The 3 - April 10, 2022

This week's edition of The 3 highlights good news out of the Alabama Legislature and the Governor's Office concerning legislation that protects children in the state from potentially harmful ideas and procedures concerning sexuality.  Also, there's good pro-life news out of Oklahoma, where a strong pro-life bill has cleared the state Legislature.  But, a New York City Christian leader appointed to a special education panel has been swiftly removed after reports that she told the truth about the sinfulness of homosexuality.

Alabama governor signs bills to protect children from harmful LGBTQ ideology and actions

Last week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed two bills related to stemming the tide of the advance of LGTBQ ideology in the state.  As the Alabama Citizens Action Program, or ALCAP, reported it, the VCAP bill, "...prevents parents from allowing hormone blockers and/or surgical procedures to be used on their children under the age of 19." The report notes that the bill continues to allow hormone blockers, but not for changing the "sexual appearance of a child."

The Daily Citizen of Focus on the Family noted that the bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 24-6 and in the House by a 66-28 margin - it says that the bill "recognizes the research that the substantial majority of minors 'experiencing discordance between their sex and their sense of identity' will outgrow it by the end of puberty and their discordance will be resolved in favor of an identity that aligns with their sex."

The other bill, which has been described as a "transgender bathroom bill," according to ALCAP, "requires school children to use the bathroom that matches their sex at birth. An amendment was added that prevents sexual orientation from being taught in grades K-5."  Yellowhammer News reported that "The final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 26-5 and was concurred in the House by a vote of 70-26."

Oklahoma passes strong pro-life legislation penalizing abortionists

Several years ago, Alabama legislators passed the Human Life Protection Act, which banned most abortions in the state. It was set aside in the Federal courts.  According to The Federalist, the bill "defines all unborn children as persons..." and "defines most abortions as class A felonies and attempted abortions as class C felonies." 

Now Oklahoma, in the face of the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned, has passed a strong pro-life bill with similar provisions.

CBN News reported that: "Oklahoma lawmakers passed a measure...that would make performing an abortion a felony except during a medical emergency that calls for saving the life of the mother."  It goes on to say, "Under the bill known as SB 612, a person convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine."  The bill passed the House 70-14 and was sent on to Governor Kevin Stitt. 

The article notes:

Word of the Oklahoma bill's passage came a day after Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared Polis signed a measure putting the right to abortion into state statute.

It permits abortion for any reason and bans local governments from imposing their own restrictions.

NYC education leader fired for views on LGBTQ

It was only a matter of hours after Kathlyn Barrett-Layne had been appointed to New York City's Panel for Education Policy when new Mayor Eric Adams removed her.

The Washington Examiner reported that Barrett-Layne "was forced to resign from her position hours after being appointed following reports she had previously labeled homosexuality as a sinful behavior alongside adultery, pedophilia, and fornication."  The article states:

In an interview with the New York Times, Barrett-Layne claimed her comments were taken out of context.

"I feel bullied. I believe that the city is being bullied,” she said. "I feel as though my character, my name, my church have been defamed with lies and that everything was taken out of context."

The new appointee "had previously written a book titled Challenging Your Disappointments as Appointments With Destiny that said Christian leaders dealt with the same temptations their congregations did, including homosexuality." She wrote: "Leaders struggle with the same temptations of drugs, alcohol, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, pedophilia, stealing, lying, envy, covetousness, and every other sin that the congregation struggle with..." The article relates, "The writings were first reported by the New York Daily News and resulted in Barrett-Layne's resignation hours after Adams announced her appointment to the panel."