Oct 19, 2022 | News, Press Releases
MADISON – On Monday, Wisconsin Family Action, Inc. (WFA) launched a targeted, statewide, multi-media express advocacy campaign to encourage Wisconsin voters to vote in this midterm election.
“Wisconsin is headed in the wrong direction. An alarming increase in crime, our schools encouraging gender confusion, a public education system that is failing our kids, the usurping of parental rights, and the assault on religious freedom are just a few of the issues that are on the ballot this year—issues affecting Wisconsin families,” said Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action. “Our goal is to encourage Wisconsin citizens to get to the polls this November and be a part of the solution to put Wisconsin back on the right track.”
The express advocacy ads educate voters on where candidates stand on these important issues and seek to motivate them to cast their ballots accordingly.
The campaign asks citizens to make sure they are registered and to adopt a plan to vote—via absentee ballot, if absolutely necessary, or early in-person, or day-of at the polls. Educational resources for voters are available on WFA’s Vote Right Wisconsin website.
In addition to the multi-media campaign, Wisconsin Family Action has co-sponsored nearly 30 educational events so far this year, all across Wisconsin to inform, inspire and involve Wisconsinites in their local communities, offering practical ways to make a positive and lasting difference right in their own backyard.
“Our goal is to make sure Wisconsin citizens understand the impact these issues have on our daily lives and to encourage them to dig deeper than the 30-second sound bite some candidates provide with their positions on the issues. These are issues that are actually harming families in Wisconsin, like defunding the police and trampling on parental rights. We want people to cast their votes and to do so with the information they need to make a good choice, a choice that is in line with their values,” said Appling.
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Oct 17, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
Christian cake shop owner Jack Phillips and graphic designer Lorie Smith are fighting for their First Amendment rights in court. Hopefully their cases will reaffirm the right of every American to live or run a business according to their deeply held beliefs without fear or retribution.
In 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court heard Phillips’ case after a couple sued the baker for refusing to bake them a cake celebrating their same-sex wedding. The court ruled in Phillips’ favor and found that the state of Colorado had discriminated against him.
However, before the court gave its ruling, another complaint was filed against Phillips, this time for refusing to bake a cake celebrating a gender transition.
On the same day that the Supreme Court announced it would hear Phillips’ original case, Colorado lawyer Autumn Scardina called Phillips’ bakery to ask for a cake celebrating his transition from male to female. Scardina admitted that he only wanted to “challenge the veracity” of Phillips’ claim that he would serve LGBT people. Phillips’ family told Scardina they could not make the cake because the message it conveyed contradicted their personal beliefs.
Phillips has frequently served LGBT customers. He is not discriminating against the customers themselves. He simply refuses to make cakes with messages that contradict his religious beliefs such as Halloween cakes, sexually explicit cakes, and demeaning cakes, as is his God-given right.
A district court ruled against Phillips in this case, but Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys appealed the decision to the Colorado Court of Appeals.
ADF Senior Counsel Jake Warner says, “No one should be forced to express a message that violates their beliefs and conscience. Activists and state laws have threatened artists like Jack and graphic artist Lorie Smith because they can’t express messages on marriage and gender that violate their core beliefs. In this case, an activist attorney demanded that Jack create expressive cakes to test him and ‘correct the errors’ of his thinking. The attorney even promised to sue Jack again if the case is dismissed for any reason. Free speech is for everyone. The Constitution protects the freedom of every American to express ideas even if the government disagrees with those ideas.”
Warner is absolutely right. Phillips is completely within his rights to refuse to serve a same-sex wedding or bake a cake with an anti-Christian message. Hopefully, the Colorado Court of Appeals makes a decision informed by the Constitution.
In Jack’s first case, the US Supreme Court granted Phillips a partial victory, but failed to address the heart of the issue: Does the Constitution protect freedom of speech and the freedom not to speak, as well as religious freedom, or does the LGBTQ agenda trump those rights?
The good news is that the high court has a case this session similar to Jack’s, giving them another opportunity to get this issue right. Lorie Smith, a Christian graphic designer, is challenging the same law that brought Phillips to the Supreme Court.
Smith designs websites for weddings as long as they align with her belief that marriage is a union of one man and one woman. However, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act forces her to create websites for same-sex marriages.
This is an opportunity for the Supreme Court to affirm every artist and business owner’s right to refuse to send a message they don’t agree with. Let’s pray the court gets it right this time.
Even WFA has been denied graphic design services more than once because of who we are and what we believe- even by vendors who say they are Christians. While we could sue, we never have, because as Christians, we really do believe business owners should have the right to refuse any business they wish.
At the core of human dignity is our right to live in accordance with our deeply held beliefs. No one has the right to an artist’s services. Only the artist has the right to determine which services he or she will provide. While this First Amendment right is under severe and constant attack, Phillips and Smith’s cases give us a chance to realign the law with the Constitution and prevent more unwarranted complaints against Christian business owners.
Oct 12, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Oct 6, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.”
Sep 30, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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 name—Awake 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.
Sep 27, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Sep 22, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Sep 18, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Sep 15, 2022 | News, Press Releases
MADISON – Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) today filed a public records request with the Madison Police Department (MPD) seeking information about the Department’s investigation of the arson attack that took place on May 8, 2022, at WFA’s Madison headquarters.
MPD has furnished no information or updates to WFA since early June on the status of its investigation.
Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling released the following statement:
“The Madison Police Department is tasked with protection of all Madison residents, as well as the prosecution of those who commit violent crimes, such as the arson attack on our building. If MPD cannot or will not provide a reasonable update after more than three months, we can only assume that either the investigation is closed or that the investigation has not been aggressive, as we were originally told it would be.
“We have been fully cooperative with all levels of law enforcement—ATF, FBI, and MPD. We are not against law enforcement in any way, but we do believe this attack merits aggressive investigation and on-going reports and updates to us as to any progress. And surely, after three months, there must be something to report on at least the physical evidence that was collected the day of the attack.”
The records request was also filed with Attorney General Josh Kaul, Governor Tony Evers, and Madison Police Department Chief Shon F. Barnes.
“Wisconsinites deserve to feel safe, no matter their political views,” Appling added. “We certainly don’t want to think that there would be any prejudice by any law enforcement agency based on our particular beliefs and values, but not hearing anything from MPD or any other law enforcement agency since early June certainly raises questions.”
Wisconsin Family Action, Inc is offering a reward up to $5,000 payable to the person or persons who furnishes information leading to the arrest and conviction of individual(s) responsible for this attack. See this poster for more information.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
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Sep 14, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Sep 9, 2022 | News, Uncategorized, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Sep 7, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.”
Sep 7, 2022 | News, Press Releases
Wisconsin Family Action Releases 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard
27 state legislators earn 100% for their work in most recent session
Madison, WI – Today Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) released its 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard, giving its assessment of how all thirty-three State Senators and all ninety-nine State Assembly Representatives did this past legislative session. The session began in early January 2021 and floor activity concluded in March of this year.
“Within our mission, we work on or at least track quite a variety of bills during a legislative session. It’s important that citizens get an idea of how their elected officials did relative to those proposals,” said Julaine Appling, WFA president.
This past session, sixteen (16) senators and eleven (11) representatives earned a 100% score from WFA, meaning on all bills scored, these legislators agreed with WFA’s position.
The 100% senators are Kathy Bernier (R-SD 23), Julian Bradley (R-SD 28), Alberta Darling (R-SD 8), Mary Felzkowski (R-SD 12), Dan Feyen (R-SD 18), André Jacque (R-SD 1), John Jagler (R-SD 13). Chris Kapenga (R-SD 33), Devin LeMahieu (R-SD 9), Steve Nass (R-SD 11), Jerry Petrowski (R-SD 29), Roger Roth (R-SD 19), Rob Stafsholt (R-SD 10), Duey Stroebel (R-SD 20), Van Wanggaard (R-SD 21), and Eric Wimberger (R-SD 30).
Representatives achieving a 100% are Scott Allen (R-A 97), Janel Brandtjen (R-AD 22), Rick Gundrum (R-AD 58), Cody Horlacher (R-AD 33), Dave Murphy (R-AD 56), Kevin Petersen (R-AD 40), Tim Ramthun (R-AD 59), Michael Schraa (R-AD 53), Shae Sortwell (R-AD 2), Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-AD 52), and Chuck Wichgers (R-AD 83).
“Earning a 100% on our scorecard is not easy. We are proud of these state legislators whose body of work during this past session evidences courage and true commitment to conservative principles and ideas. We congratulate these officials on a job very well done,” noted Appling.
A number of legislators distinguished themselves with scores in the 88%-90% range.
“We are also pleased to recognize the excellent work of those in this group of lawmakers,” Appling commented. “Being an elected official is not easy. It requires tough decisions in pressured situations. We are grateful for those officials who more often than not vote to protect Wisconsin’s families and their freedoms. We encourage citizens to check out the Scorecard to see how their legislators scored.
This edition of WFA’s Scorecard scores eleven (11) bills in the state Senate and eleven (11) bills in the state Assembly. Details on scoring, WFA’s positions, and the bills themselves are available in the Scorecard.
WFA’s 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard is available online HERE.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Sep 2, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Sep 1, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Aug 31, 2022 | News, Press Releases
September 1, 2022
Madison, WI – Today, Wisconsin Family Action (WFA) released its 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard, giving its assessment of how all thirty-three State Senators and all ninety-nine State Assembly Representatives did this past legislative session. The session began in early January 2021 and floor activity concluded in March of this year.
“Within our mission, we work on or at least track quite a variety of bills during a legislative session. It’s important that citizens get an idea of how their elected officials did relative to those proposals,” said Julaine Appling, WFA president.
This past session, sixteen (16) senators and eleven (11) representatives earned a 100% score from WFA, meaning on all bills scored, these legislators agreed with WFA’s position.
The 100% senators are Kathy Bernier (R-SD 23), Julian Bradley (R-SD 28), Alberta Darling (R-SD 8), Mary Felzkowski (R-SD 12), Dan Feyen (R-SD 18), André Jacque (R-SD 1), John Jagler (R-SD 13). Chris Kapenga (R-SD 33), Devin LeMahieu (R-SD 9), Steve Nass (R-SD 11), Jerry Petrowski (R-SD 29), Roger Roth (R-SD 19), Rob Stafsholt (R-SD 10), Duey Stroebel (R-SD 20), Van Wanggaard (R-SD 21), and Eric Wimberger (R-SD 30).
Representatives achieving a 100% are Scott Allen (R-A 97), Janel Brandtjen (R-AD 22), Rick Gundrum (R-AD 58), Cody Horlacher (R-AD 33), Dave Murphy (R-AD 56), Kevin Petersen (R-AD 40), Tim Ramthun (R-AD 59), Michael Schraa (R-AD 53), Shae Sortwell (R-AD 2), Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R-AD 52), and Chuck Wichgers (R-AD 83).
“Earning a 100% on our scorecard is not easy. We are proud of these state legislators whose body of work during this past session evidences courage and true commitment to conservative principles and ideas. We congratulate these officials on a job very well done,” noted Appling.
A number of legislators distinguished themselves with scores in the 88%-90% range.
“We are also pleased to recognize the excellent work of those in this group of lawmakers,” Appling commented. “Being an elected official is not easy. It requires tough decisions in pressured situations. We are grateful for those officials who more often than not vote to protect Wisconsin’s families and their freedoms. We encourage citizens to check out the Scorecard to see how their legislators scored.
This edition of WFA’s Scorecard scores eleven (11) bills in the state Senate and eleven (11) bills in the state Assembly. Details on scoring, WFA’s positions, and the bills themselves are available in the Scorecard.
WFA’s 2021-2022 Legislative Scorecard is available online HERE.
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Aug 30, 2022 | Legislation, News
Aug 24, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Aug 22, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Aug 11, 2022 | Election Central, News, Uncategorized
Election #3 of 4 for 2022 is now in the books for Wisconsin. After Tuesday’s fall partisan primary, the November 8 partisan general election ballots are set. Now we have 90 days of hard-hitting, probably almost non-stop political TV, radio, digital, text, phone calls, and mail ads, all designed to convince us to vote for a particular candidate.
But today, not yet 24 hours since the close of the polls yesterday, it’s time for a bit of reflection on the primary results. If our numbers are anywhere near accurate (and we think they’re close), turnout yesterday was about 26% of registered voters, which is higher than many other similar primaries. Big races brought people out.
Democrats didn’t have any meaningful statewide primary once 3 candidates for US Senate dropped out within the last couple of weeks, each throwing their support to Mandela Barnes. As a result, Republican voters far outnumbered Democrats. So, does any of this matter?
Yes, it does matter. Essentially the lower voter turnout (compared to fall elections which usually have turnouts at 60% or more) means that a very small number of eligible voters chose who will be on the November ballot and potentially who will be our next US Senator, members of congress, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer, as well as who will serve in our state Senate and Assembly. What that voter turnout means is that each vote was very powerful. If you voted, which we certainly hope you did, it means you made a difference—and we thank you for that.
As for the number of Democrats vs. Republican ballots cast, that doesn’t mean much at all as it relates to outcomes. But it well might matter in the long-run. In any given election, Wisconsin is purple. We can go “red” or “blue” at any moment. One intangible that definitely impacts an election in a state like ours is voter enthusiasm, which creates momentum. Without some research and comparison, we don’t know how yesterday’s Republican numbers compare with previous August primaries. If they are larger, then it could mean enthusiasm and momentum are right now with the GOP. We won’t really know that until the November election. All that said, here’s our first-blush analysis of the primary election results.
Analysis
Tim Michaels won the GOP gubernatorial primary. Does that mean his money is buying the office—or could be buying the office? Or did the voters really think he’s better suited to go up against incumbent Democrat Tony Evers? Or did his messaging resonate with voters better than Rebecca Kleefisch’s? Or was Rebecca seen as establishment and Michels as truly the outsider who had built a successful business—kind of like Donald Trump? If anyone tells you authoritatively that they know the answer, we’d be really skeptical. So many things go into how a voter decides to vote; it’s difficult to get a clear picture in any election of the motivation of voters. Some research will be done, we’re sure, on this race; and we will eventually learn more, but even that won’t be 100% definitive.
The bottom line is Michels has by most everyone’s opinion an uphill battle to beat Tony Evers. Beating an incumbent is never easy, and this election will be no exception. Michels will have to be extremely disciplined in his messaging and in his general campaigning. We hope he’s got great people around him giving him great and appropriate advice. Time will tell.
No real surprise that Roger Roth won the GOP lieutenant governor race. Roger is well-known and liked by many. He sold us out a couple of sessions ago on an important pro-life bill; so we are very guarded when it comes to Roger.
The Attorney General race is one of our very favorite wins, with Eric Toney coming out on top. Our WFA PAC endorsed Eric Toney because he has the right positions on our core issues, has the right experience, and we believe had good people around him. Toney was significantly outspent by Adam Jarchow, but Toney’s experience and straight-forward messaging resonated with voters. Jarchow lying about Toney didn’t help Jarchow’s cause. Karen Mueller did better than we thought she would, way out-performing Tim Ramthun’s gubernatorial performance, with 3.5 times more votes (152,392 v. 41,695). Mueller was heavily aligned with Ramthun. We look forward to Eric Toney beating Josh Kaul this November and bringing back not just common sense, but a true regard for the law, to the AG’s office.
A key assembly GOP race was in Assembly District 63, where long-time and powerful incumbent Robin Vos was challenged by newcomer Adam Steen. Vos is the current (and longest serving) Assembly Speaker. Wisconsin Family Action PAC endorsed Steen, and Wisconsin Family Action, Inc., ran a sophisticated and full-on targeted campaign in support of Trump-endorsed Steen. We targeted nearly 28,000 voters and contacted them about 25 times each by a variety of means and with a variety of messages. At the end of the night, Steen lost, but only by 260 votes out of nearly 10,000 total votes cast. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, Vos “narrowly defeats” and “barely overcome[s]” in the race, which was a “stunning margin.” We agree. We are glad we engaged and don’t regret in the least the investment we made. We’ll analyze the results and see how our targeted universe performed.
Other State Senate and Assembly races happened, but nothing really shocking. What would be great is if the GOP could in November gain veto-proof majorities in the Assembly and the Senate. In the Senate the majority party would need to hold all of its current seats and pick up one seat. Before a number of recent resignations, the Assembly had 61 Republicans, just five short of a veto-proof majority. So statistically, this goal is achievable—which, if accomplished, would mean the ability to override Evers’ vetoes, should he win a second term in November.
In the Secretary of State and State Treasurer races (both non-policy-making offices), the results were not surprising with long-time Republican Assembly Representative Amy Loudenbeck winning the Secretary of State race. Jay Schroeder, who has run for nearly every office imaginable, lost once again but had a decent showing, largely because an election integrity group out of Virginia engaged in the race and sent numerous mailers out on behalf of Schroeder. Neither John Leiber nor Orlando Owens were particularly well-known, but Leiber solidly bested Owens.
Congressional primaries were similarly not shocking with GOP incumbents handily beating their GOP challengers. Ron Johnson, of course, resoundingly won his GOP US Senate primary, and is set to face Mandela Barnes, the current Lieutenant Governor, a race that has the attention of the entire nation because the balance of the US Senate is at stake.
Full election results are available here.
Aug 10, 2022 | News, Press Releases
Madison – In yesterday’s fall partisan primary election, Wisconsin Family Action PAC-endorsed candidates in contested races did well.
Attorney General
Eric Toney
State Senate
Devin LeMahieu (SD 9)
Rachael Cabral-Guevara (SD 19)
Cory Tomczyk (SD 29)
State Assembly
Joy Goeben (AD 5)
Jerry O’Connor (AD 52)
Ty Bodden (AD 59)
Karen Hurd (AD 68)
Nik Rettinger (AD 83)
Bob Donovan (AD 84)
Julaine Appling, WFA PAC director, issued the following statement.
“We congratulate these candidates on their victories yesterday. Each of them ran hard and smart campaigns, and a number of them were in very close races with multiple candidates. We look forward to their continued hard work over the next 90 days so they can win again in November. These men and women share our values and will serve their constituents and the entire state well as they stand strong on and actually work to promote the foundational issues of marriage and family, the sanctity of life, religious freedom, economic prosperity, and educational freedom.
“We urge voters to support these candidates in every way as we head to the November 8 general election.”
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy available online here.
Aug 3, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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 Institute, abortions 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.
Jul 27, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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 Griswold, Lawrence, 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.
Jul 27, 2022 | News, Press Releases
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today another round of candidate endorsements for this fall’s primary and general elections. These candidates are all involved in primaries and are in addition to those WFA PAC has released earlier. An up-to-date list of all WFA PAC-endorsed 2022 candidates is available HERE.
State Assembly
Milt Swagel – Assembly District 1
Joy Goeben – Assembly District 5
Matthew Albert – Assembly District 6
Dean Neubert – Assembly District 6
Nik Rettinger – Assembly District 83
Bob Donovan – Assembly District 84
Julaine Appling, WFA PAC director, commented, “We are pleased to endorse these candidates have met our high endorsement standards. We believe these candidates are well-qualified to serve in our state legislature and to uphold the values we share. In particular, we look for each of these candidates to do everything they can to strengthen, preserve, and promote marriage and family, the sanctity of life, religious liberty, economic prosperity, educational freedom, and more on behalf of the constituents they represent and for the benefit of all Wisconsin citizens.”
“We urge voters to support these candidates in the August 9 primary and then in the general election on November 8.”
Additional endorsements for other offices for this fall’s general election will be forthcoming.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Jul 20, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Jul 17, 2022 | News, Uncategorized, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Jul 8, 2022 | News, Press Releases
WISCONSIN FAMILY ACTION RESPONDS TO WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARDING PARENTS’ RIGHTS
High court says parents cannot be anonymous; declines to rule on policy
Madison, WI – Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed down a ruling on a case filed by a number of parents whose children attend schools in the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD). The case challenges the constitutionality of the MMSD’s policy that keeps parents in the dark about how their children are presenting at school relative to their gender identity. The parents were filing anonymously.
The court, on a 4-3 vote, ruled that the parents cannot remain anonymous, taking a pass on ruling on the policy itself. Instead, the majority sent the case back to the trial court. Brian Hagedorn joined with the liberal contingency of Justices Ann Walsh Bradley, Jill Karofsky, and Rebecca Dallet. Justice Patience Roggensack wrote a dissent joined by Chief Justice Ziegler and Justice Rebecca Grassley Bradley.
Wisconsin Family Action was part of a friend-of-the-court brief that was filed in support of the parents.
Julaine Appling, president of Wisconsin Family Action, commented, “We are definitely disappointed that these parents who have already shown a great deal of courage will not be allowed to remain anonymous as this case continues through the judicial process. The majority justices seem to believe that the identity of these parents can be protected if their names are disclosed to the defendants’ and their attorneys. Experience tells us that’s a pretty hollow promise.
“We also are personally and keenly aware that people and organizations who hold beliefs and values that are unpopular with some segments of society are very susceptible to retribution. In fact, in her dissent, Justice Roggensack mentions the firebombing of our office on Mother’s Day as an example of how identified individuals can become the target of attacks. These parents and their children deserve protection.
“We are grateful for Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) and their attorney Luke Berg who is handling this case on behalf of the parents. WILL has stated publicly that they will check with the parents to see if they are willing to proceed with the case given the court’s ruling and, importantly, that because the court did not rule on the policy itself, they will continue to aggressively and skillfully defend the rights of parents and the protection of children in MMSD. We are very encouraged that the three dissenting justices clearly indicated they think the MMSD policy unconstitutionally violates parents’ rights. We are optimistic that ultimately the rights of these parents will be upheld and children protected from these dangerous school policies.”
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Wisconsin Family Action is a statewide organization engaged in strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life, and religious freedom in Wisconsin.
Copy available online here.
Jul 8, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
Jul 7, 2022 | News, Press Releases
Madison – Wisconsin Family Action Political Action Committee (WFA PAC) announced today another round of candidate endorsements for this fall’s primary election and general elections. These endorsements are in addition to those released earlier this year. An up-to-date list of WFA PAC-endorsed candidates is available HERE.
Attorney General
Eric Toney
State Senate State Assembly
Rachael Cabral-Guevara, SD 19 Erik Ngutse, AD 13
Brian Westrate, SD 23 Bart Williams, AD 32
Romaine Quinn, SD 25 Jerry O’Connor, AD 52
Cory Tomczyk, SD 29 Ty Bodden, AD 59
Adam Steen, AD 63
Karen Hurd, AD 68
Michael Bub, AD 87
Julaine Appling, WFA PAC director, commented, “Each of these candidates has met our high standards for endorsement. Some have proven and consistent conservative track records from elected positions they currently hold. Others who don’t have a track record on the issues of vital importance to us give every evidence they are committed to principles and values that align with ours.
“We are always looking for candidates of good character, strong conservative beliefs, and leadership qualities to serve in our state government. These candidates meet those criteria. We look forward to their serving in their respective offices with distinction, as they hold true to their principled beliefs while working to strengthen, preserve, and promote marriage and family, the sanctity of life, religious liberty, economic prosperity, educational freedom, and more on behalf of the constituents they represent and for the benefit of all Wisconsin citizens.
“We urge voters to support these candidates in the days leading to the August 9 primary and then in the weeks heading into the general election on November 8.”
Additional endorsements for other offices for this fall’s elections will be forthcoming.
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Authorized and paid for by Wisconsin Family Action PAC, Leslie Harrison, Treasurer. Not authorized by any candidate or by any candidate’s agent or committee.
Copy Available online here.
Jul 7, 2022 | News, Wisconsin Family Voice
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.
