PR: NC Values responds to Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit to overturn will of voters and protect abortion mills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
NC VALUES RESPONDS TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD’S LAWSUIT TO OVERTURN WILL OF VOTERS AND PROTECT ABORTION MILLS
Executive Director of NC Values Tami Fitzgerald responded to Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit today, challenging SB 20 in court:
“Today, Planned Parenthood and one of the state’s more notorious abortionists, Dr. Beverly Gray from Durham, filed suit against North Carolina’s new pro-life law, Senate Bill 20, two weeks before it goes into effect. We expected the abortion industry to defend its revenue stream in the state that saw the biggest increase in abortion after Roe v. Wade was repealed almost one year ago in the Dobbs vs. Mississippi case. Afterall, North Carolina saw a 37% increase in abortions after Dobbs, due to its liberal abortion laws allowing abortion up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Planned Parenthood and Dr. Gray sued as Defendants the least likely people in the state to defend the law—the Attorney General Josh Stein who unequivocally stated he would not defend the law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services who does not want to have to implement the law, and the District Attorneys in the counties where Planned Parenthood clinics are located—the most liberal cities in North Carolina. Glaringly not named as defendants are the two leaders of the General Assembly—Senate President Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore—which passed the law. The lawsuit seeks to declare the new law unconstitutional, unenforceable, and permanently enjoined.
“This lawsuit is indicative of the desperation of the abortion industry to continue murdering unborn children so they can profit financially. Because the abortion industry cannot win in the ballot booth by electing enough abortion extremists to office, they seek to overturn the will of the people’s duly elected representatives—the North Carolina General Assembly. The lawsuit attempts to create confusion, where there is none and to limit the power of the people to pass laws that place reasonable, popular, and common-sense limits on abortion. The people of North Carolina have said through elections and in poll after poll that they do not want unrestricted abortion on demand up to birth, yet that is what the abortion industry is seeking through this lawsuit.
“The Planned Parenthood lawsuit seeks to strike down informed consent, science-based safety regulations on chemical abortion pills, health and safety regulations, and reporting requirements. For instance, they object to a requirement that abortions after 12 weeks (which would only include abortions for life limiting fetal anomalies, rape, incest, and medical emergencies) be performed only in a hospital. They object to giving women seeking surgical and chemical abortions ALL of the information about complications and risks associated with abortion. They object to requiring this information be given by the doctor in person, so the woman can ask questions and interact with her doctor. They object to having to tell the woman the doctor’s name that will perform the abortion. They object to being required to follow the FDA protocol on abortion pills, that it is indicated only up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. I challenge the abortion industry and particularly Dr. Beverly Gray to specifically say how this law harms women. Making abortionists disclose all the risks and complications of abortion, perform abortions in a hospital after the first trimester, give women a chance to ask questions of the doctor, abide by FDA regulations on abortion pills, only protects the health and safety of women. Health and safety is not harming women. Apparently, Planned Parenthood does not care about the health and safety of the women to whom they provide abortions; thus the name ‘abortion mills’.
“The law, known as the ‘Care for Women, Children, and Families Act’ also provides care and nurture to women who experience unplanned pregnancies. It forces abortion clinics to provide safe and adequate facilities comparable to other ambulatory surgical facilities. It provides maternal care, child care, a college education, paid parental leave for state employees, and housing for pregnant women. It seeks to reduce infant mortality and morbidity and allows for safe surrender of an infant up to 30 days old. It’s hard to believe that women who might seek an abortion would want all of these “safety-net” provisions struck down in court. Planned Parenthood said it filed the suit on behalf of its patients. Maybe they should have asked their patients before they filed suit, because statistics show that 76% of women who have had abortions would choose life for their babies if their circumstances were different. But, Planned Parenthood wants women to remain in dire circumstances, so they can spend their money on an abortion, instead of giving life to the best thing that may ever happen to them. The law that Planned Parenthood seeks to strike down would give women the opportunity to choose life instead of abortion. It’s life-giving both for the baby and the mother.”
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PR: Protections for female collegiate athletes gains steam after Senate approves House version of women’s sports bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
PROTECTIONS FOR FEMALE COLLEGIATE ATHLETES GAINS STEAM AFTER SENATE APPROVES HOUSE VERSION OF WOMEN’S SPORTS BILL
The North Carolina Senate Education Committee passed the House version of the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” which unlike the Senate version, includes protections for collegiate women athletes. The bill states biological males would not be allowed on women’s sports teams.
“We are encouraged by today’s vote which protects middle school, high school and female athletes from being forced to play against biological males, who without question have significant physical advantages,” said NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald. “It’s time for North Carolina to ensure all student female athletes have a level playing field, and their rights under Title IX are upheld.”
NC Values and NC Faith & Freedom Coalition commissioned a statewide poll in January 2023, and found over 70% of North Carolinians believe biological males should not be permitted on female sports teams. A new nationwide Gallup Poll revealed 69% of Americans also agree about protecting female athletes from being forced to compete against transgender competitors, showing a 7% leap since 2021.
Payton McNabb and Riley Gaines, female athletes both personally affected by transgender competitors submitted statements for today’s committee hearing. McNabb was a high school volleyball player in Cherokee, North Carolina injured when a trans volleyball player spiked a ball in her face causing her long-term neurological, mental, and other issues.
“I have suffered mentally and physically every day since the incident. My body suffers with the side effects of my head and neck injuries; the constant headaches, fatigue, partial paralysis on my right side, vision, problems, and my ability to retain, or comprehend, has been affected,” said McNabb in her statement. “The amount of anxiety of not knowing when or if I will ever completely heal, has taken its toll. I have had severe bouts with depression because of this. I never want anyone to have to go through what I’m going through.”
Riley Gaines, who was cheated out of a championship title by biological male Lia Thomas, also submitted a statement to the committee today. “Make no mistake about it, by allowing Thomas to displace female athletes – in the pool and on the podium — the NCAA and its member colleges intentionally discriminated on the basis of sex,” said Gaines. “I implore you to please pass House Bill 574, the ‘Fairness in Women’s Sports Act’ that preserves women’s athletic opportunities at all levels, including young women competing in college like me.”
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PR: Governor Cooper lashes out at school choice, hints at keeping sexually explicit material in schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2023
Contact: Laura Macklem
[email protected]
GOVERNOR COOPER LASHES OUT AT SCHOOL CHOICE, HINTS AT KEEPING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL IN SCHOOLS
Governor Cooper issued a state of emergency plea, opposing school choice and rejecting the idea parents should use their public education tax dollars to fund the school which fits their child.
“Democrats are nervous because their grip on public education, which has been weaponized to indoctrinate students, is slipping. They want to control parents’ decisions and deprive struggling families from giving their children more educational opportunities because it threatens their power,” said NC Values Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald. “Governor Cooper has called a state of emergency, but parents have already done that by demanding school choice and transparency hoping to rescue their children from failing government schools.”
A January 2023 statewide poll commissioned by NC Values and NC Faith & Freedom Coalition showed 69% of North Carolinians support opportunity scholarships, including 68.6% of African Americans and 80% of Hispanics. An astounding 81% of parents surveyed said they want more transparency in schools.
According to The Nation’s Report Card, “The percentage of students in North Carolina who performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level was 35 percent in 2022,” and in reading just 32%. Eighth graders who performed at or above the proficient level for reading was 25%.
Governor Cooper also denounced “book bans” referring to the parental push sweeping North Carolina to stop age inappropriate, explicit sexual content from being provided in schools, and said the legislature wants to bring their “political culture wars into the classroom.”
“The governor has sent the message today that parents should accept keeping their children in schools with abysmal test scores, pornography, and politically charged curriculum. Governor Cooper doesn’t know what’s best for other people’s children, parents are the ones with the God-given rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children. I encourage the General Assembly to approve the “Choose Your School, Choose Your Future” legislation and allow children a chance to thrive at a school which fits their individual needs,” said Fitzgerald.
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