Satanic Clubs in Public Schools to Counter Jesus

The Satanic Temple has launched a nation-wide campaign to force public schools to sanction “Educatin’ with Satan” after-school programs in every school that allows Christian clubs.  Stu De Haan, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple’s Arizona chapter, said he has received expressions of interest in the new clubs from parents, teachers and students.

“[Schools] cannot prohibit students from forming an After School Satan Club on the same terms as the [Christian] Good News Club.”
-- Richard Katskee, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

For background, read Satanic, Atheist Books Provided in Colorado Schools and also read Bible Ban Forced by Atheists and Satanists

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Satan on Throne at Oklahoma Capitol with ACLU Help

Satanists Team Up with Abortionists vs. Missouri Law

Satanists to Lead 'Prayer' in Phoenix Government

Satanists Join Muslims in Minnesota & California



-- From "Satanist after-school clubs planned in Washington elementaries" by Ann Dornfeld, KUOW-FM94.9 (Seattle, WA) 8/4/16

The Satanic Temple says it’s bringing the After-School Satan club to schools across the country that now host the evangelical Christian Good News Club, including Centennial Elementary in Mount Vernon and Point Defiance Elementary in Tacoma.

Tarkus Claypool, a spokesman for the Satanic Temple’s Seattle chapter, said the Good News Club indoctrinates children into superstitious, fear-based religion. In contrast, Claypool said, "we’re indoctrinating them into scientific, logical, rationalist, non-superstitious worldview. The program includes an art project and a curriculum that is based in free inquiry.”

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution allows Good News Clubs [sponsored by the Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)] to meet on school grounds.

The Satanic Temple opposes religion in the schoolhouse, but says if it’s allowed, the same privilege must be granted to all religions.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Several school districts say After School Satan clubs likely in line with policies" by Katherine Stewart and Moriah Balingit, Washington Post 8/1/16

Several U.S. school districts indicated Monday that they think the Satanic Temple’s plan to open “After School Satan” clubs in elementary schools probably conforms with their policies and local laws, and the Prince George’s County, Md., school system said it is reviewing a request to open such a club.

Parents and administrators have reacted coolly to the idea of setting up a Jesus-vs.-Satan fight in their elementary schools, with many showing curiosity and skepticism. School officials in Prince George’s said they have received a request to start a club and are reviewing it, but the school system has not had any discussions with the Satanic Temple about it. The Temple said it wants to open a club at Bradbury Heights Elementary School, which is in the Capitol Heights neighborhood just outside the southeast edge of Washington.

Martha Wright, executive director of CEF of Maryland, acknowledged that the Satanic Temple has a right to have clubs in schools but also said she doesn’t really want the group there.

CEF actively works to counteract Satan in its work, and a CEF instruction book titled “Guard Your Heart” promises “a flocked lesson helping kids ages 6-11 guard against Satan’s attacks.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "After School Satan Club proposal spurs debate on religious activity in public schools" by Katherine Stewart, Washington Post 8/4/16

The Satanic Temple’s proposal to start After School Satan Clubs in schools across the country already has sparked conflict with at least one school district and has led a legal group to offer free assistance in fighting the emergence of the clubs.

The Roskruge Bilingual K-8 School in Tucson is one of eight schools that received a written proposal to establish an After School Satan Club on Monday, and on Tuesday, lawyers for the Tucson Unified School District demanded that the Satanic Temple remove the school’s name from its website. The temple listed Roskruge as a place where it has offered to present its curriculum, but the district argues that no club has been approved there.

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, said the group does not intend to take the school’s name off its website. . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Schools receive requests for after-school ‘Satan club’" by The Associated Press 8/4/16

Mat Staver, founder of a Christian legal aid group that has represented the Child Evangelism Fellowship, said Greaves’ organization was illegitimate and an “atheist group masquerading” as religious. Greaves described Satanism as an atheist philosophy whose believers “feel it provides everything a religion provides to be legitimized as such.”

Greaves said his group could pose tough legal fights if its requests are denied.

In Utah, the Granite School District said that if the group meets set requirements, including paying rent, there’s nothing the district can do to stop it. District spokesman Ben Horsley said the group won’t be able to put up fliers in schools or talk to students during school hours, the same arrangement given to the Good News Club.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Supreme Court Justice Scalia Said Government Should Favor God of the Bible

And read Justice Scalia Said Satan is Real, Journalist Dumbfounded

Student Booted for Being Christian: Missouri Univ.

Attorneys for Andrew Cash have filed a federal lawsuit against Missouri State University (MSU) saying that the graduate student was kicked out of a master's counseling program because he said that validating same-sex marriage violated his religious beliefs.

“[Andrew Cash] was targeted and punished for expressing his Christian worldview regarding a hypothetical situation concerning whether he would provide counseling services to a gay/homosexual couple. . . . Since he did not give the ‘correct’ answer required by his counseling instructors, he was considered unsuitable for counseling and terminated from the program.”
-- Complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri Court

For background, read MSU Prof Required Students to Sign Petition Supporting 'Gay' Adoptions

Also read Federal Courts OK Christians being Expelled from Eastern Michigan University and also from Augusta State University for Biblical Beliefs

Click headlines below to read the latest news of "higher education" promotion of the Gay Agenda:

Bibles Removed, Deviant Sex Housing Added at Illinois University

Go To Jail for Bible Speech, Says Univ. of Texas Police

Christian Restaurant Rejected at University of Nebraska

Also read Toilet Privacy Banned in ALL Restrooms at New York College

-- From "Missouri State student says he was kicked out of school because he wouldn't counsel gay couples" by The Associated Press 4/23/16

Andrew Cash said he was removed from the master's counseling program at Missouri State in 2014 after telling a professor in 2011 he would not counsel gay couples. Cash started the program in 2007.

The Thomas More Society, a Chicago-based public interest law firm, filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of Cash. The lawsuit in federal court in Springfield names the university's board of governors and several school officials as defendants. It claims the university denied Cash's rights to religion and free speech and seeks unspecified monetary and punitive damages.

According to the lawsuit, W. K. Boyce, executive director of the Christian-based counseling center where Cash interned, made a presentation to one of Cash's classes in 2011. In response to a question during that presentation, Boyce said he would counsel gay individuals separately but would refer gay couples to other counselors who did not share his religious beliefs.

About a week later, Cash's internship coordinator questioned Cash about his own views on counseling gay couples, the lawsuit said. Cash said he also would counsel gay people individually but refer them to someone else for couple counseling.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "MSU sued by student who told professor he wouldn't counsel gay couples" by Harrison Keegan, Springfield News-Leader 4/21/16

The lawsuit says Cash was a student at MSU in January 2011 when he began an internship at the Springfield Marriage and Family Institute, a Christian-based organization.

Cash told his internship coordinator, Kristi Perryman, that he would also not counsel gay couples, according to the lawsuit, and Perryman told Cash that went against the American Counseling Association's code of ethics.

The lawsuit says Perryman told Cash he was not allowed to continue his internship at the Springfield Marriage and Family institute because of "ethical concerns."

In November 2014, the lawsuit says, Cash was removed from the master's program. The lawsuit says he had a 3.81 GPA.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Student Sues MSU" by John Thomas, KTTS-FM94.7 (Springfield, MO) 4/22/16

Andrew Cash claims the University is violating its mission of being a place for free exchange of ideas and values, both religious and secular.

"Traditionally, universities have been places for free exchange of ideas and values, both religious and secular," said Thomas Olp, Executive Director and Attorney for the Thomas More Society. "Unfortunately, Missouri State University departed from its mission by denying educational opportunity to Mr. Cash simply because he expressed, in an academic setting, sincerely-held religious beliefs which his advisor deemed hostile to her own and therefore unacceptable.

"An educator should not permit her own ideology and agenda to ruin the educational opportunities of her students. We feel the responsibility, on Mr. Cash's behalf, to try to correct this."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "It's not the first time MSU has faced 'religious freedom' lawsuit" by Alissa Zhu, Springfield News-Leader 4/25/16

Emily Brooker sued the university in 2006, accusing the school and a faculty member of violating her First Amendment rights when she refused to sign a letter supporting same-sex adoption. Brooker was a student in the School of Social Work.

Brooker alleged in her lawsuit that faculty members interrogated her for over two hours and asked her questions such as: “Do you think gays and lesbians are sinners?” and “Do you think I am a sinner?”

Brooker made national headlines before reaching a settlement with the university.

David Kaplan, the chief professional officer of the American Counseling Association, said students in other states have filed lawsuits against schools when they felt their religious beliefs came in conflict with the professional association's code.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Student files suit against MSU after being dismissed from counseling program due to his faith" posted at Houston (Missouri) Herald 4/27/16

. . . [Cash's] suit claims that he was unable to complete his counseling curriculum, and is now prevented from working as a counselor, causing him daily emotional suffering. He is seeking for MSU to reinstate him in his counseling program with safeguards put in place so that he can successfully earn his degree.

As a part of the degree program, students are required to complete clinical internship hours. Cash started his internship in January 2011 with the Springfield Marriage and Family Institute, which had been approved by MSU as an internship site. At least one other student in the M.S. in Counseling program had previously completed an internship there. The Institute is a Christian-based counseling agency, and MSU knew this when it approved Cash's internship in January 2011.

. . . Although Cash worked with the administration to find a different internship, the faculty advisor required him, as a condition of being re-accepted to a new internship, to prove to her that he "had learned something from the experience at the Springfield Marriage and Family Institute."  Later, the same advisor wrote a letter to department officials claiming that it appeared to her – despite a total lack of evidence – that she suspected that Cash had not recanted from his earlier-stated religious views. She then made a recommendation, which was accepted, to force Cash into "remediation."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Catholic University Suspends Employee for Espousing Catholic Views

Missouri Christians' Likely Big Win vs. Gay Agenda

In the wake of the Supreme Court's creation of same-sex "marriage," Missouri voters will soon be given the opportunity to amend their state constitution to protect the religious liberty of citizens from attacks by the sexual revolutionaries.  Senate Joint Resolution 39, passed 21-11 this morning, and is expected to pass the Missouri House, thus putting the measure to the voters.

UPDATE 3/16/16: 'Gay Marriage' Battle NOT Over in Some States

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

West Virginia Legislature Passes Religious Freedom Restoration Act

North Carolina Lawmakers to Overturn Gay/Transgender Agenda

Indiana Religious Liberty Law (to fight Gay Agenda) Jettisoned by Republicans

Arkansas Religious Freedom Law NOT Gay Enough

Religious Liberty in Homosexualists' Crosshairs

Also read how Missouri voters brought prayer back to public schools.

-- From "39-Hour Filibuster Over Gay Marriage Issue Ends in Missouri Senate" by CBS News (KMOX) & The Associated Press 3/9/16

The measure comes after bakers and florists have faced legal challenges in other states for declining to provide services for same-sex weddings due to their religious beliefs.

“No one should be compelled to make a work with their own hands that’s offensive to their beliefs,” Republican sponsor Sen. Bob Onder said during earlier debate on the measure.

Democrats fought the measure for days, saying it would allow discrimination against same-sex couples and could hurt the state economy.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Missouri State Senators End Marathon Filibuster Over 'Religious Freedom' Bill" by Erik Ortiz and The Associated Press posted at NBC News 3/9/16

[Measure SRJ 39] proposes to amend the Missouri Constitution and prohibit the state from "penalizing clergy, religious organizations, and certain individuals for their religious beliefs concerning marriage between two people of the same sex."

Republican state Sen. Bob Onder, who sponsored the bill, said he believes the amendment "is entirely defensive, in that it prevents state and local governments from imposing penalties. It is a shield, not a sword."

Missouri's legislative session runs through mid-May, which leaves plenty of time for Resolution 39 to also move through the Republican-led House. It would then be submitted to statewide voters in either the August primary or November general election.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Epic Missouri Filibuster Over Bill Shielding Opponents Of Same-Sex Weddings Ends" by Merrit Kennedy, National Public Radio NPR 3/9/16

The proposed state constitutional amendment . . . states that clergy and places of worship would be protected should they decline to host or perform ceremonies and other services for same-sex couples because of their beliefs.

The measure would also shield vendors who refuse to provide services, and individuals who decline "to personally be a participant in a wedding or marriage."

St. Louis Public Radio says the bill sponsor argues it "would not harm the LGBT community or seek to revoke their right to marry."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Missouri 'religious freedom bill' passes as 39-hour filibuster ends" by Greg Botelho and Seth Kovar, CNN 3/9/16

Similar bills have come up in other states where Republicans hold sway, almost always bringing controversy with them. . . .

[However,] Missouri's legislation is different than most in that it involves amending the state's constitution and it has a narrow focus, according to its sponsor.

"We spent a lot of time writing it to avoid the controversies we've seen in other states," Republican Sen. Bob Onder said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Missouri Senate Filibusters Against Bill Protecting Opponents of Same-Sex Marriage" by Austin Huguelet And Richard Pérez-Peña, New York Times 3/8/16

. . . the Missouri bill, similar to one being considered in Georgia, would go further than any law now in place, prompting challenges that could keep the issue before the courts for years.

Donald Hinkle, the director of public policy for the Missouri Baptist Convention, which supports the measure, said he was confident of passage. “You’re talking about a state that voted 71 percent to 29 percent to say that marriage is between one man and one woman and put that in the Constitution,” he said, referring to a 2004 ballot measure banning same-sex marriage.

Twenty-one states — including Indiana and Arkansas last year — have enacted what backers call religious freedom laws [RFRA], which do not mention same-sex couples but subject discrimination lawsuits to tough scrutiny if the discrimination is based on a defendant’s sincere religious belief.

. . . But the bill would also protect any religious organization acting “in accordance with a sincere religious belief” about same-sex marriage, in a passage that does not limit itself to weddings. And it gives a long list of things that qualify as religious organizations, including schools, charities and retirement homes, as long as their public identity and purpose are “in whole or in part religious.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Supreme Court Justice Scalia Said Government Should Favor God of the Bible

Ban Christians From Missouri Schools, Atheists Say

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) is demanding that Christian leaders be banned from several Missouri schools because a video at Hollister Middle School shows Robert Bruce, leader of a local Christian youth group called K-Life, joining student-led prayer in the cafeteria.

"It's not necessarily freedom from religion, but it's freedom of religion. . . . we are also not going to inhibit that religion."
-- Dr. Brian Wilson, Superintendent, Hollister R-V School District

"Our district received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin, asking us to investigate the possibility of policy violations, in regard to visitors discussing religion with students, in our schools. After speaking with the principals at the Junior High and High School, the schools in question, we found no evidence of any violation taking place between visitors and our students."
-- Dr. Brad Swofford, Superintendent, Branson Public Schools

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Atheists Force Michigan Schools to Ban Christians

School Agrees with Atheists to Restrict Christians in West Virginia

Wisconsin Atheists Want Christians Out of Oklahoma Schools

Atheists Say Too Many Christians at Ohio School

Also read Let us Pray in School: It's the Law in Missouri

Click for TV news report

-- From "Hollister schools fear possible lawsuit over school prayer" by Drew Douglas, KYTV-TV3 (Springfield, MO) 2/24/16

"There's not been a parent of Hollister schools nor a student that has issued a complaint. However, we did receive a letter out of Madison Wisconsin," says [Supt.] Wilson.

The superintendent says Christian students at the school have been initiating prayers during lunch, and that day, the students asked Mr. Bruce to participate in the prayer.

The school investigated and chose to continue to allow Mr. Bruce on campus despite the letter's explicit demand that Bruce and other adult K-Life representatives be barred from entering the district schools during the school day.

"We've communicated with Mr. Bruce and to the K-Life organization just as we would any other organization. We would like for them to adhere to all school policies and regulations," says Wilson.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Organization claims area schools violating church-state separation" by Cliff Sain, Branson (Missouri) Tri-Lakes news 2/26/16

The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued a press release stating that a representative from area youth ministry KLIFE has been allowed access to students at the Branson, Hollister, Reeds Spring and Bradleyville school districts.

Hollister Superintendent Brian Wilson said the situation pointed out by the Freedom From Religion Foundation has already been handled.

“(The middle school students) were beginning to pray at lunch,” Wilson said. “They sat around a table. It wasn’t disruptive. It grew to multiple tables. The individual from K-Life was asked to pray at the beginning of one lunch period for that group. That was probably where he overstepped the lines. At no time was it promoted by us. At no time was it done by the school.”

“We addressed the situation with them. We went over the proceedings with them. That's where we’re are at. We think that it is at a moot point. We are not trying to promote, and we are not trying to inhibit. We have taken care of the issue. My job is to educate kids and give the kids at Hollister schools the best education that they can have.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Hollister schools told to halt organized prayer, restrict ministers' access to students" by Claudette Riley, USA TODAY Network - News-Leader (Springfield, MO) 2/25/16

At this point, the [FFRF] — which posted the video on its website — has not ruled out the possibility of taking legal action.

[Supt.] Wilson said students can exercise their First Amendment right to pray in school, if they want to, and the district has communicated the rules governing activities during the school day to KLIFE and other community visitors. But, the district will still permit visitors and student groups that want to meet before and after school.

In the letter, the Wisconsin-based foundation demanded Hollister put an end to "organized prayer" during lunch, discipline any employees that allow the prayers to take place and bar KLIFE representatives from visiting schools.

The foundation also wrote letters to the Branson and Reeds Spring districts, demanding each investigate the amount of access it provides to "predatory evangelists."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.



Also read Judge Jesus Says 'Stop Praying' to California School

And read Christmas Holiday OUT, Lunar New Year IN: Public Schools

Court OKs Firing Lesbian by Mo. Catholic Diocese

A Missouri judge has ruled in favor of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph in a summary judgment order regarding the case of lesbian Colleen Simon suing for being fired in May 2014 from the St. Francis Xavier Parish food pantry for espousing her same-sex "marriage," which the Diocese said "contradicts Church laws, discipline, and teaching and the diocesan Policy on Ethics and Integrity in Ministry."

“[Because Ms. Simon's claims are] essentially religious questions, this Court shall instead rely on the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.”
-- Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III, Jackson County Circuit Court

For background, read about the 2012 Supreme Court precedent giving churches First Amendment rights in employment decisions.

However, last year Massachusetts Court Rules Catholic School Must Hire Homosexuals

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Pennsylvania Catholic School's Secret Lesbian Fired

Fired Pregnant Lesbian Sues Montana Catholic School

Lesbians Sue Christian School for Biblical Beliefs

Also read how Catholic schools are being attacked across America by their own parishioners for firing homosexuals.

-- From "Church Settles With Gay Married Worker Who Was Fired" by Dan Margolies, KCUR-FM89.3 (NPR in Kansas City, MO) 2/18/16

Terms of the settlement with Colleen Simon, a former church food pantry worker, were not disclosed. But the settlement came two days after a Jackson County judge threw out her fraud claim against the church but declined to throw out two other claims alleging violations of Missouri’s service letter statute and Missouri’s minimum wage law.

Jack Smith, a spokesman for the diocese, said the church “just decided to settle” on those other counts.

E.E. Keenan and Sonal Bhatia, the husband-and-wife team who represented Simon, said the parties had resolved the case “to their mutual satisfaction.”

[Judge] Garrett said that inquiring into that claim “would impermissibly entangle the Court in matters and decisions purely canonical, since the Court must necessarily examine the religious views and practices of the Diocese in an attempt to perceive the reasonableness of Plaintiff’s reliance on the Diocese’s representations.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Court affirms diocese’s freedom to operate according to Catholic teaching" by Alliance Defending Freedom staff 2/18/16

The court ruled that the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free exercise of religion means the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph is free to make its employment decisions without court interference. Alliance Defending Freedom [ADF] attorneys representing the diocese filed a motion for summary judgment last year asking for this result.

“A church isn’t obligated to employ those who act contrary to the church’s teachings. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this as recently as four years ago,” said ADF Senior Counsel Erik Stanley. “The district court was on very firm constitutional ground to reject this attempt to drag the government into a church’s theological decisions – the very line the First Amendment says the government cannot cross.”

“If churches are forced to employ people who do not follow the religious teachings of those churches, the church will no longer be able to minister consistently or freely in accordance with its faith,” added ADF Legal Counsel Jeremiah Galus.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Church pantry worker fired for being a lesbian sues Catholic diocese" by Mark Morris, The Kansas City Star 7/17/14

Colleen Simon alleges in her lawsuit that she had told two priests at St. Francis Xavier Church that she was married to another woman and they had informed her that her sexual orientation would not be a problem.

However, an April [2014] article in The Kansas City Star’s 816 news magazine mentioned her marriage to the Rev. Donna Simon of St. Mark Hope and Peace Lutheran Church. Within a month, Colleen Simon had been fired at [Bishop Robert J.] Finn’s direction, she alleges.

She said the church fraudulently encouraged her to take the food pantry position at St. Francis Xavier in July 2013, knowing the diocese had no intention of keeping its commitments to her.

Colleen Simon alleges in her lawsuit that she mentioned her sexual orientation to the priest at St. Francis Xavier during a job interview in May 2013. The priest purportedly “was nonplussed, and expressed no objection to Ms. Simon’s sexual orientation or her relationship with Donna,” the suit alleges.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Just Keep It Out of the Newspapers ..." by Kevin Koeninger, Courthouse News Service 7/22/14

The plaintiff and Donna Simon were married in Iowa, as same-sex marriages are illegal in Missouri.

During a face-to-face interview, Simon says, she told the first pastor that she and her wife were "well known in the community, and were known to be an open, out, married couple in the community."

In January 2014, after the pastor who had interviewed her moved away, Simon says she revealed her sexual orientation to the new pastor of St. Francis Xavier, who "looked surprised. He said 'Oh, okay. It's okay.'"

Simon says the pastor of St. Francis Xavier [later] emailed her, expressing concern about the information in the [Kansas City Star] article, and also called the reporter and "asked [her] if she was a Catholic, and when the reporter answered that she was not, the new pastor stated to her that she didn't know what she had done."

"The new pastor stated that now that Ms. Simon's marital status was public, he had no choice but to ask her to submit a letter of resignation," the complaint states.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Lesbian Files Suit Against Missouri Catholic Diocese, Says She Was Fired for Marrying a Woman" by Michael Gryboski, Christian Post Reporter 7/22/14

In late June [2014], the diocesan Human Resources Director Bob Roper informed Simon of her dismissal from her position at St. Francis Xavier.

Provided to CP by Diocese Director of Communications Jack Smith, the letter explained that she was being terminated for being involved in a gay marriage.

"The reason … was based upon an irreconcilable conflict between the laws, discipline, and teaching of the Catholic Church and your relationship — formalized by an act of marriage in Iowa — to a person of the same-sex," wrote Roper to Simon.

A representative of Simon provided The Christian Post with a copy of the lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri, at the Independence Courthouse.

. . . [Simon's demands] according to the suit, include "all economic loss, including unpaid wages and fringe benefit; nominal and/or statutory damages for violation of the Missouri Service Letter Law; the costs of this action; and any other and further legal and/or equitable relief that this court deems just and proper."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

And read Gay Agenda will be Complete when Christians are Muzzled, Say Homosexualists and read Senator Ted Cruz Says the Gay Agenda Ends Christian Liberty

Nullify 'Gay Marriage:' S. Carolina; Other States

Conservative state legislatures across America will consider various measures in 2016 to counteract effects of the 2015 Supreme Court decision that redefined marriage, including a bill in South Carolina aimed at nullifying the same-sex "marriage" ruling.

"I think there's a lot of states that are looking at this and seeing what can be done to make sure that religious freedoms are respected."
-- Rep. Mike Cierpiot, Missouri House Majority Leader (30th District)

UPDATE 3/16/16: 'Gay Marriage' Battle NOT Over in Some States

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

'Gay Marriage' Stopped in Alabama by Judges

Homosexualists Battle Lawmakers in Indiana Over Religious Liberty

North Carolina Law Allows Magistrates to Refuse 'Gay Marriage'

Supreme Court's 'Gay Marriage' Ruling is Illegitimate, Scholars Say

Also read Catholic School Must Hire Homosexuals, Court Rules

And read Supreme Justice Scalia Says the Federal Government SHOULD Favor Religion

-- From "States plan renewed debate on LGBT rights, religious freedom" by David A. Lieb, Associated Press 1/5/16

There are 22 states with laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and 21 with laws limiting the government's ability to burden the free exercise of religion. But just four states — Connecticut, Rhode Island, Illinois and New Mexico — have both.

The ACLU will be seeking to expand the list of places barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It's targeting at least a half dozen states — Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania — that have Republican-led legislatures and also may be pivotal in presidential elections.

The Family Research Council, which opposed the Houston ordinance, is supporting state measures that would grant broad protections "from government discrimination" against people "who have a sincere belief — religious or not — in natural marriage," said Quena Gonzalez, the group's director of state and local affairs.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read about the Gay Agenda strategy of attacking one town, or one state at a time, to elevate "gay rights" over religious liberty.

From "Spartanburg County lawmaker files bill to get rid of same-sex marriage" by Zach Fox, Spartanburg Herald Journal 1/5/16

[South Carolina state] Rep. Bill Chumley, R-Woodruff, and Rep. Mike Burns, R-Taylors, pre-filed a bill in the House to define marriage as between one man and one woman. He also aims for his bill to invalidate same-sex marriages in South Carolina. The bill is titled as the South Carolina Natural Marriage Defense Act.

"I represent the people, and the people have shown several times that they are opposed to this, and are in favor of traditional marriage," Chumley said.

The bill also proposes the South Carolina Attorney General to represent state officials in lawsuits relating to same sex-marriages.

The Supreme Court ruling in June legalizing same-sex marriage came down to a 5 to 4 vote, Chumley said. He said the split vote was indicative of the views of all Americans.

"Apparently, those four people believe like we do," he said. "I do believe that something that's a close vote like that sends a message, it's not cut and dry."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "South Carolina Bill Seeks to Nullify SCOTUS Opinion on Marriage" posted at Tenth Amendment Center 12/9/15

. . . [The House Bill H4513] legislation declares “It is the policy of the State of South Carolina to defend natural marriage as recognized by the people of this State in the Constitution and laws of the State of South Carolina.”

It further asserts, “Natural marriage between one man and one woman as recognized by the people of this State remains the law in South Carolina, regardless of any court decision to the contrary. A court decision purporting to strike down natural marriage, including Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S.Ct. 2584 (2015), is unauthoritative, void, and of no effect.”

H4513 would also prohibit state agencies from enforcing any court order that has the effect of violating South Carolina’s laws protecting natural marriage, and would prohibit the state from applying any levy upon the property or arresting “any government official or individual who does not comply with any unlawful court order regarding natural marriage within South Carolina.”

Practically speaking, H4513 would require the state of South Carolina to defend a state or local official who found him or herself in a situation similar to Rowan County clerk Kim Davis in Kentucky when a federal judge required her to issue marriage licenses to gay couples and threw her in jail when she refused to comply. It would prohibit the use of state facilities, and the assistance of state and local law enforcement in enforcing any federal rulings. These actions would undoubtedly make it difficult for the feds to enforce their will.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "South Carolina Bill Blocks Enforcement of Same-Sex Marriage Ruling" by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D., posted at The New American 12/14/15

States, as creators of the federal government, are the arbiters of the limits of the latter’s power, and forcing them to accept the definition of "marriage" to include same-sex unions certainly falls outside those limits.

One way that states can continue simultaneously supporting the Constitution and their own sovereignty is by nullifying the federal court’s extra-constitutional edict. The South Carolina bill would take that state along this constitutionally sound course.

Nullification recognizes that states retain the power to invalidate any federal measure that exceeds the few and defined powers allowed the federal government as enumerated in the U.S. Constitution.

. . . Fortunately, Bill Chumley, Mike Burns, and several other state legislators across the country are stepping into the breach to restore the principles of federalism and limited government established by our Founding Fathers.

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

Also read President Obama's Homosexual Christmas Proclamation

And read Plural Marriage Now: 3 Gay Men 'Marry' — Polyamory

Judge Forces Abortion Clinic Open With NO Doctor

In accordance with Missouri law, state health officials prepared to revoke Planned Parenthood's license to perform abortions in Columbia because abortionist Colleen McNicholas lost her hospital admitting privileges, but yesterday U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey blocked the revocation to allow the clinic until May 1, 2016 to reestablish its hospital privileges.


-- From "Judge Stops Missouri From Revoking Abortion License of Planned Parenthood Clinic" by The Associated Press 12/28/15

After national anti-abortion activists released undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the handling of fetal tissue, Missouri Republican lawmakers began investigating abortion in the state. During those investigations, a panel of [University of Missouri] Health Care staff voted in September to discontinue the clinical privileges granted to Dr. Colleen McNicholas, ending the clinic's ability to provide abortions.

U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey's ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Kansas and mid-Missouri [PPKM] after the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said in September it would revoke the clinic's abortion license Dec. 1. Laughrey had issued a temporary restraining order, which was scheduled to expire Monday.

The Missouri Attorney General's office is reviewing the ruling, spokeswoman Nanci Gonder said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Missouri blocked from revoking Columbia Planned Parenthood's abortion license" by Alex Stuckey, St. Louis Post-Dispatch 12/28/15

The clinic, however, still cannot perform abortions until a physician affiliated with it has hospital privileges. That makes the St. Louis facility the only legal abortion clinic in the state.

To perform abortions, Planned Parenthood must be licensed as an ambulatory surgical center. Planned Parenthood argued that the department did not give it the same opportunity to correct the problem that has been extended to other surgical centers. Under state law, centers informed of a deficiency must develop and implement a plan of correction, approved by the department.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "DHSS blocked from revoking Planned Parenthood abortion license" posted at The Missouri Times 12/28/15

“The Equal Protection Clause prohibits the government from irrationally discriminating between similarly situated entities,” Laughery wrote in her ruling. “Having reviewed the evidentiary record, the Court finds that it is likely that DHSS treated PPKM more harshly than other similarly situated institutions and thereby violated the Equal Protection Clause.”

Sen. Kurt Schaefer, also a candidate for attorney general, led the fight to revoke the license, and Laughery said Schaefer’s vocal involvement in the effort may have undermined it.

“The record also reflects that PPKM was treated disparately as a result of animus toward PPKM,” Laughery wrote. “Mr. [John] Langston… who has responsibility over ASCs at DHSS and whose staff would normally be in charge of generating notices of deficiencies and overseeing plans of correction submitted by ASCs… suggested that DHSS feared retaliation from Senator Schaefer if it did not act in accordance with the senator’s goals, as Senator Schaefer both chaired the Senate Interim Committee on Sanctity of Life and sat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Let us Pray in School: It's the Law in Missouri

When it's game time at schools in Missouri, it's time for prayer . . .

“Students in public schools may pray or engage in religious activities or religious expression before, during and after the school day in the same manner and to the same extent that students may engage in nonreligious activities or expression.”
-- House Bill 1303, passed in 2014

For background, read Missouri Citizens Vote to Bring Prayer Back to School and also read Democrat Missouri Gov. Signs Religious Liberty Law for Schools

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Florida Bans Prayer at Christian Football Game

North Dakota Bans Prayer at Catholic School Football Game

Atheists Threaten Indiana School Coach over Students' Prayer

Illinois School Agrees with Atheists, NOT Students

Football Coach Forced to Stop Praying AFTER Games in Washington

Arizona Schools Ban Christian Football Coaches

Also read Lone Jew, ACLU Stop Prayer in Pennsylvania Town

-- From "Just before tipoff, a student-led prayer" by Rance Burger, Springfield News-Leader 12/15/15

A public school basketball team prays before every home and away game. Last March, they prayed together with the Skyline girls basketball team in the middle of Mizzou Arena at Columbia before the Class 2 state championship game.

Rep. Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, called House Bill 1303 his “signature bill” of the 2014 session. Some state lawmakers questioned if the bill protected liberties already protected by the Bill of Rights, but the bill passed the House and Senate and was signed into law.

A policy enacted by the Crane R-III Board of Education keeps teachers or coaches from taking part in prayers with students.

The policy is backed by state law. It reads, “To the extent required by law, district employees or officials shall not lead attendees of a district-sponsored event in prayer or any other religious ritual, nor shall they direct, whether implicitly or explicitly, a student to lead attendees in a prayer or any other religious ritual. However, this policy shall not be used to deny any student, employee or district official any personal legal right of expression.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Prayer is supported in other states, as well (click headlines below):

North Carolina Citizens Demand Prayer in Public School

Ohio School Board Wants Prayer, Ignoring Atheists

Atheists Threaten Arkansas School so Citizens Pray Publicly

Louisiana Students, School Reject ACLU's Ungodly Demand

Texas School Supt. Tells Anti-prayer Atheists to Go Fly a Kite

Protests: Missouri Gay Boy in Girls Locker Room

Students staged a walkout and parents stormed the Hillsboro R-3 School District board meeting in Jefferson County, Missouri because administrators gave permission for a 17-year-old boy, going by the name Perry, to use the girls locker room rather than using the available private restroom.  Perry is a cross-dressing Hillsboro High School senior, a white male who previously said he was homosexual but now says he's a girl; he likens townsfolk to racists who segregated black people.

"I wasn't hurting anyone and I didn't want to feel segregated out. I didn't want to be in the gender-neutral bathroom. I am girl, I shouldn't be pushed off to another bathroom."
-- Perry

UPDATE 9/12/15: Feds Force Boy into Girls Room, Ohio School Board Claims

UPDATE 10/13/15: Illinois School Rejects Fed's Forcing Boy into Girls Shower

UPDATE 4/2/16: Toilets NOT in Restrooms will be New Design for Transgender Agenda

For background, read Missouri Elementary Principal Announces Boy Now a Girl

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

High School Athletes' Gender Based on Genitals, NOT Whim, in South Dakota

Minnesota & California OK Boys on Girls' School Teams, in Showers

Girl Sues Virginia School to Use Boys Restroom

Supreme Court Opens Girl's Room to Grown Men in Maine

High School Boy Sexually Mutilated, Media Cheer

Teenage 'Boy' Harvests Own Eggs to be Mother & Transgender 'Father'

President Obama Forces Gay Agenda on Schools via Taxpayer$$

Most importantly, read Transgenderism is a 'Delusion' According to Victims and Professionals





-- From "School split over transgender student using girls bathroom" by The Associated Press 9/2/15

Lila Perry said she wants to be treated like other female students and told school administrators she wasn't content in continuing to use a unisex faculty bathroom this year, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The 17-year-old's decision prompted some students to leave the campus Monday, following last week's school board meeting in which parents expressed concern Perry was receiving special rights at the expense of other students.

Superintendent Aaron D. Cornman declined to comment to the newspaper on the issue, but gave a written statement that said the district respects the rights of all students and "appreciates the fact that the students we are educating are willing to stand on their belief system and to support their cause/beliefs through their expression of free speech."

His statement adds the district accepts all students no matter their race, gender or sexual orientation.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "A transgender teen used the girls’ locker room. Now her community is up in arms." by Michael E. Miller, Washington Post 9/2/15

For two hours, approximately 150 students stood in front of Hillsboro High School to protest a transgender teen’s use of the girls’ facilities.

It’s not just her fellow students that are upset over Perry’s use of the girls’ bathroom and locker room. The issue has roiled this town, thrusting a quaint community of about 3,000 into the national spotlight. Last week, a school board meeting had to be moved after too many people attended to discuss Perry. And on Monday afternoon, the protesting students — who comprised about 13 percent of the school — were joined by angry adults.

When school began on Aug. 13, Perry told school administrators that she wanted to use the girls’ bathroom and locker room, instead of the unisex bathroom she had used as a junior.

The school consented, in accordance with guidelines from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights that say students should be allowed to use facilities in accordance with their gender identification [per the Obama administration's recent statements].

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Protest staged over transgender student’s right to use girl’s locker room" by Joe Millitzer, KTVI-TV2 (St. Louis, MO) 8/31/15

. . . Perry has now dropped gym class this semester. She will no longer be using the women’s locker room but she still uses the women’s restroom.

She came out last February and used the gender-neutral faculty restroom for gym class last semester.

Parents are saying that their daughters are uncomfortable with the situation. Even though Perry wears dresses and a wig, she is still physically a male.

Derrick Good, a parent of two girls at Hillsboro and an attorney told FOX 2, “They should have the ability to do whatever they need to do in the privacy of the bathroom without having a male in there.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Over 150 High Schoolers Stage Walkout Protest After Trans Student Seeks to Use Girls' Locker Room" by Samuel Smith, Christian Post Reporter 9/1/15

After dozens of parents showed up to a school board meeting at Hillsboro High School last Thursday to discuss their concerns over a senior transgender student's desire to use the girls' locker room and bathrooms, students and parents took to the school's parking lot on Monday to tell administrators they won't allow girls' privacy rights to be infringed upon to provide special accommodation.

Even though Perry, who previously identified as gay, publicly announced her transgenderism just last school year, she claims she has identified as female since the age of 13.

Last year, Perry did not take physical education, and therefore did not need to use the girls' locker rooms. When it came to using the restrooms, Perry was told to use the unisex bathroom facilities.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Hillsboro High students walk out over transgender dispute" by Doug Moore, St. Louis Post-Dispatch 9/1/15

Students and parents interviewed after the walkout were overwhelmingly in support of keeping Lila, 17, out of the school facilities for girls.

Skyla Thompson, 16, refers to Lila as her best friend. She said Lila often stays at Skyla’s house overnight while Lila’s family tries to come to grips with their child identifying as transgender.

Districts that refuse to allow students to use a bathroom for the gender with which they identify could run afoul of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, said Kelli Hopkins of the Missouri School Boards’ Association.

“The Office of Civil Rights has issued an opinion that says, if you do this, you have engaged in gender discrimination,” Hopkins said. “At the same time, there is no case law or statute in Missouri that says this is against the law.”

Schools found to have violated a student’s civil rights are at risk of losing some of their federal funding, Hopkins said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Missouri Teenagers Protest a Transgender Student’s Use of the Girls’ Bathroom" by Karen Workman, New York Times 9/1/15

“My goal is for the district and parents to have a policy discussion,” said Derrick Good, a lawyer who has two daughters in the district and wants students to use either facilities based on their biological sex or other gender-neutral facilities.

He worked with the Alliance Defending Freedom [ADF], a Christian advocacy group, to draft a “student physical privacy policy” and submit it to the district, which has about 3,500 students.

Mr. Good said he got involved after hearing about a female student who encountered “an intact male” in the girls’ locker room.

“It’s a violation of my daughters’ rights to privacy to not have a policy,” he said.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Does This School’s Transgender Bathroom Policy Violate Student Privacy?" by Kate Scanlon, The Daily Signal 8/27/15

“Protecting students from inappropriate exposure to the opposite sex is not only perfectly legal, it’s a school district’s duty,” ADF legal counsel Matt Sharp said in a statement. “Letting boys into girls’ locker rooms and restrooms is an invasion of privacy and a threat to student safety.”

“Instead of protecting children, the school district is needlessly creating an environment that invites violations of student privacy,” said ADF senior legal counsel Jeremy Tedesco in the statement. “The first duty of school district officials is to protect the children who attend school. The ADF model policy demonstrates that schools can accommodate the desires of a small number of students without compromising the rights of other children and their parents.”

In the letter to school district officials, Sharp and Tedesco, along with other signatories, write that “[w]e seek to reaffirm the commonsense proposition that compelling students to share restrooms and locker rooms with members of the opposite sex violates their right to bodily privacy and would not only lead to potential legal liability for the School District and its employees, but would also violate students’ and parents’ fundamental rights.”

They argue that “no federal law requires public schools to open sex-specific restrooms, showers, and changing areas to opposite-sex students,” and “providing such access violates the fundamental rights of the vast majority of students and parents.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Connecticut Taxpayers Teach Men How to Talk Like Women

And read There are So Few Transgenders in Military, Costs are Negligible

In addition, read Gay Agenda Destroys Everything it Contacts

Abortionists, Satanists Team Up vs. Missouri Law

Satanists in St. Louis, seizing the recent Supreme Court religious liberty Hobby Lobby decision, will be backing an anonymous adherent called "Mary" in a battle against a new state law restricting abortion.  Rallying behind the Satanists are the abortion advocates.

“[As] a faith community that ascribes to seven central tenets that track closely with humanism, [we are] seeking a religious exemption from Missouri’s 72-hour abortion waiting period on the grounds that the law violates [our] sincerely held beliefs about bodily autonomy.”
-- St. Louis chapter of the Satanic Temple

For background, read Democrat Governor Abortion Veto Nixed by Missouri Lawmakers

Also, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Satan vs. God Is Supreme Court Justice's Decision

Satanists For Abortion Shout Down Texas Christians

Pope Francis Warns of Satan; Media, Take Heed!

Also read of the nationwide influence of The Satanic Temple

-- From "Missouri Satanist: 72-hour waiting period for abortions violates my ‘sincerely held religious beliefs’" by Travis Gettys, Raw Story 4/30/15

The woman, identified only as Mary by her local Satanic Temple, said she regards the waiting period as “a state sanctioned attempt to discourage abortion” and plans to challenge the law on religious grounds, reported the Friendly Atheist blog.

The waiting period places an “unnecessary burden” on her religious belief that her body is subject to her will alone, she said.

“The waiting period interferes with the inviolability of my body and thereby imposes an unwanted and substantial burden on my sincerely held religious beliefs,” she said.

The Satanic Temple [TST] set up a GoFundMe page to help Mary pay transportation and lodging costs to travel hundreds of miles to St. Louis, where the state’s only abortion provider is located.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "How should Satanists deal with mandatory abortion waiting periods?" by Lucien Greaves (a.k.a. Doug Mesner), The Satanic Temple, posted at Orlando Weekly 5/1/15

The Hobby Lobby ruling, affirming that the corporation’s “deeply held beliefs” allowed them to declare certain contraceptives as abortifacients when in fact they were not, set a precedent whereby TST could firmly declare a protected belief in the illegitimacy of anti-abortion state-mandated [informed consent laws].

Recently, a member of The Satanic Temple informed us that she soon intends to present our exemption letter as she seeks an abortion in the state of Missouri. However, in Missouri, women seeking abortions are faced with a problem far more dire than that of insulting and inaccurate state propaganda: they are also required a 3-day (72 hour) waiting period for the procedure. With only one clinic in the state, those traveling a substantial distance often are forced to take significant time away from work while paying for overnight lodging. In response, we are providing an exemption from the waiting period, similar to the exemption from Informed Consent materials.

. . . One’s body is subject to one’s own will alone, therefore the process by which one arrives at decisions related to one’s body should never be subjected to the degrading arbitrary whims of petty, pious politicians. The 72 hour waiting period is nothing more than an offensive, intentional imposition upon a deeply personal decision-making process. There is no medical justification for the waiting period, only the ignorant hope that some women may — some time within that 72 hours — only then first consider the ramifications of their choice, consequently reversing course.

. . . We shall seek to defend our exemptions in court if they are not respected. . . .

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

From "Satanist woman plans to claim ‘religious freedom’ in order to get around the required 72-hour waiting period" by Cassy Fiano, Live Action News 4/30/15

Three states currently require a 72-hour waiting period before having an abortion: Utah, South Dakota, and Missouri. . . . A Missouri woman going by the name of ‘Mary’ is a Satanist, who plans on claiming that the state’s 72-hour waiting period is a violation of her religious freedom.  [She wrote to her abortionist (Planned Parenthood):]

As you know, state law requires a waiting period after I first receive counseling before I can undergo an abortion. I regard a waiting period as a state sanctioned attempt to discourage abortion by instilling an unnecessary burden as part of the process to obtain this legal medical procedure. The waiting period interferes with the inviolability of my body and thereby imposes an unwanted and substantial burden on my sincerely held religious beliefs.

This letter constitutes my acknowledgment that you have notified me of the state mandated waiting period, but demands that you do not abide by this obligation because the waiting period offends my sincerely held religious beliefs, which take precedent.

So basically, being pro-abortion is now a religious belief, plain and simple. . . .

To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.

In addition, read Planned Parenthood Prays (to their god) for More Abortions and also read Mississippi Abortionist: God Called Me to Kill Babies as well as Liberal Clergy Praise 'Compassionate Abortions'

And read President Obama Provokes Second 'In God We Trust' Movement

Missouri Voters Repeal 'Gay Rights' in Springfield

The mainstream media are negatively crediting Christians with the strong effort to repeal an ordinance passed by the Springfield City Council 6-3 last October that gave special rights and protections to deviant sexual lifestyles and those suffering sexual confusion.

"The churches were startled and alarmed and began to get involved. . . . The target was painted on the church. Once they saw that, they began to get involved and message their people."
-- Calvin Morrow, of nearby Mansfield, MO and executive director of Christians Uniting for Political Action

For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:

Pastors Lead Local Battles Against 'Gay Rights'

Springfield Police Steal Preacher's Amplifier to Shut Him Up

Democrat Missouri Governor Signs Religious Liberty Law

Kansas GOP Governor Rescinds 'Gay Rights' of Dem. Governor

New Law Against 'Gay Rights' Ordinances Passes in Arkansas

Sexual Deviancy Special Class? Not in Charlotte, North Carolina

New Mississippi Religious Liberty Law Infuriates Liberals

But in Arizona, Homosexualists & Liberal Media Defeat Religious Liberty

And in Texas, Houston Lesbian Mayor Subpoenas Sermons of Pastors Who Oppose 'Gay Rights'

And read Media, Gays Shut Down Indiana Christian Pizza Restaurant

Also read how the Gay Agenda attacks Christians one town at a time across America because the homosexualists have been unable to force the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) through Congress.



-- From "Springfield, Mo., repeals discrimination protection for gays" by The Associated Press 4/9/15

Voters in Missouri’s third largest city of Springfield voted Tuesday to repeal an ordinance that provided protection against discrimination in housing and hiring based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Unofficial final results showed that repeal of the ordinance passed with 51.4 percent of the vote.

Opponents of the nondiscrimination ordinance have said it violates their freedoms by preventing them from operating a business according to their religious beliefs. Others have said that sexual predators would be allowed to use women’s restrooms and have questioned whether discrimination against gay and lesbian residents actually occurs.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Springfield, Mo., voters repeal LGBT anti-discrimination law" by Sarah Parvini, Los Angeles Times 4/8/15

"It gives anyone claiming to be transgender the right to choose which public locker room, dressing room, bathroom, or other previously gender specific area they wish to use," the Yes on Question 1 campaign wrote on its website.

The campaign insisted it was not likening transgender people to sexual predators, arguing that "sexual predators, usually heterosexual, can and will use this ordinance to pretend to be transgender in order to access women's locker rooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms, women's shelters, and other private areas."

The ACLU of Missouri said it would continue to advocate for a state law protecting the LGBT community. Marty Rouse, national field director for the Human Rights Campaign, called Tuesday’s vote "disappointing."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Emotions high as LGBT protections repealed in Springfield" by Stephen Herzog, Springfield News-Leader 4/8/15

Justin Burnett, who won a council seat Tuesday, supported the repeal of the ordinance. He said it was a win for small business and the faith community.

"The problem with the ordinance is that it had so many potential legal ramifications for businesses, for public safety, for the good of the city," he said. "There was no need for the ordinance."

Thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours were poured into both sides of this campaign — which was always passionate and sometimes ugly.

Mayor Bob Stephens, who was re-elected Tuesday, did not give his view of the issue during the campaign, but said he thought it should be decided on the federal level.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Anti-Bias Ordinance Falls in Springfield, Missouri, After Push by Christian Conservatives" by Eli Yokley, New York Times 4/9/15

The campaign pitted national gay rights groups against leaders of many of this city’s large churches. Human Rights Campaign, based in Washington, spent more than $27,260 on the “One Springfield” effort against the repeal measure. Its financial support was assisted by a $10,000 check from the Gill Action Fund to finance advertisements and organizational efforts.

But the outside money defending the ordinance motivated local and, to an extent, national efforts to support repeal. More than $37,600 was contributed late in the push by the National Black Robe Regiment, a group that describes itself as a network that helps pastors “to engage in their biblical and historical role to stand boldly for righteousness and transform society through spiritual and cultural engagement.”

“The issue was pretty simple: We had a poorly written law that exposed people to litigation that could be frivolous, No. 1,” Mr. Morrow said. “Based on a lot of other results, this type of legislation is being used to target Christians.”

Before Tuesday night, Springfield was one of 15 Missouri cities — including St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia, a college town — that had such ordinances.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Gay rights supporters plan next steps" by Stephen Herzog, Springfield News-Leader 4/8/15

“We have seen powerful growth in Springfield through this campaign, and we are so proud of this community, regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s vote,” said Stephanie Perkins, deputy director of PROMO, a statewide gay rights advocacy group. “We will continue working to pass statewide nondiscrimination protections so all gay and transgender people — including in Springfield — will be protected at their jobs and homes.”

That statewide effort is key. The act would basically give all of Missouri the same protections that were voted down in Springfield on Tuesday.

A state Senate committee voted to move along the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act on Wednesday, and the House Criminal Proceedings Committee is expected to hear the bill next week.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read Business, Pro Sports, GOP Urge Supreme Court to Go 'Gay Marriage'

And read Vice President Biden Says 'Gay Rights' Trump Religious Beliefs