will be discarded if they’re non-viable or the wrong sex, or be “selectively reduced” (aborted), or be donated to research. This happens largely because there are no limits on the number of embryos created for someone seeking IVF. The unused ones are then “frozen” (commonly referred to as “snowflake babies”) and then, after a time, if not used, are disposed of.

We have a medical doctor friend who is also a biological ethicist, who a number of years ago recommended that if IVF is to continue, then at a minimum, a law should be passed that limits to three the number of embryos that are created for a single IVF attempt. All three would then be required to be implanted, which means none would need to be “frozen.”

Approximately 12 percent of married couples suffer from infertility or struggle to sustain a pregnancy, which creates deep emotional, physical, and financial stress. These couples deserve care, support, and compassion as they deal with the immense pain associated with the unfulfilled longing for a child, and a healthy society must encourage couples to have children through legislation that supports parenthood.

However, the desires of adults must never take precedent over the rights of children. 

“We live in a broken world, which means the ideal is not always possible. Adoption is a beautiful example of how we can make the best of situations that are already broken. Still, making the best of difficult circumstances is very different than creating difficult circumstances on purpose, which is exactly what Rep. Schiff’s Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act would do,” concludes Backholm.

We agree. The Equal Access to Reproductive Care Act submits the rights of children to the desires of adults—even if well-intentioned—and we dare not make this the basis of policymaking.

Wisconsin Christian Heritage Week- let’s teach our children about our history

Wisconsin Christian Heritage Week- let’s teach our children about our history

In 2018, then-Governor Scott Walker issued a proclamation declaring September 9-15 Christian Heritage Week in Wisconsin. He opened his statement with the following: “WHEREAS; the Preamble to the Constitution of Wisconsin states that ‘We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom… domestic tranquility…do establish this Constitution.’” Walker then cited statements by Founders Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, and Madison in which each extols God or Christianity.

While we are not technically a Christian nation, we definitely have a distinctive and pervasive Christian heritage. Even though Christian Heritage Week was technically last week, it’s always time and good for families in particular to explore the truth of this heritage. Passing on this Christian heritage is each American Christian’s responsibility and honor. 

Activists in today’s very secular culture would like to revise that part of our history because doing so would make it much easier to advance their liberal, progressive and destructive agenda. Christianity is a real impediment to what they want America to become—a totally humanistic, socialistic, godless mere shell of its original self; and forgetting our history is one of the best ways to ensure we have little to no Christianity in our future.

The antidote to combatting the left’s mission to transform America into a godless dystopia is for families to begin instructing their children about our rich and deeply faith-based heritage.

For instance, did you know every single state constitution makes reference to God or Providence or the Supreme Judge? While it’s true that the US Constitution doesn’t include such a reference, the language after the Articles giving the particulars of when and where the signing was done, right above the signatures, the Founders wrote, “In the year of our Lord.” We also certainly see such references in the Declaration of Independence. Even a cursory survey of the writings of many of our founders and those following our founders’ era are replete with distinctly Christian references.  

Consider how many national days of prayer and fasting presidents have called. Reading those proclamations makes it very clear that the nation has a Christian heritage. Certainly, rehearsing the story of William Bradford and the 1620 voyage of The Mayflower and The Mayflower Compact beautifully relates our strong Christian foundation—one that is unique to America. 

No other country was founded in the way and for the reason we were. This is what has made America so exceptional. This Christian foundation was the basis for our unique rights and liberties that uphold human dignity in a way that no other country has before, and our children need to know this. 

Unless we do this family by family, our Christian heritage will quickly be forgotten. Let’s do our part in saving America by honoring our Christian roots at home. 

Parents can find some excellent information that will help them teach their children about our Christian heritage here

Three Wisconsin school districts under fire for violating parents’ rights

Three Wisconsin school districts under fire for violating parents’ rights

Wisconsin schools have been undermining parents’ rights in an attempt to indoctrinate students with radical LGBTQ+ ideology. Thankfully, three similar lawsuits against Wisconsin school districts have emerged in recent months. 

Most recently, the Eau Claire Area School District (ECASD) was sued for hosting gender identity trainings that instruct teachers and school staff to hide students’ gender transitions from parents.

America First Legal (AFL) and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) filed the lawsuit on behalf of several parents, arguing that the district’s policies violate their freedom of religion and parental rights. 

AFL released a questionnaire used in the district’s training, revealing some of the concerning instructions given to staff. One slide used in the training states that “parents are not entitled to know their kids’ identities. That knowledge must be earned.” Teachers are told to prioritize the desires of the student over the rights of the parent. 

During another training for the district’s teachers, the host, Christopher Jorgenson, told staff,We understand and acknowledge that teachers are often put in terrible positions caught between parents and their students. But much like we wouldn’t act as stand-ins for abuse in other circumstances, we cannot let parents’ rejection of their children guide teachers’ reactions and actions and advocacy for our students.” 

Eau Claire’s policies clearly violate parents’ right to raise their children. Teachers do not replace parents at school. A child’s “gender identity” is pertinent and important information that must always be discussed with parents. 

​​“Policies like Eau Claire’s blatantly violate parents’ constitutional rights to raise their children. School staff do not replace parents while their children are at school. A gender identity transition is a major event in a child’s life; schools must defer to parents about this,” WILL Deputy Counsel Luke Berg said in a statement.

Further, AFL President Stephen Miller has accused the district of using children to advance a dangerous progressive agenda. “Eau Claire schools have adopted a monstrous plan to secretly ‘change’ the genders of children as young as 5—without parental consent—effectively subjecting them to unnatural ideological experiments contrary to their health and biology,” he said. “This includes forcing boys and girls to share bathrooms and other private spaces without their consent, a further invasion and desecration of childhood innocence and fundamental childhood wellbeing.”

Similarly, in November of last year, a group of Wisconsin parents sued the Kettle Moraine School District (KMSD) for a policy that allows minor students to “transition genders” at school, even despite the parents’ objection. Like Eau Claire, the Kettle Moraine School District is violating parents’ constitutional rights by taking a life-altering decision out of parents’ hands. 

In June, the judge denied the school district’s request to dismiss the case. A hearing on the case is scheduled for April 19, 2023.

In a third case, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit in 2020 in Dane County Circuit Court against the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) for its policies that allow children to change their gender identity at school without parental notice or consent. The policy also instructs district staff to hide information about students’ gender identity from parents.

In May, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard the case, and in July, the Court ordered that the case go back to circuit court after some of the technicalities were decided. As a result, the case is back in Dane County Circuit Court where it will essentially start over. 

Hopefully, these lawsuits will help parents take back their rights and protect their children. Children are safer and better off when parents are in control, and parents have the natural, God-given right to be the primary decision-makers in their children’s lives. 

California bill endangers parental rights – even in Wisconsin

California bill endangers parental rights – even in Wisconsin

California Democrats have just passed a radical bill that poses serious threats to parental rights and children’s safety around the country.

S.B. 107 allows California courts to remove custody from parents who are opposed to their young children undergoing irreversible medical procedures, according to the National Review

Any child can “flee” to California for this purpose, or any person “acting as a parent” can take a child to California to obtain this abusive “treatment.”

S.B. 107 just passed both chambers of the state legislature and is now in the hands of the Gov. Gavin Newsom. 

If Gov. Newsom signs S.B. 107, California courts will be given “temporary emergency jurisdiction” over any child in California, regardless of which state they reside in, allowing them to receive harmful interventions without parental consent. This attempt at severe government overreach violates federal law regarding jurisdiction over custody matters and the laws of the 49 other states which need to be respected according to the “full faith and credit” clause of the U.S. Constitution. 

This bill is extreme—even for California. And it has implications for every state. SB 107 would allow Wisconsin children to be essentially “kidnapped” by the state of California so that these minors can undergo bodily mutilation and sterilization before they’re old enough to understand the consequences of these actions. Further, any parent who opposes the lies being fed to their child will be met by forceful opposition made up by courts, police, and child-protective services.

Not only are legislators ignoring the basic rights of parents, but they are disregarding the clear evidence demonstrating the damage caused by gender “affirming” medical and surgical interventions on children. 

The American College of Pediatricians’ found that 80 to 95 percent of children who suffer from gender dysphoria will eventually re-identify with their biological sex, if they are not pushed into trying to do the impossible—change their sex.. Further, according to a recent study by the Heritage Foundation, increased access to gender “affirming” care doesn’t improve mental health outcomes. It only increases a child’s risk for suicide. 

Ultimately, gender “transition” surgeries mutilate healthy bodies, affirm dangerous lies, and lead to psychological derangement. It is undeniably abusive to allow vulnerable children to permanently damage their bodies. 

We need to keep California from getting its hands on our children and blatantly undermining parents. Bringing national attention to this bill and highlighting its danger will give us a chance to persuade Gov. Newsom to veto the bill. Let’s urge our state officials to do just that and call California out for its extremism and child abuse. This is a great question to ask candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, and even those running for state senate or state assembly seats: 

“Will you actively work to protect Wisconsin’s parents and children from the long-arm of liberal elected officials in California—or any other state seeking to lure minor children, take them into “protective custody” for purposes of prescribing harmful drugs and/or performing dangerous surgeries in an effort to do the impossible, change their sex?”

No parent should ever face the unimaginable anger caused by the mutilation and abuse of their children, like many already have. Parents alone have the right to make medical decisions for their children, and it is far beyond the boundaries of California courts to take those deeply personal decisions into their own hands. Children belong to their parents, not the government. 

Please pray that this bill is defeated along with the evil ideas behind it.

OB-GYN group refutes major abortion lies in new fact sheet

OB-GYN group refutes major abortion lies in new fact sheet

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the abortion industry has ruthlessly sought to sell lies about abortion, including continuing to claim this gruesome, life-taking, elective procedure is healthcare. Abortion advocates erroneously claim that restricting abortion prevents women from receiving the care that they need.[1] This is a vicious lie meant to present the intentional murder of an innocent life as “healthcare,” when in reality, abortion is never medically necessary. 

Thankfully, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG), which represents 7,000 pro-life medical professionals, is combatting these lies with a new point-by-point fact sheet. 

Lifesite News recently reported on this document, , Myth vs. Fact: Correcting Misinformation on Maternal Medical Care, which refutes the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists’ (ACOG) claim that “providing comprehensive medical care” means “working to ensure that all patients can access the full spectrum of maternal, sexual, and reproductive health care options, including abortion.” (Emphasis added.)

AAPLOG first states that ACOG “has actively opposed doctors who do not agree with the group’s radical positions, and it refuses to represent the diversity of professional views in the OB/GYN community as a whole” while “ignoring the wealth of evidence showing significant harms to women from abortion, such as adverse mental health outcomes and an increased risk of preterm birth in future pregnancies.”

Second, it refutes the American Medical Association’s (AMA’s) claim that the overturning of Roe v. Wade was an “egregious” government intrusion into the medical field by noting that abortionists “often have no previous relationship with their patients and tend to leave the medical care afterwards to other physicians who either have a prior relationship with the patient or who work in her local emergency room.” Further, the mother and child are both patients that need to be considered.

One of the most common misconceptions coming from the left is that abortion is sometimes necessary to save a mother’s life, and that restricting abortion would prevent the treatment of miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. In reality, the tragic passing of a child as a side effect of treating a medical condition of the mother is not an abortion and these treatments are not classified as such. The intentional killing of an unborn child is never necessary to save the life of the mother.

AAPLOG says that “93% of practicing OB/GYNs do not perform elective abortions but have always been able to offer life-saving treatment to women and will continue to be able to do so regardless of state laws on abortion,” and that “[a]ny competent OB/GYN physician is trained to make this determination well before the threat to the mother’s life progresses to the point where death is imminent.”

Further, the treatments used for miscarriage and other complications are not prohibited by abortion restrictions. “An ectopic pregnancy requires removing an embryo to save a mother’s life so that both lives are not lost. This life-saving treatment is not prevented by any current law restricting or banning abortion,” writes the AAPLOG. A recent article by Mary Szoch, the Director of the Center for Human Dignity at Family Research Council, further clarifies the course of action with an ectopic pregnancy:

“Whatever the treatment plan, in an ectopic pregnancy, the intention of the doctors is always to save the life of the mother, not to kill the child. In 90% of ectopic pregnancies…the unborn child has died prior to the discovery that the pregnancy is ectopic. In cases where the embryo is still alive, the surgery to save the mother’s life may result in the death of the child, but unlike in an abortion, the procedure itself is not intended to — and does not — directly kill the child. Importantly, the mother’s life is saved by the separation of the unborn child from the place of implantation outside the uterus — not by the death of the embryo.”

The AAPLOG fact sheet also notes that in addition to intentionally killing a child, abortion is dangerous for the mother. “The Institute of Medicine lists surgical abortion as an immutable risk factor for preterm birth,” AAPLOG says. “Women face a 35% increased risk of preterm birth in a future pregnancy after one surgical abortion and an almost 90% increase in preterm birth risk after two abortions.”

Finally, AAPLOG highlights the mental and emotional burden that abortion places on women. “From 1993 to 2018, there are at least 75 studies examining the link between abortion and mental health,” the fact sheet says. “Two-thirds of those studies showed a correlation between abortion and adverse mental health outcomes.”

Ultimately, healthcare is meant to prolong human life and resolve diseases and ailments. In contrast, abortion is an assault on a woman and a death sentence to her child.

Further, pregnancy is not a disease, but a natural, biological process. Intentionally ending that process is never a necessary part of treatment for the mother. In fact, it only causes her more harm.

Pro-lifers need to be prepared to combat the lies being spewed by the left in their dishonest attempt to protect abortion access. We urge everyone to read this document. Knowing these facts equips pro-lifers to respond to the untruths and myths, which can ultimately save lives.

[1]On Friday, September 3, 2022, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, under the direction of the Biden administration, issued an “interim rule” that takes effect immediately. This rule offers pregnant women veterans an abortion if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or puts the woman’s life or health at risk. From p.3 of the “rule’: “VA is taking this action because it has determined that providing access to abortion-related medical services is needed to protect the lives and health of veterans.”

Federal court ruling on transgenderism has concerning implications 

Federal court ruling on transgenderism has concerning implications 

In a deeply concerning decision, a federal judge ruled that the distress someone may feel due to gender dysphoria is to be considered a disability that must be accommodated under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Williams v. Kincaid involved an imprisoned male who identifies as a female in Fairfax County, Virginia. The man wanted to be housed with the female inmates, but the prison’s policy states that “male inmates shall be classified as such if they have male genitals,” and “female inmates shall be classified as such if they have female genitals.”

The ADA itself explicitly excludes:

“(a) Homosexuality and bisexuality

For purposes of the definition of “disability” in section 12102(2)?[1] of this title, homosexuality and bisexuality are not impairments and as such are not disabilities under this chapter.”

Therefore, the court was tasked with overcoming a major hurdle to reach their illogical conclusion. Still, the majority opinion argued that gender dysphoria was not actually a gender identity disorder. “A close parallel to their logic would be that trucks are not sedans, and therefore a ‘no cars allowed’ sign does not apply to them,” writes Joshua Arnold of the Daily Signal. This case is an excellent example of why interpretation of the law based on the original meaning of the words is so important.

In a much more reasonable dissent, Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum asserted that the case was really a matter of statutory construction, and that the law’s text does not support the majority opinion. He wrote that “…linguistic drift cannot alter the meaning of words in the ADA when it was enacted. And at that time, the meaning of gender identity disorders included gender dysphoria as alleged by Williams … Under basic principles of statutory construction, Williams’ ADA claim should be dismissed … [W]hen the ADA was signed into law, gender identity disorder was understood to include what Williams alleges to be gender dysphoria.

The ADA prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in all areas of public life, including employment, education, transportation, and in public places. This means that if the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision is left to stand, anyone who identifies as transgender would be eligible to receive public accommodations in bathrooms, locker rooms, prisons, same-sex housing, and more. This clearly opens the door for abuse of the law and infringements upon religious liberty and privacy rights. 

For example, religious institutions could be forced to hire individuals who do not share their respect for natural law and God’s design. Further, women could be forced to share bathrooms and locker rooms with biological men, which we’ve already seen has disastrous consequences. 

While this ruling only directly covers states within the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the laws and ideas found within other states can certainly make their way to Wisconsin. We need to be aware of these ideas and refute them before they reach our communities.

Our rights and liberties are more important than an individual’s feelings (and individuals suffering from gender dysphoria need true help, not harmful “affirmation”), and the way that our public institutions are run needs to reflect biological realities.

 

Crucial voices are speaking out against gender ideology

Crucial voices are speaking out against gender ideology

Lifesite news recently reported that German biologist and Nobel Prize winner Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard is making headlines by asserting that common sense and basic biology disprove the absurd claims coming from the left about gender and sexuality. 

“[A]ll mammals have two sexes, and man is a mammal,” said Nüsslein-Volhard, who won the Nobel prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1995 for her research in embryonic development.

“There’s the one sex that produces the eggs, has two X chromosomes. That’s called female,” she said. “And there’s the other one that makes the sperm, has an X and a Y chromosome. That’s called male.”

Nüsslein-Volhard made these comments while her country’s government pushes for legislation that would allow anyone over the age of 14 to legally change their legal “gender” without medical approval. This is complete madness, and the U.S. isn’t far behind. In fact, according to research conducted by The Washington Stand, at least 13 U.S. hospitals perform gender transition surgeries on minors. 

When asked whether people can change their gender, the biologist responded, “That’s nonsense! It’s wishful thinking…There are people who want to change their gender, but they can’t do it … People retain their gender for life.”

Nüsslein-Volhard went on to warn of the dangers associated with puberty blockers and hormone therapy that the left continues to advocate for. 

“The body cannot handle it well in the long run,” she said. “Every hormone you take has side effects. Taking hormones is inherently dangerous.”

This is the science—and as always it is in agreement with God’s creative design. What this biologist is saying is that basic biological principles regarding sexuality disprove transgenderism. This is a truthful message we need to keep sharing, especially with young people who are being bombarded with lies on this issue.

Thankfully, Nüsslein-Volhard isn’t the only one speaking out for common sense and God’s design.

Conservative commentator and author Matt Walsh recently released a powerful documentary titled What is a Woman? in which he debunks the left’s absurd claim that anyone can be a woman, by asking leftist professors, doctors, and activists simple questions. He demonstrates that the left’s claims about sentimentality-based gender and sexuality quickly unravel on their own when proponents are forced to think through their arguments. (Watch the trailer here; full movie available only by subscription.)

Another voice for common sense, psychiatrist and author Miriam Grossman, has been exposing the dangers and falsehoods of “progressive” gender ideology for years. In her book You’re Teaching My Child What?, Grossman uncovers the lies of sex education being taught in schools and urges readers to defend children’s innocence by shielding them from gender ideology. 

Similarly, Katy Faust, founder and director of the children’s rights organization Them Before Us, discusses the importance of gender differences, especially when it comes to the roles that mothers and fathers play in a child’s life. While the left argues that men and women are the same, Faust takes a stand for natural law and argues that children have a right to both a mother and father, who provide unique and irreplaceable things due to their differences. She recently tweeted:

“Children have a right 

⁃to life 

⁃to their mother & father 

⁃to sexual innocence (no sex/gender ideology in school)

 ⁃to intact bodies (not chemically/surgically mutilated) 

 

Their rights are being attacked.

These are crucial voices in current public debate, and we need more of them in order to protect children from the real-world consequences of gender ideology. Every doctor, public figure, and politician who still believes in natural law and basic biology should be speaking out and fighting back against the mass delusion coming from the left. 

Parents make a difference, and they must equip their children for a progressive onslaught

Parents make a difference, and they must equip their children for a progressive onslaught

A new Institute for Family Studies research brief reaffirms the conclusion that children from stable, married families have a better chance of receiving the guidance and support they need to succeed academically and adapt confidently to the classroom environment than children from non-traditional households. 

This does not mean children from non-traditional families cannot do well in school. Many do, despite the less-than-ideal parenting they may experience. But the odds of school success are more favorable for those from families headed by married dads and moms.

Parents are real difference makers in their child’s academic and overall school experience. Yes, married mothers and fathers give their child an advantage, but any parent can choose to be involved and informed when it comes to their child’s education and make a significant difference.

As children begin going back to school, parents’ involvement is more important than ever. Children attending public schools will more than likely be bombarded with progressive propaganda woven into lesson plans which may be called Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Critical Race Theory, cultural competency, or other seemingly innocent names. 

Classes may begin with “get-to-know-you” questions that force children to discuss their gender, culture, and identity so that students can “share their stories.” They may even be taught that one’s gender is a choice and that their gender pronouns will be respected at school regardless of what their parents say. 

All of this increases the importance of parents preparing their children for this new school year—and that preparation goes beyond a good backpack! It includes practical actions parents can take to protect themselves and their children. A recent article in The Federalist has some excellent ideas, as does this free resource from Family Policy Alliance, one of our national partners.

A few years ago, Daniel Ryan Day wrote a blog post in which he offered ideas about how parents can intentionally prepare their children spiritually for a school year. The blog post is no longer available online, but the ideas are as timely today as they were in 2016.

While public schools very often present unique challenges for Christian families and their children, the ideas Day gives aren’t just for those whose children attend a local public school. They are for everyone, including those who are in private Christian schools and most of them even for those who home school.

First, parents need to develop a family devotion plan for the school year—and commit to sticking to it. Find the best time of day for your family. Maybe it’s before school, or maybe it’s after family dinner while everyone is together. Whenever or wherever it is, be consistent. And be age appropriate and relevant. Children today are confronted with all types of issues; use devotions to help equip them spiritually to deal with those issues and to strengthen their faith and trust in God.

Next, talk to your children every day about what happened at school. Ask questions—good questions. Don’t accept a single word response such as, “fine,” “good” or “ok.”  Engage your children in conversations. Keep close tabs on what is going on at school, in the classroom, on the playground, with friends. Stay relaxed and informal but be relentless. 

Third, pray every day for your children—specifically and with purpose. Pray with your children before they head out the door each morning- for protection, wisdom, patience, focus, and anything else God lays on your heart for your child. And pray throughout the day specifically for your children. We know prayer reaches the heart of God; He hears and answers. And what an example you will be giving your children!

Fourth, in spite of busy schedules, spend time together as a family. Building strong family bonds is one of the best protections children have. How often have young people been deterred from some dangerous or wrong choice by knowing their mother and father, their family, would be hurt or disappointed?

Lastly, make a point of going to church together as a family. Yes, even during a busy school year. It’s important your children understand at young ages that corporate worship and gathering together as believers for fellowship is essential. Lead by example. In addition, good friendships at church can sometimes help overcome some of the problems of not-so-good friendships at school.

As Mr. Day says, getting children ready for school is about so much more than preparing their backpack. This year Wisconsin Family Action hopes parents will spend quality time preparing the heart and soul of their children so that they know a little more about what loving and following Jesus looks like. We also hope some of the resources we’ve included will help parents know their rights and their options so they can appropriately be informed and involved this school year.

Always and by God’s good design, parents are the difference-makers in their children’s lives, including their success in their formal education. And, as always, God’s plan for marriage—one man and one woman in a lifelong, monogamous relationship—really is what’s best for children.

The so-called Inflation Reduction Act is Biden’s latest attack on religious liberty

The so-called Inflation Reduction Act is Biden’s latest attack on religious liberty

The so-called Inflation Reduction Act is Biden’s latest attack on religious liberty

President Joe Biden signed the egregiously named “Inflation Reduction Act” into law Tuesday, which contains many harmful provisions, including the expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion.

First, the bill extends the ACA (Affordable Care Act) premium tax credits through 2025, which had been set to expire at the end of 2022.

Andrew Guernsey, executive director of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, said, “These expansions further subsidize Obamacare exchange plans that cover abortion, giving millions of people taxpayer-funded plans that cover abortion on demand for as little as $1/month (i.e. the minimum abortion coverage surcharge under the ACA). This blatantly violates the principles of the Hyde Amendment. Many of the estimated 10 million people affected by expanded subsidies, including an estimated 3 million Americans who would drop out of, or be ineligible for, Obamacare exchange plans but for these expanded subsidies, have been driven into taxpayer-funded plans that cover elective abortion.”

No taxpayer should ever be forced to fund something as morally reprehensible as abortion. This is a clear violation of Americans’ religious liberty and conscience rights. 

Further, the act allocates $80 billion to IRS enforcement. The money will be used to hire 87,000 new agents, who are expected to target religious institutions as well as pro-life organizations and donors. This is yet another attack on faith-based organizations and religious freedom by the Biden administration. 

This targeting of faith-based organizations has already started: House Democrats recently sent a letter to the IRS requesting the Family Research Council be investigated for its tax-exempt status. 

Ways and Means Republican Leader Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) referred to the Democrats’ move as frivolous: “I think this is a politically motivated and frivolous letter and effort. This IRS has a history of targeting conservatives and faith-based organizations. I hope they will see this for what it is and dismiss this call for any kind of investigation.” 

It’s no wonder Christians and conservatives are concerned about further retaliation with a massively expanded IRS. 

The “Inflation Reduction Act” also allows the government to fix prices on some prescription drugs for the first time. Former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, along with countless other experts, warns that this provision could lead to even higher healthcare costs and fewer treatments. 

To make matters worse, RNC co-chair Tommy Hicks explained that the plan “would without a doubt raise taxes on Americans. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, Americans making as little as $30,000 would pay more, with over half of the estimated new tax burden in 2023 paid by Americans making under $400,000.” During an economic recession, the last thing Americans need is an increase in their taxes. 

Democrats are either entirely economically illiterate or lying to the American people. The so-called Inflation Reduction Act is not at all about reducing inflation or helping struggling Americans. Experts warn that the act may even increase inflation. Its real goal is to advance Washington special interests by spending a staggering $430 billion under the guise of improving the economy. 

The good news is that American voters have the opportunity to hold these self-interested bureaucrats accountable in just a little over two months. The recent primary election in Wisconsin was a success for many Wisconsin Family Action PAC-endorsed candidates and other conservatives. Now it’s time to get to work and elect leaders who will stand up against Washington’s deceptive tactics like the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. 

Pro-lifers must focus on chemical abortion

Pro-lifers must focus on chemical abortion

The pro-life movement has achieved a major victory with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. However, a new battlefield is already taking shape. Women are increasingly turning to chemical abortions, which end one life and traumatize another.

According to the Guttmacher Instituteabortions are no longer declining in the U.S., primarily because most abortions are now being done by chemicals rather than surgery.

Ending the life of an unborn child no longer requires a visit to an abortion clinic or even an in-person consultation with a doctor. Women can now obtain an abortion without ever leaving their home thanks to a two-drug combination approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This not only trivializes the act of abortion, but severs the vital doctor-patient relationship, leaving women isolated in a time of severe pain and distress.

During a chemical abortion, the first pill, mifepristone, blocks the natural hormone progesterone, which is necessary for pregnancy. The lack of progesterone prevents oxygen and nutrients from reaching the child, starving him or her to death.

The FDA has approved Mifepristone for use up to week 10 of pregnancy. At 10 weeks, a child has a heartbeat and his or her brain and lungs are developing. The baby has an obvious human shape.

If the child is not killed by the first pill, he or she will certainly be killed by the second. Misoprostol stimulates uterine contractions and expels the dead baby from the woman’s body.

Many women have spoken out about the horrors of chemical abortion, but the mainstream media continues to ignore them. “Within one hour I knew that everything the doctor had told me was a lie. I was bleeding so heavily, I believed I was dying. I was passing clots the size of baseballs, and I was in the worst physical pain of my life,” said one woman. Countless women are enduring this agonizing physical trauma in addition to the unimaginable trauma of losing their child and having to discard of the baby themselves.

The abortion industry and our federal agencies have failed women. They have led them to believe that inflicting deep physical and emotional damage upon themselves is the only way to achieve “freedom” or “equality.” They have also failed to properly inform women of the dangers of chemical abortion.

Abortion advocates even use the misleading term “medication abortion.” In reality, the abortion pill is poison to the female body and her growing child. It is “no more ‘medication’ than the chemicals used in lethal injections in capital punishment,” writes Isaac Book of the Daily Signal.

This past session, the Wisconsin state legislature passed a bill that would require abortion providers to tell women seeking a chemical abortion that there is a pill that can be taken after the first pill of the two-step RU-486 regimen–a pill that has a good possibility of reversing the damage and not killing the baby. It’s commonly known as “abortion pill reversal.”

The information would also be added to the Woman’s Right to Know information that abortion providers are already required to provide in Wisconsin.

However, Gov. Evers vetoed the bill. He rejected the notion that women should have as much information as possible in order to make the right decision for their health and the life of their unborn child.

Further, we are still unsure whether chemical abortions are happening with our 1849 pre-Roe ban still in effect despite a court challenge.

Even if the current ban on most abortions in Wisconsin does not include chemical abortions, we do have a law that bans telemed abortions which would prevent women from getting the chemical abortion regimen from other states via a video “visit” with a doctor. However, now many women are getting the potent, life-taking drugs from other countries, like India, thereby skirting the law.

Regardless, we must continue to spread the truth about the dangers of chemical abortions and the humanity of the unborn. Chemical abortions are an excellent example of why changing the culture and individual hearts is the only real way to end abortion. Pills will always easily be smuggled and obtained. Only through transforming hearts and sharing the truth about the humanity of the unborn can we protect each and every mother and precious unborn life created by God.

The So-called “Respect for Marriage Act” undermines religious liberty and children’s rights

The So-called “Respect for Marriage Act” undermines religious liberty and children’s rights

Last week, the US House of Representatives passed a bill deceptively called the “Respect for Marriage Act” in a 267-157 vote. The bill isn’t about marriage or respect at all, but about imposing a radical view of sexual ideology. 

Unfortunately, this bill had substantial support from both parties. 

The bill comes in response to Justice Clarence Thomas’ opinion in the Dobbs case. Thomas noted that Obergefell, the 2015 SCOTUS case that foisted “legalized”  same-sex marriage on all 50 states, should be reconsidered. “In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court’s substantive due process precedents, including GriswoldLawrence, and Obergefell,” Thomas wrote. “Because any substantive due process decision is ‘demonstrably erroneous,’ […] we have a duty to ‘correct the error’ established in those precedents.”

If the “Respect for Marriage Act” is passed by the Senate, states would no longer be able to define and recognize marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman, even if the Obergefell decision is overturned. States would be forced to recognize same-sex marriage, distorting God’s design and redefining marriage as nothing more than abstract adult desires. It would even require federal recognition of polygamy if just one state requires it.

The bill would severely damage two vital pillars of society: the nuclear family and religious liberty. It would also strip children of one of their most basic rights.

Children have a natural right to both a mother and father, and they suffer tremendously when they are deprived of one or the other – especially when that happens purposefully. Fatherlessness is already an epidemic in our country, and we are seeing serious consequences as a result.

Children don’t have the knowledge or power to vouch for themselves, and they bear the brunt of the consequences when it comes to marriage and family issues such as divorce and same-sex marriage. We cannot defend children and their rights without defending natural marriage between one man and one woman. 

Thankfully, 80 national and state leaders, including WFA president Julaine Appling, have signed a letter calling on US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to back down from his support for the so-called “Respect for Marriage Act.”

We are strongly urging Sen. Johnson to vote NO on this bill. Sen. Johnson is one of five Republican US senators who have now publicly announced that they will vote YES to support this proposal that threatens the religious freedom of anyone who doesn’t support same-sex marriage. 

Please contact Sen. Johnson (202-224-5323) and urge him to defend natural marriage, children rights, and religious freedom. 

Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin, Illinois team up to increase abortions

Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin, Illinois team up to increase abortions

The abortion industry is so determined to help women kill their unborn babies and add trauma to their lives that Planned Parenthood organizations in Wisconsin and Illinois are partnering to increase abortion access. 

Abortions in Wisconsin have halted while the courts decide whether the state’s pre-Roe abortion ban stands. Under the law, doctors in Wisconsin can only terminate a pregnancy if the mother’s life is in danger. In Illinois, however, abortion remains legal. 

The new partnership provides Wisconsin women with transportation support, gas money, and other financial assistance to cross the border into Illinois to abort their babies. 

“We are referring all of our abortion patients out of state for care,” said Tanya Atkinson, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin president and CEO.

“To take all this energy and pour it into luring women across the state line for the sole purpose to kill an unborn baby is reprehensible,” said WFA President Julaine Appling in an interview with Fox News. 

“We need to line that whole border down near Illinois with pregnancy care centers right here in Wisconsin so before they cross into Illinois they see a sign that says ‘Pregnant? Looking for help? Help is right here.’ Arrow pointing down. They can walk into the doors of a pregnancy care center where they can find real help and real hope,” Appling said.

To make matters worse, Gov. Evers has vowed to fight Wisconsin’s longstanding abortion ban all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court “and maybe even beyond.” Like many on the left, he has taken an extreme stance on abortion. Hopefully, it backfires in this year’s fall election. 

Not only is the left doubling down on abortion, but they are also targeting the centers that actually provide women with the help and resources they need. Numerous crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) have been vandalized or attacked ostensibly by the same radical group that claims to have attacked our office in early May. 

Further, politicians such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have unfairly criticized crisis pregnancy centers, stoking the fires of anger and violence on the left. She claims pregnancy care centers need to be shut down because they “fool people who are looking for pregnancy termination.”

In truth, CPCs play a vital role in caring for vulnerable women and fostering a culture of life. They provide prenatal services, post-abortive support, baby clothes, and more—many of them much more. They aim to protect women from the trauma and deep regret that comes from abortion. Some are fully licensed OB-GYN clinics with doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and medical assistants. These resources often lead women away from abortion and toward life for their baby and a much better life for themselves. 

Instead of funding transportation to out-of-state abortion clinics, our Wisconsin leaders should be encouraging women to take advantage of the resources available to them through our incredible pregnancy care centers, which, unlike Planned Parenthood, do not profit from any choice a woman makes.

Hopefully, we see a proliferation of pregnancy care centers in Wisconsin at the border of Illinois. That way we know women will have every opportunity to get real help and real hope.     

Milwaukee Board of Supervisors uses referendum on legalizing marijuana as political ploy

Milwaukee Board of Supervisors uses referendum on legalizing marijuana as political ploy

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors is looking to put another referendum on legalizing recreational marijuana on the ballot this fall, a strategy they have used in the past to help drive turnout and that many believe proved effective in helping get Tony Evers elected as governor.

The referendum asks Milwaukee County residents if they “favor allowing adults 21 years of age and older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, while also regulating commercial marijuana-related activities, and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana?”

The ballot question, however, means nothing without backing from the state, and leadership in the Republican-led state legislature has shown little interest in legalizing and regulating non-medical use of cannabis.

These nonbinding referenda are nothing other than a political ploy. The left-leaning Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors knows that such resolutions motivate pot-happy voters to get to the polls. They confuse voters because they sound official, but are essentially meaningless.

According to a poll conducted before the 2018 election, 56% of Wisconsin voters stated they were more likely to vote knowing a cannabis measure was on the ballot.

Another poll by Marquette University Law School released earlier this year found 61% of registered voters in Wisconsin support marijuana legalization. Among Democratic voters, 75% supported marijuana legalization, meaning Democratic voters are the most likely to show up to the polls because of this referendum.

The left has been quick to put these types of referenda on a ballot and then hype them up in social and other media, making people think when they vote on them, it will actually make a difference. It is essentially a scam; the left is simply using people to advance their agenda.

Experts believe advisory questions on the ballot have increased voter turnout enough to affect the outcome of races, politics watchers say, and we can expect more counties to add cannabis questions to their ballots.

“That’s the carrot for the horse,” said Milwaukee County Supervisor Patti Logsdon. “That’s how Evers got voted in the last time.”

This means it’s vital that every Christian shows up to the polls and votes for Christ-centered leaders. We cannot allow the left to get away with this political stunt and elect lawless, unprincipled leaders like they have in the past.

Our own Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm has refused to enforce pro-life laws, and we need representatives who will hold him accountable and prioritize the rule of law over their own preferences.

Elections have consequences, and every vote counts. Let’s counter the left’s dishonest attempt to drive up votes for radical candidates by showing up to the polls with our friends, families, and Christian communities.

 

 

 

Joseph Backholm, Charlie Kirk, & more – this year at LEAD WI

Joseph Backholm, Charlie Kirk, & more – this year at LEAD WI

Wisconsin has increasingly deviated from biblical principles. In order to restore our culture and change the course of our state, we need to raise up Christians who are equipped with godly character to be leaders in their families, schools, and professions. 

For the second year in a row, Wisconsin Family Council is hosting LEAD Wisconsin, a week-long camp built on a government and civics platform with the purpose of equipping teens to become effective godly leaders who engage the culture from a biblical perspective.

Last year, we had an unbelievable week carrying out that purpose! We saw three campers come to faith in Christ, spontaneous revival, and amazing work all week long as the teens heard practical presentations on biblical worldview, gained leadership experience, and grappled with the bills they supported and opposed.

This year, from July 10-15, campers ages 13-19 will again experience authentic leadership simulations, engage in biblical worldview discussions, take part in faith-building worship, and build relationships with other teens. 

Over 100 campers are attending this year and almost half are alumni from last year. Over 40 crew members will come to minister to the teens as counselors, chaperones, and other camp helpers.

First year campers are in the Assembly Track while returning campers are in either the Senate Track or the Media Track. Only five campers are in the Media Track, selected by an application process.

Alumni campers will role-play as state senators and take up challenging tasks by offering amendments to bills and engaging in open debate. 

Through the media track, campers will cover all camp events. The LEAD News Network’s (LNN) print publication, “The LEADer,” is a daily newspaper featuring the latest news, updates and opinion pieces—all written by the Media Track campers. LNN produces a broadcast shown at the end of the week during the commissioning ceremony. This track focuses on Journalism and Reporting, Writing and Research, Videography and Photography, Interviewing, Editing, and Media Ethics.

For all LEAD WI attendees, trained instructors will discuss abortion, religious freedom, worldviews, creationism, leadership, marriage and family, racial issues, and social media. The teens will gain crucial life-skills that they will need as Christian leaders in a secular culture. 

Joseph Backholm with Family Research Council is our worldview speaker this year. Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA will also join us for an afternoon. 

Other speakers include Pastor Curtis McMiller from Kenosha; Jacky Drewry with Anchor of Hope pregnancy care/medical center in Sheboygan; Daniel Suhr, former legal counsel to Gov. Scott Walker and former Chief of Staff for Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch; and Dave Gerry, a Christian businessman in Madison.

Sustaining the vitality of our society depends on the modeling of and transferring of those moral and social ideals to the next generation. This is exactly what WFC intends to do. 

Please pray for LEAD WI during the week of July 10-15: for our speakers as they prepare and deliver, for our teens as they listen and engage, and for God to move in amazing ways as we help build the next generation of Christian leaders.

House Dems introduce dangerous ‘Transgender Bill of Rights’

House Dems introduce dangerous ‘Transgender Bill of Rights’

A group of 89 House Democrats introduced a Transgender Bill of Rights” that poses serious threats to women’s sports, religious liberty, and freedom of conscience for medical professionals.

“With this resolution, we salute the resilience and courage of trans people across our country, and outline a clear vision of what we must do in Congress in order to allow trans people to lead full, happy lives,” said Rep. Jayapal (D-WA) in a statement.

The bill is riddled with gender ideology, propaganda, buzzwords and several items that are cause for concern. 

First, the bill aims to “ensure that transgender and nonbinary people have equal access to services and public accommodations” and “ensure transgender and nonbinary people have the ability to provide for themselves and their families.” While these statements are concerningly vague, the Biden administration will likely use this section of the bill to infringe upon the religious freedom of faith-based businesses. It likely also means that people who “identify” as transgender would legally be allowed to use whichever restroom or facility that matches their gender identity as opposed to their biological sex. 

Moreover, the bill would “promote the safety of trans and nonbinary people” and “enforce the civil rights of transgender people.” Again, these statements seem to be intentionally vague, meaning the left could use this portion of the law to grant LGBT people a number of special privileges at the expense of Christians. Plus, there is no mention of how allowing individuals to use whichever restroom or facility they choose endangers the safety of women and children.

Jayapal’s statement also notes that the bill would amend “the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly include gender identity and sex characteristics as protected characteristics and amending federal education laws to explicitly clarify that they protect students from discrimination based on gender identity and sex characteristics.”

This would impose detrimental consequences for women by redefining the term “woman” and equating gender-confused men to biological women. This means that any man who believes he is a woman would be legally permitted to compete against female athletes, and it would be illegal for sports teams to disallow members of the opposite sex to compete on their teams. 

In other words, women’s sports as we know it would soon be erased. No matter how hard they train, women will know that there is nothing they can do to match the physical capabilities of the men that are unfairly competing against them.

Yet, a recent NPR poll actually found that Americans opposed biological males competing in women’s sports by a margin of 2-to-1. Thus, the “Transgender Bill of Rights” does not seem to represent the actual will of the people. 

This amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would also mean that sex-segregated restrooms and facilities would be a thing of the past. Women would be forced to share locker rooms with men, violating their privacy rights and threatening their safety. 

Another section of the bill aims to “expand access to gender-affirming medical care, codifying the right to abortion and contraception, [and] protecting transgender people from discrimination in healthcare.” “Gender-affirming medical care” includes “transition” surgeries that mutilate healthy bodies and injecting cross-sex hormones into adolescents who are too young to be making life-altering decisions about their bodies. 

This section could also infringe upon the conscience rights of physicians by forcing them to perform harmful surgeries or offer procedures that they morally or medically disagree with. For example, if a female who believes she is a male wants a hysterectomy and breast removal, the doctor would be required to perform the surgery or face legal consequences. 

While the left continues to push these procedures onto young children, countless detranstioners have come forward to tell their heartbreaking stories of how they were victimized by transgender ideologues and are now suffering from irreversible damage. 

One detransitioner named Richie Herron calls the surgery “the biggest mistake of his life” and is experiencing painful complications, including incontinence, numbness and infertility. Richie’s is just one of numerous similar stories. 

With this bill, House Democrats are promoting dangerous lies, bodily harm, and psychological derangement while legally erasing women. 

Pray that this bill is defeated and that respect for God’s design is restored in the public and political spheres – and take action. Reach out to your representatives and make sure they know where you stand.

SCOTUS rules in favor of Coach Kennedy and religious freedom

SCOTUS rules in favor of Coach Kennedy and religious freedom

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court earlier this week affirmed Coach Kennedy’s right to silently pray in public after high school football games in Kennedy v. Bremerton School Board.

For years, Kennedy would pray very briefly by himself following football games. At one point, students became curious about what he was doing. When asked if they could join, he told them it was a free country, and they could do what they wanted. As time went on, more and more students and even coaches from other teams joined in.

After nearly half the team began to participate in these short prayers, the school told him he could no longer pray publicly. Kennedy initially obeyed the order, but later believed it violated his freedoms of speech and religion. He felt responsible to thank God for the games in that way. So, he continued to pray; and as a result, lost his job. 

WFA signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court in order to support Coach Kennedy and urge the court to protect religious freedom. The brief argued that the First Amendment was expressly written to protect our right to exercise our religion in just such situations as Coach Kennedy did. 

Thankfully, the high court upheld Coach K’s right to freely live out his faith in public.  

“The Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in a personal religious observance from government reprisal,” wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch in the 6-3 majority opinion, adding that the Constitution “neither mandates nor permits the government to suppress such religious expression.” 

The court rejected the school district’s argument that the coach’s prayers were “coercive” of the players. The decision also corrects the widespread misconception that religious speech and actions must be suppressed to avoid the First Amendment’s ban on the “establishment of religion.”

“Both the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect expressions like Mr. Kennedy’s,” Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion. “Nor does a proper understanding of the Amendment’s Establishment Clause require the government to single out private religious speech for special disfavor. The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike.”

As the high court claims, our constitution does not require us to abandon our religious traditions and the Establishment Clause does not require schools to fire a coach like Joseph Kennedy.

“Today, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a long-standing principle, correctly ruling that teachers and other school employees do not surrender their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate,” Sarah Parshall Perry, a senior legal fellow for The Heritage Foundation, said in a statement. 

This is a monumental victory for religious freedom throughout the United States. It serves to protect teachers who bow their heads to give thanks during lunch in the cafeteria, or school employees who wear a cross or religious symbol, as the opinion specifically mentions. 

It will not only help preserve a free and diverse society, but also uphold human dignity, which is inseparable from the freedom to express one’s deeply held beliefs. 

Waiting for Dobbs

Waiting for Dobbs

Details about a free pro-life book for you below!

We are still waiting for the Supreme Court to release its final decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which could overturn Roe v. Wade.

We expect to receive the decision no later than next Wednesday, unless the court decides to wait until after the July 4th holiday, which has been speculated. 

Tensions are high. Over 35,000 people were on SCOTUSBlog Thursday morning! That number will grow now that we are down to just nine cases left to be released before the end of the court’s session, one of which is Dobbs.

Please pray for this case and for the safety of our justices. After the Dobbs draft leaked, revealing that the court is poised to overturn Roe, the left erupted in violence. They attacked our office and several other pro-life organizations. Domestic terrorist group Jane’s Revenge has declared “open season” on pro-life groups that refuse to back down.

The left has also protested outside of the justices’ homes in order to intimidate them into submission. One individual even traveled across the country to Justice Kavanaugh’s home with the intent of assassinating him. We expect this violence to only increase in the aftermath of Roe.

In the coming days, “Watch for the revelation of the spirit of murder that fuels the fires of abortion. And then remember: these arsonists and protesters and terrorists are doing this because they can no longer terminate the life of their child in the womb. They are furious and violent because they cannot do violence to their own flesh and blood. What kind of madness is this?” writes Dr. Michael Brown.

We will clearly see, as we have already, which side is influenced by the spirit of life and which group is motivated by the spirit of death. Only one side espouses compassion and care while the other espouses violence.

While the left responds in anger, our response must always be love. We should never resort to threats and intimidation, but show respect for every individual by appealing to reason and working to transform hearts and minds.

Debates surrounding this issue will become more intense, and we need to be equipped with the facts and prepared to defend the sanctity of life at all times.

Think about what you can do to help create a culture of life in Wisconsin in a post-Roe world. We need to practice radical love and compassion toward expecting mothers who are in difficult situations. We must also speak the truth in love about the unborn and create a culture of deep care for all life.

Once Roe is overturned, there will still be much work to be done. Through intentional discipleship, we need to undo the culture of death that Roe fostered.

We have 5000 copies of “Thinking Clearly After Roe: A Five-Part Strategy Moving Forward,” which we will make available to folks at no charge. Contact us to receive your copy!

Please pray that God continues to guide and strengthen the pro-life movement regardless of what the Dobbs decision brings.

SCOTUS protects religious liberty in major school choice case

SCOTUS protects religious liberty in major school choice case

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a major win in Carson v. Makin in a ruling that says the state of Maine cannot bar parents from using state funds to send their children to a religious school. 

In 2018, parents sued Maine after it banned families from sending their children to private schools using state tuition assistance. 

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that “a neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause.”

The high court’s decision reverses the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. 

This is excellent news for school choice and religious liberty throughout the country. Parents should never be prevented from directing their children’s education and sending them to whichever school best suits their needs.

School choice is really educational freedom and is a parent’s right and should not be determined by the state. Every child is different, and we should let parents, who know their children best, decide where to send them to school.

Wisconsin is currently a national leader in school choice. Parents can choose the public school in the district where they live, or they can opt for open enrollment and enroll in a school in a different district, with some exceptions. Charter schools and virtual charter schools are also included under the public-school umbrella.

Wisconsin also offers the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the Racine Parental Choice Program, and the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program—all of which are part of the “voucher school” option. These programs allow income-qualified families to send their children to private schools participating in Choice (voucher) Programs. Parents can apply to be part of a school choice program

This voucher program, which was first-in-the-nation, years ago went to the WI Supreme Court over allowing religious schools and received a favorable decision. At the time of the court case, only the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program was in place.

The decision to expand the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to include private religious schools “places on equal footing options of public and private school choice and vests power in the hands of parents to choose where to direct the funds allocated for their children’s benefit,” wrote Justice Donald Steinmetz in the majority opinion.

Wisconsin also has some of the best homeschooling laws in the country. Parents are encouraged to homeschool and are not burdened by overbearing restrictions as they are in some states.

While Wisconsin is leading the nation in educational opportunities, we have more to do. We need universal choice in Wisconsin. Incomes and zip codes should not determine who gets to take advantage of our educational options. However, our current governor is no fan of school choice. 

We are currently in an election cycle, and this fall we have the opportunity to hold Gov. Evers accountable and elect leaders who will uphold parents’ right to school choice. 

President Biden’s Pride Month EO is bad news for religious freedom and children’s safety

President Biden’s Pride Month EO is bad news for religious freedom and children’s safety

Last week, President Biden announced he would sign an executive order to advance “LGBTQI+ Equality During Pride Month.”

Parts of the order are cause for concern, such as the following:

  • “Addressing discriminatory legislative attacks against LGBTQI+ children and families, directing key agencies to protect families and children; 
  • Preventing so-called “conversion therapy” with a historic initiative to protect children from the harmful practice;
  • Safeguarding health care, and programs designed to prevent youth suicide;
  • Supporting LGBTQI+ children and families by launching a new initiative to protect foster youth, prevent homelessness, and improve access to federal programs; and
  • Taking new, additional steps to advance LGBTQI+ equality.”

Much of the legislation is vague and lacking critical definitions. The Biden administration is clearly using euphemisms to sugarcoat its true agenda, but it’s not difficult to infer what these action points really mean. 

“Addressing discriminatory legislative attacks” most likely means opposing, blocking, or undermining state laws that prohibit classroom instruction about sexually explicit material or lessons on gender identity for children without parental consent. Children are being groomed and indoctrinated with radical gender ideology in the classroom, and they desperately need legislative protection. Unfortunately, the Biden administration will likely cater to the liberal mob at the expense of vulnerable children. 

This item also likely includes laws that protect women’s sports. The Wisconsin state legislature has passed vital bills that would ban biological men from unfairly competing against women. These bills were never given to the governor this session, but the authors are set to bring them back next session. Wisconsin should be able to pass these laws with a different governor – and we have that chance come November 2022 – but with Biden’s new order, Wisconsin could face threats from the federal level for doing so.

Preventing “conversion therapy” is also concerning, as it’s likely that the Biden administration is referring to faith-based counselors who provide therapy to clients who want to avoid same-sex attraction and deal appropriately with gender confusion. One counselor in the state of Washington was banned from treating clients with a faith-based approach to same-sex attraction. As our sister organization, the Family Policy Institute of Washington, explains: 

“Brian Tingley is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Tacoma, Washington, and works with adults, couples, and children on a variety of topics from “gender identity” struggles to depression to marriage counseling and more. His practice employs techniques that are no different than those used by any other counselor: he listens to clients, supports them in their goals, and offers advice based on his training and knowledge.

However, many of Brian’s clients are referred to him by local churches, leading to a shared faith and belief system between him and many of his clients…The law specifically prevents conversations between counselors and clients who desire to become comfortable with their biological sex and are attempting to change certain sexual behaviors or practices. This includes clients who seek out counselors like Brian because their goal is to become realigned with their faith and have their actions and desires match the teachings of that faith.”

Under President Biden’s new executive order, this could easily happen in Wisconsin and throughout the country. 

“Safeguarding health care” sounds harmless and even admirable, but it likely translates into removing freedom of conscience protections from healthcare providers who object to providing certain services for religious reasons and pushing taxpayer-funded transgender “care.”

Lastly, the White House stated that “the President’s Order charges HHS to work with states to promote expanded access to gender-affirming care.” This includes cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers, and mutilation surgeries, all of which cause irreparable harm to children. In fact, a recent study revealed that increased access to these harmful “therapies” actually leads to increased rates of youth suicide. In other words, the president is enabling child abuse. 

The White House FACT SHEET announcing this EO says Biden is taking this action “to stand up to the bullies targeting LGBTQI+ people.” The “bullies” referenced here are people like you and us who believe children must be protected from this dangerous agenda and religious freedom must be respected and preserved. 

If Biden moves forward with this executive order as we think he will, the religious freedom, free speech rights, and safety of children are all in danger. 

Hopefully, the American people refuse to watch their rights be stripped at the behest of a woke agenda and respond to these unconstitutional measures with lawsuits. And here in Wisconsin, we have the opportunity to make serious changes for the trajectory of the Badger State this fall at the ballot box. 

The governor’s endorsements are revealing

The governor’s endorsements are revealing

This week, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced its endorsement of Governor Evers in his reelection campaign. The press release says the governor “has shown the people…exactly who he is: a champion for women’s health and a leader who will fight to ensure…everyone has access to the health care they need, when they need it. The stakes of this year’s elections couldn’t be higher…with the U.S. Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v. Wade and the possibility that Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban could go into effect.

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin spent $750,000 to help get Evers elected the first time. In the last two years, he has rewarded them with over $2 million in taxpayer funds. 

The Human Rights Campaign PAC also announced its endorsement of Gov. Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul for reelection. 

“Human rights,” apparently, is a subjective term. The organization praised both Evers and Kaul for their “support” of the LGBT community, which implies that a lack of promotion of the LGBT agenda is somehow pitted against natural human rights. “From day one of his governorship, Governor Evers has prioritized the advancement of equality for the LGBTQ+ community. He enacted non-discrimination protections for transgender state employees and has stood strong against efforts by anti-equality forces in the state legislature to pass anti-LGBTQ+ legislation,” reads the organization’s statement for Gov. Evers.

As we well know, religious freedom and free speech rights–values fundamental to our nation’s founding–have been trampled upon in the name of so-called “equality.” 

Endorsements matter because they tell voters about shared values and beliefs. We know exactly where the Human Rights Campaign and Planned Parenthood’s priorities lie through their endorsements–and the governor’s, too. 

If pro-abortion and LGBT radicals are singing their praises for Gov. Evers, we can only expect that he will double down in promoting these ideologies if he were to be reelected.  

Planned Parenthood’s main concern is expanding abortion in Wisconsin, and it knows that so long as Evers remains governor, it will continue to receive financial support, regardless of how taxpayers want their money to be spent. 

The Human Rights campaign is not actually concerned with protecting human rights, but rather with promoting lies about human sexuality. Under the guise of “equality,” the organization is advancing promiscuity and mass delusion, and endorsing candidates who will support its radical position.

These endorsements can impact voter behavior, which is critical in tight races. 

WFA PAC has issued a few endorsements for this fall, and there are still more to come. So far, WFA PAC has endorsed Rebecca Kleefisch and Kevin Nicholson for governor and David Varnam for lieutenant governor. 

Each of these candidates gives evidence of a commitment to defending the sanctity of human life, parents’ rights, education freedom, limited government, capitalism and the free market, religious freedom and more.

They understand that Wisconsin’s most important natural resource is the family, and they are committed to strengthening, promoting, and preserving it.

They strongly support the biological reality that life begins at conception and deserves protection from that moment.

WFA PAC’s endorsements act as a “seal of approval” that says to voters “this candidate has been carefully and fully vetted.” 

These candidates reflect WFA’s values and beliefs, just as Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign’s endorsements reflect theirs. 

Stay tuned for more endorsements from WFA as the fall election approaches. 

WI Supreme Court hears parental rights case

WI Supreme Court hears parental rights case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Doe v. Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Tuesday. This is a critical parental rights case in which parents are rightfully challenging an absurd school policy that allows the school to majorly overstep its boundaries.  

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) brought the case to the Dane County Circuit Court in 2020 after MMSD implemented policies allowing students to use a different gender identity at school by changing their name and pronouns without consent from their parents. The district even instructed employees to hide the information from parents. 

WILL argues that it is the right of parents to make healthcare decisions for their children, and gender confusion can significantly impact a child’s mental health. “Transitioning to a different gender identity is a significant psychotherapeutic intervention that requires parental notice or consent,” said WILL. MMSD is clearly violating parental rights by attempting to make this decision for them. 

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Frank Remington issued a partial injunction in 2020 that prevents the school district from “applying or enforcing any policy, guideline, or practice” that “allows or requires District staff to conceal information or to answer untruthfully in response to any question that parents ask about their child at school, including information about the name and pronouns being used to address their child at school.” 

This injunction is not enough, however. It still permits minors to “transition” at school without requiring schools to notify parents or ask for their consent. The parents challenging this rule also requested to remain anonymous, but Judge Remington partially denied this request.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is now deliberating on the case and will determine whether the parents can proceed anonymously and whether the partial injunction goes far enough. 

During oral arguments this past Tuesday (May 24), one of the attorneys for the school district struggled to admit parents have inherent rights regarding their children, saying that parents basically don’t have rights when it comes to the issue of their child’s gender identity at school. 

When discussing the need for anonymity for the parents, WILL attorney Luke Berg asserted that disclosing the names could result in bullying and even harm to the parents and their children. Attorneys for the district refuted that idea and asked that the names be released to all the attorneys and everyone in their 3 large law firms, contending that these individuals (amounting at least 1000 attorneys alone) would not leak the names. Justice Rebecca G. Bradley spoke up and said essentially that she disputed the district’s assertion, noting that one of the groups that had filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case in support of the parents had their office firebombed after the leaked US Supreme Court draft opinion. Obviously, Justice Bradley was referring to us. (I was in the court room for the oral arguments.) 

This case has huge ramifications not just here in Wisconsin but nationwide since it’s the first case in the country dealing with this issue. It could either help enshrine parental rights or severely compromise them.

For the sake of children’s well-being, parents need to be their primary decision makers, especially when it comes to questions of healthcare. Reaffirming a child’s delusion can pose significant negative consequences to their psychological development. They need the protection of their parents.

Chief Justice Annette Ziegler indicated the court would issue a decision promptly, which means we should certainly have the court’s final decision no later than June or July. In the meantime, please pray that the court rules justly and upholds parental rights.

KASD charges students with sexual harassment for “misgendering”

KASD charges students with sexual harassment for “misgendering”

Radical gender ideology and its false realities continue to control our schools and our children. The latest case of absurdity from the left demonstrates that they are not giving in to reality any time soon. They are doubling down and using the legal system to enforce their delusion.

Three eighth graders at a Wisconsin school district are being charged with sexual harassment for not using a peer’s preferred pronouns.

Kiel Area School District (KASD) filed a Title IX complaint against three students, claiming that its policies prohibit “all forms of bullying and harassment in accordance with all laws, including Title IX.”

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL) is representing the students, who are being sued for using a peer’s biological pronouns instead of his or her preferred pronouns of “they/them.”

“I received a phone call from the principal over at the elementary school, forewarning me; letting me know that I was going to be receiving an email with sexual harassment allegations against my son,” said Rosemary Rabidoux, the mother of one of the three students. “I immediately went into shock. I’m thinking sexual harassment? That’s rape, that’s inappropriate touching, that’s incest. What has my son done? 

In reality, Rabidoux’s son had not engaged in sexual harassment at all. He simply exercised his First Amendment right to free speech and is being charged because the left disapproves of that speech.

Thankfully, WILL is arguing that the students’ speech is protected by the First Amendment and that using someone’s biologically correct pronouns does not qualify as sexual harassment.

“School administrators can’t force minor students to comply with their preferred mode of speaking,” said WILL Deputy Counsel Luke Berg. “And they certainly shouldn’t be slapping eighth graders with Title IX investigation for what amounts to protected speech. This is a terrible precedent to set, with enormous ramifications.”

This is a deeply disturbing case in which a school district is attempting to control speech. Further, they are coercing students to speak in a way that is not reflective of reality and is even delusional.

As the left often does, KASD believes the feelings and desires of the minority trump the rights of the majority. They believe one person’s confusion necessitates a mass denial of reality because to them, reality is subject to one’s feelings.

In enforcing their Orwellian newspeak, the left is going so far as to damage the reputation of three minors who made statements aligned with biological reality. This is really what we have come to? It is the right of these students to speak the truth, regardless of how others may react. If this right is denied, respect for human dignity is lost.

Schools are meant to be places where children learn how to seek the truth. Instead, they are learning the opposite, and our country will pay for it.

Hopefully, this case will serve as a lesson to Wisconsin parents. Public schools are not safe places for our children, and we need to stand up and fight back. Wisconsin is a national leader in school choice – learn more about your options and utilize them! Click here to learn more about school choice options in your area or keep in mind the Academy of Excellence Online (AoE) program –  which provides an excellent homeschooling opportunity for families in Wisconsin – for next school year. HSLDA is also a helpful resource to learn about homeschooling options in The Badger State.

Please pray that justice is served in this case, not only for these three students but for the sake of reality and free speech throughout Wisconsin.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Kiel Area School District has dropped the charges against the students. This happened because the boys’ parents refused to back down. They have been well represented y our friends at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. Read more HERE.

Listen to the voicemails left for us after the attack

Listen to the voicemails left for us after the attack

After news of the fire-bomb attack on our office spread like wildfire (no pun intended), the Wisconsin Family Action team received many messages of support and well-wishes…but we have also received some alarming comments, and disturbing voicemails, too.

Here are some of the quotes from those voicemails:

  • “I hope you all burn with it…that’s what you deserve.”
  • “Whoever set that fire is a true American patriot. You people are just utter filth of the planet, and it’s too bad your whore mothers didn’t abort each and every last one of you. Hopefully you all get cancer…for the betterment of all humanity.”
  • “Burn, little Jesus freaks, burn, burn, burn!”

Some of voicemail messages are impossible to provide a transcript for because the quotes would be a string of several “expletives” in a row.

It’s not pleasant, but you can listen to the voicemails we have received by clicking here. 

We now have more information on the perpetrators of this attack. An anarchist group by the name of Jane’s Revenge claimed responsibility.

WFA president Julaine Appling has issued the following statement: 

“Now that the Madison Police Department has been made aware of who is claiming responsibility for the attack, I expect that they, along with Governor Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, will move to prosecute the perpetrators to the very fullest extent of the law. Tolerance cannot be a one-way street, and if we are to preserve a free society, we must always hold accountable those who promise violence against others and their deeply held beliefs. I echo the concerns of many other Wisconsinites who believe as we do, that we should all be able to live out our beliefs without intimidation and violence.”

“Let me very clear: WFA will not stop lawfully fighting for the unborn no matter what threats may come.

“We are also releasing a sample of voicemails received at our office voicemail or received on the personal phones of our staff. These voicemails are just a taste of the deluge of threatening and hateful messages we have received at Wisconsin Family Action since the Mothers’ Day arson and vandalism at our office.”

Read the full press release HERE.

Julaine appears on “Tucker Carlson Tonight”

Julaine appears on “Tucker Carlson Tonight”

WFA President Julaine Appling appeared on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show Monday evening to discuss the attack on our office. 

“This is fundamentally because we hold a Christian worldview and actually live it out when I work with legislators or when we talk in churches or when we take our message to the media. That is the core issue,” Julaine told Tucker. 

Tucker noted that Christians are the kindest and most committed to human rights of any group of people. “Why do they [the left] hate you so much?” he asked Julaine. 

“When there is an impediment in the way of the liberal agenda, they have to find a way to sideline you, to silence you. I’ve even been told their ultimate goal is to destroy us. I’d say they tried that on Sunday morning under the cloak of darkness when they attacked our office.”

“They want us to go away. They want us to be cowed into silence. And I’m telling you right now, they picked the wrong group if that’s what they want because this has made us stronger. This has made us bolder. We are not going to go away…We are speaking truth,” said Julaine. 

These attacks are made possible by weak leadership that refuses to speak out against acts of violence, much less investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable. While Wisconsin US Sen. Tammy Baldwin condemned the attack on Twitter, the rest of her Democrat colleagues have remained silent. 

The White House released a statement condemning the attack, but more needs to be done. We need an overt call to stop the violence. “We need stronger leadership that makes it very clear that we don’t just disagree with it. We are calling for it to stop right now,” said Julaine.

Fox News Digital even reached out to the offices of several Wisconsin Democrat lawmakers for comment and none of them responded. 

Unfortunately, WFA was not the only victim of the left’s inhumanity this weekend. A number of other pro-life advocates, including pregnancy centers and churches, were vandalized or damaged by leftist groups.  

Approximately 100 pro-choice demonstrators targeted a Catholic church in New York City, forcing the church to cancel a monthly pro-life event. Leftists also wrote “[expletive] CPCs” in graffiti on a clinic in Portland, Oregon and “My body, my choice” on a Catholic church in Boulder, Colorado, among several other incidents throughout the country. “CPC” stands for “crisis pregnancy centers.” You would think providing help and resources to a woman in crisis would be something both sides of the aisle could agree on, but apparently not.  

As we continue to do God’s work, we should expect to face persecution. This is a sign that we are making a difference and that the devil is threatened by us. We must also, however, expect our leaders to do everything in their power to put an end to violence; and we should hold them accountable when they fail to do their jobs. 

A look at the damage done by the radicals that attacked the WFA office.

WI Democrats react to Dobbs leak

WI Democrats react to Dobbs leak

Earlier this week, Politico dropped a bombshell by publishing a leaked draft of an early decision in the Dobbs Supreme Court case.

In an opinion dated February 10, 2022, Justice Alito writes, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled.” Boom! With those nine words, the liberals’ became unhinged in our state and across the country. 

Unsurprisingly, Wisconsin Democrats expressed their outrage and made egregious demands in response. 

Gov. Tony Evers announced on Twitter that he is urging Congress to take action to combat the Court’s potential decision. “Today, I’m leading a coalition of 17 governors to call on Congress to immediately protect access to abortion and reproductive rights. We cannot wait for #SCOTUS to overturn #RoeVWade. We need action now, and we need to pass the #WHPA,” he tweeted. 

WHPA is the so-called “Women’s Health Protection Act.” Of course, abortion is not health care for either women or their unborn babies.

Once again, Evers is ignoring the will of the Wisconsin people. He is removing power from voters in order to perpetuate the most violent and evil human rights violation of our lifetime. 

Wisconsin Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, a Democrat who is running for US Senate this cycle, released a similar statement, saying, “It has never been more clear why we need to abolish the [US Senate]filibuster and take immediate action to protect every person’s right to make decisions about their own bodies. Republicans have proven they will stop at nothing to strip every individual of their right to an abortion. We must act now.”

Both of these supposed “leaders” erroneously deem abortion a “right.”  And Barnes isn’t even willing to use the word woman. Instead, he refers to “every person’s right” and “every individual of their right to an abortion.” 

Topping all this off, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul blatantly said this week if Roe is overturned, that “[a]s long as [he’s] attorney general, we will not be using any resources” to enforce Wisconsin’s pre-Roe law that criminalizes most abortions—a law we have successfully kept on the books since 1849. Kaul, a Democrat, is up for re-election this fall. Enforcing and upholding Wisconsin law is the main job of our attorney general. 

The left is denying reality in a number of ways. While refusing to properly define a woman, they fail to recognize that murder is objectively evil and that the right to life is the only right that exists in this case. Simply calling something a right does not make it one, and no one has the right to kill an innocent child. 

President Biden also joined the conversation and further revealed the moral depravity of the left: “So, the idea that we’re going to make a judgment that is going to say that no one can make the judgment to choose to abort a child based on a decision by the Supreme Court … goes way overboard,” said Biden during a press conference about the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. (Emphasis added.)

Probably without realizing it, Biden admits in his statement that abortion ends the life of a child, yet he is still in favor of it. It seems the task at hand now is no longer to convince the left that children in the womb are in fact children, but that murder of innocent life is always wrong. This is what happens when we remove God, the only source of objective truth and morality, from our culture. 

We need leaders who will honor their commitment to serving their constituents. It’s clear that Evers, Barnes, and Biden are far more concerned with their own ideologies and pacifying their base than respecting traditional legal processes or the will of the people, not to mention respecting the lives of unborn children.  

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, control over abortion laws will simply return to the states, giving the people a greater voice. If our leaders truly cared about our constitutional republic and the principles of federalism, they would support the overturning of Roe

This fall we have an opportunity to have a say in Wisconsin about what kind of leadership we have in our governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Will we replace the current pro-abortion office holders with pro-life, pro-women individuals? That’s up to us and our willingness to get involved in really meaningful ways – that includes voting, but also going beyond our personal vote to engage many others.

What’s in California Won’t Stay in California

What’s in California Won’t Stay in California

The California legislature recently introduced AB 2223, a radical bill that would essentially legalize infanticide. 

The legislation protects mothers from being charged for any “actions or omissions” related to her pregnancy, which include “miscarriage, stillbirth, or abortion, or perinatal death.” The definition of “perinatal death” typically includes the death of babies seven days or older. 

In other words, the bill legalizes the killing of babies born alive under basically any circumstances. It also shields anyone who “aids or assists a pregnant person in exercising” this “right” from just consequences. 

This is morally abhorrent and downright evil. A society that permits murder has succumbed completely to nihilism and the forces of darkness. 

“For years, pro-life advocates have argued there is no moral difference between ending a child’s life days before birth or days after birth. California’s pro-abortion legislators now seemingly agree,” said Jonathan Keller, President of California Family Council. “A political culture that justifies killing millions of children in the womb is now declaring open season on unwanted newborns. Every Californian must oppose this heinous bill.”

The bill has had two hearings in Assembly committees and passed last week in the Assembly Health Committee on an 11-3 vote. Soon it will head to Assembly Appropriations and then go to the Assembly floor. 

While this bill is specific to California, it will inevitably impact Wisconsin. The policies and ideas that come from California won’t stay there. What policymakers do in one state influences elected officials everywhere. 

A bill like this is really only one election away in Wisconsin because elections have consequences—sometimes even life and death consequences. Laws really do matter. 

As progressives in California continue to push the line on pro-abortion extremism, Democrats in Wisconsin will attempt to keep up and do the same. If we don’t take action, evil ideas about the sanctity of life will soon make their way to our state. 

What’s kept a bill like this from becoming law in Wisconsin is conservative majorities in both the Assembly and Senate. However, Governor Evers would certainly sign such a bill if it ever reached his desk. If the state legislature ever flips from conservative to liberal while we have a liberal governor in office,we are in trouble, especially if this bill is already law in California. 

This is why all Christians must be involved in politics, remain informed, and vote in a way that honors God. We need to be keenly aware of what the candidates stands for and hold them accountable for what they say they believe. The cost of our ignorance or inaction may be the lives of innocent children. 

Let’s keep dangerous legislation like California’s AB 2223 out of Wisconsin by making our voices heard in this year’s fall election. It’s time to elect leaders who will fight back against the moral depravity of the left and who understand, at a minimum, that all human life deserves protection from the moment of conception on.

Please pray that AB 2223 is defeated in California and that all life from the moment of conception is finally respected as a sacred creation of God, bearing His image..