PR: Bills passed by General Assembly protecting parents, women, and vulnerable children get vetoed by Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 5, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
BILLS PASSED BY GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROTECTING PARENTS, WOMEN, AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN GET VETOED BY GOVERNOR
NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald made a statement today regarding the veto of the Parental Bill of Rights, Gender Transition/Minors and Fairness in Women’s Sports Act:
“This session the General Assembly passed three pieces of legislation which would protect women’s rights, parental rights, and vulnerable children from being mutilated by medical activists. North Carolinians are fed up with government schools and so-called medical professionals who advance the transgender agenda to the detriment of children. Children are being indoctrinated in schools, girls are being denied a level playing field in sports, and minors are being chemically and surgically castrated to advance a dangerous LGBTQ agenda that the majority of the public does not support. Instead of siding with 70% of North Carolinians on protecting women’s sports from biological males stealing their opportunities, or with the 80% calling for transparency in schools, or shielding children from medical activists, Governor Cooper has sided with the small, but loud radical left. We urge legislators to swiftly override these three vetoes, and to protect North Carolina’s women, children, and families. ”
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PR: Pro-life legislation survives Planned Parenthood’s legal attempt to stop measure
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION SURVIVES PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S LEGAL ATTEMPT TO STOP MEASURE
NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald made a statement today regarding the court’s decision to uphold most of “The Care for Women, Children and Families Act:”
“Today’s ruling by Judge Eagles to allow the vast majority of North Carolina’s landmark pro-life law, The Care for Women, Children and Families Act, to go into effect on July 1 is a huge victory for women and their unborn babies. Starting tomorrow, unborn babies at 12 weeks gestation and later will be legally afforded the right to life. In addition, pregnant women will also benefit from the bills’ millions in appropriations which provide a safety-net of support to make it easier for them to choose life. Only a tiny, insignificant portion of the law was enjoined for two weeks, so this is a huge victory. The abortion industry will continue to fight for ways to fund their abortion mills, but NC Values will not stop until every unborn child is protected from abortion.”
PR: Supreme Court decision upholds religious freedom in 303 Creative vs. Elenis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
SUPREME COURT DECISION UPHOLDS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN 303 CREATIVE VS. ELENIS
NC Values sister organization filed Amicus Brief in favor of Christian designer
The Supreme Court handed down a major victory for religious freedom in the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, case siding with Colorado graphic designer Lorie Smith who was seeking injunctive relief before expanding her business to create wedding websites. The devout Christian asserted Colorado’s law would compel her to engage in speech contrary her religious beliefs by forcing her to create wedding websites for same-sex couples. NC Values’ sister organization, Institute for Faith and Family (IFF), filed an Amicus Brief on behalf of Smith.
“Free speech is for everyone. No one should be forced to say something they don’t believe. Every American should be free to say what they believe without fear of government punishment. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of free speech, holding that Colorado cannot punish graphic designer Lorie Smith for creating custom art consistent with her beliefs,” said NC Values Coalition Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald.
“This win for Lorie is a win for all Americans and a significant win for free speech. The First Amendment prevents the government from forcing Americans to say things they don’t believe, and the Supreme Court rightly ruled that Colorado cannot force this website designer to express a message inconsistent with her beliefs or misuse the law to coerce or silence her speech. The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act does just the opposite of its title—it discriminates against people who have deeply held religious beliefs. Freedom to speak is a fundamental right inherent in a free society. The government has no right to compel speech and an individual has the right to speak his mind regardless of what the government’s opinion is of that speech.”
IFF also filed briefs in the Masterpiece Cakeshop, LTD V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission and in Arlene’s Flowers Inc V. Washington in support of creators who were contesting their state’s demands to violate their religious beliefs by forcing them to engage in expression of beliefs contrary to their own.
“The NC Values Coalition is hopeful other creators like Jack Phillips will have their rights restored after today’s decision to allow people of faith and conscience to conduct their businesses without the threat of being political targets of the radical left which seeks to destroy those who believe differently,” said Fitzgerald.
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