The 3 - April 5, 2020

In this week's edition of The 3, highlighting three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is news from Idaho about new legislation that would prevent males who are transgender from participating in competition in female sports.  Also, in the name of "social distancing," law enforcement officials in North Carolina have been arresting pro-life people who come to minister and protest at abortion clinics.  And, Texas is still abortion-free, thanks to a Federal appeals court ruling that upholds state law that abortions are elective procedures and should be banned under state law designed to combat the Coronavirus.

Idaho passes legislation preventing boys who are transgender from competing in girls' sports

One of the emerging stories over the months prior to the Coronavirus becoming the dominant news story had to do with boys who were attempting to transition into being girls competing in - and winning - in girls' sports.  The state of Idaho took decisive action to address this growing problem, passing legislation recently that would prohibit biological males from participating in female sports categories.

A piece on the Family Policy Alliance website, written by Blaine Conzatti of the Family Policy Alliance of Idaho, stated that the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act "ensures only biological females can play in girls’ school sports."  The article also points out that, "state lawmakers passed the Idaho Vital Statistics Act, which ensures the accuracy of birth certificates, the most important state vital record;" it prevents people from changing their gender determination on these documents.

The article says that:

Most Americans believe that boys shouldn’t play in girls’ high school and college sports—a common-sense approach that was legally buttressed with the advent of Title IX in 1972.

Yet that which was once unthinkable is becoming an increasingly common occurrence in school sports around the country. It has gotten so bad that three female high school track runners in Connecticut have sued their state athletic organization because several boys, who say they’re girls, keep winning championships, breaking records, and taking opportunities from hardworking girls.

And, as The Christian Post has reported, the Department of Justice "has sided with three female high school athletes suing Connecticut public schools over allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports," citing a misinterpretation by the governing body over school athletics in the state of Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination.

Protestors at abortion clinic in NC arrested, including David Benham

There continues to be discussion within the pro-life community about why abortion clinics are continuing to operate during the COVID-19 crisis, when abortion certainly can be considered to be "elective" surgery.  Abortionists utilize medical supplies that could be used in saving lives that are threatened by the Coronavirus, instead of taking lives through abortion.  And, it is discomforting to think that abortion clinics are allowed to operate in many areas while churches are closed across most of the country.

There is disconcerting news out of North Carolina, where sidewalk counselors at a Charlotte abortion clinic were arrested over the weekend, despite their contention that the gathering was legal and that they were practicing "social distancing." One of those counselors was noted Christian speaker and author David Benham. The Charlotte Observer reported:

Police on Saturday charged eight Charlotte abortion protesters with violating North Carolina’s COVID-19-related ban on mass gatherings.

The arrests went national late Saturday when U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas criticized Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police.

“This is an unconstitutional arrest,” Cruz, a runner-up for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2016 election, tweeted. “@BenhamBrothers exercising core First Amendment rights. PEACEFULLY. In a way fully consistent w/ public safety. Because elected Dems are pro-abortion, they are abusing their power—in a one-sided way—to silence pregnancy counselors.”

The article said that a crowd of around 50 had originally gathered outside the clinic, but police asked them to leave; 12 stayed and were cited, then the remaining 8 who stayed, including David Benham, were arrested. 

On Twitter, the Benham Brothers tweeted out: "The sidewalk counselors stayed over 6’ apart and there were less than five of them. Yet this officer selectively enforced the law, even though Cities4Life had less than 10 people."

The Observer also noted that:

Video posted to the Facebook page of Love Life, a Charlotte-based group that opposes abortion, shows Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police cars outside the clinic Saturday.

On Thursday four people affiliated with Love Life filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Greensboro mayor and a lieutenant with the Greensboro Police Department after they were arrested March 28 for violating the stay-at-home orders of that city and Guilford County while protesting outside an abortion clinic there.

Federal appeals court says no abortions in Texas

While abortions continue to be performed across America, in the state of Texas, thanks to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, abortions apparently have been brought to a halt.  Last Monday, the appeals court issued the decision, according to the Susan B. Anthony List:

Today the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed temporary enforcement of Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s order stopping elective procedures, including abortions, pending appeal. The order is part of the state’s efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Planned Parenthood and other abortion advocates have filed similar lawsuits in four other states, and Planned Parenthood reportedly has kept its doors open in Ohio despite a directive from Governor Mike DeWine and the urgings of national, state, and local government officials to suspend all elective surgical procedures at this time.

SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser is quoted as saying: “At a time when millions of Americans are making heroic sacrifices to protect the vulnerable, and legitimate health care workers risk their own lives to care for COVID-19 patients with crucial protective equipment in short supply, the abortion industry led by Planned Parenthood demands special treatment and diverts scarce resources. We thank Governor Abbott, Attorney General Paxton, and the governors of a growing number of states for their strong leadership."

Meanwhile in Alabama, a Federal judge, in response to Governor Ivey's March 27 order banning elective surgeries, allowed abortions to continue until April 13, according to WSFA.