The 3 - June 4, 2023

This week's edition of The 3 includes an attempt by religious communicators to reverse a social media reporting law that could adversely impact Christian media.  Also, a Major League Baseball team has not only announced a Pride Night to recognize the LGBTQ+ community and has chosen an offensive, anti-religious group to honor at that event.  Plus, a new Alabama law would prevent biological males from competing in women's sports on the collegiate level. 

Religious communicators file suit against CA social media speech law

At the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando recently, NRB President and CEO Troy Miller shared with me about the organization's commitment to preserve religious freedom.  One instance was highlighted on NRB's website prior to the Convention. 

It noted that NRB...

...has joined a lawsuit alongside plaintiffs The Babylon Bee, Tim Pool, and Minds, Inc., to block AB 587, a California law that would require social media companies to report content deemed “hate speech” and “disinformation” to the government.

Miller is quoted in the piece as saying, “We are proud to act on behalf of NRB members who would be impacted by or required to comply with this censorship law,” adding, “In an environment where much religious viewpoint expression is considered ‘controversial’ speech, NRB is acting to stop the weaponization of new laws against Christian communicators.”

Regarding the addition of NRB as a plaintiff, the article says: "Like the original plaintiffs, some NRB members will be affected by this law by having their speech repressed. Other NRB members, having to directly comply with the statute, would become agents of the state for First Amendment suppression. This is something that NRB is unwilling to allow."

Dodgers spark controversy by honoring radical anti-Catholic LGBTQ+ group

The Los Angeles Dodgers have certainly made a mess of their attempts to placate a radical LGBTQ+ group that mocks religious faith.  FoxNews.com reports that:

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen is the latest player on the team who does not agree with them set to honor the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence during their Pride Night on June 16.

Treinen, who is currently on the 60-day IL as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery, joined All-Star starter Clayton Kershaw as members of the organization who disapproved of the decision to add the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence back to their Pride Night event after previously removing the group.

Treinen, in a statement, said:

"I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I believe the word of God is true, and in Galatians 6:7 it says, ‘do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what he sows.' This group openly mocks Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of my faith, and I want to make it clear that I do not agree with nor support the decision of the Dodger’s [sic] to "honor" the Sister’s [sic] of Perpetual Indulgence.

The article also noted that pitcher Clayton Kershaw "told the LA Times that he believes the Dodgers’ bringing back Christian Faith and Family Day, which the lefty announced last Friday will be relaunched, was a direct response to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence being reinvited."

Alabama approves bill preventing males from participating in female sports, ESPN whiffs on coverage

The Alabama Legislature has passed and Governor Ivey has signed a bill that would prevent biological males from competing in female sports on the college level.  This extends previous legislation that bans males from participation in female sports in grades K through 12.

Christiana Kiefer, Senior Counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom is quoted on ADF's website as saying: "...Since the NCAA refuses to protect fairness for female athletes, it is imperative that states ensure women in college have the same equal athletic opportunities that they were afforded in high school and notes that due to the leadership of women in governmental positions in the state, now, "...women in Alabama colleges will not be subject to the devastating losses to men that female athletes in other parts of the country are experiencing.”

1819News.com notes that ESPN's coverage of the bill used flawed language, reporting:

“Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college,” ESPN tweeted. “This expands the state’s existing ban on transgender athletes on K-12 sports teams.”

Ivey, using her campaign Twitter account, quoted the tweet with her correction.

“Let me fix that,” Ivey tweeted, tagging ESPN’s Twitter account. “Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Tuesday that will ban biological MEN from playing on FEMALE sports teams in college.”

This is a reminder that when you hear or see the media use the phrase "transgender woman," that really means biological male - and vice versa.