1. OPINION: Parents are not the enemy. Schools shouldn’t shut them out, by NC Values’ Laura Macklem
“A parade of teachers and activists stood in front of the long table of senators Monday night, labeling parents as abusive, volatile, unsafe adults whose involvement in their children’s difficult journeys in self-discovery would lead to suicide, self-harm and death. The militant message boldly asserts that parents are the enemies, and secrecy between schools and children should be ordained by the state.
During the Senate Rules Committee hearing about the Parents Bill of Rights, Democrat state Sen. Julie Mayfield said children face ‘withering inquisitions from parents’ about their gender confusion, painting parents as berating outsiders instead of concerned family members. Senators were asked by activists to trust schools as secret keepers of ‘affirming spaces’ and that asserted any attempt for parents to be informed about pronoun changes was ‘policing queerness.’”
Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion/parents-are-not-the-enemy-schools-shouldnt-shut-them-out/
2. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Duke Health emerges as Southern hub for youth gender transition
“The debate around childhood gender transitions has become a cultural flashpoint in 2022. Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, and Texas passed bans on youth gender surgeries and hormone treatments — with 15 other states considering such bans — while California and New York are considering laws making themselves places of “refuge” for youth gender transition.
The tide in Europe seems to be turning strongly against providing puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries to minors experiencing gender dysphoria. This summer, the United Kingdom announced it would shut down its only gender clinic for minors, the Tavistock Clinic, over fears the treatments were dangerous, experimental, and provided without enough scrutiny. Sweden and Finland also made strong moves against the practice, banning hormones, puberty blockers, and gender reassignment surgeries as treatments for gender dysphoria.
Amidst this contentious cultural landscape, North Carolina’s own Duke Health has emerged as a Southern regional hub of “gender-affirming care” for minors experiencing gender dysphoria. Many are choosing to travel long distances from Southern states with stricter laws to seek treatment at Duke.”
Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/duke-health-emerges-as-southern-hub-for-youth-gender-transition/
3. STAR NEWS ONLINE: New Hanover school board changes policy in transgender athletes
“After an exhaustive debate, several failed attempts to table or alter the policy and one extended closed session to discuss the matter, the school board voted 4-3 to amend Policy 3620, which governs extracurricular activities and student organizations.
Under the newly approved language, middle school athletes ‘… may only participate on a team consistent with the gender on the student’s birth certificate unless in violation of North Carolina State law.’”
NC Values congratulates New Hanover School Board members Pat Bradford, Josie Barnhart, Melissa Mason, and Peter Wildeboer in their success on this vote, and thanks them for standing up for the rights of girls to compete fairly, and safely.
4. CAROLINA JOURNAL: Parents Bill of Rights passes NC Senate; all Democrats vote ‘no’
“The North Carolina Senate passed a bill Tuesday evening establishing rights for parents with school-aged children. The Parents’ Bill of Rights passed 29 to 18 and went to the House Tuesday. If the House passes it as well, it would go to Governor Cooper, who will likely veto it. While no Senate Democrats voted for the Parents’ Bill of Rights, some House Democrats might. If Cooper vetoes, Republicans will need at least one House Democrat to vote with them to override.” For more on a breakdown of the Parents Bill of Rights, check out this post by Longleaf Politics.
Read more: https://www.carolinajournal.com/parents-bill-of-rights-passes-nc-senate-all-democrats-vote-no/
5. THE FEDERALIST: Drag Queens Are The Shock Troops In A War To Destroy Society
“Drag queens appear everywhere now — public libraries, parades, and school classrooms. Even the signing celebration for President Joe Biden’s ill-named Respect for Marriage Act included a drag queen.
“Drag Queen Story Hour” is marketed as family-friendly entertainment you’d want to take your children to see. But the ideology behind drag queen culture merits a much deeper look. What used to be a common comedy sketch — men in drag — has become a vehicle for sexual politics that seeks to upend norms around human sexuality and the nuclear family. It’s important to grasp the dark intent behind this growing trend.”
Read more: https://thefederalist.com/2023/01/30/in-the-war-to-destroy-society-drag-queens-are-the-shock-troops/
WEEKLY PRAYER: FAMILY
LORD, we cry out to you as Father. You are a model of the love, mercy, and authority of the perfect parent. We thank you for modeling for us what every parent should strive for, and for creating this wonderful institution called family.
LORD, we thank you for creating us with a basic nature designed to not be alone. You made us to desire the intimacy of relationships, and it is here where we experience joys indescribable: the joys of marriage, the joys of having children; the joys of seeing our children have children. What a blessing and mercy you gave us in the family! In it we find our first teachers, our first guardians, and our first authorities.
LORD, we recognize how deeply you love your children, and how deeply it pains you when they go astray. Alongside our adoration and thanksgiving, we pray in confession—as individuals and as members of larger communities—over any sins we may have committed that undermine your beloved institution. Forgive us when we endanger your institution through selfishness and arrogance. Forgive our communities and nation for attempting to redefine some of the most basic and deepest parts of being human—being made male and female, having lifelong marriage vows and responsibilities, and having parental rights over educating one’s children.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)
Amen
Tami & Team
NC Values
