NationBuilder

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.

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1. WASHINGTON POST: School that barred transgender student Gavin Grimm from boys’ restroom violated his rights judge rules

"The constitutional rights of a transgender student were violated when he was barred from using the boys’ restroom at his Virginia high school, a federal judge ruled Friday.

The student, Gavin Grimm, said the ruling sent the message that 'discrimination is not legal in America.' But the 20-year-old, who has graduated from the high school where he was banned from the boys’ restroom, acknowledged that the school system could appeal the decision, and it is 'likely that this is not the end.'"

The NC Values Coalition filed an Amicus Brief when this case went up to the Supreme Court 2 years ago. Instead of dealing with the issue, the Supreme Court sent it back to the 4^th Circuit to dismiss the case because Trump repealed Obama’s guidance letter on Title IX that interpreted sex to mean gender identity. Instead of reversing it, they sent it back to the lower court which decided it under the 14^th Amendment instead of Title IX. This is not the result that we were looking for, and it undermines the protection and privacy of boys and girls in bathrooms and locker rooms.

2.DOL: U.S. Department of Labor proposes a rule clarifying civil rights protections for religious organizations

"The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking intended to clarify the civil rights protections afforded to religious organizations that contract with the federal government. The proposed rule ensures that conscience and religious freedom are given the broadest protection permitted by law."

For an explanation of the impact this has for religious organizations, check out this article from The Christian Post.

3. DAILYWIRE: Feds investigating violation of girls’ civil rights in CT after trans athletes smoke competition

"The U.S. Department of Education Office has agreed to investigate a violation of girls' civil rights in Connecticut following a complaint filed in Boston concerning two biologically male transgender teens triumphing over biologically female competitors in high school track."

4. THE NEW AMERICAN: Recent poll reveals 95 percent of biologists say human life begins at conception

"... 95 percent of 5,500 biologists — with specialties ranging from anatomy, biochemistry, cellular biology, genetics, and physiology — believe that 'a human’s life begins at fertilization'"

5. NC VALUES: ⚠️ Slippery slope…

"Recently a compromise settlement negotiated by Governor Cooper and approved by a federal judge opened more public bathrooms to transgender individuals. As you may now be aware, the consent order continues Governor Cooper’s bathroom plan that he announced as an executive order at the beginning of his term. In government buildings controlled by his executive agencies, individuals can continue to use public bathrooms that match their gender identity.

Normally, it's impolite to say 'I told you so,' but we think this incident demands it. "

WEEKLY PRAYER: LIBERTY

LORD, you are the giver of life and liberty. You are the One in whom we find true freedom. We pray with the deepest of gratitude, because you've broken our chains of depravity, and have gifted us a freedom born in love and service.

LORD, may we not take our liberties lightly. Even today, our brothers and sisters all across the globe experience physical, emotional, and social torture because they rightly cry out: "JESUS IS LORD!" Every day, our brethren across the globe experience persecution, and this has been a shared story of the church since its inception. Be with our brothers and sisters all across the world who suffer for crying out alongside us, "Jesus is LORD!" Grant them the fullness and power of your Spirit.

Finally, LORD we ask you to give babies—born and unborn—the freedom to live! To be cared for and treated with dignity and respect, so that they may live the lives You created them for.

“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)