NationBuilder

Dear Friend,

Welcome to the Friday Five! Every Friday we share our top five articles, stories, and quotes for you to read and share with your friends and church families.

We would be very grateful if you could make a donation of $100, $50, $25, or $10 today towards our work producing these Friday Fives and fighting for your values on the public square!

1. VOTE: Absentee ballots are incoming

Today, September 6th, marks the first important date in the 2024 General Election. County boards of elections have begun mailing absentee ballots to eligible voters who submitted an absentee ballot request form.

If you submitted an absentee ballot request, we wanted to alert you of the incoming mailer, and encourage you to vote for pro-values candidates. We've organized a number of election tools here to help you find candidates that share your pro-life, pro-family, and pro-religious freedom values.

2. NC VALUES: List of NC schools exempt from Biden’s Title IX rule

Title IX was enacted in 1972 to prohibit sex discrimination in educational institutions. Its intent was to guarantee to female students equal educational and athletic opportunities afforded to boys and young men.

The Biden/Kamala administration’s new Title IX regulations redefine “sex” to include, among other things, “gender identity” within the definition of “sex.” Eight lawsuits, which include 26 states, one school district, two students and five private organizations, filed against the Biden Administration challenge this new definition.

The State of Kansas v. US Department of Education case provides a way to stop Title IX regulations in North Carolina schools. A case filed in the Kansas federal courts included three private organizations as plaintiffs—Moms for Liberty, Female Athletes United and Young America’s Foundation. The judge ruled that any schools attended by members of these organizations are included in the injunction.

To view whether your North Carolina school is currently exempt from the Title IX changes, search the list we put together below.

3. CAROLINA JOURNAL: 24 states support NC appeal to SCOTUS in transgender treatment case

"Twenty-four states filed a brief this week supporting North Carolina and West Virginia in their appeals to the US Supreme Court. The states seek to a reverse a federal Appeals Court ruling forcing taxpayer-funded health plans to cover medical treatments sought mainly by transgender people.

'We appreciate the support nearly half of the states have shown by filing an amicus brief urging the US Supreme Court to review the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision,' North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell said in a prepared statement Friday. Folwell’s office oversees the State Health Plan.

'Our position remains unchanged,' Folwell added. 'State governing bodies are best equipped to evaluate health care coverage that provides the greatest good to the highest number of people. They, and not the courts, are the proper place to make such decisions.'"

4. MSN: Ford Joins Harley in Scaling Back DEI Policies Amid Backlash

"Ford Motor Co. told employees it would modify its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and end participation in a notable ranking by an LGBTQ advocacy group, joining a series of companies including Lowe’s Cos. and Harley-Davidson Inc. in curtailing some of the programs. 'We are mindful that our employees and customers hold a wide range of beliefs,' Ford Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley wrote in an internal email, which was shared with Bloomberg by anti-DEI activist Robby Starbuck and confirmed as authentic by the company. 'The external and legal environment related to political and social issues continues to evolve.'

Ford said it will no longer engage with the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index."

5. LIFE NEWS: Detransitioner Sues Planned Parenthood for Pushing Radical Trans Agenda on Her

"Cristina Hineman grew up in a happy, healthy, loving home. She was homeschooled from kindergarten through the eighth grade and had close relationships with her parents and younger sister. Though Hineman knew by the age of 12 that she was attracted to other girls and experienced some confusion over this, she never experienced any discomfort with her female sex.

But after enrolling in public school her freshman year and making friends with a social group, all of whom embraced 'gender identities' different from their biological sex, Hineman’s life took a dramatic turn. Within a few short years, she began identifying as 'nonbinary' and later as a 'trans man,' taking prescription drugs to alter her physical appearance. She also underwent irreversible surgery to remove her breasts.

While some detransitioners report it taking years to experience any feelings of regret, Hineman realized it was all a mistake just weeks after undergoing a double mastectomy."

Weekly Prayer: Life

LORD, we recognize that you are Sovereign over all creation. We recognize you made man from the dust, and in your mercy, you crowned creation with man and woman made in your image. What a wonder it is that you would bestow upon us this blessing and responsibility!

LORD, may we not take this blessing for granted. We pray that this great responsibility and dignity may motivate us to love You, our neighbors, and our families more. LORD, may we as a culture truly see and believe that children are a blessing from the LORD—born or unborn; able or disabled. All children should have an opportunity to experience the liberty of life. LORD, make us your vehicle to change our culture into one that cherishes and protects life. Keep at the forefront of our minds our responsibilities to respect, cherish, and serve the youngest and oldest in our society.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.'" (Matthew 18:1-6)

Amen

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Sincerely,

Tami & Team
NC Values