The 3 - June 11, 2023

This week's edition of The 3, including three stories of relevance to the Christian community, includes news of two more states that have taken the protection of children from harmful gender-change surgeries and treatments seriously by passing legislation to that effect; meanwhile a federal judge has place another state's legislation on hold. Also, a school board in Utah has taken a bold, brash step to ban the Bible from being available to certain children in school libraries.  And, a group of children in a Christian children's choir were stopped mid-song in presentation of the National Anthem in the U.S. Capitol building.

Judge puts FL's ban on dangerous gender treatments and surgeries on hold; TX and MO move forward

State after state, realizing the imminent threat to children represented by the trans agenda and unscientific elements of the medical community, have been passing laws to curb dangerous surgeries and treatments that have the false premise of helping a person change his or her biological sex. 

One such state is Florida, which had its recently passed law put on hold by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, who, according to Liberty University's Standing for Freedom Center, "said that Florida’s law is rooted in transphobia, discrimination, and ignorance, calling it an 'exercise in politics, not good medicine.'"

The article notes that the bill prohibits "surgical interventions or the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in children in order to attempt to change their sex...," and that "The law codified the decision previously made by the Florida Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine."

Bill co-sponsor, Representative Randy Fine, tweeted out that the judge's "radical order will soon be overturned by jurists who actually believe in science. We will not stop fighting to defend children from those like Hinkle who support child castration and mutilation.”

Meanwhile, Liberty Counsel reports that, "Governors in Texas and Missouri both recently signed bills into law outlawing harmful puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and mutilating genital surgeries for minors."  The Christian legal organization notes:

At least 21 states have now enacted laws protecting women’s sports as well as children from medical mutilations and harmful drugs. According to legislation tracking data, more than 100 bills focused on protecting minors in health care, sports, bathrooms, education and the public square have been enacted since 2022, while 373 bills progress through the legislative process across 49 states. An additional 246 bills have failed in committee hearings or were voted down.

Missouri's governor also signed a bill preventing biological males from participating in female sports; Texas has had such a ban in place since 2021.  

UT parents cry foul on Bible ban

A Utah school district has voted to remove a popular book from elementary and middle school libraries, and parents have quickly responded in opposition to that move by the local school board, according to an article on the WORLD Magazine website. 

The piece says that the action was taken after "a parent complained that it was inappropriate for children. The complaint claimed that parts of the Bible fall under the state’s definition of pornography." The WORLD article reports that:

School board members said the definition does not apply to Scripture, but they voted to allow Bibles only in high school libraries. Their review stated that some parts of Scripture are too “violent or vulgar” for young children.

A complaint was also issued about the Book of Mormon on the same grounds.  

A group of over 100 parents and children, as well as state lawmakers, gathered at the Capitol in Salt Lake City last week.  WORLD speculates:

The request appears to have been aimed at undermining a state law that allows residents to challenge “sensitive material” in schools. Legislators passed the bill last year, and parents have used the statute to remove books about sexual orientation and gender ideology from school shelves.

In a related story, according to FoxNews.com, in a group of initiatives issued by the Biden administration to celebrate "Pride Month" in June was a move to keep libraries from banning books that citizens find objectionable due to LGBTQ+ content.  The article states:

The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights will appoint a new coordinator to "address the growing threat that book bans pose for the civil rights of students," the White House said Thursday.

The coordinator will train school districts on how attempts to remove certain books or materials from school libraries "may violate federal civil rights laws if they create a hostile work environment, hostile environment for students," said White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden.

Children's choir stopped from performing National Anthem

According to the website of the Director of the Rushingbrook Children's Choir out of South Carolina, the mission of the choir is "To awaken and develop in Christian young people their God-given musical ability, to nurture a sense of artistry in singing, and to do all for the glory of God."

Unfortunately, the choir was stopped in its tracks when it visited the U.S. Capitol Building. The Daily Signal reported that:

Footage shows a Capitol Police officer directing someone to interrupt a children’s choir singing the national anthem in the U.S. Capitol, yet the police claimed that they did not stop the singing.

That director told The Daily Signal that is not how it happened; the website notes: 

“I was shocked, I was dismayed, I was stunned,” David Rasbach, the founder and director of the Rushingbrook Children’s Choir, told The Daily Signal of the incident, which took place on Friday, May 26. “I couldn’t believe that was happening, that they would stop the national anthem of all songs.”

The choir performance had been approved by members of Congress, including the office of the Speaker of the House; it had planned to sing five songs, including three patriotic songs and the hymn, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, according to Rasbach.  Capitol Police said that the performance constituted a "demonstration."  

Rasbach and tour organizer Micah Rea, according to The Daily Signal, "...countered the claim that musical performances in the Capitol are banned.  The story goes on to say:

Rasbach highlighted videos of Sean Feucht singing in the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 1 and March 10.

Rea noted that a group of 80 pastors sang in the Capitol Rotunda on March 29.

The Capitol Police did not respond when asked for comment about these and other performances.

South Carolina Representatives, as well as the House Speaker, issued a statement of support for the children's choir.