|
Dear John,
Someone who is near and dear to us here at FRC is back in court. Our friends at Alliance Defending Freedom have been fighting valiantly for this caring 74-year-old grandmother's rights.
Barronelle Stutzman lives in the small town of Richland, Washington. Nearly 40 years ago, she took over Arlene's Flowers, her mother's small florist shop. Locals love hiring Stutzman to create floral designs for special occasions... or they would, if she didn't have to be in court so much.
To review: Mrs. Stutzman has long served those who self-identify as homosexual -- including Mr. Rob Ingersoll and his partner, now her legal opponents. In 2013, Ingersoll asked her to do the flowers for his same-sex wedding ceremony.
She declined on the basis of her faith and referred him to other local florists. Soon after, the ACLU, who had actually recruited her old friend, Mr. Ingersoll, hit her with a lawsuit.
Ever since, Washington state has worked to strongarm Stutzman into using her creativity to support something she cannot without compromising her faith.
If a new bill currently in Congress is enacted, a similar story will play out countless times for people of biblical faith across the nation.
It's called the Equality Act, a massive intrusion of Big Government and the LGBTQ agenda into U.S. churches, schools, and businesses.
FRC has been leading the charge on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the harms of this bill. And we need your help!
DONATE NOW
On June 7, the Washington state Supreme Court ruled against Mrs. Stutzman in a case that is still dragging on after six years of litigation.
Because she is named personally in the suit, it puts at risk her life savings, not to mention her shop and those she employs. We will be watching this case closely and reporting back on it.
Lately I have encouraged our staff with Jesus' sobering words found in Matthew 10:16, as he sends his disciples out into the world.
"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves," says Christ to his followers. "So be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."
We must face and understand our opponents' strategies, even as we advocate for truth. It's why we were grieved when, on May 17, the Equality Act passed the U.S. House by a vote of 236 to 173.
Many observers assume that this harmful bill will be halted in the U.S. Senate. Thankfully, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R.-Ky., has firmly stated that his party will not support the House bill.
Yet the battle is not over. Now FRC is tracking activist efforts to advance it by covert means.
Instead of trying to pass the bill wholesale, liberal activists in Congress are now quietly introducing each harmful policy one at a time.
FRC has the expertise, moral resilience, and patience to be your eyes and ears on Capitol Hill. And only your ongoing support can fuel our mission!
DONATE NOW
FRC's Government Affairs team is working overtime examining bills moving through Congress to catch these errant amendments and raise the alarm.
For instance, The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) certainly sounds worthy of support. Yet it's riddled with Equality Act provisions, like mandating that state governors commit to funding LGBTQ advocacy.
Right now, Democratic leaders of the House are refusing to allow any discussion of parental rights and the harms of promoting "anything goes" sexuality to schoolchildren.
In fact, they are even refusing to follow standard House rules! Late on Monday, May 20, that CAPTA bill -- with its troubling new language -- passed the House on a voice vote.
That's right, we don't even know how our own elected members voted on it! Voice votes like this are usuallyreserved for nearly unanimous bipartisan legislation like renaming post offices, not controversial policy proposals.
Even in the face of this subterfuge, our resolve is sure, and our mission focus remains clear: to stand firm on the truth and be your voice to those in power. Thank you for standing with us.
| 
2019 Family Research Council.