The 3 - June 6, 2021

This week's edition of The 3 includes controversy over the content of high school graduation speeches, including two in Michigan, where seniors were allowed to deliver messages with religious content, and an unfortunate pro-abortion message in a ceremony in Texas.  Also, a pro-life ad centered around the U.S. Supreme Court's acceptance of a pro-life law out of Mississippi has been rejected by several networks.  And, Florida now has a bill that bans biological males from participating in female sports, which the NCAA has seemingly backed down from punishing states that pass these types of laws.

Schools attempt to ban religious speech in graduation messages, pro-abortion message sails through

It is that time of year in which we routinely hear about attempts to limit religious content in graduation speeches, and this year, there have been two failed attempts to curtail that type of speech.  CBN.com reports that Elizabeth Turner, a high school valedictorian in Hillsdale, Michigan, had been initially prevented from delivering Christian content in her speech, but the administration has relented; First Liberty Institute represented Turner. The article said that "Turner...said she is 'grateful I will be able to share my faith with my classmates, and I pray that God uses this situation to advance His kingdom.'"

And, another Michigan principal attempted to prevent Savannah Lefler, a high school senior in Westland, from including Christian content in a graduation speech, but First Liberty sent a letter to the administration.  CBN reports:

In response, the school said it would make a "one-time non-negotiable relinquishment of control" and permit Savannah to recite her speech freely. A disclaimer would be included, indicating that the speech was not endorsed by the school.

Savannah said, "May God be glorified in the situation...I'm thankful I will be able to share my faith in Christ with my classmates and pray that this never happens to another student in the future."

Meanwhile, an article at The Christian Post website highlights a Texas senior who abandoned her approved speech and launched criticism of a new pro-life bill in the state and attempted to defend a woman's right to terminate the life of her unborn baby. 

Dallas high school valedictorian Paxton Smith said, "I cannot give up this platform to promote complacency and peace when there is a war on my body and a war on my rights, a war on the rights of your mothers, a war on the rights of your sisters, and a war on the rights of your daughters,” adding, “We cannot stay silent.”  Smith received acclaim from some high-profile politicians and entertainers.

Pro-life ad rejected by networks

Yet several media networks have decided that a pro-life ad does not meet their criteria, according to an article at ChurchLeaders.com, which said that a 30-second announcement produced by the Susan B. Anthony List and highlighting the case that the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear regarding Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban, was rejected by a number of networks. 

CBS, Country Music Television, and Hallmark Channel have refused to run the ad, but as the article points out: "CBS, Hallmark Channel, and CMT have aired controversial LGBTQ commercials, Planned Parenthood commercials, and sexual enhancement commercials."

The text of the ad?

Five decades of medical breakthroughs. Every age group has more opportunity to live, except one. The unborn still fall victim to outdated laws. Science tells us that at 15 weeks these babies have formed faces. They smile, they yawn, they feel pain. It’s why European countries ban late term abortions. In five decades we’ve learned they are just like us. Isn’t time the law reflects the science?

Trans sports bill signed by FL governor on first day of Pride month, NCAA backs away from tournament sanctions

While it seems that culture is being bombarded by the June celebration of so-called Pride Month, emphasizing the LGBTQ agenda, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, the day before the month began offered a contrary message.

ChristianHeadlines.com reported that:

The legislation, titled the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, orders athletes to compete in sports correlating to their biological sex, Faithwire reports.

"I can tell you this in Florida," DeSantis said during a press conference Monday. "Girls are going to play girls' sports and boys are going to play boys' sports. That's what we're doing."

The governor denied that the timing intentionally coincided with Pride Month, but he did say: ""We believe that it's important to have integrity in the competition and we think it's important that they're able to compete on a level playing field," adding, "You've seen what's happened when you don't have that."

Meanwhile, as more states, including Florida and Alabama, have passed legislation that requires biological males to compete according to their biological gender, not supposed gender identity, the NCAA, which had signaled that it might punish states which pass such legislation by refusing to present tournaments in those locations, has apparently backed down from its threats, since so many ideal venues might no longer have been in play. Family Research Council reported:

For each state that joins the ranks of those defending sane, science-based policies, the potential firepower of corporations and the media is diluted. Three states passed laws protecting women's sports this year. All three are hosting NCAA softball regionals, despite the league's threats to the contrary.

Those states were Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama.